Messages

181

Gear Talk / Re: Recommendation for front light?

« on: November 27, 2016, 07:18:40 pm »

I think I'll have to experiment attaching the light to my helmet.  I like the idea of having one light focused in front of my bike, but I don't want to lose the handlebar space.

182

Gear Talk / Recommendation for front light?

« on: November 27, 2016, 05:55:32 pm »

I have a Planet Bike Blaze 140 light which is okay - more for being seen than for me to see the road.  But it is blocked by my handlebar bag.  If I move the light  out to the side on the handlebar, it takes up space I'd rather have for my hands.  Thoughts?  Attach it to the helmet?

183

General Discussion / Re: Converting Elevation Gain, Grade to Mileage

« on: August 01, 2016, 01:50:36 pm »

Thanks. That's the kind of quick-and-dirty advice I can use!

184

General Discussion / Converting Elevation Gain, Grade to Mileage

« on: July 30, 2016, 03:49:44 pm »

I'm planning a cross country ride next year and plan to ride about 60 miles per day.  When planning routes, is there a way to convert elevation gain into an equivalent distance travelled on level terrain?  And is there a way to factor in the grade of the hills encountered?  When planning hikes, I often add 1 mile per 1000 feet of elevation climbed, ignoring the downhills, to estimate how far I can walk in a given amount of time. 

185

General Discussion / Re: What type of grades to expect on Northern Tier?

« on: May 04, 2016, 09:20:40 pm »

Thanks everyone for the comments.  It sounds like my bike and gear will be okay.  I have a year to get my butt in shape!!

186

General Discussion / Re: What type of grades to expect on Northern Tier?

« on: May 02, 2016, 09:10:46 am »

I was riding to Mahlon Dickerson Park.  Union Hill Road (near Greystone) and Weldon Road (entering the park from the east) slowed me up.  I'll be doing the same ride later this month adding on a few more miles for conditioning.

187

General Discussion / Re: What type of grades to expect on Northern Tier?

« on: May 01, 2016, 10:02:07 pm »

Thanks. That's reassuring.

188

General Discussion / What type of grades to expect on Northern Tier?

« on: May 01, 2016, 08:49:09 pm »

I'm not sure where this question belongs.  It's kind of about Gear, but not really.  It kind of about Routes...


I training for a cross-country ride next summer.  NJ to Niagara Falls, across southern Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin and pick up Northern Tier.

I have a Surly Disk Trucker with 48-36-26 chainring and 11-36 cassette. 

What kind of grades can I expect on my route?

I had a rude awakening doing a two-day ride in northern NJ last week.  With 50 pounds of gear, food and water,  I had a tough time handling the two 13 to 14% grade climbs I encountered.   I know I need to lose some weight (gear and me both!) and I know I'll get stronger with time, but I'm thinking I better start doing a lot more training on serious hills with full weight.

Comments?

189

Connecting ACA Routes / Re: NYC to Ohio and beyond

« on: January 24, 2016, 11:37:34 am »

Not sure who you are referencing - but here is the Penna Bike route across the north-central part of the state.
It is clickable and each section has a strip map.

http://www.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/bikes/state_mapV.pdf

Do you know is there's a text version, that is, a turn-by-turn description of the route?

JR

190

Connecting ACA Routes / Re: NYC to Ohio and beyond

« on: January 19, 2016, 09:30:51 am »

Indyfabz,

Thanks for the details.

I live in north central NJ (Florham Park).  To make it an "official" ocean-to-ocean ride, I'm pondering where to put my rear wheel in the Atlantic Ocean.  I'm thinking Sandy Hook.   Although the Raritan Bay and NY harbor may by considered part of the ocean, one could consider the Hudson River too.  I'll probably ride from Sandy Hook back to Florham Park, attend a send-off part that night, and start west in earnest the next morning.   I know enough back roads in Morris County to get me west of the congested areas, and then will pick up Rte 46 to Columbia and start Pennsylvania Route V there.

191

Connecting ACA Routes / Re: NYC to Ohio and beyond

« on: January 16, 2016, 01:57:23 pm »

Thanks for the link.  I think it will be helpful.  Do you know if there's a similar bicycle network in Ohio?  It would be nice if Ohio had just picked up the end of Pennsylvania's Route V and continued west.  I'll need a way of getting from the end of Pennsylvania's Route V to the Underground Railroad route near Akron.  I prefer to not have to go north to Erie PA just to head south toward Sandusky.

192

Connecting ACA Routes / NYC to Ohio and beyond

« on: January 15, 2016, 11:22:56 pm »

Last year, I was following the blog of a fellow who was riding from NYC westward.  I think he made it as far as North Dakota before he ran out of time.  He was riding with his wife and daughter.

I'm in the planning stages of a ride that initially will follow much of the route of this other bicyclist.  Unfortunately, I lost the link to his blog.  Can someone provide me with a link? 

I'm starting in NJ and hope to connect to the Northern Tier in PA/OH, head west and connect to the Route 66 map.  But first, I need to get across northern NJ and PA.  I don't really care to head north to Albany first.

193

General Discussion / Re: Dogs n' bears

« on: January 15, 2016, 08:39:35 pm »

NJ = 8729 square miles
#bears = 3500
Square miles / bear = 2.5

and you won't see a bear in most of the populated eastern part of the state.

No wonder I've seen so many in NJ!

194

General Discussion / Re: Bicycle tools for a cross country ride

« on: June 28, 2015, 08:30:20 pm »

Thanks all for you input.  Since my ride is not until next year, I have time to collect input and learn something about bike repairs.

Bobbys Beard,  What is a "spare clip on chain link".  I can guess what it is.  It sounds like something that may by helpful.

JR

195

General Discussion / Bicycle tools for a cross country ride

« on: June 25, 2015, 12:15:35 am »

A buddy of mine is interested in doing a cross country ride next year.  I'm trying to get my legs (and butt) in shape this year.  I've been using this website to learn about what to expect and how to prepare.

I've collected "what to pack" lists from various sites on the Internet.  Some people have extensive repair kits and back-up supplies.  My question is "What are the essential repairs I should need to know how to do and have appropriate tools to perform?".    I don't have a "cassette/freewheel removal tool".   In forty years of "riding for fun" I've never needed a cassette removal tool.  Should I buy one?  If so, I should probably take a class to learn how to use one.  How about a "chain tool" and spare links?   I know how to repair and replace inner tubes and I can adjust brakes and derailleur cables, but what else should I know how to fix?  Once when I was young, I was given a spoke wrench and totally messed up a wheel because I didn't know what I was doing.  I should have just left the wheel alone.  I'm planning on staying on popular ACA routes and not doing any off-road excursions.

Thanks in advance
John R