Messages

31

General Discussion / Re: Cycling across the US (east to west)

« on: September 03, 2020, 07:12:24 pm »

"...as well as cycling routes, gear, camping, etc. .."

Kind of a broad question.  Care to be more specific?  What is your bicycle touring experience level?  What type of bicycle, equipment do you already have?  Have you been looking at the ACA forum already and have some ideas?

32

Gear Talk / Re: Tubus Tara Lowrider Front Rack Mounting Question

« on: August 31, 2020, 07:27:54 pm »

Website https://global.bluelug.com/tubus-tara-front-rack-silver.html shows a Surly with disc brakes (doesn't appear to be a disc trucker) with the Tubus rack mounted.    Trying to mount my Jandd rack on my Surly Disc Trucker, I needed to use a spacer to get clearance around the brake mechanism.  Jandd sells a spacer specifically for this but the threaded section stripped out after about a month of use. 

33

General Discussion / Re: Erie Canal Trail in 2020

« on: August 20, 2020, 07:36:30 pm »

More info!  Did you go east-west?  Did you have problems with Isaias?  Were accommodations a problem?

34

Food Talk / Re: Recovery time when cycling across USA?

« on: August 15, 2020, 05:56:28 pm »

"Will A over the course of the trip slowly build the same strength=stamina=milage as B towards the end and thus be as powerful after lets say 30-60 days of cycling?"   - Probably not.   Rider A will likely make bigger gains, but Rider B will continue to improve as well, probably just not as fast proportionally.

"Or will he keep struggling with his strength=stamina=milage due to the fact that his body simply needs more recovery than just 1 nights sleep?" Maybe, maybe not.   I used to schedule a day off, once a week but ended up feeling like I never need it.  I always ride at whatever pace feels right.  If I want to stop, I do.  If I want to picnic, I do.  Part of the joy of touring without a fixed end date.

Or even worse: Will his milage drop?   Are you asking, will he burn out? 

Too many variables. 
What's the reason for this question?

35

Gear Talk / Re: Compression sacks - do you use them?

« on: August 11, 2020, 10:11:28 am »

I too used ziplock bags for organization - one for electronics, one for the items I'd need in the tent at night.  I haven't seen 2-gallons ones in the store.  I think they would have been useful. 

36

Gear Talk / Re: Compression sacks - do you use them?

« on: August 09, 2020, 06:23:32 am »

I use two - one for my sleeping bag and one for my clothing (backup bike clothes, city clothes).  Makes it easier to pack the panniers.  They are Sea-to-Summit and hold up well.  I don't recall the sizes.

37

Gear Talk / Re: Touring capable road bike

« on: July 15, 2020, 10:43:48 pm »

Gronk,

Thanks for the link to Riding Gravel: Bikefinder.  I started browsing it tonight and will have to spend more time tomorrow.   The Norco Search XR C3 is a beautiful bike!

38

Routes / Re: Looking for route suggestions? Tips to help others help you.

« on: July 14, 2020, 05:06:58 pm »

I took 57 days from St. Clair Michigan to Anacortes at a fairly comfortable pace (55 miles per day) and took the ferry from Ludington to Manitowac.  I don't know how the ferry is given Covid-19, but it was a lot of fun last year!

I picked up the Northern Tier at Taylors Falls Minnesota.  I didn't do the short section into Canada near Waterton, but cut across from Browning to St. Mary's so I could ride Going to the Sun westbound.  Don't miss it!

The only issues I had were with dangerous drivers from Wolf Point to Harlem.  Now that the route has moved south, you won't have that problem. 

39

Routes / Re: Bike Tour across America in june/july 2021

« on: July 11, 2020, 07:12:20 pm »

I suppose it could be done.  4000 miles / 60 miles per day = 67 days.  2 1/2 months = 75 days, so only 8 spare days.

Cleveland         1 day
Chicago           1 day
Yellowstone      1 day
Salt Lake City   1 day
Grand Canyon  1 day
Death Valley     1 day
Las Vegas         1 day
Lake Tahoe        1 day
Yosemite           1 day
San Francisco    1 day
========     ====
Total                10 days

It seems like you're trying to hit all the western highlights it one trip.  You may wish to simplify your plan.   

What is your goal?  When I rode from NJ to Anacortes, I had two months to get back to work.  Every day I had to make my target.  I was not enjoying the trip.  When I realized I wasn't going to make it to Anacortes in 2 months, a weight was taken off my chest and I could enjoy the ride.  After I resigned from my job and no longer had the 2 month time-limit, I was even happier! 

So if your route and time constraints are fixed, unless you've done a lot of touring in the past, I think meeting both goals may be overly optimistic.  But if you plan on going as far as 2 1/2 months will take you, and that's only (for example) to Salt Lake City, and you're okay with that, you may be happier.

*** As I was typing this up, John Nettles posted his response.  Much more articulate!

40

Routes / Route around the Great Lakes

« on: July 08, 2020, 05:45:15 pm »

I was looking at the ACA overview map, thinking about loops I'd like to take, and wondered if people have done routes around Lake Huron and Lake Superior.  I did a car trip with my family (50-ish years ago) around Lake Superior.  Roads were a little rough then.  I wonder if ACA is considering venturing north.  Except for the short stretches near Lake Erie and Glacier, it seems to me that ACA's focus is US only.  I think I'll check out CGOAB...

41

Gear Talk / Re: Touring capable road bike

« on: June 24, 2020, 01:58:43 pm »

El_Chupacabra,

You're certainly right.  While I may have my own preferences, I think that the decision will end up what my wife enjoys riding.  If it ain't fun for her, she'll not be riding it and I'll never hear the end of it! 

As several people have suggested here, I may be looking at two bikes rather than one. 

42

Gear Talk / Re: Touring capable road bike

« on: June 23, 2020, 05:08:33 pm »

I'm afraid you may be right... There goes my budget!!

43

Gear Talk / Re: Touring capable road bike

« on: June 23, 2020, 05:04:07 pm »

driftlessregion, my only issue with steel is the weight and feel of the bike.  Not looking for something that feels sluggish.  The Trek 520 is a bike I was considering for myself a few years ago.  There's a Trek dealer not far from us.  Perhaps we should give it a look.   Do you think I may need to increase my budget?   A previous bike I owned was a Cannondale ST300.  I enjoyed it but I don't think it would have fared well on my cross-country ride.  Although it was fairly light and had a touring geometry, the gear range wasn't adequate for steep hills.  I replaced the chain ring, but a triple would have been better. 

Pat Lamb - My wife and I had planned a week-long, self-supported trip, but I suspect will be doing more B&B credit card touring (if New England opens up).  May need to carry panniers, but maybe only one pair, and not heavily loaded.  Terrain - roads and bike paths.  We live in NJ and bicycle from Pennsylvania to Vermont.  So, a good amount of short-steep climbs in the mix. 

Perhaps I should consider a road bike and add a trailer if we need to carry more gear...

44

Gear Talk / Touring capable road bike

« on: June 23, 2020, 02:09:00 pm »

Just starting research on a new bicycle for my wife and would like recommendations and suggestions of considerations when buying. 

My wife is now 70 and has had road bikes rather than touring bikes.  Her last one has to be, I'm guessing, over 25 years old.  It is a Cannondale SR400.  She's no longer doing triathlons and would like a sporty bike that's capable of being used for touring.  I did the Northern Tier last year, but I suspect future tours for the two of us will be shorter - 7 to 10 days timeframe.  She's done weekends in New England with me, but is willing to try something longer.

My thoughts.  I have a Surly Disc Trucker that I love, but it's heavy, not sporty.  I think her Cannondale is in the 22 lb range.  I don't think she'd like a steel frame bike, so I'm thinking an aluminum frame bike suitable for touring.  That is, with lower gears and capable of carrying panniers.   The Cannondale has downtube shifters.  Will likely change to brifters with indexed shifting.  The Cannondale has rim brakes.  Will want to change to disc brakes, probably mechanical.  Will need a wide range of gears.  The Cannondale has a 42/52 chainring and 12-32 cassette.  Her lowest gear is 34 gear inches.  Would like something closer to 20.  Budget <= $2k. 

Thoughts?

45

Routes / Re: NYC westbound

« on: June 02, 2020, 07:53:31 pm »

Here's a suggestion.  It probably wouldn't take 45 days.  But it starts and end in NYC and sections could be added on into Ohio and Indiana depending on how the first few weeks go...

Section 1 - NYC to Albany, mostly along NY state's bike route
Section 2 - Albany to Niagara Falls via Erie Canal bike paths and/or parallel roads
Section 3 - Niagara to Erie PA via Northern Tier
Section 4 - Erie PA to Pittsburgh via Underground Railroad Pittsburgh Spur
Section 5 - Pittsburgh to Philadelphia via Chicago/NYC Phily alternative
Section 6 - Phily to NYC by way of Jersey shore on the Chicago/NYC route.

I ballparked it at about 1400 miles.  If you have 45 days at 60 miles per day, that's 2700 miles, so you could go further into Ohio or Indiana on the Northern Tier before returning on the Chicago/NYC route. 

I've done Erie Canal and across Ontario, Michigan and Wisconsin before picking up the Northern Tier.  I can't comment on the Chicago/NYC route.  It may not be too scenic or bike-friendly.  It's just a "shorth-ish" route I was consider doing myself from home here in New Jersey.  I was looking for something I could do from home without additional travel logistics.