Messages

31

General Discussion / Re: Water?

« on: December 29, 2021, 04:11:17 pm »

My son had a similar eperience while rossing Nevada. He failed to screw the top down on his water battle and managed to spill it all. The rest stop he planed on refilling at was closed so he was in a tough position. 100 degree heat and no rlief or water for at least 5-6 hours. Forunately, he came across some stuff left by a road painting crew. In it was an unopend bottle of Gatorade. He lucked out on that one.

32

General Discussion / Re: Water?

« on: December 29, 2021, 11:31:51 am »

I'm the same age as you and hope to take a cross country trip this summer. On past tours I've never had a problelm obtaining water except maybe in Nevada's Great Basin (desert). There, I found that three one liter bottles attached to the frame and a two leader bladder strapped to the back rack usually was plenty. If I felt I needed more, I would buy several bottles in advance and put them in my panniers.  So sufficient water was never really a problem. However, cold water which I often craved, was sometimes hard to come by. The water I carried quickly became tepid, but at least it was wet.

33

General Discussion / Re: Best book you've read on bicycle travel

« on: December 21, 2021, 12:15:54 am »

"Loved his In Dubious Battle -  What are you, some kind of Communist?   Great book by the way by truley one of Ameria's greatest authors.  Like you say, so many of his works are just as relevnt today as when he wrote them. The Grapes of Wrath come to immudately to mind. Maybe, IMHO, the greatest modern American novel.

34

Gear Talk / Re: Kickstand love it or leave it?

« on: September 13, 2021, 12:21:32 am »

Two things struck me about your post in their similarities to my way of thinking. First, I too, use a velco strap to tighten the front brake lever to keep the bike from rolling when it's leaned against something. Works great. The other thing is the use of a "sort of wedge, for lack of a better word, that you put into the top of the lever" of the front brake. I had one for years, made by Blackburn, I think, but lost it.  I've tried for years to find another one but to no avail. That simple gadget really worked well.  I've never really seen the need for a kickstand but each to his own.

35

Gear Talk / Re: Touring bike for 80% pavement, 20% gravel/dirt

« on: August 24, 2021, 11:20:06 am »

That's close to the percentage of paved/gravel that I ride on with my Kona Sutra with 700x35 Schwalbe Marathons.  Seems to work fine for me. I think the tire width is just as important as the type of bike you're rideing.  For gravel, I'd get as wide a tire as a touring bike will take but that, of course, has to be balacnced with the amount of pavement you're on.  Pavement may not require such a wide tire. It's always a trade off.

36

General Discussion / Re: Gear list: am I on the right road?

« on: August 11, 2021, 08:17:52 pm »

Looks pretty good to me. Several other things come to mind.  Take plenty of plastic sacks -grocery store and bread sacks ones work well. That way you always have something to put wet or grungy stuff in.  I always have an extra freeze dried meal in the bottom of my panniers for apprpriate use - like when I'm real tired, the weather's lousy or whatever. Not the best eaing but fairly norishing and easy to cook. It'll get you through the night.  I find a reariew mirrow indespensible.  Add a pairof tweezers to your repairk to remove glass or thorns inbedddd in your tire. Bring extra bolts, screws, nuts, etc. for your bike and gear including for your shoe cleats if you use them. I didn't see sun screen or eye protection mentioned.  A single edge razor blade can come inhandy and weighs almost nothing.

Have a great trip.

37

General Discussion / Re: What cyclists see, and nobody else.

« on: August 09, 2021, 12:56:05 pm »

"The one thing I have learned is that people are not near as bad as the media makes it out to be." -- Totally agree. I've alwasys been met with nothing but curiousity and kindness when I tour except, maybe for a very few jerks in passing vehincles. It always restores my faith in the common man.

Once in Idaho I came across a new trailor hitch. Man, I could have really used that for my truck but it was a bit heavy to carry  home on my bike.  Found someone's cell phone once. Unfortunatley, it was locked so I had no way of contacting the owner. I left it at a nearby cafe.

38

General Discussion / Re: Tip for safer cycling. Tip for cleaner cycling.

« on: July 25, 2021, 10:53:23 pm »

Intersting discussion. I suppose one could argue the sidewalk question both ways until the cows come home. Here's a twist. One of the busiest streets I often cycle along has a very wide, well seperated from the road and very safe multi-use path clearly labeled for use by both pedistrians and cyclists. This is not a sidewalk but a dedicated paved muti-use path. It's safe except for the numerous round-abouts one has to negotiate at busy intersections.  When crossing these intersecting streets at a round-about there are clear signs giving the pedistrian the right of way as well marked pedistrian crossings. The specific term "pedestrian" is used at the signs and crossings. I've often wondered about my status as a cyclists at these crossings. Generally, I slow down, take a good look and just ride across the crosswalk although technically I don't think I'm pedesrian since I'm still mounted on my bike. My concern is that if I would be on the crosswalk while on my bike and was hit by a vehicle, would the driver be at fault or could he or more likely, his laweyer, argue that I wasn't reallly a pedestran since I wasn't walking my bke through the crosswalk and therefore, the driver really wasn't at fault. What say you? Just curious.

39

Rocky Mountain / Re: Missoula Lodging

« on: July 20, 2021, 12:23:19 am »

"Don't forget the Shady Spruce Hostel" - very cool place

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General Discussion / Re: Daytime Lights in Montana

« on: July 08, 2021, 11:12:05 am »

An appopriate death.  I suspect, however, it will rear it's ugly head in the next legisative session.

41

General Discussion / Re: Hosting Travelers

« on: June 19, 2021, 11:48:28 pm »

I have hosted cycle tourers numberous times both via Warm Showers and others I've just met on the road or around town. Each time has been an extremely positive experience.

42

Gear Talk / Re: Leg warmers: Over or under?

« on: June 02, 2021, 03:07:09 pm »

But, of course. Still, like I said, I'm kind of a skinny guy, thighs included, and even with the factory elastic bands, I still have trouble keeping them up as aparrenty do a lot of folks. The hand stiched in elastic "customized" bands seem to help. Each to his own. Do what ever works for you. lf they stay up for you with just the factory elastic, more power to you.

43

Gear Talk / Re: Leg warmers: Over or under?

« on: May 29, 2021, 11:03:17 pm »

I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who has struggled with the issue of keeping leg warmers up. I have somewhat skinny thighs to begin with so it was bit of a problem. My wife solved the problem by sewing some elastic strapping into the top around the openings being careful not to make it too tight. It tightens them up enough so they don't slide down but still don't cut off circulation. The trick, of course, is determining the proper degree of tightness. Once done, they work great for me.

44

General Discussion / Re: Security - locking your bike

« on: May 25, 2021, 03:55:46 pm »

A related queston:  which is more theft proof, a subtantial cable or a good chain. I know a u-lock is probably best but I'm locking the bike to a trailer and the geomery of both will not allow for a u-lock without a subsantial investment in a welding job. I also know no lock system is prefect.  Just looking for recommendations/suggestions.

Thanks.

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Gear Talk / Re: Leg warmers: Over or under?

« on: May 24, 2021, 03:01:20 pm »

Whatever works.