Messages

1

Gear Talk / Re: Solar Panels - mounting on touring / bike packing bicycle

« on: May 16, 2020, 01:54:21 am »

I use a 5W foldable solar charger from Harbor Freight,  it has grommets at the corners.  Small bungee hooked to the grommets hold it to the top of one of my rear panniers.  In full sunlight it puts out 1A at 5V, which is well above the USB 2.0 specification of 0.5A, but not as fast as a quick charger at 2A or greater.  I carry 2 battery packs (each 10k mAh).  One charging off the solar and the other off the dynamo hub while I ride.   This is usually enough to keep my phone, smart watch, gps, and insulin pump charged.

2

Southwest / Albuquerque to enchanted circle

« on: April 07, 2019, 12:10:59 am »

In the early stages of planning a short tour in September.   Starting in Albuquerque.  Take the Turquoise trail through Madrid to Santa Fe.  Then the High Road to Taos.  Loop the Enchanted Circle, then back to Albuquerque.  Perhaps a detour to Ojo Caliente on the way back.

Thinking to take about 10 days, which would make for 35 to 40 mile days.  Hope to mostly camp with a few nights in motels.

I am not finding much info on the web about touring in these areas.  Most of what I find is for road centuries along these routes.  perhaps I am not asking Mr Google the right questions.   I would love to find a travel blog of someone who has toured these routes.

Can anyone point me to some good info?

3

Gear Talk / Re: Recommendations for dynamo lighting/charging configs

« on: February 17, 2018, 11:38:46 pm »

I use an SP dynamo hub with the B&M IQ-X (very nice beam pattern), and a sinewave reactor for USB charging.  I don't use the charging as much as I thought I would.  I just keep two 12,000 mAh battery packs charged as often as possible.  The sinewave does give me piece of mind knowing I will always have a charge source available .

4

General Discussion / Re: Summer nights: Why does it never get cold in the deserts of the Southwest?

« on: July 27, 2017, 02:59:07 pm »

The factor that most detemines night time temperature drop is the water in the atmosphere above the desert.   With low enough humidity and no cloud cover, the earth surface can radiate heat directly to space.   The air over the Sahara is drier than in Arizona.

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/deserts.php

5

General Discussion / Re: How to work on your bike?

« on: May 31, 2017, 05:40:04 pm »

This reply is too late to help the original poster.  My Pletscher kickstand allows me to turn the crank and spin the back wheel without u loading the bike.

6

Gear Talk / Re: Trekking bars vs Jones H bar

« on: February 19, 2017, 12:55:11 pm »

I am a fan of trekking (butterfly) bars.  I get wrist pain when my hands are in one position for many hours.  With the trekking bars, I can always find a comfortable position.   I have never tried the Jones bars, but they look like they would also be a good solution.

One thing to consider is the bar diameter:
- Jones bars are 31.8mm at the stem, while most trekking bars are 25.4mm, so you may need a new stem.
- Both I think are 22.2mm where you attach Grips, Shifters and Brakes,  so most mountain bike components should work.

7

Gear Talk / Re: Rim advice - dynamo build

« on: February 09, 2017, 09:38:35 pm »

Thanks.   I had heard a rule of thumb that the rim should be 50-65℅ the width of the tire.

8

Gear Talk / Rim advice - dynamo build

« on: February 08, 2017, 12:25:27 am »

I have just purchased a Shutter Precision PD-8 dynamo hub.  My plan was to re-use my existing rim for the build, but now am wondering if I should use a wider rim.

My 2016 Novara Safari came with Vittoria Randonneur 700x48c tires on Alexrims MD19 rims.   I like the wide tires given the quality of the roads and paths I regularly ride on.   A 19mm rim seems a little bit narrow for a 48c tire.  Should I be looking for something wider?  Recommendations?

9

General Discussion / Re: SPD Cleats-SH51 Versus SH56?

« on: August 10, 2016, 11:01:50 pm »

I used the SH51 cleats on my mountain bike until last month when I fell 3 times in one day because I couldn't unclip fast enough.  I then switched to the SH56 and have never failed to unclip since.   I did have to tighten the release tension so that I didn't unclip accidently while climbing.   Because of the good results with the SH56, I switched my touring bike pedals from toe clips / straps to SPD.