Messages

46

Gear Talk / Re: How to camp lightweight and sleep more comfortably? any advice please?

« on: January 12, 2017, 12:43:50 pm »

Jonsondasw, fair play to you...Can you carry that eggshell pad on your bike?

It seems like a compromise between travelling light but giving up some of the comforts of camping wild...

I imagine as well, eventually the body will adapt to sleeping in a tent and kinda get used to it..
In my previous tours I loved treating myself every 4/5 nights to the luxury of a b n' b or hotel...it is so nice after camping!

47

Gear Talk / Re: How to camp lightweight and sleep more comfortably? any advice please?

« on: January 12, 2017, 11:43:09 am »

Good afternoon from Dublin!
Thanks a mil for the replies and feedback...i appreciate it!
Yes, a lighter tent would be great...but hopefully it doesn't let any rain in!
Thanks for the info re the mattresses.. i will check out the neo air x lite & near dream...

It would be fab if the campsites down the westcoast have simple dorm/bed accommodation; do any have these facilities?

I agree about stretching before and after 'sleep'...i remember a really hot night in southern France, when I was really trying to sleep and spent a long time in the same position & I was felt like an old man the next morning!

Dublin Dave

48

Gear Talk / Re: How to camp lightweight and sleep more comfortably? any advice please?

« on: January 11, 2017, 03:05:03 pm »

Hi! Thank you for the replies...
Yea, my current camping gear is not very light..
Ideally I would love to tour ultralight and stay in b n' b, hostels and hotels...but there seems such a good network of campsites that it would be a shame to not use them..

I have looked at

-the Big Agnes Fly Creek Platinum tent; it seems really light
-big agnes q core sleeping pad..
they seem much lighter and more comfortable...

I have found myself waking up really tired and stiff after camping, but I am willing to embrace it and try and enjoy it!
even adding a fleece blanket and buying an inflatable pillow!

49

Gear Talk / How to camp lightweight and sleep more comfortably? any advice please?

« on: January 11, 2017, 12:38:59 pm »

Hi there! I hope you are well!
I am planning a bike tour south from Vancouver in July.
Ideally, I would love to 'credit card tour', but with all the great and cheap campsites, I think camping will be a great option..
My current set up is:
-Vangoo Banshee 200 tent: weighs 2.3kgs or 5.07 pounds.
-standard summer season sleeping bag.
-Thermarest blow up mattress.
I put all these in one of my rear pannier bags...

Is there a lighter and more comfortable alternative to this set-up?

Also, when I camped down through Europe I found that I didn't sleep very well and woke the next morning, often tired and with a sore back..I would set the tent up, blow up the thermarest and sleep in the sleeping bag on top of the mattress...then put some clothes in a pillowcase for a pillow..
Can you recommend making my sleep more comfortable while keeping a light-weight set-up?

Thanks so much!

Dublin Dave.

50

Gear Talk / Re: Best bike computer for bike tour on the Pacific Coast?

« on: December 23, 2016, 03:34:30 pm »

Good evening Jennifer!

Thank you for your reply...
I will look at the threads and links which you posted!

Dublin Dave.

51

Gear Talk / Best bike computer for bike tour on the Pacific Coast?

« on: December 23, 2016, 10:30:35 am »

Hi! I hope you are all well.
I am planning a bike trip along the Pacific Coast next summer.
I plan to navigate using offline maps on my smartphone and as a backup, and to store all my trip stats, to use a bike computer.

Ideally I would like to download the route onto this bike computer device and just follow it..

Could any of you recommend the best device for this?

Thanks so much!

Dublin Dave.

52

General Discussion / Re: Cycling from Vancouver south to the Mexican Border in July?....Alone?...Advice?

« on: October 15, 2016, 10:22:20 am »

Good afternoon!
Pat & John, thank you for your replies...

Paper map & San Diego it is then!

Daley Mac.

53

General Discussion / Re: Cycling from Vancouver south to the Mexican Border in July?....Alone?...Advice?

« on: October 14, 2016, 03:05:30 pm »

Hi there! I am just bumping this up to try & get an answer to 2 more questions....

1) do u know a relaxing place to stay at the end of my trip close to San Diego?

2) should i buy the paper Adventure maps or the digital version?

Thank u!!

54

General Discussion / Re: Cycling from Vancouver south to the Mexican Border in July?....Alone?...Advice?

« on: October 12, 2016, 12:53:08 pm »

Thank u for the feedback!
Wow, it sounds really exciting!

So any advice on a chill-out place by the Ocean to relax at the end of my trip?


And should I get the Pacific Coast paper and/or digital maps?

Cheers!

D

55

General Discussion / Re: Cycling from Vancouver south to the Mexican Border in July?....Alone?...Advice?

« on: October 11, 2016, 12:24:06 pm »

Hi! Thanks so much for your feedback.. I appreciate it!
So July sounds good...
I was going to fly into Vancouver and then home from San Diego...
I ride a Canyon Endurace AL 7.0 race bike.. It has full , Alluminium frame & carbon forks..
I put a handlebar bag up front & x2 rear panniers mounted on a rack: which is attached via clips to the seat stays and via a long quick release to the rear wheel: it is not an ideal tour bike but she is very fast & fits me like a glove...

Do you guys advise I follow the standard Pacific Coast Adventure Cycling route south?
Should I take any detours...a rounds the big cities?

Could you advise on a place to relax before I fly home?
I like sun, sea & just a chilled out place to stay before 'back to the real world!'

Thank you!

Dublin Dave...




Oh yea... Last question: should I buy the paper Adv Cyc Assoc maps or download the digital version?

56

General Discussion / Re: Cycling from Vancouver south to the Mexican Border in July?....Alone?...Advice?

« on: October 11, 2016, 03:33:13 am »

Good morning!  Thanks a mil for getting back to me!
I cycled a 40km round trip most weekdays through Dublin city Centre, so I am kinda used to cycling in traffic...
The last 2 summers, I have cycled down through France, Spain and Portugal & have not had any issues...touch wood!
France & Spain were fine, whereas, I didnt feel too safe in Portugal, where (no offence intended) cars seemed to view bikes as an inconvenience to get around!

Could any of you recommend a cool, relaxing place to chill and rest before my flight home?
Somewhere between San Diego and the Mex. border?

Thanks so much!

Dublin Dave.

57

General Discussion / Cycling from Vancouver south to the Mexican Border in July?....Alone?...Advice?

« on: October 10, 2016, 03:30:16 pm »

Good evening!

I am writing this from Dublin, Ireland. I am researching a trip next summer to the West Coast of America: I plan to fly into Vancouver and bike tour south, as far as I can in 4-5 weeks..
I have bike toured up to 3,600kms down through Europe and really enjoyed it..

I have a few worries and concerns & would appreciate some advice please...
Is July a bad time to attempt this trip? I am worried that most accomodation will be full and that the traffic will be really heavy... oh, and that the temperatures will be really high

I am a bit worried about attempting this alone...Is it relatively safe?
If I follow the Pacific Coast Adventure Assoc. maps, is it possible to meet and cycle with other people?

I am not a huge fan of camping and would like to stay in a lodge or Bn'b every few days if possible!

I would love to do one of the Adventure Association Group Tours, but there are none, on this particular route, next July!

Thank you for reading & I look forward to your feedback!

Dave Mac.