Messages

16

General Discussion / Re: What pedals do you use for touring: clips, clipless, platform?

« on: January 25, 2017, 09:09:36 am »

Look Keo.  They make you walk like a duck.  I take Crocs to change into.  We went on a group tour recently and the bikes had flat platform pedals only.  I really missed my Looks.

17

Routes / Re: Southern Tier 2017 Thread

« on: January 24, 2017, 05:51:59 pm »

Cool - I have replied.  Our start date looks similar but we will be allowing about 10 weeks I think, maybe finishing in Orlando for flight back to UK.  We hope to meet up with you in San Diego and will keep in touch!

Cheers,

Ian and Jeannine

18

General Discussion / Re: Trangia Stove / Meths

« on: January 24, 2017, 01:54:23 pm »

MIsterflask

This is what we got ... (UK link)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Go-System-Backpacking-Adapt-Stove/dp/B003OCXUWG/ref=pd_lpo_200_tr_img_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=WAFMXGWBR6B1EHYYQVRX

Noisier than meths of course but not so bad on simmer - if you turn it up it makes noise but maybe shielded a bit by the Trangia.  Certainly not obnoxious ..  compared with the the 25yr old generator started up outside our tent at 7am in Watererton NP (Canada) .  Yikes that was obnoxious!

Ian

19

General Discussion / Re: ?How easy are SPD pedals to get use too?

« on: January 23, 2017, 05:32:24 pm »

.... and if all that hasn't put you off...  beware of the reverse fall where you unclip one side (Hooray!) and then for whatever reason forget and try to put the other foot down ....  do this and you will fall.   But I would never ride any distance without clipping in to my Looks.  It will change the way you cycle for the better and is safer as you can't detach from the pedals accidentally (eg over bumps downhill)

Ian

20

Routes / Re: Southern Tier 2017 Thread

« on: January 23, 2017, 04:48:11 pm »

All,

Southern Tier West to East starting n San Diego at the end of Feb 2017

We are an Brit / USA couple living in UK and we love to cycle tour.  Time for a longer challenge.....so we bought the Adventure Cycling map set and no turning back now.  This was mainly inspired last year when we met quite a few people in Glacier and Yellowstone NPs etc doing the northern routes - they all had the Adventure Cycling maps and made us realise there is cycle touring beyond Europe.

We are planning to cycle the Southern Tier route west to east, starting in San Diego in  late February - we've not yet booked flights but will update on this thread.

We will be on our tandem and camping where possible.  We use a trailer and try to keep the weight down but suspect this time we'll need to carry more supplies than usual.    We will not be doing the daily mileage that some of you manage but hope to get across in 10 weeks or so.

More to follow including some questions but just thought we'd introduce ourselves in case there are others staring at a similar time.

Jimbo maybe we'll see you and your group ?  March 1st is right in our window!

Thanks,  Ian and Jeannine

21

General Discussion / Re: What about travel other country to cycling?

« on: January 23, 2017, 04:15:36 pm »

France!   As a Britsh and American couple we love cycle touring in France.  Campsites everywhere, fabulous network of secondary roads, spectacular scenery, great cheap wine, and a lovely slightly slower pace of life.

We cycled from Brittany in the north west to Menton in the south east - a big adventure - if you look up Skedaddle's web site you can get an idea of routes. (they do loads of trips in Europe so good for inspiration for independent travellers).  That trip took us about about 5 weeks, 1300 miles (we did not go a direct or quick route).  First class.  We included part of the Loire a Velo which is brilliant if you are looking for an introduction to cycle touring - fairly flat, good route maps and signage, and beautiful Loire countryside, towns and villages.   And if you like mountains you can dip into the Alps or Pyrenees.

For shorter more concentrated pleasure - I think the area around Rhone Valley and east to   Dentelles  / Mont Ventoux / Gorges de la Nesque / Gorge du Verdon / Luberon villages provides some of the finest cycling anywhere - you can tune it to your abilities and it is absolutely spectacular.

Last year we cycled round (and across) Corsica - this was one of the best trips.  A French Island, hilly in the centre (climbing up to a mile from the coast), French, and big enough to keep us happy for 3 weeks.  Beautiful coast, mountains, villages, towns and beaches.  We dipped into Northern Sardinia (Italian island) but didn't like it, on the whole.

France...  Hmmm   we go every year for about 5 weeks of cycling - we avoid the summer (mid July to Mid Aug) and find Aug / Sept to be ideal.  Into October and it starts to get darker and less attractive for camping.

Ian

22

General Discussion / Re: Cycling in Iceland

« on: January 23, 2017, 03:55:59 pm »

Hardly qualified as I've not cycled there so take this as very much unqualified opinion...  Having driven some of the ring road and had a couple of trips there I would say:
a)  It's largely a 2-lane highway without shoulders except nr Reykjavik (4 lanes)
b)  Traffic (at least within 100mile of Reykjavik) is moderate but all sorts including buses, trucks, cars  - speeds are not especially fast (the lanes are narrow with no shoulders so driver tend to be .. cautious...)  but there is no provision for overtaking.
b)  Iceland can be very windy - we saw cycle tourists at riding in crosswinds leaning very much
c)  It's a big island, huge landscape and the ring road has very long straights.
d)  Iceland is STUNNINGLY beautiful and I think by cycling you'd absolutely fall in love...  with provisos above
e)  Check out roads off the main ring road - these are quieter and access some of the most beautiful areas
f)  Major Tunnel north of Reykjavik (Hvalfjordur) - I think you'd have to go around or hitch a ride.  The detour is LONG (we drove it) but absolutely stunning.
g)  Facilities are sparse
h)  Last time we went was in July - glorious long evenings but very cold and windy for camping - maybe we were unlucky.
i)  Hot pools are a way of life and a wonderful way to meet the locals, and even small villages have hot pools open till late.
j)  Beer is expensive once you leave the duty free at the airport
k)  We decided not to cycle there - we are pretty bomb-proof and regular cycle tourists but the ring road did not entice us.
l)  I don't do any off-road cycling but seems that Iceland may be suited for that mode for the adventurous:  there is a huge network of dirt roads in the interior - of course connecting with the ring road at various points.
m)  It's a really friendly country - we found, especially in the mid summer, loads of Icelanders take holidays and are out to enjoy the long days and beautiful environment.

Good luck  - you're in for an adventure!

Ian

23

General Discussion / Re: Trangia Stove / Meths

« on: January 23, 2017, 01:27:41 pm »

I should have said - our older Trangia did not have a hole in the base through which to pass the valve and pipe that comes out of the gas burner head.  So I cut a hole out.  The newer Trangias seem to have holes already for that purpose.

24

General Discussion / Re: Trangia Stove / Meths

« on: January 23, 2017, 01:14:44 pm »

Hi LucyM,

I have used Trangia stoves forever and we would not be without ours.  Admittedly a weight penalty compared to some others but we usually cook proper meals every day and can really enjoy good two-pot meals.  We have all sizes but usually use the mid size for the two of us.  The solo one is very light but not big enough for us both.

I'm from the UK so you'll get better info from others about what's available in the USA ..  BUT...  do you know you can get a gas burner for the Trangia?  It just replaces the meths pot in the base and, and then you can use a threaded gas cartridge (propane / butane mix) which I think are widely available in the USA (though need to check on this for rural areas...).  This is what we did in the USA last year.  In fact there are advantages over meths:  controllable, no sooty pots [edit:  not such a problem with bio-ethanol instead of meths], and probably a bit quicker (but that's marginal we find).  A bit more expensive than meths.   Anyway worth thinking about.  I think this is what we will travel with this spring in the USA.  Trangia also do mult-fuel burners.

I do like the palava around using the meths burner, the simmer cap etc.

When we're in France we always use meths ('alcool a bruler' )-  the French are completely wedded to Camping Gaz cylinders which don't fit our burner.

Of course you could just take both to reduce fuel stress but that's probably overkill!

Sounds like you're planning a great trip...

Ian