Messages

1

Gear Talk / Re: Mechanical or hydro?

« on: April 18, 2020, 11:35:06 am »

After long consideration strongly leaning towards mechanical bakes I finally decided to go hydro.
I find myself braking a lot from the hoods and there is not enough leverage at that position to break hard when needed, it will be easier to get brake power from that position with hydro brakes.

I used a 20% off Spring sale opportunity to grab a pair of TRP Hylex RS brakes direct from TRP and ordered the Gevenalle hydro conversion kit. That will bring the bike from 1x11 11-42 to 1x12 10-51 with a microspline driver. The other plus I like from the Gevenalle shifters is the ability to make them friction shifters with the turn of an Allen key, that can be useful when the index shifting starts giving troubles and repair is not possible until the next bike shop.

2

Gear Talk / Mechanical or hydro?

« on: January 20, 2020, 02:07:51 pm »

This is probably a 50/50 split in opinions.

I'm looking at upgrade options for my Salsa Cutthroat v1 with ultra endurance bikepacking in the back of my mind, it is currently setup with Apex 1x11 / 11-42 cassette and TRP Spyre mechanical brakes. I'm not a fan of the SRAM shifters but they do the job. I want larger gearing and I am mostly debating if I should go hydraulic or not.

Option 1. (cheapest, about $80-90) Keep the Apex 1 shifters and rear derailleur as well as the TRP Spyre brakes, replace the 11-42 cassette with Sunrace 1x11 11-46 or 11-50 at likely the expense of crisp shifting and a little more weight.

Option 2. (about $500 at full price + need a new Microspline driver) Replace shifters with Gevenalle 12 speed mechanical (when available for Shimano), Shimano XT 12-speed RD with 10-51 XT cassette and XTR chain. Keep the TRP's.

Option 3. (most expensive about $780 at full price + need new Microspline driver), Replace shifters with Gevenalle 1x12 hydraulic kit that comes with the TRP Hylex RS brakes, XT 12-speed RD, XTR chain and 10-51 cassette.

3

Gear Talk / Re: Solo bikepacking, securing your bike

« on: November 24, 2019, 02:36:41 pm »

When bikepacking and traveling light, one can't carry a 5lbs New York chain so how do you do deal with this problem?

Ever since Matthew Lee had his racing bike nicked while racing the Great Divide route (thankfully with GPS unit still attached), I've carried a small cable lock for use in the cities and camp sites. I have a couple of super lightweight versions of different lengths. Here's one sold by Adventure Cycling.
https://www.adventurecycling.org/cyclosource-store/equipment/sp/kryptonite-r-2-retractable-combo-cable-lock/

. Wow, never knew he had his bike stolen but given the increased popularity of the race and the GDMBR in general, some smart asses would probably keep an eye out for a quick grab.

4

New England / Re: Gravel routes in New England

« on: October 07, 2019, 01:17:28 pm »

Cross Vermont and Cross New Hampshire trails are each, mostly gravel, dirt, single track.  They actually touch in Wells River VT. Woodsville, NH which are across the Connecticut river from each other.  VT runs about 90 miles to Burlington; NH runs about 80 miles to Bethel ME.  There are state and commercial campgrounds on each, and places to stealth camp.  Each has a website with maps, trail info, etc. 
Good luck

These look nice, thanks for the tip, I had never heard of them before.

5

General Discussion / Re: Bears

« on: October 07, 2019, 01:15:44 pm »

yes indeed stove gas is a similar situation, would have to be mailed. For sure burying trash is a huge no-no, it's not much different than just dropping it on the ground. Bears or no bears.

6

General Discussion / Carrying bear spray

« on: October 06, 2019, 10:24:57 am »

If you fly to a pretty remote place, you can’t carry bear sprays in your luggage. How do you folks do? One option is to buy it locally but if you are not 100% sure it’s available locally, it’s a risky option. Maybe have it shipped to the post office and pick it up at destination? I don’t know if pose offices do that.

7

New England / Re: Gravel routes in New England

« on: October 03, 2019, 09:07:18 am »

Thanks for the NH tip, I did not know this one.
Did not know seekingdirt, seems helpful.

8

General Discussion / Re: Bears

« on: September 27, 2019, 09:57:03 am »

Seems like the best options I gathered are as following

- eat and clean up before setting camp then move on like a mile or two to set camp / no cooking under the tent (can suck when it rains)

- keep food in a waterproof / air proof dry bag while carrying on the bike to prevent odors from "staining" the cargo bags

- hang the food and toiletry in an Ursack a couple hundred feet from camp at night (unless camping in a place there is storage).

What do you do when traveling above tree line or generally areas with no trees? Can't hang the food obviously.

Has anyone tried an air horn to scare animals away?

I have an older model AirZound like this one and it is super loud, does not weigh much and can be recharged with a regular bike pump unlike a disposable can.
Once an a***h*** car driver passed me and hooked, I honked back with this as he was passing with his right window open and he would have jumped off his seat if he was not wearing a seatbelt.

 https://www.amazon.com/Delta-Cycle-Airzound-Hooter-Rechargeable/dp/B000ACAMJC/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2RRXYSMUTP9BJ&dchild=1&keywords=bike+air+horn&qid=1569592238&sprefix=bike+air+ho%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-4

9

Gear Talk / Re: Solo bikepacking, securing your bike

« on: September 25, 2019, 08:52:10 pm »

I have a light cable which has a motion detection alarm.
The motion detection can be enabled or not.

I was thinking about a motion alarm too, light and cheap

10

General Discussion / Re: Bears

« on: September 25, 2019, 08:48:10 pm »

But let's be honest: Where are you talking about? And from your other posts we know that you are only talking about 1 or 2 nights.

For now, 1 to 2 nights essentially indeed, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine = black bears.

Later on I'm hoping for the TD = grizzlies

11

General Discussion / Bears

« on: September 24, 2019, 09:48:54 pm »

When bikepacking in bear country, especially when you camp, cook and not able to dispose of your trash until the next town, how do you deal with this risk?

12

Gear Talk / Solo bikepacking, securing your bike

« on: September 24, 2019, 11:38:59 am »

When you travel as light as possible, say racing the TD, yet you must stop to refuel in towns and you are solo, how do you secure your bike? Or just pray no junky is in the area for a quick grab?

When I leave my bike on the car rack, it literally has 15 lbs of Kryptonite locks and cables on it and the rack is secured by two systems to the car. If otherwise I can't secure the bike well enough, I leave it home.

When bikepacking and traveling light, one can't carry a 5lbs New York chain so how do you do deal with this problem?

13

General Discussion / Re: Australia cracking down on drivers using phones.

« on: September 24, 2019, 09:23:02 am »

I agree the many countries are way behind. I used to live in Chicago, they have banned using cell phones while driving years ago. I now live in Boston and there is no law yet, nuts. The main reason my road bike has been on the trainer at home for the last two years is precisely that I can't afford behind hit from behind by a car, I just mountain bike or gravel.

The first offense should be a $500 fine. The second offense a $2,000 fine and the third one license pulled for 5 years.
Automatic systems are great within cities but don't work in the boonies where many cyclists also get killed, where driver don't even expect seeing cyclists and when they do they will coal roll them.

14

General Discussion / Re: Getting started? Frustrating.

« on: September 24, 2019, 09:11:19 am »

Doing a few 1 or 2 nights trips solo is indeed my only option at the moment. I don't have "in between jobs" options, I've been working with the same company for 20 years.

I don't mind solo at all, before my son started skiing, I went skiing solo, I just feel bad leaving my wife behind with my son when I do solo activities, that is a mental strain. Before I found a local mountain biking group that suits me, I was mountain biking solo as well but it's more fun and motivational with a group. Like you said solo has its advantages and its issues, it's good training for the Tour the Divide for example since that is supposed to be solo. What scares me a little with solo rides are bears. No grizzlies in my region like in the Rockies but plenty of black bears and moose.

15

New England / Gravel routes in New England

« on: September 23, 2019, 10:08:47 am »

Looking for recommendations for 2 to 3 days (1 or 2 nights) gravel / forest / single track routes for solo bikepacking within 4 hours driving from Boston.

I do not want to see many cars if any. One of the reasons I'm getting into gravel riding is that I am scared of road cycling, too many distracted drivers nowadays, I can't enjoy riding if I constantly worry about the possibility of getting hit from behind.