Messages

16

Connecting ACA Routes / Re: Looking for advice from Pittsburgh, west to TA.

« on: January 30, 2023, 01:20:08 pm »

I actually did not ride that section. I had put together a group through the Companions Wanted listings here and wound up with many responses that eventually boiled down to a group of 5 committed to the start. In the end one started earlier to go at a slower pace and never really joined the group. The two faster riders started earlier as well, with the strongest rider starting on the ocean in Virginia and the other joining him along the way. Only two of us actually started at mile 0, although the 2 faster riders did meet us at the start.

Even though I had spent over 100 hours in planning, and we had numerous online meetings, the group dynamic was not great from the start. I knew in the first days it was only a matter of time before we started to break up. My fear was that I would have one other person dependent on me and if I quit that would leave them solo. I was just not enjoying myself and the thought of 9 more weeks with the group weighed heavily on me. The night we camped at Cedar Creek I woke at 3 am and made my decision to throw in the towel rather that be unhappy and possibly develop or display a negative attitude that could impact someone else's dream. When the other riders left the trail in West Newton I rode on to Pittsburgh to the end of the GAP. Our strongest rider, Santo, who was the only one to actually complete the trip as planned, did keep a great trip log which you can find here. https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=3d2&doc_id=24120&v=Zk.

Santo and I still stay in touch and I was able to help him with some logistics and planning challenges along the route. One thing I can say from the folks I have spoken with and the trip logs that I have read, the Eastern Express is a very lonely route. If I had a chance to do it again, (still thinking about it) I would start solo on the traditional TransAm route where you could fall in with a loose group of others riders that happened to be traveling at your pace. That is what I did when I thru-hiked the AT. Unless you have completed similar challenges with a friend of family member, putting together a group of riders that stayed happy and compatible for 10 weeks would be a miracle.

17

Classifieds / Re: FS BRAND NEW Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2 tent

« on: November 27, 2022, 11:24:49 am »

That is a great tent. It is the model that I backpack and bike tour with when I am solo. I did the entire Appalachian Trail with this tent and used it will riding the TransAm Eastern Express.

18

Gear Talk / Re: tubes or tubeless for a cross-country ride??

« on: November 13, 2022, 02:57:14 pm »

I went tubeless and with 26" wheels really had few options for tubeless tires and wound up with the Surly tires - 26X44. (Schwalbe does make anything tubeless for 26"). A lot of road noise in my opinion but they handle a load great. We do a lot of rail trail so on gravel you do not notice the noise. I have had a slow chronic leak in the front and I need to tear it down to find the issue. I had new wheels built with Velocity Cliff Hangers, could just be a bad tape job on that wheel. I will let you know how hard it is to break the bead.

19

General Discussion / Re: how to lighten a load

« on: November 13, 2022, 02:49:53 pm »

Yes, I weighed it multiple times.  39.3 to be exact. It is a 52 with 26" wheels. My wife and I have the same bike and tour together and she needs 26" wheels to get stand-over clearance.  The spec without pedals was around 27.9 pounds for a 56 with 700C wheels but the real weight was closer to 29.9 out of the box. I have the Surly chromoly racks front and rear (about 3 pounds each). Went to different wheels and tubeless tires from stock and added a SON dynamo hub, but that actually saved some weight with the tubeless tires. I added double side Shimano SPD pedals. I did switch to a Brooks C17 saddle, which also required a setback seat post, and added an adjustable front stem, but that was pretty much a net equal swap. The 39.3 does include a Sinewave Beacon headlight and Schmidt tail lite which are mounted on the bike and full fenders (forget the brand but German and plastic). It also includes a mount for a Ortlieb handlebar bag, 3 water bottle racks and a Zefal Spy mirror. No kick stand but probably a frame pump in the weight.

Start adding Ortlieb panniers at 1.75 lbs. for the front and 2.1 lbs. for the rear and you are looking at over 45 lbs. before you load in your gear. Add three filled 26 oz. water bottles at 2 lbs. each and you break 50 lbs. It is the only bike purchase I have really regretted because it weighs so freaking much.

20

General Discussion / Re: how to lighten a load

« on: November 12, 2022, 11:51:43 am »

I ride a Surly Disc Trucker as well (when touring) and I am also a long distance backpacker. My bike is the heaviest part of my load when I tour, weighing in at almost 40 pounds with front and rear racks (and that is with tubeless tires)

The Trucker shines while carrying a load, but with out a load why ride a motor home when a sport sedan (carbon fiber) weighing in at 18 lbs with a small bag would more than do the trick and be fun to ride.

Sell the Trucker and get the right bike for your needs if you can afford it.

21

Gear Talk / Re: Priority Bicycle

« on: October 05, 2022, 08:09:43 pm »

the one thing that cannot be changed is stand over height, although wearing mountain bike versus road bike shoes can buy you maybe a 1/2". Almost everything else can be adjusted with swapping parts. Google how to properly measure stand over height or pay your LBS to fit you to a frame.

22

Routes / Re: Erie Canal Camping

« on: September 24, 2022, 07:08:31 am »

We did it last year in August and camped.  There are commercial campsites along the way, which is what we used. We had planned on a few lock campsites but wound up in a hotel due to heat, bugs, and thunder showers.   We were not really impressed with the canal when compared to the C&O and the GAP. It was very hot and there is no shade for many miles, since they cut down all the trees. Services were very limited (maybe due to COVID) and water was hard to find. The trail runs either parallel or in conjunction with other trails and the signage in places is vague and hard to follow as different areas refer to the trail by different names. West of Rochester was tough as the homeless were hanging out under the bridges and sleeping in the middle of the trail at one point. There is also a spot in Rochester (I think) were you get to a very scenic area with many paths and bridges but almost no signage or markings. We crossed back and forth over several bridges until a local helped get us back on course.

The state will send you a map and information if requested. We bike a lot of rail trails and we way over estimated the mileage that we would cover in a day and had to juggle our schedule. The detours can be quite hilly and I think the heat impacted us as well. I would plan a few less miles per day than normal if you are doing this in mid summer.

23

Gear Talk / Re: Rain Shell Recommendation

« on: September 15, 2022, 10:07:43 am »

Showers Pass seemed to be designed for skinny crit riders or male models and not the average "full bodied" American male. I bought 1 size up and it was way too tight and the sleeves were 6" too long.

24

General Discussion / Re: Shifting gears: I have 27 and use 4

« on: September 15, 2022, 05:40:23 am »

I always ride triples on all of my bikes.  While touring I live in the middle when loaded, until I hit the hills, then it is the small ring up and the big ring down. When not loaded I tend to ride exclusively in the big ring. I have never cursed and said; "Man I wish I had fewer gears". Yes more gears mean more complex, but the only shift component that has ever failed on me, besides cables, has been the rear derailleur. To avoid that you may want to go with a hub and belt drive.

25

Gear Talk / Re: Rain Shell Recommendation

« on: September 15, 2022, 05:28:47 am »

I bought the REI one after returning the Showers Pass due to poor fit. Really love the REI Co-op Junction Cycling Rain Jacket.
https://www.rei.com/product/175338/rei-co-op-junction-cycling-rain-jacket-mens

26

General Discussion / Re: extremely new to cycle touring

« on: September 05, 2022, 07:07:51 am »

Riding a Surly Trucker (they are only making the Disc Trucker now) is a whole different ride than the Madone. Think of the Madone as a sports car, your mountain bike as a Jeep, and the Trucker as a motor home, when it comes to ride and handling. The Trucker, and similar bikes, are designed to carry a load, but my Disc Trucker with front and rear racks weighs in at 39 lbs. My Litespeed is over 20 lbs. lighter.

If you have back packing experience you tend to think of base weight (which I call dry weight) and "wet weight" which includes food and water. When you compare the starting point of a backpack to a bike that is a huge difference. Granted, there is a mechanical advantage gained by a bike but total weight definitely matters. In addition there are a few things that you need to carry to keep you bike running that you do not carry back packing, like tubes, a pump, spare spokes, patch kit, lube, etc. When you think that my bike empty weighs more that my total pack weight for wilderness backpacking it makes you want to carefully consider you gear selection. I would buy the best you can comfortably afford - it is a balance between weight, durability, and price. This forum will help you sort out a gear list. If you can buy it, chances are someone here already owns it, has used it, and will share their opinion. Start with minimal - weight matters more the older you get.

Next, my two cents on a planned meeting at the start of a trip, going with someone you know, or meeting along the way. If you can go with someone you have ridden with or traveled with I would think that is the best choice. Putting together a group online is risky. They have a Companions Wanted list here, and you will meet great folks, but online personalities are not the same as travel personalities.

If you cannot ride with someone you know, then I would shoot for picking a well traveled route and meeting people along the way that are riding your pace. If the chemistry for friendship is there you will find a small group to ride with.

Go luck and enjoy the adventures. Do not be afraid to use this forum to get opinions and information, they are a great group with tons of experience at every level.

27

Classifieds / Re: WTB Adirondack loop paper map

« on: September 04, 2022, 12:37:59 pm »

I also found trip logs on CGOAB that would help you plot the route.

28

General Discussion / Re: GAP and C and O Toe path

« on: August 19, 2022, 04:53:04 pm »

Would love this file before I leave on 8/29! I sent my personal email to your inbox on here Thanks!

Been on the road, sorry. Just emailed it.

29

Gear Talk / Re: Click-Stand

« on: August 17, 2022, 10:57:04 am »

I have one and use it when no other options are around. Mine sits in the top of my Ortlieb handlebar bag so it is quick to get out - but no as quick as leaning against a wall. The brake loops are handy, I use mostly the front. I did have an issue with a dragging front brake on my last trip so I had backed off on the brake adjustment. I latter discovered my pannier was hitting the bake on bumpy surfaces - we were on the C&O. I finally reversed the hook on the pannier, which fixed the brake problem. While that may seem like an unrelated tangent, during that period I used the brake loop on the front brake and had to fiddle a little to get it to hold, but then rode on with the brakes partially locked. With a loaded bike on a gravel path it takes a while to realize you have some extra drag  . Anyway, you need to get the brake loops adjusted properly. I think I would add those little bungy cord brake loops to any bike just for the convivence, even when leaning a bike to not have the front wheel walk out from under the bike.

30

General Discussion / Re: GAP and C and O Toe path

« on: August 12, 2022, 04:25:33 pm »

We rode gravel roads from Bill's Place to past the Paw Paw Tunnel. The climbs were 17% grades at one point. It was steep and long but one of our group was towing a BOB Trailer. I thought the detour was awful (and I planned it) but the guy with the trailer thought it was far superior to the trail over the top of the tunnel. When he spoke to folks who took the trail it was decided that he would have had to unload his trailer and carry the bag up and them haul the bike and trailer up. I think you will suffer either way if you have a big load. Weekenders do not seem to mind the trail, but this was the start of a cross-country trip for us. I thought I was pioneering the detour but other people took it and someone said it was a published alternative route. I can send you and RWGPS file if you want it.