Messages

46

Gear Talk / Re: Tubeless Tour Experiences . . .

« on: February 05, 2021, 10:38:50 am »

I have 35mm tubeless tires on my touring bike. I have not done a tour yet on this bike, but have several years use as an all-around bike, grocery shopping, etc. No flats, but I wonder if I had a flat and sealant sealed tire and I didn't know it. Recently, I put a tube in rear tire. Tire was losing seal, and I got tired of going to bike shop and having them remount tire. No problem with front tire. Both front and rear wheels have Schwalbe Marathon Supreme tires on Bontrager Tubeless Ready 36-hole rims. I have a Schwalbe Tire Booster; didn't do the job. Needed compressor to mount tire.     

"Yep" on the compressor - but I just bought a small compressor at harbor Freight (100 psi) and it works great. Recently replaced my tubeless Schwalbe PRO Ones with the new configuration of that tire and had to break and reseal the tubeless tires for the first time. Based on a lot of research I got the new tires on my MAVIC rims , removed the valve core and used a compressor to get the tires against the sidewalls. Then after the air let out, I inserted 2 oz of ORANGE sealant with the valve stem at 5:00 position, re-inserted the Presti valve and used a basic floor pump to pump up the tires to 80 pounds. worked perfectly - no mess, no fuss. I love them.

47

Gear Talk / Re: Tubeless Tour Experiences . . .

« on: February 04, 2021, 10:29:23 pm »

The dark side would be carbon frames but that is another subject altogether.
I intend to tour on tubeless Compass tires this year after loving them on local rides last year. 45 psi @ 35 mm and oh so comfy, more rubber on the road for safety and just as fast as any other tire.

Thanks - didn't mean to imply using a carbon frame for a cross country - just asking about the tubeless.

48

Routes / Re: Too old to solo the Southern Tier? . . .

« on: February 03, 2021, 01:20:49 pm »

I am 67 and have done several parts of the Southern Tier, as well as the entire Pacific Coast. My buddy that I ride with is 74, and he is an animal on the climbs. He has done the complete Southern Tier and Pacific Coast twice, Northern Tier, Trans-Am  as well as many other extended, long mileage tours. We are doing a month of riding in another section of the Southern Tier in Texas beginning in the middle of March. The only goal at our is age is enjoying the ride, getting from Point A to Point B every day that we ride, and being flexible enough to adjust our mileage and route to fit our needs for that day. If we feel like doing a slow, short mileage day, we do it. And we usually tent camp, with an occasional motel or cabin. One adaptation we have made to our camping & sleeping on the ground is that we now use Helinox cots. They are very comfortable & gets us off the ground. Not flimsy, very sturdy and only weigh about 1.5 pounds more than our blow-up air mattresses.

Perfect feedback . . .
Thank you, my friend.

Rick

49

Routes / Re: Too old to solo the Southern Tier? . . .

« on: February 03, 2021, 08:41:00 am »

We plan on doing a modified TranAm east to west in 2022 or 2023. I am 68 now. My wife and I typically tour every summer, as vacation allows, but have been doing that on gravel on mountain bikes.

I Hiked the AT in 2007 and ran into thru hikers in their 70's and that, I believe, is a more challenging endeavor. Being older to me means that you have learned to overcome many things and are probably used to dealing with some kind of daily pain or discomfort. The 20 and 30 somethings had a harder time on the AT than the older guys when it came to slogging out the constant 15 miles a day to stay on target to summit before Kathadin closed for the winter.

You will be fine, to me is is 60% mental stamina. If you have the time and the money you can take extra rest days, which you need to build into your schedule and take before you absolutely need them to recharge. Especially on the Southern Tier, post COVID, where services can be limited. Taking a zero in a hotel with access to services is better than taking a  zero in a tent in the rain in the middle of nowhere.

Thanks for that.
You make some good points -
 -Indeed, my new normal involves more aches and pains than heretofore, but it is, well . . . , normal.
 -As a society we certainly are addicted to urgency these days (Thanks, Amazon . . .) and younger people don't seem to have patience
  where I often find some reassurance in the process.
 -True that on rest days. I do plan to camp many days - I like that challenge, but have the means to use a hotel when an option - that could be a great equalizer it seems - hot showers are a youth serum for me.

Had not thought about the reduction in services due to Covid - they were scarce as is. Will have to research that as people set out on the trek this year.

Thanks, again.

Rick

50

Gear Talk / Tubeless Tour Experiences . . .

« on: February 02, 2021, 08:34:02 pm »

I have crossed over to the dark side and love my tubeless Schwalbe's on my carbon Endurance bike (Cannondale Synapse) for normal local riding (up to 100 miles)..

Anyone have experience using tubeless configurations on a tour like the Southern Tier? Interested in how many flats you had ( I have a fair idea of nominal tubed flats on that tour) and if you had to insert a tube to get you to the next stopover?

What tire/rim combinations and what sizes?

Many Thanks.

Rick

51

Routes / Too old to solo the Southern Tier? . . .

« on: February 02, 2021, 07:57:06 pm »

A serious question . . .
I started riding two years ago at 69 and did the Bike Across Kansas (508 miles) in 2019 . . . and, Kansas is NOT flat. Longest day was 85 miles - very windy here.
I did ground camp on that tour although it was well supported with SAG stops.

I want to do the Southern Tier solo next March, West to East to celebrate 30 years of sobriety.
At 72 am I beyond the normal cycle tour crazy?
I believe if you just keep pedaling and forget about speed you can make it. There were people who rode the BAK I swear you would think could not walk across the street, but they just kept pedaling and finished every day.
i will be buying a touring bike with appropriate gearing for the climbs.

This tour has just captured my imagination and think it would be a daily challenge and daily accomplishment.
Just riding anywhere is a risk so I don't consider this trek as exceptional from  risk standpoint.

Know of any old dudes who have solo'd the Southern Tier? Or, maybe you are one?

52

Routes / Re: Oldest Self-Supported Cyclist on the Transam ?

« on: February 02, 2021, 07:42:58 pm »

Exactly the question I wanted to ask - only for the Southern Tier.
I started riding two years ago at 69 and did the Bike Across Kansas (508 miles) in 2019 . . . and, Kansas is NOT flat. Longest day was 85 miles - very windy here.
I did ground camp on that tour.

I want to do the Southern Tier solo next March, West to East to celebrate 30 years of sobriety.
At 72 am I beyond the normal cycle tour crazy?
I believe if you just keep pedaling and forget about speed you can make it. There were people who rode the BAK I swear you would think could not walk across the street, but they just kept pedaling and finished every day.

Any old dudes who have solo'd the Southern Tier?