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Messages - kd_ca

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1
Routes / Re: How many people ride the Northern Tier each year?
« on: October 06, 2024, 12:50:48 pm »
Having recently ridden in central asia (Kyrgyzstan etc), in my limited observation, the decline in bike "touring" is specific to USA.

I met and saw many Europeans (Brits, Germans, Belgians, Swiss and overwhelming majority French) starting their rides from their front doors in Europe, riding across Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, the "Stans", towards China and Mongolia with intended trip completion destinations in Kyrgyzstan or SE Asia.  Ran into a few Australians riding the route reverse.  Most of their rigs were sub $1000, 2x or 3x drivetrains, with the most expensive components being their pannier bags (which a few had acquired used).  The well heeled amongst them had the $2K+ bikes and 1x drive trains.

Met two guys who were biking towards Mongolia and hoping to make Lake Baikal or Yakutsk before winter set in.  One had his sight on Magadan, Russia (eastern Siberia) and I hope for his sake he makes it.  It takes 2 weeks to get Russia visa.  Only thing is bring US Dollars, not Euros.  ATM and credit cards do not work in Russia at the moment

Age group of those I met early 20s to mid-30s. A few oldies like myself, but we were the minority. A few young women doing the route solo.  Everybody was riding self supported and often solo, without satellite phones or SIM cards. Internet access they acquired when they checked into a hostel or home stay. Overwhelming reliance on offline maps from maps.me, since google maps is quite deficient (missing quite a few valid routes) in those geographic areas.   

The roads outside the main capital cities are at parity or worse than official fire trails in US.  Its a peanut butter mud show when it rains or snows.  All riders noted drivers of cars and trucks didn't care to share the road with bicyclist, whether you were in Turkey, Iran or in the Stans.  Cars and trucks belch thick pollution and you can often taste half burnt fuel.  Drivers pass within a foot or two of your elbow.  There is no highway patrol or 911 to call even if you had cell phone connectivity.  Hospitals or health care facilities are a rarity outside capital cities.  You will probably bleed out before timely aid can be rendered.

Most riders wild camped often as it appears to be permitted / tolerated in these countries.   At higher elevations, you keep yourself warm by burning horse or cow dung (bring poop gloves).  Sometime mountain melt caused these waist high water crossings across roads: wait until after sunset when melting activity is lower and water levels drop to knee levels making crossing easier.  The water is ice cold no matter time of day or night.  Nights are punctuated with vocals from wolves who are never too far away and the visiting wild horses that are annoyed with humans camping on their turf.  Your self defense weapons are stones and your gut instincts.

When I talked to them about riding in Americas (North or South), they didn't have interest due to expenses (travel, visa, daily expenses) and impression of the Americas being unsafe.  I estimated their daily budgets of an average of $10 - $15 a day, including food, in Aug / Sep 2024; its a rough living but not unhealthy.  Many fly budget airline Pegasus that charges for drinking water !!!

GI sickness when in the Stans was not uncommon with few travellers being spared. 

I could have done a better job organizing the thoughts from my experience, but then I would probably never get around to sharing.  My point is old style (without satellite phones or internet connectivity, tires with tubes, and using simplistic bicycles) Bike touring is very much alive, unfortunately you will have to travel outside the US to experience the joy of observing others indulging in this wonderful activity. 


 

2
General Discussion / Re: Updated ACA website and 5 year plan
« on: July 31, 2024, 09:50:38 pm »
I really wish ACA would make some type of year "State of the Union" report which shows the results of the annual survey, the number of maps (digital and paper) sold for each route, number of riders, etc.  I also think it would be nice if the annual report included more "touring" questions, i.e. have you gone on a tour this past year, what kind (self, group, supported, etc) where, how long, # of partners, lodging preference, "things I wish ACA did", etc.  All we get now is maybe info on where they are going, not the how and why.

Tailwinds, John

Couldn't agree more.  If one wants to be supported in this day & age, one has to demonstrate the necessity. 

On a separate note, last year I used ACA maps (android) for Western Express and parts of the mid-west.  I found ACA maps lacking on locations for restocking (grocery stores) and shelter (camping, churches).  Warmshowers and asking locals was more helpful, to me.

3
General Discussion / Re: Updated ACA website and 5 year plan
« on: July 31, 2024, 06:58:05 pm »
Could it be that ACA is no longer relevant to the next generation of bike packers / tourers ? Looking at ACA routes vs those from bikepacking.com and those I've met on the road, I get the impression ACA is now primarily for older crowd ??

4
The answer to almost any "is it worth it?" question is another question.  Is it worth it to you?

What are you looking for?  What excites you?  Can you afford it?  Would it be worth a couple months of your time to add "rode the GDMBR" to your bragging rights?

Thank you for adding the perspective of "bragging rights". Helps me now add it to my considerations when I am considering routes. 

5
If you feel like passing me information, I would love to exchange with you (maybe privately that's better). I am starting the planning for San Diego - Baja California. Then I want to skip Mexico because it scares me. Guatemala to Panama. And after Colombia to Chile. If we are still alive and well (I am 64 years old...) I will fly to Beijing and back to Venice on the Silk Road.

For Equador, best to avoid for now. My wife and I met some refugees a month ago in North or South Carolina. They told us that we whites (read gringos) are easily kidnapped. They clearly told us to avoid.

Rooting for Ecuador to stabilize by next year, just so that the selfish me can ride my bike there.  I did meet some Argentinians last month that had come through Ecuador and said they didn't have problems. I couldn't reconcile how they came through with the border situation.

Seem like you are undertaking an epic trip from Beijing.  Doubt I have the tenacity and patience to put up with the Chinese control of foreigners in their country, from all the accounts I've read.  You can't even bike within X miles of their borders, must travel on bus.

Last year I met a German couple (in their early 80s) in Middlegate NV doing the Western Express. Anyone who has done the Western Express likely remembers Middlegate on Hwy 50 in NV .  So don't give up hope just yet !!

6
General Discussion / Re: COPA Airlines Bicycle fee $177
« on: June 05, 2024, 03:12:51 pm »
I'm learning to decipher these airline luggage lingo. 

I'll be catching a flight to central Asia on Emirates + FlyDubai where they don't charge for luggage that meets the included allowance (number of pieces, weight & dimensions). Bike Box at 101 inches exceeds the included allowance of 62 inch dimensions, but is within the 23kg weight limit and 118 inch dimension limit, so I will have to pay extra for the oversize bike box. My return will be FlyDubai+Emirates, so need to check FlyDubai's fees too.





7
Hi @kd_ca,
If you want to hear my opinion too, voila.

In South America I did only two days on the Peru Divide (but I want to come back next year) due to illness. I did Carretera and Tierra del Fuego. As well as a 6000 m volcano and the Salkantay Trek. In the U.S. I didn't do the GDMBR, but I visited about 45 states, rode the West Coast, the Southern Tier and the East Coast. In Utah and Colorado many passes with road bikes.

GDMBR vs. the American South? Impossible comparison, I love the West of the U.S., but it can never compare to the beauty of the Andean Cordillera, the culture and the people you meet there.

Is it worth doing the GDMBR? If you don't know where to go anymore, if you want to have a top-notch sports performance, if you want to see among the most beautiful views in North America, the answer is yes.

And with my answer I hope I am not too insulted....

Not at all insulted.  Thank you for taking the time to provide honest input, as it really helps me make a decision.  I've been trying to inform myself on GDMBR as it seemingly gets the most coverage on social media. Its good to hear input from another with experience in both geographical area.  Looks like I'll save GDMBR for the very end of my biking adventures.  Next stop Tajikistan & Kyrgyzstan. 

I "loved" Northern Peru (Cajamarca to Huaraz, including Huascaran loop and Tablachaca river valley) the best, on my Peru, Chile & Argentina rides. Didn't do any hiking / trekking as my mind tells me you are on ride or a hike but not both.  Part of my gauge is how often I take pictures / video to share with friends & family.  East of Conococha, (Peru Divide),  I was lucky if I felt like taking more than 1 pic a day, especially after having come from the North (IMO, out of this world, not enough SD card storage, and the Quechuan villagers are so Tranquilo).   Will be going back next year, if the Ecuadoran land borders are open again.




8
In the last 9 months have completed most of Northern Peru, criss-crossed the passes between Chile and Argentina down to Ushuaia, in the Andes mountain routes and often in the 14K to 16K ft elevation range.

Am thinking of the GDMBR but am curious if anyone has done these S. American routes and how it compares to the GDMBR ?

9
General Discussion / COPA Airlines Bicycle fee $177
« on: June 02, 2024, 03:24:12 pm »
Been doing some international bike touring and feel like COPA Airlines charges quite a bit for bicycle fee.  When I bought ticket online and checked out their website about sports luggage etc, no mention of the $177 fee.  Bike box was 22Kg (under < 23kg limit), Lima Peru back to USA. 

2023 Dec LATAM charged me $80 for bicycle fee from Santiago Chile back to USA and their charge was indicated on their website .  I have no issue with upfront disclosures.


10
General Discussion / Re: Bike Box for travel
« on: May 31, 2024, 11:54:08 am »
My local REI sells cardboard bike boxes for $25.  I hope other REIs do the same.  Dimensions are : 62" x 34" x 11".  After some disassembly (pedals, seat, rear rack, rear derailleur) my Bacchetta Giro 20 ATT recumbent fits.  Finally a bike box that fits my SWB recumbent.   At 107" combined it is within the American Airline limit of 115".  Yahooooo!  Pacific Coast Route here I come!

The bigger / sturdier the box, the heavier it is. Are you still under the 50lb limit ?

11
General Discussion / Re: GDMBR cell phone company ?
« on: April 20, 2024, 10:23:17 pm »
As far as I'm aware, US providers do not offer roaming on their prepaid plans.  If you have a post-paid plan, then you get roaming.  In rural US areas, the main providers are Verizon and AT&T.  Look at coverage maps of each provider and see what works for you.

12
Routes / Re: 3-4 month USA 2024
« on: August 07, 2023, 03:18:42 pm »
Consider adding the Western Express to your choices.  It might have more elevation gain and be a little more formidable than the other choices you have listed, but is worth it, IMO.

13
General Discussion / Re: ShipBikes is back!
« on: July 20, 2023, 07:34:27 pm »

Southwest Airlines web page currently says this (https://www.southwest.com/help/baggage/special-baggage-sports-equipment): Bicycles over 100 pounds in weight and 81 inches in total dimensions cannot be checked as baggage and can only be shipped as Cargo if the Customer is a known Shipper.

Is this new? It’s hard to get a bicycle in 80 inches or less. Their 80-inch rule eliminates Southwest for me.

I flew last week and in Boston, the checkin counter did not weigh or measure the box, only asked for payment credit card and asked me to put it on a large trolley at the end of the checkin counter.  I got the bike box from a bike shop (so I am assuming its a standard size bike box) and it had dimensions of 58 x 30 x 9 , 35lbs .  No issue checking in. 

I've heard Alaska Airlines is also friendly to bike boxes but don't have first hand experience to share.

14
General Discussion / Re: ShipBikes is back!
« on: July 20, 2023, 01:48:38 pm »
Getting bike box to the airport wasn't a problem.  Bike box was 58 x 30 x 9 , 35lbs and fit in a car with back seats down.  Easily managed on a luggage trolley at airport.

Bikeflights website quoted me Ground (7 days) at $176 , 2 - 3 day Air at $350 and 1 - 2 Day Air at $468.

In my case, Southwest fee of $75 and bike traveled with me on the same flight was an easy choice

15
General Discussion / Re: ShipBikes is back!
« on: July 18, 2023, 02:01:56 pm »
Southwest Airlines allow a bike in a bike box as one of two the checked bags that is included in your fare.  They charge $75 due to dimensions exceeding 62 inch limit.

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