Messages

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General Discussion / Re: Starting the TA in mid August...

« on: March 16, 2014, 03:34:36 pm »

After some consideration, I have changed my departure date AND my direction. I will now be leaving about early to mid August and will be starting in SF (instead of mid May, leaving from the east coast).  I hate to push it back three months but thats ok. I am not locked down to any certain time that I have to leave or return. I come and go as I please. In place of my original plan, I will be doing a nice shake-down ride to San Antonio, about 140 mile (one-way) ride. That should eat up about a week of my 3 month wait. 

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General Discussion / Re: San Juans WA > San Fransisco CA. Any takers?

« on: March 14, 2014, 10:25:12 pm »

Wish I could find a partner like this for MY cross country ride in August! Good luck! Hope you're having a blast!

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General Discussion / Re: Starting the TA in mid August...

« on: March 08, 2014, 01:16:09 pm »

Thanks for your feedback.  I think I know what im going to do. Looks like changing my direction is the best thing. Maybe even shoot for the beginning of August instead of middle. The 2 weeks may help a bit. Now, is the sun in your eyes THAT much of a problem going w to e? Oh well.

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General Discussion / Starting the TA in mid August...

« on: March 05, 2014, 07:05:42 pm »

I have decided to push my ride back a few weeks, basically just for the sake of saving a little more cash.  If I were to start the TA on the east coast in mid August, then (in Colorado) catch the western express into SF, what kind of trouble will i run into, weather-wise? Is this a bad idea?  Will I run into severe cold? Severe heat? Would anyone vote against this?

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General Discussion / Re: Trikes and rumble strips...

« on: June 25, 2013, 02:53:04 pm »

Yes, I did take  look at the website.Some of those really look good. I Love the option for a windbreaker! Wish I could put one on my Cannondale. But the investigation is not over. Im seriously looking into that one. Thanks for the hook-up to the site. Lets see what happens.

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General Discussion / Re: Trikes and rumble strips...

« on: June 24, 2013, 11:05:14 pm »

Im starting to think that a trike may not be what we want. I really don't want to deal with those things. They are great life savers but im sure a real pain when cycling. I am going to look at the Easy Racers Gold Rush and the Tour Easy. Im not sure if they are trikes or not but two wheel recumbents are still a possibility.

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General Discussion / Re: Trikes and rumble strips...

« on: June 23, 2013, 06:05:58 pm »

Thank you very much for that much needed info! I will certainly check out that site and to be honest... even though a trike sounds good, I really don't want to deal with the hassles of rumble strips. I'm ok on an upright, no medical reasons or severe enough body pain to HAVE to change. It was just a thought. BUT, I will certainly look into a two wheel recumbent. That is still a possibility. Thanks for this valuable info! Getting on it right now!

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General Discussion / Re: Trikes and rumble strips...

« on: June 22, 2013, 11:25:45 pm »

Thanks for the input! I do notice them all over, even on the roads that I ride my upright on and that's why I was wondering if they would be a pain on a trike. Ive never had a trike and have no experience with this.  I'm still weighing the pros and cons. I may or may not end up converting. But thanks for the heads up that they could possibly be annoying, at least some of the time.

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General Discussion / Trikes and rumble strips...

« on: June 21, 2013, 10:55:01 pm »

My partner and I are in the process of putting together an east to west tour next summer, 2014. Now with 10 months before our departure date, we started throwing around the idea of converting to recumbent trikes. I have looked into them, but I still don't know which are the nicer models and which are "no-ways"(any input would be greatly appreciated). But my concern is, if we were to convert, do the rumble strips here in the US get in the way with the two wheels?  Or is it better to get an in-line style of recumbent?

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General Discussion / Re: Pronounciation...

« on: June 14, 2013, 07:59:31 pm »

Oh then... I guess I'll just call them "those-bags-that-go-on-the-racks-that-are-mounted-on-both-sides-of-the-front-and-rear-wheels-that-carry-all-your-stuff-when-you're-a-long-way-from-home".

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General Discussion / Pronounciation...

« on: June 14, 2013, 12:34:12 pm »

I apologize if this is not where it is supposed to be, but im wondering... I have heard the word "panniers" pronounced several different ways. eg... pan-NIERS, PAN-iers, pani-AYES. Is there more than one way to pronounce this word and still be correct? I can go to one bike shop here in my city and have the attendant call it one thing, then go to another store 3 blocks down and have that attendant call it something else, then go to REI 2 hrs from my home and that attendant will call it something different than the other two. Any input?

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General Discussion / Re: Anyone know about Steven P.?

« on: May 26, 2013, 10:13:46 pm »

Thanks John... Will do. Yes thats the last time I ever heard from him.  Havent heard from him since. But I'll try to reach him there. Thanks!

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General Discussion / Anyone know about Steven P.?

« on: May 25, 2013, 12:00:01 pm »

Does anyone here know the whereabouts of Steven P? He is the cyclist that did a cross country tour in 2011.  He was very heavy into drugs and turned his life around and was starting a book.  Does anyone here actually know him? I tried to reach him sometime back after he sent me an email to check up on my weight loss but I never got a reply.  Just hoping he did not fall off the wagon again.  His last activity here was in late 2011. 

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General Discussion / Re: Doin' it well

« on: May 25, 2013, 08:00:02 am »

Dear Whit... I am a "born-again" cyclist. I had not done any real cycling since my younger years. Now, at 46, I am starting all over and planning a cross country ride for 2014. But even in my day, I always belived in "stopping before you hate it". There is a difference between a challenge and being miserable. Its no fun if its no fun. If you really are miserable, then stop. That doesnt mean QUIT. That just means do some re-planning, figure out what went wrong and give it another shot. You did good by stopping before it got to the point where you start thinking "Ahhh, to HELL with this!" The weather can be a brutal thing and can make you sick. Its better you got a cold and ended the trip rather than pressed on and got neumonia. 250 miles is alot of miles and the fact that you started the trip alone is impressive.  You have not quit until you quit. I think however, you will be returning to the road before too long and more determined than ever!

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Gear Talk / Re: Bio Lite Stove...

« on: May 22, 2013, 03:49:28 am »

I took a drive to San Antonio today. About a two hr drive from my hometown. I went especially to visit the REI store there. I found the Bio Lite. They had a couple in stock. I was so tempted to take it.  Oops... let me re-phrase that...  I was so tempted to BUY it, LOL. But I just cound not justify spending 130 bucks on this stove. It has a little weight to it but its not really more than a Jet Boil system. However, I think now that Im home, I am regreting NOT buying it. I did a little research into it and found that most small gadgets can be charged in a normal time but larger items take a LONG time. But one thing I really DO like about it is the optional grill, which does not weigh much either. And since I am not traveling alone next summer, I can carry the stove and my female friend can carry the grill. Or actually both combined are not exceedingly heavy when packed away in a pannier. I might change my mind about this and purchase next week. Ill give you guys a report if I do. And thanks for the tip on the other stove... Im going over there right now to take a look at it.