Messages

31

General Discussion / Re: What would this be called?...

« on: August 18, 2011, 11:37:11 pm »

Very well put! I AM the journey.  Whether I go this way or that way.  Its not where I start or finish, its whats in between that counts.  I am super excited and i think I will have a blast.  I have contacted relatives and friends along my new route and they have gladly invited me to come over and visit.  I wish June 2012 would get here already!

32

General Discussion / Re: What to do with your stuff on days off??

« on: August 07, 2011, 02:13:46 am »

There have been several times on a short tour that I have actually asked for the manager on duty at a Luby's Cafeteria or Furrs Cafeteria. I wait for the manager to come to the main door (he sees my bike) and explain to him that I am hundreds of miles away from home and my whole LIFE is on that bike.  I ask if it would be possible to find me a table WAAAAY off to the side where I am out of everyone's way if I could please bring my bike in with me. (Lunch rushes are not good times to attempt this).  I explain to him that I will be quick and promise not to hang out at my table when I'm done eating.  Of the fifteen times or so that I have attempted this, I have only been turned down 3 times and gotten 2 meals "on the house"!  Most of time, its the manager HIMSELF that keeps talking to me, asking me about my trip, etc.  A couple have actually sat there with me while I eat and just chat about my tour. 

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General Discussion / Re: Planning Pacific Coast tour, need a few questions answered

« on: August 07, 2011, 01:25:04 am »

Based on what I saw out on the road, a BOB is the standard touring trailer [...] and some hate the way a trailer makes a bike handle

The BOB setup will be terrible for the way the bike handles, but it's kind of necessary to get the one-wheel arrangement that's especially needed if you go off road and do singletrack.  OTOH, my wife and I rode with the neighbor who was pulling a 2-wheeled trailer with her little daughter and was very slow, so I offered to pull the trailer.  Its pivot was right at the left side of the bike's rear axle, and I couldn't even tell the trailer was there.  I kept looking back, wondering if it had come off and fallen back.  Really.

I agree with the comment about looking back to see if the trailer had come off. I own a Burley 2-wheel trailer. At the beginning, you might feel a slight "tug" when you first take off, but after that, you forget its there. 

34

General Discussion / Re: What would this be called?...

« on: August 06, 2011, 09:34:09 am »

I mainly changed my route because after all the mapping I did from Bar Harbor, Maine heading west, I really didnt know anyone until I got to Casper, Wy.  It was basically going to be a sight-seeing venture.  But, if I start from S Tx, which is where I am from, I have family and friends in almost every major city going north that I can see and visit. Some of whom I have not seen in YEARS. I realized that visiting friends and family would make my trip more worthwhile than visiting Niagra Falls, lights of NY and the biggest, baddest roller coasters across the country.  If I head straight up north from my front door, I have friends/family in almost every major city until I get to Casper, which is where I will visit an old Troopers friend (Its a Drum and Bugle Corps that I marched with years ago) then head to Oregon, where a Blue Devils friend (whom I also marched with many years ago) lives. I haven't seen them in years! Then follow the west coast back home, which tons of my family are scattered through-out northern and southern California.  I can catch Times Square in NY, "The Rocky Steps" in Pennsylvania and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Ohio another day! LOL!   

35

General Discussion / Re: What would this be called?...

« on: August 06, 2011, 02:33:11 am »

"Loop Tour".  Cool. I like it. Now I got something to say. "I'm doing a loop tour of the western U.S." Sounds good to me! Thanks!

36

General Discussion / What would this be called?...

« on: July 31, 2011, 02:12:42 pm »

I am planning my (what was supposed to be) my cross country  trip for next May.  Was going to begin in Bar Harbor, Maine and navigate myself to San Francisco.  However, I have changed my route and decided to start at my own front door in Corpus, Christi, Tx, straight up north to casper, Wy, then nw to Oregon, then down the west coast to SF, Ca, then come back home following the west coast and ending at my own front door again in Corpus Christi, Tx.  I know thats not a cross country tour because I did not technically cross the country.  Is there a name for that kind of route? Just curious. 

37

General Discussion / Critters inside your tent?

« on: July 10, 2011, 11:12:03 pm »

I realize that there is a topic right now about bears, but I wanna ask... Has anyone ever waken up in the middle of the night and found a raccoon or possum right outside your tent or even managed to quietly make its way INTO your tent without making enough noise to wake you? I am setting sail on my first x-country tour in June of 2012, but my greatest fear is to wake up in the middle of the night and find a raccoon INSIDE my tent! Can they quietly knaw thru the material of a tent? Coming face to face with one inside my tent will scare the %#$*&^%$@#$ out of me! LOL!

38

General Discussion / Re: Cross Country Tour: Trouble with Lodging, what to do?

« on: June 11, 2011, 10:57:38 am »

Steve,

     I have never crossed the entire country, but I have been on tours that took 8 days/nights to reach our destination.  Sleeping along the way is no dif on MY tours than on your X-country tour. We had the same problem, but we rarely got turned down when asking a someone if we could use a small patch of grass to set up our tent for the night.  It did happen, though, from time to time,  but its nothing personal. The land owner just does not know you or your intentions.  If you are clean, look like you have EQUIPMENT (not junk) on your bike, and perhaps have on a cycling jersey and helmet, most people see you as "harmless". You just have to get over that "first time" of asking a stranger for a small patch of grass to set up your tent. If THAT fails you, you may have to resort to some stealth camping. We would wait till no cars were coming, then quickly tuck into a brushy area to the side of the highway. If a passing motorist saw us tucking into a brushy area, they just thought we needed to pee and never give us a second thought, let alone report us. As long as you dont jump over any fences you should be ok. Dont be afraid. This may soon become your regular routine and its not bad at all. I wish you the best and hope you get a good nights sleep tonight! 

39

General Discussion / Re: World Tour-Companions Wanted

« on: May 03, 2011, 01:14:24 pm »

If only I had the money!!!!! I have to do one country at a time... U.S., then wait a year (to save money) then Switzerland, then wait a year ( to save money). Then Ireland, then wait a year (to save money). etc. etc.

40

Routes / Re: Niagra Falls...

« on: May 02, 2011, 10:28:52 am »

@ Tourista:  I dont plan to go to Canada. Although it would be nice. And I'm sure I'll have a great time! Thanks!

@Indy:  Rainbow Hostel. I'll have to look that up. Thanks for the tip. 20 minutes is not bad, considering that thats ALL I'll be doing once I'm at NF! LOL.

41

Routes / Re: Niagra Falls...

« on: May 01, 2011, 06:53:08 pm »

Never mind, everybody! I found it! LOL. Thanks!

42

Routes / Niagra Falls...

« on: May 01, 2011, 06:48:09 pm »

Im doing my cc tour in May of 2012, starting in Bar Harbor, and going west to California.  Which ACA map would take me closest to Niagra Falls?  I know I will have to veer off the map to find NF, but I really do want to see it.  Hope someone can help. Thanks! Ron

43

General Discussion / Been working on my tour club site...

« on: April 26, 2011, 12:51:00 pm »

Its finally open.  I have 5 members already who have joined us and hopefully more will come aboard. Its still very basic but I have more enteries to put in.  Any suggestions as to what other useful information I can add? Check out my site. Let me know. Thanks! http://bigdaddycycling.org/

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General Discussion / Re: Need advice from you! (the pros)

« on: April 22, 2011, 09:48:50 am »

My I jump in? I also have a Jetboil Flash. I also bought it for about a hundred bucks.  I went back to the store where I originally bought it and found they had it on clearance for 39 dollars! They had two of them. It sucked that I did not have that cash with me, i had to go home and get it. An hour later, i went back for it and both of them were GONE! At that price, I was going to buy both. Awesome little devices. I will have to buy another one for next year's x-country tour cuz I've pretty much worn mine out, but I'm also looking at a double burner stove, very lightweight made by Coleman. Compact as well.   

45

General Discussion / Evening rides...

« on: March 29, 2011, 10:20:45 pm »

I believe that most cyclists take on the day at the very beginning. Sunrise maybe? But has anyone ever tried doing their ride in the evening? Instead of cycling in the morning, ride your 70ish miles in the evening as the day gets cooler and arrive at your destination just before sunset? I know there are the obvious (having time to fix problems while it is still early) but aside from needing time to fix problems with the day coming  to a close, is there any reason NOT to do your miles after lunch?