Messages

16

Gear Talk / Re: Tubeless Tired Stock Touring Bikes?

« on: July 07, 2017, 09:16:42 pm »

Bike tourers are a conservative lot.  Tubeless hasn't really caught on much with us yet, as there are disadvantages as well.  Is tubeless a high priority need for you?  Make sure you carry an inner tube or two.

IMO there are much more important selection criteria, such as comfort, low enough gearing, comfort, carrying capacity, comfort, stability, comfort, reliability, comfort...

17

Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / Northern Tier, Section 10, map131, 2016-2017: Detour

« on: July 07, 2017, 09:06:46 pm »

The Erie Canal Trail is closed in the vicinity of East Hernietta Rd. (NY 15A).  The trail is closed for replacement of the highway bridge which the trail passes under.  There is a posted detour on streets with moderate traffic.

The detour is scheduled to continue into the fall of 2017.

18

Gear Talk / Re: Advice for long underwear while riding?

« on: June 29, 2017, 02:19:56 pm »

... Gotta watch for the ice patches.

Winter riding is a topic unto itself.  I will strongly advise use of studded snow tires.

19

Gear Talk / Re: Advice for long underwear while riding?

« on: June 26, 2017, 09:09:08 pm »

I find that taking only three items of lower body clothing works for all conditions at freezing or above: cycling shorts, long cycling tights and nylon wind pants.  Below 45f in the rain, your exposure time might be limited to an hour or two, so if you won't have any place to warm up, take another layer or heavy rain pants.

20

ACA Mobile Route Apps / Re: Route Directions

« on: May 30, 2017, 12:14:51 am »

Some people like the map, others like turn-by-turn.  Personally, I much prefer the map.  On the paper maps, I only use the narrative when there are a lot of turns in a small space, e.g. Downtown Cleveland.  The ability to zoom negates that need, for me.  But I understand that some don't get on well with maps.

21

ACA Mobile Route Apps / Re: App Download process and update plans

« on: May 30, 2017, 12:08:46 am »

I finally took time to try out the free section.  In all, I find it easy and intuitive to use.  I have general comments.  All are from testing on iPad Mini 2.

1. Is there a way to lock it from rotating? I found myself unintentionally rotating when I meant to zoom.  Of course you'd want or need to rotate for north-south routes.
2. Unlike most online maps, you continue to display town names and route numbers when zooming in. YESSS!  It makes me nuts when I have to zoom back out to see what town I'm in.
3. OTOH, you have roads in white, like most online maps.  Thumbs down on that, they effectively become unreadable when zoomed out.
4. When using Open Cycle Map as source, the print is too small to read on my iPad Mini.
5. I think I'd vote for the one app, multiple maps approach.  I'm likely to own sections on more than one map set, as I live on the Northern Tier but will tour on other routes.

And here's another wish for the NT map set!

Good work so far.

22

Routes / Re: Looking for a 5-6 days 30 miles a day ride suggestion: New England

« on: May 10, 2017, 09:02:22 am »

Last that I knew (2014), some of the Rubel maps were out of print.  The publisher had personal problems and didn't have time to republish. We were able to find the western and eastern maps, but not the central.

They are excellent maps, showing all local roads and grades.

23

Routes / Re: Recommendation needed for Long Island/ NY

« on: May 09, 2017, 07:28:13 pm »

Using state routes is probably due to control over road conditions.  If they use other roads, they probably have to get maintenance of service agreements with the road's owner.

24

Routes / Re: Recommendation needed for Long Island/ NY

« on: May 08, 2017, 11:11:55 am »

9W through Rockland County was challenging, but doable.  The rest of Bike Route 9, from Albany to Bear Mountain Bridge is ok, as is 9W in New Jersey.  But that's not where the OP is headed.  He's going east to Port Jeff and taking the ferry to CT.

I've found most of the NY bike routes to be good rides, but each tends to have a few spots I'd avoid.  Bike 5 is good except for through Rochester and between Albany and Schenectady.  I wouldn't be too optimistic about Bike 24, cycling in Nassau County on highways generally stinks.  Compared to, say the Finger Lakes, the Adirondacks or Wisconsin.

25

Routes / Re: Recommendation needed for Long Island/ NY

« on: May 08, 2017, 09:38:27 am »

The NYC Bicycle Map will get you out of JFK and to Nassau County. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bicyclists/bikemaps.shtml

The interactive online map from NYState DOT will get you to Port Jeff.  Go to https://www.dot.ny.gov/bicycle/mapsand click Use The Map.

There's a bike route north from Massapequa.  I think the red line running east is Bike 24.

26

Routes / Re: Border crossings on Northern Tier (Buffalo, Niagara Falls)

« on: April 25, 2017, 12:16:08 pm »

Enhanced driver licenses are being phased out, check with customs before you rely on them.

27

Routes / Re: Border crossings on Northern Tier (Buffalo, Niagara Falls)

« on: April 25, 2017, 09:45:04 am »

Another advantage of the passport card is, you leave the passport itself at home so it can't get lost.

28

General Discussion / Re: Interested in 'electric assist' touring?

« on: April 25, 2017, 09:40:03 am »

The first thing I would ask the assist unit's vendor is about the charge capacity.  Does your unit have enough capacity to give you the required boost for the 3-5 hours that it will take to climb some of those passes?  Will you need to carry a spare battery?  Will the motor overheat at the required power for long periods of use?

Also, what usage strategy do they recommend?  I'm guessing here, but would imagine that optimum use is somewhere in the middle power range. 

For another rider's experience, see https://bicyclelife.topicwise.com/doc/?o=1mr&doc_id=9261&v=3QJ.

29

Routes / Re: Best/easiest route from the Pacific to Michigan

« on: April 20, 2017, 12:36:04 pm »

We almost always microplan the first and last days.  One option at the start is to ride to Bayview State Park, it's a short day from Anacortes.

The shortest way  from Michigan UP is to cross Mackinac and use North Lakes to go south around Lake Huron, across southern Ontario, then use the Northern Tier to Palmyra NY, then Erie Canal to Albany and NY Bike 9 to NYC.  The ride into metro NY is actually a decent ride, you don't enter the urban area until you cross the George Washington Bridge, then there's a bike trail down the west side of Manhattan.  Two blocks to Penn Station if you're taking Amtrak out, or consult the NYC Bike Map (online) for routing to JFK or LaGuardia.  Actually Newark is probably a better choice, though riding through Jersey City etc. will take some careful route planning.

30

Routes / Re: Border crossings on Northern Tier (Buffalo, Niagara Falls)

« on: April 20, 2017, 12:26:52 pm »

In response to the liquor question, we once told Canada Customs, "Six ounces of rum in a Nalgene bottle."  Agent smiled.  But then again, she was already smiling about the stuffed Marvin the Martian on the handlebars of a recumbent tandem.  Under a certain volume is allowed.