Messages

31

Gear Talk / Re: Shimano Nexus Teardown.

« on: December 13, 2023, 11:13:28 am »

It looks like you’ve had an extreme experience with an abused hub.  If the hub is locked up, I agree that the flats and keying washers won’t hold the axle in place.  It shouldn’t be expected to.

In normal service with a reasonably maintained hub, the axle flats and keyed washers work fine.  Nexus and Alfine hubs enjoy a reputation as reliable, durable components, and in my experience, it is deserved.  I don’t think that its failure to work when the internals are gummed up that badly, is a reason not to use one.

32

Routes / Re: Cross-Michigan tour?

« on: December 11, 2023, 09:29:39 pm »

Thanks for the info.  My group of three has decided to follow the route that Adventure Cycling follows for its organized Great Lakes group tour.

33

Youth Bicyle Travel / Re: Links to tours w/ kids

« on: November 17, 2023, 07:05:39 am »

Irode a tour with my daughter and two teen grandkids this summer: https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=3d2&doc_id=25295&v=9j

Grandson (17) said, “I knew this would be cool, but I didn’t think it would be this cool.”  We had a great time!

34

General Discussion / Re: Advice on likely my last bike

« on: November 16, 2023, 05:56:20 pm »

I recently purchased a new light touring bike.  Like OP, I don’t want (actually can’t tolerate) drop bars, but wanted a light bike with limited off road capability.  I bought a Trek FX Sport 5. It is much like a road bike but has flat bars.  I changed to north roads bars and a shorter stem with rise.  Buying a flat bar bike let me use the same controls on north roads bars.

The frame is stiff, but it is carbon, don’t know if you are ok with that. I chose the 5 over the 6 as it has alloy wheels and more spokes (32 v 28); I’m not comfortable with the carbon rims on the 6.

The bike comes with 40mm tires, good for some offroad use.

It is hard to find flat bar bikes.

I would also second reconsidering your current bike, if it meets your needs.  Maybe a refurb is all you need.  My new Trek replaces a 50 year old Raleigh, which I had refurbished and is still a capable bike for supported or credit card touring.  Well, except the Record crank needs replacing…. And my daughter just refurbished her 1990’s Cannondale road bike - turned touring bike.

And - have you considered a two wheeled recumbent? I use one for loaded epic tours.

35

General Discussion / Re: Traditional Trans America group tour

« on: November 08, 2023, 01:18:03 pm »

The problem with the harvest is, the crop has to come in 7-10 days, period.  If it doesn’t, people starve or go bankrupt.  Therefore, truckers are absolutely intolerant of any delay.  We just left the road when truckers approached.  Otherwise, I loved Kansas.

36

General Discussion / Traditional Trans America group tour

« on: November 08, 2023, 11:35:57 am »

I’ve just received the Adventure Cycling 2024 Tours catalog.  I see that the TransAm Express group tour is offered, but the traditional Trans America Trail is not.

I have my issues with the original route.  It’s too long and indirect, especially in the northwest.  It takes undesirable roads in places, mostly due to intolerant drivers and no lane space - and there are no other roads.  Virginia’s steep hills really beat me up.  And the group tour passes through Kansas during grain harvest, a formula for friction.

On the other hand, it is a beautiful route with great diversity.  I respect the tradition.  And it was the last self-supported epic tour.  I’m glad I did it, but I wouldn’t do it again.

37

Gear Talk / Re: roll up solar panel

« on: October 30, 2023, 10:33:43 pm »

Solar panels are not efficient

Depends on how much you need to charge.  As a general rule, solar panels can be made to work for low power devices like a phone or GPS (but maybe not both).  If you're taking a laptop or many devices, a solar panel might not do the job.  Compare the charge requirements of your device(s) with the output of solar panels.  And test it before you go.

Many other threads have come to the conclusion that a dynamo hub or solar panel may not be worth the trouble.  If you're road touring, you can recharge off line power most nights.  Many of us now carry a battery pack, the price of these is very reasonable and you can get several days charge from one for a phone.

38

Routes / Re: NYC to Fargo

« on: October 06, 2023, 01:02:12 pm »

On the NY (state) parts, weather will be quite variable in April and early May.  Expect some days that are downright cold and rainy.  You're experienced, so you know how to deal with it.  Maybe allow a rain day or two.

There is no one train that follows your route.  There is a parallel route from NYC to Buffalo, but no other trains until you get to Minneapolis.  Greyhound (bus) has some services that cross your path, check them.  I would not plan on using Amtrak in a hop on/off manner.  Bike spaces and train seats must be reserved, and they often sell out.

I loved taking the SS Badger across Lake Michigan, and will go again someday.

For a route from Manitowoc to Stillwater, the Wisconsin Bike Federation has cycling maps for the state.

If you ride to Milwaukee, there are nice trails most of the way across the state, to Winona Minnesota.  See the Wisconsin DNR website.  Between St. Cloud MN and Moorhead MN (Fargo), there are also nice trails.

39

Gear Talk / Re: Rear derailleur dilemma

« on: October 04, 2023, 08:53:40 am »

I do know that when I'm under load the original rear Deore derailleur doesn't shift as well as it does with no load, not sure why that would be happening, but it could be due to the unusual amount of frame flex I was getting with the 2019 Giramondo.
...
I want a derailleur that will last a very long time and shift good when under load.

Is this just because derailleurs don't really like to shift well under load, but today's derailleurs can do that - up to a point?  I learned to shift on second generation derailleurs. long ago, and still shift under low/no load.  Which is probably better for the equipment anyway.  To me, if it shifts well under no load, I'd be satisfied.

40

Connecting ACA Routes / Re: TransAmerica Sections 4 & 5. The Teton Valley Alternate to avoid Yellowstone NP

« on: September 30, 2023, 10:14:36 pm »

Teton pass is a challenging climb, grade-wise.  But older posts do not state that on the eastern side, the old highway has been made into a lovely trail, paved even, to the summit.  I passed there westbound in 2022.  At that time, it looked like a trail was under construction on the west slope as well, but it might have been some other construction.  You can use local roads as you approach Victor, and there is a parallel path along ID 33 between Victor and Driggs.

I rather would not need to avoid Yellowstone, but this isn’t a bad ride.

41

General Discussion / Re: Barge and Bike in the USA?

« on: September 19, 2023, 08:37:44 pm »

C&O is not a complete canal.  There are only a few short sections that are watered. There may be boats on the major rivers, e.g. Mississippi, Misouri, Ohio?

42

Routes / Cross-Michigan tour?

« on: August 05, 2023, 09:18:28 am »

On a recent tour someone recommended a group tour that crosses the lower peninsula of Michigan in an east-west direction.  I can’t find such a ride on the web.  I seem to remember reading about such a tour in the past.  Any hints?

43

Routes / Re: Alternative route from Rawlins to Jeffry City WY

« on: July 30, 2023, 08:26:55 pm »

I thought the TA route via Muddy Gap was fine.  The shoulders were wide and grades manageable.

You gave your age, but not your experience or training.  There are a lot of places in that part of the world where you should be prepared to ride 70 mile days.  I regularly rode 70+ mile days on the TA at age 70, so age alone is not the determining factor.

Have a great trip.

44

General Discussion / Re: Barge and Bike in the USA?

« on: July 30, 2023, 08:15:56 pm »

I haven’t heard of those plans in the US, but you might put together your own trip with a rental boat.  Maybe members of your group could take turns piloting the boat?  Erie Canal Adventures near Rochester NY rents boats.  I think that there are other companies too.

45

Gear Talk / Re: Most compact UL down quilt or sleeping bag?

« on: July 26, 2023, 08:10:06 pm »

Using a compression sack helps a lot with reducing volume.