Messages

571

Gear Talk / Re: Uncomfortable seats

« on: December 16, 2010, 01:13:15 pm »

See http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=RrzKj&doc_id=6231&v=2q for an article comparing recumbents to diamond frames.

BTW, being seen on a recumbent isn't an issue, in actual practice.  I wouldn't ride a low racer in traffic.  And some of them sit higher than others.

572

Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / Adirondak Park Loop, Map 3 - 2009

« on: September 08, 2009, 12:44:51 pm »

Grist Mill Rd., near Stony Creek, NY is closed for construction and is impassible (Sept 09).  The marked detour adds about 4 miles to the route.

The bridge is being replaced.  I could find no projected completion date on the web.  At this time, the old bridge is removed and the new one is being prepared for concrete pour (rebar in place).  I would guess it will reopen sometime during 2010.

573

Connecting ACA Routes / Minnesota Beeline

« on: May 28, 2007, 11:17:37 pm »

In 2005, we rode from Fargo ND to Winona MN via the trails that parallel I-94.  We chose to do this rather than using the AC Northern Tier for 1) more trail mileage and 2) to visit Minneapolis.  Our route was:
- CR54 to Fergus Falls
- Central Lakes and Lake Wobegon Trails to St. Cloud
- County roads and suburban trails to Minneapolis
- Streets and trails through Minneapolis
- County and state highways to Cannon Falls
- Cannon Valley Trail to Red Wing
- Highways to Winona

We liked this routing.  Have any of you used it?

AC's routing via the southern option is about 440 miles.  We didn't take the shortest route possible so we rode 460.  We enjoyed the trails and a day off in the city.  There is a decent network of trails and good bike maps for getting through Minneapolis.

574

Connecting ACA Routes / Northern Tier to Boston

« on: May 28, 2007, 10:55:43 pm »

Bike 5 across NY is mostly a pretty good route.  I recommend not using it in two places; the Bike 5 routing is on very busy roads with no shoulders in these spots:
* Rochester: take the (paved) Canal Trail between Long Pond Rd. in Greece and Pittsford.
* Albany area: take the Mohawk-Hudson Trail (also paved) between Schenectady and Cohoes or Albany.  It's a few miles farther.

Presuming an eastbound routing, you can take the Northern Tier to Palmyra, then get on Bike 5.

I'll follow up later with one route that a friend used between Cohoes and Newburyport MA.

575

Urban Cycling / commuting by bike

« on: June 06, 2007, 12:28:42 am »

Try riding partway.  At my previous job I lived 22 miles away; I drove far enough to ride the last 8 miles.  At my new job, I'll be driving 23 and cycling 11, instead of driving 31.

It stretches your gasoline and gives you a workout, without spending four hours a day riding and changing clothes.

576

Urban Cycling / what bike do you use for pure urban ridin'?

« on: June 06, 2007, 12:24:30 am »

Back in my wedgie days, I commuted on a '73 Raleigh International (pretty lugged 531 frame, mostly campy) that I adulterated into a commuter bike.  I changed to a split shift to give me drag racing gears, randonneur bars, short Weinmann sidepulls.  Added fenders, converted to clinchers (27x1 1/8 front, 27 x 1 1.4 rear - I'm 220#).  Of late, I've replaced the wheels with 700Cx28s.

But that's not what I came to talk about.

I want to convert this bike into an urban assault vehicle - the kind of bike I'd ride from the Battery to the GW Bridge, or up Michigan Avenue, or Younge Street...  My plan is to use a Sturmey Archer AW (alloy hub shell) with two speed derailleur on it, single sprocket the front, very narrow flat alloy bars, replace the Record pedals with SPDs.  Put on the fattest 700Cs that fit the frame, probably 32s, for the occasional pothole jump.  I might even strip/sandblast off the three coats of marine epoxy paint and replicate the original Chartreuse - or paint it flat black to reduce the theft value.

It needs to be light enough to accelerate well and carry onto the subway, yet strong enough to withstand the bad streets.

Thoughts?

577

Classifieds / Looking for 19" Terry Trixie

« on: July 25, 2005, 03:26:16 pm »

Any leads?  We need low stepover for a 5'2" with back problems (need low stepover height).

578

Routes / Combining L&C, Trans-Am & North. Tier

« on: July 25, 2005, 03:20:07 pm »

Pass elevation depends on the route.  Max elevation on the Northern Tier is only 5,500, on the Trans Am it gets over 10,000.

579

Routes / which route is best?

« on: January 10, 2005, 04:34:25 pm »

Re. Northern Tier, the few cyclists I spoke to (including the AC group) are all using one of the North Lakes and Lake Erie Connecter routes.  I think that the SS Badger alternate (L. Michigan Ferry) is the most popular.  They're certainly shorter than going south to Iowa.  

I particularly enjoyed the ride on the Badger.  From Luddington, I used local roads and trails near the w. shore of Michigan, plus the North Lakes to Monroeville, then the NT main to Clyde OH.  I went off route to visit family, then reconnected to the NT Main just W. of Cleveland.  I didn't think it was a bad route, in fact in the east 'burbs the roads are well set up for cycling with generous bike lanes.  Follow the AC route through Erie, NOT the local "bike route", it's a glorified sidewalk and is unsafe IMHO.

580

General Discussion / Highway Law

« on: August 29, 2005, 01:00:31 pm »

You'll probably find that the states differ only on minor details.  For example, all require front lights and rear reflector, except some require a tail light.  All will have statements to the effect that cyclists must ride as far to the right as "practicable" or "practical".  Some might also require single file when motor vehicles are passing.  All common sense stuff, and most are modelled after federal guidelines.

Bike laws are rarely enforced anyway.  And any rights you may be granted by the law have to be tempered by the fact that there's the occasional moron who thinks you have no right being there.  Probably not much different from your shire.

581

General Discussion / Loading for touring

« on: January 10, 2005, 04:50:38 pm »

I think that ACs gear recommendations are generally good, but one statement is misleading.  They say to put 60% of the weight on the front, but I think they mean excluding the tent.  (Following statement is something like "when you add the tent it balances out").

Many bikes will handle funny with all the weight on the rear.  Steering will "shimmy" at some/all speeds.  My Varsity (ca. 1970) was uncontrollable at 15 mi/hr until I put the sleeping bag on the handlebars.  My Vision (SWB) with too little trail (changed fork) would shimmy at 15-20 mi/hr until I put front panniers on and shifted some weight forward.

I guess the lesson is to put some of the weight on the front, and see what works for you.

582

General Discussion / Bicycle Security

« on: January 10, 2005, 04:43:07 pm »

Like most, I only use the lock if I'm suspicious of my surroundings.  We will sometimes take turns going into the store so one person can watch them.  I also sleep better if the bike is locked at night.

I liked the idea to leave it in big ring.  Add to it that I ride a SWB recumbent - most thieves who try to ride a loaded recumbent for the first time WILL fall over.