Messages

16

Gear Talk / women's shorts

« on: May 02, 2007, 12:05:16 am »

I think like brand, the pad thickness is a matter of preference.  I use PI
Attack which has a thick pad.  What I did figure out is that the shorts
should fit well.  

That is, for a couple of years I wore a large, when in fact I needed to wear
a medium.  The large moved around too much.  The medium, thick
doesn't.

I also like to line dry my riding clothes.  The UV rays pretty much kill
bacteria.

17

Gear Talk / women's shorts

« on: April 20, 2007, 07:56:11 pm »

If tiger is riding w/Team in Training, she's training up to it.  My first
century was with TIT.  Good fund raising program for leukemia.

I'd go with PI shorts.  I like the Attack.  But the advice to buy the best you
can afford is good advice.  Also get good gloves and socks.  You'll be
wearing the TIT jersey so that's taken care of.

I'd also suggest a base layer.  Tahoe is not be the warmest place on the
continent.

And don't forget the sun block.  You'll be getting a large slug of UV.  

18

Gear Talk / Volpe vs. ??

« on: May 13, 2007, 12:47:04 pm »

I've got 2500 miles on my B-17 and it has only some faint, "stress" lines
on it.  

I started out applying several coats of proofide and letting that soak in,
than wiping the saddle down.  It looks just great on my yellow CoMotion.

Comfortable also, I might add.  But I guess not for everyone.

19

Gear Talk / Volpe vs. ??

« on: April 24, 2007, 01:20:31 am »

I was looking for a full size bike which would go on plane without
having
to hock my first born.  
And, as I already had a CF Giant, I was looking for a bike with more,
"beef".  As it turned out, my local shop dealt the CoMotion.
So, I bought the Nor'Wester Co-Pilot (custom fitted).  The bike is steel
and
has couplers with XTR and STI shifting.
I call it my, "go-anywhere, do-anything" bike.  With 28 mm tires I can
ride
dirt or street.  Tires last forever.  Backed over my front wheel with my
Prius and slapped it back on the bke.
Since I got the bike in Nov I've put 2500 miles on it.

This summer I'm doing the AC Black Hills, then into Wisc to do 2 1
week rides, and finally up into Canada to do a ride on the Bruce
Peninsula.  

Yep.  "go-anywhere, do-anything"

This message was edited by centrider on 4-23-07 @ 9:23 PM

20

Gear Talk / Anyone name their bike?

« on: April 17, 2007, 10:36:29 pm »

My Softride:  Pogo
My Giant:  Giant (or as one friend put it, Marty and his Giant)
My Co-Motion Nor'Wester Touring Co-Pilot:  Ole Yeller (color of bike) or
Mr B (Name on the bike), or The Tank

21

Routes / UGRR

« on: December 25, 2008, 12:13:10 pm »

Sorry if this seems redundant, but one hardly knows where to ask the question:  To anyone who has completed Ky-Owen Sound, On. Canada portion of the UGRR I'd like your impression particularly of riding in Ky.

In particular, what are the roads conditions and drivers like?  In what month did you do the ride?

22

General Discussion / What Touring bike would you suggest?

« on: December 28, 2008, 11:54:33 pm »

I would look at the CoMotion website.  I have the NorWest'CoPilot, which as was pointed out has S&S couplers so you can meet the airline requirement of suitcase size/weight.

The NorWester is not as beefy as the Americano, or should I say, not as heavy.  In any case, CoMotion builds in Cromolly, and with a brooks b-17 saddle is a comfortable ride.

Another advantage I found is that because of the quick disconnect cables I can quickly swap out handlebars going from road/drop to flat.  Change the tires and you can even trail ride with it.

Truth be told, because I usually do my touring with my wife driving SAG, I just carry a Carradice Barley and an American made handlebar bag by Acorn of about 4-5L capacity.

It came with XTR on the rear and a (I think) 28--43 triple.  Tho I would get a Rohloff hub which I do not think CoMotion offers.  

So, as I think about it, Thorn also builds an S&S coupler bike and has the Rohloff hub.  That might be a better way to go.

This message was edited by centrider on 12-28-08 @ 8:59 PM

23

General Discussion / worst weather conditions you have been caught in?

« on: May 02, 2007, 01:39:42 am »

Well, I grew up at Hudson Lake/New Carlisle.  Fortunately I live in SoCal.

Right.  Agree with them and than go about doing whatever you want to
do.  For sure, they will never understand.  

24

General Discussion / Seeing in the rain

« on: April 30, 2007, 09:38:15 pm »

Remember - in a long rain/downpour, you're going to get wet.  You might
also want to look at toe covers for your shoes.

On the other hand, it's fun to ride through puddles when you have the
fenders on.

25

General Discussion / Seeing in the rain

« on: April 28, 2007, 06:37:17 pm »

I wear Rudy Project which have water shedding abilities also.  You might
want to check out their website.

I think I mentioned I like the yellow lense, not just for rain but especially
back East where there's a lot more trees (and deep shadows), the yellow
lense gives good visibility.

In SoCal, I use the dark lense more frequently (not a whole lot of rain).

26

General Discussion / Seeing in the rain

« on: April 17, 2007, 10:20:46 pm »

I've found that helmet visors help.  Louis Garnau came out with a
helmet cover (or is under the helmet?)which has a visor and a neck
cover which looked good enough for me to buy it.

I live in SoCal, but my experience riding in the East/Canada put me into
some horrendous storms.  If it's a gully washer - you're going to get
wet.

But, as other writers have pointed out, a visor/brim helps.  Some
glasses are somewhat water repellant.    I like my Rudy Project's, yellow
lenses which seem to enhance visibility and sheds water well.

One think I noticed on one ride is that in passing from cool air into
warm and back into cool resulted in the glasses fogging on the inside.  
Unerving to say the least.

Fenders help for a little while.  Rain pants help.  A jacket helps.  Toe
covers help.  Just for a while.  Pretty much like being on a boat in
storm.  Unless you're under cover, you will eventually  get very
wet.

27

General Discussion / Eating and spending on a two month biking spree

« on: January 01, 2009, 07:21:02 pm »

Well, all comments and insights are welcomed.  Twisty roads with short sight lines are a problem, as are blind right curves.  That's why I ride without my iPod. Even with my attenuated hearing, I can usually hear something coming if I can't see them.

I've ridden in Maryland - a lot, usually the E. Shore and I think no finer roads anywhere on the continent.

Dogs can be a problem because they generate the fight or flight response:  Lots of adrenalin pumped leaving me feeling like a dishrag.

I've only had one item thrown at me - an orange (what else, this is Calif.).

Anyone else with info riding in Ky?  

28

General Discussion / Eating and spending on a two month biking spree

« on: December 24, 2008, 06:28:00 pm »

I too am curious how your cross country (ChiTown-LA) went.

But I have a question for bobbirob22 (the one from Ky).  I'm considering riding the UGRR from Owensboro, Ky thru Ky, Indiana, Oh, Pa, NY and finally into Owen Sound, On., Canada.

So, what's it like riding in Ky?  In May.

This message was edited by centrider on 12-24-08 @ 3:29 PM

29

General Discussion / Eating and spending on a two month biking spree

« on: May 04, 2007, 01:45:53 am »

I hope I'm not preachy.  We've all (I think) have done touring.  I've never
done a self-contained.  Others have done nothing but.

I my problem is that I don't know what, "stealth" camping is.  It sounds
sinsister.  However, if it means camping in such a way as to leave no
trace - nothing wrong with that.

Racing RAAM you have your facilities with you.  Touring with SAG - you
don't.  If you can wait for the next toilet you will - if you can't, you use
the "green" room.

Personally, I was disheartened by the over-the-top portrayal of
possibilities.  Tho I do agree that dumptser diving has its health risks.  
There's another possibility that,  in some communities of being
arrested for vagrancy.

Right I just looked at her starting date.  Maybe the next post from her
will be that she had a great time.

This message was edited by centrider on 5-3-07 @ 9:48 PM

30

General Discussion / Eating and spending on a two month biking spree

« on: May 03, 2007, 09:23:38 pm »

Yeah!  I agree.

Several months ago my club had a speaker who rode a Trek road bike
from the East Coast to Cal carrying everything in 2 behind-the-seat
water bottles and something wraped around his top tube.  X-treme
touring I think he called it.

Not something I would do.  I think that's become our measure.  What
would I do?  But, than it's taken to the extreme - murder, rape,
disease, crapping in yards, etc.

Tsk, tsk