Messages

16

International / Re: Request Info on Touring in Japan

« on: October 02, 2010, 07:42:00 am »

Japanese publishers Kodansha actually print a pretty cool book on touring japan. Printed in english and japanese in the same book. Hard to find, but really good. If you can't find it give me a shout and I'll find mine and give you some more details.

Adam

17

International / Re: cycle trails Australia, 12 epic bike tours in Australia

« on: August 28, 2010, 09:04:46 am »

 Thanks SO much for posting this.......

 I have been doing a lot of short trips (3-4 days) off road in NSW, and just got back from a 14 day Cairns-Cooktown loop that took in the Bloomfield Track. Been thinking a lot more about long off-tarmac trips and this is massively inspiring.....

 Would love to get in touch with you regarding a Sydney-Cairns-Darwin trip I have planned for next winter.....

 Adam

18

International / Re: Cycling Northern Queensland, Australia

« on: July 05, 2010, 09:28:52 am »

Hey...

 My girlfriend amd I will be riding Cairns to Cooktown and back via the Bloomfield track from July 14th through 27th.... If you get this bfore then shoot m an email to noididnotlosemyseat@hotmil.com

 Adam

19

General Discussion / Re: Please please check my math! 19.5" top tube 49.5cm bike right?

« on: April 25, 2010, 09:46:54 pm »

 
 I work in a bike shop and am always interested how bikes measures in Inches and bikes in Centimetres never work out the same.....

 I am 5"11' and ride a 19 (sometimes 20) inch moutain bike, but a 56cm Cannondale road or touring bike fits me very nicely...... I think, if a 19ish mountain bike fits you nicely, that a 49-50cm Cannondale touring frame will be WAY too small.... 54-56 cm frame sounds about right.

20

General Discussion / Re: Getting time off work?

« on: February 25, 2010, 01:58:28 am »

Having a good relationship with the people you work for is really the key if you want to take time off and have a job waiting for you when you get back....

Fortunately i work in a bicycle shop and am encouraged to take time off to go riding....

21

General Discussion / Front Rack Help

« on: February 25, 2010, 01:55:14 am »

Hi Everyone,

 I have been using a Bob Trailer predominantly for the last couple of years, but am going to go ride in Japan later this year and a trailer just seems like it's going to be a pain on trains, and definitely more hassle to fly there and back with....

 Looking for a recommendation for a front lowrider rack. It's to go on a Salsa Fargo, which has mounts at the dropout and halfway up the fork leg (on the inside and outside). Was considering Old Man Mountain Ultimate.... Good idea???

 Thanks in advance for help.

 Adam

22

General Discussion / Re: Aerospoke wheelset VS 36H Wheelset

« on: February 13, 2010, 11:32:05 pm »

I have seen a bunch of Aerospoke wheels on bikes that have passed through our shop on customers bikes, mostly fixed gear stuff, and I must say that I do not regard them as a well made product and would definitely recommend you strike them from your list.

I can't disagree more.  Have you ridden an Aerospoke wheel?  An Aerospoke wheel is a very well built composite rim, not the typical injection-moulded plastic rims you see on chinese-built BMX bikes.  Aerospokes are as bulletproof as they come, and the build quality is as good as any other USA-manufactured wheel of equal or lesser price. 

To answer the question asked: yes, Aerospokes are a reasonable alternative to 36-spoke wheels.  Test ride them!

 Sorry, when I said 'well made' what I really meant to say was that I think they have not been designed to be functional, but purely for looks. They weigh 1.6kg (or whatever that is in pounds) which I think is enough to rule them out for most people, especially when you can build a reliable rear wheel (with replaceable spokes, hub and braking surface) at around half that weight. I have built 36 spoke wheels for guys that weigh well over 100kg (220lbs) and they are holding up great......

 They do come in some nice colours though

23

General Discussion / Re: Australia's National Trail

« on: January 21, 2010, 07:04:55 am »

There's loads of rides more interesting than Eyre Highway, I believe you will find the Nullabor rather boring..... Let me know if you need some more ideas.

 Adam

24

General Discussion / Australia's National Trail

« on: January 21, 2010, 06:21:24 am »

Hi Everyone,

 Sorry if this is the wrong place for this.....

 I thought I would post this link here, as I don't know that many of you will have heard of this ride. I know I hadn't until this evening. Looks unbelievable.

 Short story - 5300km (3300ml?) trail from North to South starting in tropical Queensland, along the Australian Alps, Snowy Mountains and Great Dividing Range, finishing in temperate Victoria.

 http://www.nationaltrail.com.au/

 We don't have the elevation that the US and Europe boast, but I have ridden many of the areas that this trail passes through and can attest to how awesome this ride would be.

 Definitely on my list now, hope it makes it onto a few of yours.

 Adam

25

General Discussion / Re: Great Divide South-North

« on: January 17, 2010, 05:27:50 pm »

 Sounds like anywhere in Australia more than 150km from the coast..... You get used to carrying water when you tour in this country.....

 Thanks again for your help everyone.

26

General Discussion / Re: Great Divide South-North

« on: January 16, 2010, 07:40:17 am »

 Thanks everyone.....

 Scott, could you clarify what you mean by water being more available.....

 Looking at your warm months in 2011 for this one, off to Japan this year, bu tlike to be on top of research....

 Adam

27

General Discussion / Great Divide South-North

« on: January 09, 2010, 09:44:00 pm »

 Adam again from Australia here...........

 It is seeming that, logistically, because I have family friends in Texas that'll drive me around, it may be much easier for me to start the Great Divide at the Southern end.... Also, from looking at many peoples photo galleries from the trip, it appears to me that finishing in New Mexico may be something of an anticlimax after the sights of the trip (correct me if I am wrong here, please) whereas finishing in the Banff seems a beautiful end.....

 I have been reading a lot of peoples experiences, and have not yet some across any that have ridden South-North..... Just wondering, is there a particular reason for this? I am certain it gets colder as you head further North, which I guess means you need to start earlier.... Any other fundamental reason that most ride North-South...

 Thanks again in advance for answers.

 Adam

28

General Discussion / Re: Aerospoke wheelset VS 36H Wheelset

« on: January 08, 2010, 06:35:50 am »

 I have seen a bunch of Aerospoke wheels on bikes that have passed through our shop on customers bikes, mostly fixed gear stuff, and I must say that I do not regard them as a well made product and would definitely recommend you strike them from your list.

29

General Discussion / Re: Australian Thinking Great Divide

« on: January 01, 2010, 07:31:51 pm »

Thanks very much everyone.....

I'm guessing that travelling with a partner or group makes encounters way less likely too, would I be right?

30

General Discussion / Australian Thinking Great Divide

« on: January 01, 2010, 06:01:41 am »

 Hi Everyone,

 This is my first post on this forum, but I have done quite a lot of touring here in Australia, and work in the bicycle industry, so am not a total newb.....

 I have a question, regarding the Great Divide Trail. I have been doing quite a lot of research, and the only thing that I can't really find any information about is the Wildlife..... I am used to all kind of spiders and snakes her, but have no experience whatsoever with large carnivorous animals, and they bother me....

 Are bears and mountain lions something I actually need to worry about, or are they super few and far between???

 Thanks in advance for any help, and I look forward to being a part of this community.

 Adam