Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Hard times

« on: September 22, 2010, 12:05:15 am »

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I've noticed Artisans seem to be hanging in there better than the mass market cheapie stuff lately. Glad to see it personally.
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To be fair, I am working my butt off to stay ahead.  A lot of people are not making it, and i am buying equipment at pennies on the dollar from those who are giving up.   Used to have made in usa stickers on my work, but stopped when I realized that what was selling my work is sentiment, rather than the quality.   

2

General Discussion / Re: Hard times

« on: September 21, 2010, 04:45:03 pm »

I have not had a chance at anything longer than a couple days ride, because my sales are up and its hard to keep up with the demand.  I am a potter/artist, so go figure.

3

Gear Talk / Long-shot handlebar bag question

« on: July 16, 2008, 01:59:44 pm »

I have an old cannondale bar bag that uses the same sort of wire rack, I don't know how easy it would be to make one from a picture, but email me a onedollatmiyata at yahoo.com and I will try to send pictures.

the bag is cool and retro on my old Motobecane that I ride every now and again, but newer bar bags are a big improvement over the coathanger variety.  I use modern bar bags on my regular riders.  even a cheap one from nashbar is better, has a quick release, less sag and sway that affects handling.  this from a retro grouch says a lot.  

4

Gear Talk / Getting lower gearing

« on: May 22, 2008, 01:02:05 am »

thoughts on your trailer choice.  

I have one, and I would not do a long tour on it.  I might do an overnight, but not with over twenty five pounds.  its just not stable enough even for its stated capacity of forty pounds, which is not enough to have on a tour.

I had some problems with it, and talked to a nashbar rep, he told me my best bet was to get a bob trailer.
he went on to say that they have had a lot of problems with it and were just selling off what they had made.

Only reason I got it was for grocerys, not touring, I'm a pannier guy, but I just don't think I would feel confident with the mounting system over several days of touring.  I have broken two skewers and the retaining pins lost the bearings that recess into the shaft.  so did the replacements I ordered, but before I even opened the bag they came in.  

maby a two wheeled kiddy trailer would work on the trail, but a Bob has really good resale value.  I think that you would be safer with a better trailer.  
if you do take it, be sure to have a regular skewer just in case.  I do that.

whatever you decide, be safe and have a good ride.

5

Gear Talk / Rollers and trainers

« on: December 10, 2007, 11:33:47 pm »

are there any opinions on nashbar rollers?  I know that you get what you pay for but Im curious,  and there are so many other things that I should spend money on

6

Gear Talk / quick release vrs bolt on hub

« on: November 06, 2007, 02:14:19 pm »

Are you sure it was tight?
 
It may not have been, but I sure want to deny it.
it actualy broke right after putting the tire on at the trailhead.  it rode about sixty feet before the lever side of the skewer broke.  it was on my gary fischer Kiatia, fairly new at the time, with the GF spooner type QR levers.  I imagine they were shimano.
never broken a stem, but have had two frames break, lucky they were while climbing.

I once came out of a post office and this guy had my front wheel off.  he was showing his girlfriend/wife how they worked and was actually trying to put it back on when I came up.  no shame, no embarrasment on his part, though I was pretty upset and "verbal".  since then I have always checked wheels several times a day.
 

7

Gear Talk / quick release vrs bolt on hub

« on: November 04, 2007, 12:02:38 am »

what is the general opinion on skewers as opposed to bolt on hubs?
I am building an offroad touring  rig out of my old mountain bike, and have an old set of suzue hubs with bolt axles. heavy loads and rider on rough road/trails.  the only skewer ever to fail me was on a mountain bike, and got me to wondering.
I am thinking about this issue on the other bikes that I put loads on.  thanks, jason.
 

8

Gear Talk / touring bike shop in the ozarks

« on: October 27, 2007, 04:15:21 pm »

I live in Eureka Springs AR, sort of the north west corner of the state.  Does anyone know of a bike shop that caters to touring cycles within a few hours of my area?  a funny qustion I know, but every store I have been in, from springfield MO to little rock AR looking for lights, racks, dynos, all the little stuff that you could order but would like to see in the flesh first, has employees who stare in sullen disbelief at the very notion of a bike not made from carbon fiber.  
I don't need a new bike, just want to shop at a place that knows something about rain covers and forty spoke wheels.  thanks for the help.

9

Routes / Chicago to north west AR

« on: November 05, 2007, 04:39:48 pm »

thanks for the advice, sounds good till st lois.  
I may just track around it by a hundred miles or so. last time I was there I rode to the train station in kirkwood from the bridge in five 5:00 traffic, not a very fun time to ride a fully loaded rig.

I hope you enjoyed eureka nitram, I average 150 miles a week here, so I hope that the hills you mention will not be a problem, though I think it may be time to get a triple.  thanks again.  jason

10

Routes / Chicago to north west AR

« on: October 30, 2007, 10:15:43 pm »

planning a trip in early april, Chicago to  Arkansas
looking at heading over on the grand Illinios trail to the mississippi river trail, down to ST lois, then hook up with the Katy trail to Clinton MO, from there the Frisco trail(I think thats its name) goes close to Springfield Mo.  From Springfield I know all the roads to home, and some of them are horrible to bike on(no shoulders, blind turns, Branson Mo oriented traffic)but I will deal with it, though if anyone has any suggestions they would really be welcome.
home is in Eureka Springs AR.  any info, experiences on the trails,roads, I have chosen?  should I buy a car?   I have never planned this long a ride before, though I am fairly experienced within a few hundred miles of home.     thanks, jason

11

General Discussion / What is the daftest thing you ever carried?

« on: December 11, 2008, 11:59:51 pm »

Just this last October I rode two hundred forty miles each way to visit a friend and his new wife.  I carried a ceramic coffee service I had thrown for them(seven peice)as a gift.  about eleven and a half pounds.  I just sort of thought, hey, why pay shipping?
Not that bad, but I had to cross the ozarks mountains and Buffalo River Valley.  
I had saucers with the tarp, socks in the cups, the pot was full of instant rice and power bars and the cream and sugar bowls held a repair kit and spare tubes.  It was all packed in with everything, trying to balance the load.
My friend says his wife is still talking about watching me unpack her wedding gift.   Lucky she is pretty cool and didn't freak about the socks.  She just asked if they were dishwasher safe and then shoved them in there. :confuse:

12

General Discussion / Sun protection

« on: May 16, 2008, 10:35:01 pm »

I generaly have a ballcap under the helmet that screens me from the worst of it, and use whatever is the strongest stuff I can find.  Also agree with the long sleeve shirts and pants, even though I seldom burn.
but one evening on a trip last April I rode for hours into the sunset and thirty mph wind and got nailed by a combo sun/wind burn on my mouth.
I lost all the skin on my lower lip, and spent five days smearing vasaline on it constantly, along with the rest of my windburned face.  
any good ideas on how not to get your lips sunburned?  or what happened to me, with both sun and wind?  At least it didn't get the inside, Ive heard of that happening.

13

General Discussion / Mosquitoes repellents?

« on: November 07, 2007, 10:09:24 pm »

I have had great luck with Repel lemon eucalyptis, in fact it works better for me than deet.  REI sells it online if you can't find it localy.  it has a strong smell, but it never affected my thermarest surface or any of my gear.  
I recently tried some sort of cactus based stuff on a canoe trip that the guy at the natural pharmacy said was wonderfull and it seemed to attract them, like a mosquito condiment on my skin.
I'm one of those guys everyone is happy to see cause it means they won't get bitten with me around, so Ive tried everything, even one of those bugaboo shirts for eighty bucks.  it worked best with the repel on it.