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Messages - Old Guy New Hobby

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31
Gear Talk / Re: Liners for riding shorts.
« on: August 13, 2017, 09:08:43 am »
Honestly, I just saw them and bought them. Two sets, slightly different, from different stores at different times.

32
Gear Talk / Re: Liners for riding shorts.
« on: August 09, 2017, 09:11:17 am »
Under Armor works for me. I wear them under regular sports shorts.

33
Gear Talk / Re: Bottles or Backpack with Water Bladder?
« on: June 02, 2017, 09:00:43 am »
Bottles are simple. They are low cost. They can be washed so you can put drinks other than water in them. It's easy to add Nunn tablets if you need some electrolytes.

34
Gear Talk / Re: Rohloff Speedhub
« on: February 17, 2017, 04:56:41 pm »
I forgot one disadvantage of using the Rohloff hub for touring. If you want low gears for climbing hills on a loaded bike, you are liable to void your warranty. See page 19 of the user manual. http://www.proactiv-gmbh.com/documents/UK_BA_Rohloff_general_use.pdf

35
Gear Talk / Re: Rohloff Speedhub
« on: February 17, 2017, 09:06:15 am »
I used a Rohloff for a few years. In my opinion, it is too complex (internally), too expensive, and over rated. If anything goes wrong, it is virtually non-repairable. Recommended oil changes kits add to the cost. Using a Rohloff on an existing bike requires some undesirable compromises. Initially, the rear cable mount was on my rear brake calipers. This proved to be unreliable because water got into it, causing the rear brakes to work poorly. Also, there was too long a lever-arm that caused the mounting to get weak. Not to mention, a Rohloff on an existing bike requires a custom wheel build.

Conventional gearing is inexpensive, reasonably reliable, and easily repaired. If something goes wrong, one can generally limp through to get to parts that are widely available.

36
Gear Talk / Re: Should have learnt the easy way.. some advice guys
« on: February 06, 2017, 04:10:07 pm »
Quote
it turned out the driver hadn't seen us (It was daylight with great visibility so maybe 1:1000 chance?)

Actually, it happens all the time. Drivers have to ignore a lot of what they see. Their subconscious decides what's important to bring up to the conscious mind. Make yourself seen. Use the brightest flashing lights you can find.

37
Gear Talk / Re: 30 Day Tour Packing List? Hotel every 5 days'ish!
« on: February 01, 2017, 05:42:26 pm »
I have a "kitchen sink" list in Excel. I use filters to mark which items I'm taking, then mark things as they are packed. When I walk out the door, there should be nothing left on the list. If you are interested, PM me your Email and I'll send it to you.

38
Gear Talk / Re: Electric Assist Kits
« on: January 06, 2017, 08:20:28 am »
I talked to my LBS about a similar kit. He said it took a lot of pedaling effort before the electric assist kicked in. I don't know the characteristics of this kit. But it points out the importance of trying before you buy, and the value added by your LBS.

39
Gear Talk / Re: Recommendation for front light?
« on: November 28, 2016, 09:12:48 am »
Quote
I recommend you don't take a light at al

John - I hope I misunderstood you. Most drivers drive by "mental auto-pilot" at least part of the time. That part of the brain responds well to common situations, and poorly to unusual ones. Cyclists are still in the unusual category. We need "be seen" lights to draw the attention of drivers who are thinking about something other than their driving.

40
I agree with John. On the other hand, two new Michelin Airstop from Amazon is a pretty insignificant expense. I put new inner tubes on when I put new tires on. They out last the tire. I enjoy the piece of mind.

41
Gear Talk / Re: Any suggestions on how to start my personal Bicycle Travel?
« on: November 08, 2016, 09:24:41 am »
Starting is very easy. Get on your bike and ride. As you gain experience, ride longer. Reading advice can be quite useful. But there is no substitute for experience.

42
Gear Talk / Re: Terry Touring Bikes - Coto Doñana Tour
« on: August 02, 2016, 04:33:13 pm »
Nobody can tell you what your money is worth. I'm wondering how much gear you take on tour. If you are an ultralight specialist, the difference in bike weight *might* make a difference. If you pack a lot of gear, then what's a few extra pounds.

Personally, at 5-9 and 170#, I'm more concerned with taking some weight off my frame (not the bike).

43
Gear Talk / Re: Brooks saddle and bike shorts
« on: May 20, 2016, 09:23:58 am »
+1 on Pat's comment. Make sure especially that the saddle is level.

44
Gear Talk / Re: Lookin for rain poncho
« on: November 27, 2015, 07:59:30 am »
If it rains long and hard, you get wet. Fenders keep the slimy grime down. A jacket is important if it's cool as well as rainy.

45
Gear Talk / Re: Looking for a combination road / light touring bike
« on: November 12, 2015, 04:18:02 pm »
I agree that one bike won't meet all your stated goals. You might be better off to focus on a touring bike and keep your present bike for the shorter, faster rides. Beyond that ...

Well built steel frames are the tanks of bicycling. Very strong, very heavy. There's nothing wrong with well built aluminum frames. They don't cost significantly more and they are lighter. They are strong enough for all but the most grueling touring. Beyond that, the best things most of us can do to to make the biking package lighter is to carry less gear, and lose some weight by eating better.

You should think about gearing. Road bikes are geared for fast riding. Mountain bikes are geared lower for extreme hills. Many tourers prefer mountain bike-type gearing. It's better for endurance rides (days of 50+ miles/day). It's better for hills. It's better for rides where you are carrying more weight. Think about the riding you do now and what gears you find most useful.

Tire width shouldn't be a big issue. Bikes with connection points for racks typically also include connection points for fenders and also will accept wider tires. I rode the C & O canal before I decided I wasn't all that interested in touring on dirt and gravel roads. I found wider tires are helpful, but more important for riding where the trail can be muddy and rutty is to have some kind of tread to help give a little extra traction. I used a hybrid tire, with a smooth center and treads on the side. If I were to do a lot of road riding but also a significant amount of trails, I would go back to those. But other people in my group rode the C & O trail with narrow street tires.

Finally, you don't have to make an instant decision. You don't have a cross-country trip planned with a deadline start date. You can do some longer rides, see how they work out, develop your knowledge of what you want a little bit. Get off the internet and visit some bike stores. Don't overthink this too much, follow your gut. If you think you like a bike, you probably will. You ride a lot. Use your own experience to guide your decision.


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