Messages

1

General Discussion / VA Cheap Accommodations?

« on: June 17, 2015, 09:59:59 am »

Hi everyone,
I am looking to take a family trip to VA the week before July 4.Our destinations are Charlottesville, Richmond, and Williamsburg.
I would like to find us the cheapest possible accommodations. It would be fine for us to stay near the destination communities as opposed to in them. The travelers include 2 young children so a safe environment and access to clean bathrooms is critical. We will be taking a dog so pet-friendly is also important. VA state parks charge about $25 for a tent site and $60 per night for a cabin. Are there cheaper options? Thanks!

2

General Discussion / Re: Bike Travel and Visiting Dress Up Sites

« on: March 15, 2014, 11:11:17 pm »

Thanks again for the responses. This is all great information.

3

General Discussion / Re: Bike Travel and Visiting Dress Up Sites

« on: March 12, 2014, 10:23:06 pm »

Hi everyone,
Thanks for your thoughts. I guess I will clean up first if I am going to visit St. Peter's in Rome (LOL).

4

General Discussion / Re: Bike Travel and Visiting Dress Up Sites

« on: March 10, 2014, 07:35:23 am »

Why even take the chance of not getting accepted into the area you wish to see. Clean up first. Good personal hygiene should be an accepted rule of thumb when you are interacting with others in any situation. Have a good day.
Mike

Hi Mike,
My concern is that when traveling I might be say stealth camping or the equivalent for periods of time and thus not have access to a shower. Or let's say I might bike in the morning and arrive at a destination mid-day without having had a chance to clean up. The choice may in the latter situation be one of seeing the site or proceeding to say a camp site with showers far ahead, thereby preventing me from visiting the tours attraction and defeating the purpose of riding to the site. Thanks!

5

General Discussion / Bike Travel and Visiting Dress Up Sites

« on: March 08, 2014, 09:33:24 pm »

Hi everybody,
I just had a generalized thought about bike travel. Let us say you are traveling by bike and visiting national parks. If you have been camping out and are dressed in outdoorsy clothes, maybe have not showered for a few days, you will fit right in with your fellow travelers. But what if you are camping and grungy and visiting say cathedrals, palaces, and museums in European cities. It seems to me you might at least get dirty looks and perhaps might even not be admitted.  What types of experiences have people had? Are some environments or countries more or less tolerant of grungy bike tourists in potentially dressy locations?
Thanks,
Neil

6

General Discussion / Re: Paying for the trip?

« on: October 15, 2013, 09:34:31 pm »

Hi John, Indyfabz and Ron,
Thank you all for your replies. It is fascinating to hear the different paths people took to get out on the road. Your responses definitely give me some things to think about. Also, Indyfabz, I hope you have found work again.
Best,
Neil

7

General Discussion / Re: Paying for the trip?

« on: October 13, 2013, 10:59:54 pm »

Hi,
Yes I saw the thread. However, no one in the thread actually said what they did for a job title/ description One respondent said he was onhis way to early retirement. Also the thread concluded with the OP asking about careers in the bike industry. I did not want to hijack his thread but did want to see an answer to the question. So I repeat, what do serious bike travelers do for jobs?

8

General Discussion / Paying for the trip?

« on: October 13, 2013, 10:04:54 pm »

Hi everyone,
I am curious what do adventure cyclists do for work that lets you pay for long trips? Are there teachers with the summer off?  Contractors who can close up shop for a few months here and there? Retired?
Best Neil

9

Gear Talk / Re: Ergonomic Handlebars for Surly LHT?

« on: April 08, 2013, 08:53:30 pm »

First question, are you feeling any pain?  Do you need to change something?

If so, perhaps the place to start would be getting a stem that brings the stock bars up to seat level (if it's lower than that) and perhaps back toward your saddle.  The bike shop where you bought it should be able to help with that, or any competent shop can help you check out alternate stems and swap them for you.

You can spend a lot of time and money swapping bars.

Hi PD Lamb,
Thanks for the tip on seat height. I just took a look at my seat and the stem looks a few inches lower than the seat. My hands do get painful after a long ride and I do I get some numbness too. My hope is to deal with all fit issues in one visit when I next visit my local fitter.
Best,
Neil.

10

Gear Talk / Re: Ergonomic Handlebars for Surly LHT?

« on: April 08, 2013, 08:48:26 pm »

I agree it's all about how your bike is set up.  However, there is a similar discussion going on over here in UK http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=74356

plus Sheldon Brown has some good pointers http://sheldonbrown.com/deakins/handlebars.html


Let us know how you get on as I also have LHT and had thought about doing the same.

Hi Tony,
Thanks for the Sheldon Brown reference. That is a good resource. I will certainly update forum if I get a satisfactory resolution.
Best,
Neil

11

Gear Talk / Re: Ergonomic Handlebars for Surly LHT?

« on: April 08, 2013, 08:42:00 pm »

Thanks Miller. I am glad your problem was resolved.
Best,
Neil

12

Gear Talk / Ergonomic Handlebars for Surly LHT?

« on: April 04, 2013, 10:25:48 pm »

Hi everyone,
I own a Surly Long Haul Trucker that was purchased new in November 2010. It is a 56" with 700 cc wheels. I would like to make sure I have the most ergonomic possible handlebars. I want something that will make it easy and natural for me to ride with my elbows slightly bent; and that will be gentle on the shoulders, hands & wrists. Are drop bars the best approach? Are there better handlebars on the market that the stock LHT handlebars?
Thanks,
Neil

13

Gear Talk / Re: Pannier that converts to knapsack?

« on: May 11, 2011, 07:01:10 pm »

Hi adventurepdx & happyriding,
Thank you both for your recommendations!
Best,
Neil

14

Gear Talk / Pannier that converts to knapsack?

« on: May 10, 2011, 09:03:24 pm »

Hi everyone,
Can anyone recommend a knapsack that converts into a waterproof knapsack suitable for rugged day hikes?
Please let me know.
Thanks!
Neil.

15

General Discussion / Re: Bike Fit Where LBS Doesn't Have My Size In Stock

« on: October 31, 2010, 10:58:46 pm »

Thanks Ducnut!