Messages

76

General Discussion / Re: Are you postponing a tour to 2021?

« on: July 23, 2020, 02:09:53 pm »

I just finished a 12 day tour in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan camping at state parks, town parks, and a national forest campground. Michigan regs say they can't turn away cyclists (Wisconsin too) and we had to remind them of that once. Our main problem was restaurants that did not have outdoor seating and though Michigan has an order to wear masks not everyone did. I got tested this week and was negative. Our group consisted of ages 68 (me), 66, 63, 58, and 36. We postponed a tour in Montana until next year.

77

Gear Talk / Re: Touring capable road bike

« on: June 23, 2020, 10:02:03 pm »

You're talking to someone who loves the feel of  steel bikes so I can't relate to your comment about that. Sluggish is not a function of the material but design.
For many years I toured with a trailer and a sport touring bike until I popped for a full touring rig (Gunnar). A friend of mine toured with a Trek Postal racing bike (with a triple!) and a trailer and did just fine. These days any bike can have sufficiently low gearing so your options are many.

78

General Discussion / Re: 2020 Tours Where and when?

« on: June 23, 2020, 08:53:33 pm »

No, we prefer to seek out quiet roads with no center lines. From Madison we rode 60 to Ledge County Park (Dodge County) near Horicon, then 57 miles to Kohler-Andrae State Park, then a friends farm near Denmark, then Potawatomi State Park for 2 nights. 78 lovely miles of tail wind to High Cliff State Park, Waupon County Park, then another friend's yard near Rio before a ride back to Madison.

79

Gear Talk / Re: Touring capable road bike

« on: June 23, 2020, 03:32:12 pm »

Except for the Cannondale all capable touring bikes under $2000 will be steel: Soma, Velo Orange (if set up right), Fuji for only $1200, Kona Sutra $1500, Jamis Aurora, Masi Randonneuer, Co-op (REI), the Salsa is >$2000.
More up to date review of the 520 in AC https://www.adventurecycling.org/adventure-cyclist/online-features/first-impressions-trek-520/
more from AC https://www.adventurecycling.org/blog/touring-bike-buyers-guide/
Gunnar frames start at $1300. I don't know if you can build a bike under $2000.
Good luck.

80

Gear Talk / Re: Touring capable road bike

« on: June 23, 2020, 02:49:50 pm »

What's the objection to steel? Trek 520 disc for roughly $1680 is steel but  you can't beat it. Review in Adventure Cyclist is dated in that Trek replaced bar end shifters a couple of years ago with STI. https://www.adventurecycling.org/blog/road-test-trek-520/

81

General Discussion / Re: 2020 Tours Where and when?

« on: June 22, 2020, 12:37:44 pm »

Some of the best cycling anywhere! If you put your routes in ridewithgps or mapmyride I'd love to see them.
We just cancelled our Montana trip so now deciding what to do. Madison to Door County last year was a bit boring. Maybe up The River this year to Trempealeau. Could spend a few days just riding out from La Crosse.

82

General Discussion / Re: Lube when long distance touring

« on: June 21, 2020, 08:29:12 pm »

Perhaps only saddle choice brings out more personal opinions than lubes.
Prolink at home, anything I can find on the road, and only once it starts squeaking or looks really dry or lots of rain. I try not to over think it.

83

General Discussion / Re: 2020 Tours Where and when?

« on: June 21, 2020, 08:26:35 pm »

Ten days in Montana in three weeks. Hopefully. Some campgrounds not open yet and may not be.

John, I'm curious about your route from Milwaukee to La Crosse. Are  you doing the 3 contiguous trails past Madison or braving the beautiful  hills of the Driftless Area?

84

General Discussion / Re: Solo Trip Cooking Logistics

« on: June 10, 2020, 05:14:27 pm »

Not the original question but regarding travel with fuel bottles, I have several times in checked luggage and never had an issue, most recently Sept. 2019. Since flying home after a trip doesn't give much time to let them air out that should tell us something.

85

Gear Talk / Re: Opinions on first budget touring bike

« on: April 23, 2020, 02:02:51 pm »

Five speed: good thing IRC still makes a five speed freewheel.
1" headsets are in fact easily found: e.g., IRC, Richey, Velo Orange, Chris King. I just put one on my new Waterford Rando.

86

General Discussion / Re: Interesting article on bicycling and the pandemic

« on: April 12, 2020, 03:18:36 pm »

Two more https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/10/well/move/coronavirus-exercise-outdoors-mask-running-cycling.html?action=click&module=Editors%20Picks&pgtype=Homepage
and
https://medium.com/@jurgenthoelen/belgian-dutch-study-why-in-times-of-covid-19-you-can-not-walk-run-bike-close-to-each-other-a5df19c77d08

87

General Discussion / Re: Need information on Continental Gatorskin.

« on: April 10, 2020, 11:29:13 pm »

I always tour with Gatorskins and get about 2500 miles on them. I also hate the harsh ride they provide but I hate flats more so I put up with it.

88

General Discussion / Re: TransAmerica Trail Bike Tour, The Dreaded Middle Third

« on: March 25, 2020, 11:04:09 am »

I enjoyed the video but after sharing it with my touring friends the consensus is never Kansas.

89

Routes / Re: gravel near West Glacier

« on: March 17, 2020, 07:04:26 pm »

Thanks. Good to know

90

Routes / Re: Going to the Sun Road

« on: March 17, 2020, 07:04:05 pm »

Thanks. Sunday fits our schedule.