Messages

16

General Discussion / Re: cooking stoves for bike travel in Europe

« on: July 26, 2014, 07:14:36 am »

We checked out a Trangia stove that's available here.  Runs on some kind of spirits not gas. Didn't like it anyway as with all the acompanying pots - aluminum - luck! - and whatnot it looked very bulky.  Opted instead for a neat little thing called the Techno Trail made in Sweden by Primus. 49 euros. Works with LP gas cartridges - two kinds - and fits into a tough little plastic container which can also be used as a cup.  Weighs nothing and is compact - my two main criteria for just about anything when travelling, by bike or other means.  Thanks to everyone for all the advice and info.  Now all we need is some sunshine up north.  Guess I might need a shotgun for those mosquitos.   

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Gear Talk / Re: A folding bike for touring?

« on: July 25, 2014, 03:44:41 am »

Somewhat rhetorical I guess as I'm not about to go out and buy one.  However, if I had a spare couple of grand to throw the Tern bikes would be my first choice - especially the Eclipse S18 - the so called road warrior for the zomby apocalyps!  In comparison most other folders look rather weak to say the least.  That goes for Bromptons, Bike Fridays, the bizzare looking German made 'Birdy' and even Dahons - the Taiwanese company originally set up by the father of the guy who started Tern.  Never having riden a fold-up - they generally tend to make tall people look a bit rediculous I've always thought - I was just curious to hear what those who had some experience think about them for any function other than commuting, as well as wondering why there's semmingly no recent revievs of the S18.

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General Discussion / Re: cooking stoves for bike travel in Europe

« on: July 24, 2014, 11:15:35 am »

So what exactly is the stove you like to use more Irqo?  We fly to Kerkines first week of August aiming to ride the Iron Curtain Trail down to Helsinki.  We still haven't decided what stove to get.  It's entirely determined by what they have in the outdoor equipment stores in Stuttgart  - there's only two decent ones it seems and only one has MSR stoves - in fact last time we looked they only had one - total.  An MSR would be my prefered choice if, as you say, gasoline and/or other suitable flamable liquids are easily available in Finland.  Otherwise it'll have to be a gas canister fueled thing, none of which look very stable although certainly light weight.  This weekend looks like decision time.

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Gear Talk / A folding bike for touring?

« on: July 24, 2014, 10:58:57 am »

Think I'm joking?  Look at this:http://bicycletimesmag.com/first-ride-tern-eclipse-s18/  and all you need is a spare $2,000 or so.  However, even if you have the cash finding one might be tricky.  Although introduced earlier this year I still cannot find a full independent on-the-road review of the S18.  Maybe it's just an illusion afterall. 

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General Discussion / Re: Cardboard Box for Bike as Checked Baggage

« on: July 12, 2014, 10:57:18 am »

I've flown in and out of Seattle with my bike, plus panniers, etc in a rather battered cardboard box from a a bike shop. I used the same box over a period of about five years. Cut down to size requirements and taped up all over it made no fewer that four long-haul flights from Europe, where I bought the bike, to SE Asia and from there to Seattle and then back to Asia and finally to Germany where the box was still just about holding together.
Much depends on who you fly with.  Emirates out of Frankfurt to Bangkok didn't care even though I was well over my weight allowance and in my ignorance I hadn't even take off the front wheel and cut the box down to size.  EVA from SE Asia to Seattle and back were also OK so long as you met their size dimensions which were approximately what a 26 inch wheel touring bike could manage with the front wheel strapped to one side of the frame, handlebars off and taped on and saddle also. I put the peddals in my carry-on and got a bit of a hassle, but they let me through. What space in the box was left was stuffed with bubblewrap and panniers.  Whatever you do don't take the derailer off as it's a bitch getting it back on.  Just pad it.  Always check with the airline first.
This summer we're set to fly from Germany to Finland with SAS.  They say no need for a box.  Just pay a small bike fee, take off the peddals, turn the handlebars to the side and wheel it in.  We'll see.  I once met a middle-aged German woman cycling in Thailand.  She said all she did was roll up at the airline check in desk and hand over her bike as is.  Seemed to work for her.

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General Discussion / cooking stoves for bike travel in Europe

« on: July 12, 2014, 10:23:20 am »

My partner and I are almost all set for a long ride through Finland - top to bottom.  we think we've got most things firgured out but for cooking gear - specifically what kind of stove.  Previously for many years in Canada and the US I've used an MSR multi fuel stove with virtually no problems, most gas stations being willing to sell small amonts.  I've even hiked the Himalaya with one using whatever kind of gasoline or other flamable liquid I could get.  However, in Europe buying small amounts of gasoline is apparently not possible - or not allowed.  There is apparently a kind of 'spirit' fuel available in bottles but I'm not sure what exactly 'spirit' fuel is or if it would work in an MSR.  Availability is in Finland is another issue. Also there can be problems traveling with a fuel bottle on flights, even when new, empty and clean.  We will be flying from Germany to northern Finland with a change in Oslo so I'd rather play safe.
The only  other options here are stoves using camping gas canisters which are apparently available everywhere and are recyclable.  That is our most likely choice although I'd much prefer using an MSR which has more stability and rarely goes wrong.  Any thoughts?

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Gear Talk / Re: solo bike security

« on: April 07, 2014, 02:58:04 pm »

All of the above advice is very valid, however, I also have a lockable rear wheel clamp which is fairly unobtrusive and fixed to the frame just in front of the rear brakes.  The clamp has an attached key which only comes off after you set the clamp.  Easy and quick to use and stops the bike from wandering.  The clamp adds a slight bit of weight of course and I'm not sure if they're available in the US.  I got mine with the bike in Europe where they're more common.  That plus a medium weight stretchy Abus cable lock is my basic travel security.  Otherwise when camping always trying to keep the bike out of sight and/or within sound.

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General Discussion / Re: photography and cycling

« on: November 19, 2011, 04:34:19 am »

As the origintor of this post - I've been out of touch cycling-wise for quite a while - I just would like to say how blown away I am by the way it took off.  Thanks for all your comments and insights.  If I knew how I'd post a couple of the pix I did last year on the 'Cool Coast.'  Incidentally, I  used my trusted Holga all the way and got some good 'Holgaramas' as I call them.

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Gear Talk / Re: Belt drives?

« on: November 19, 2011, 04:13:52 am »

Thanks for the feedback.  I'm far from sold on the belt concept and appreciate the info. It was mainly curiosity. Was wondering how they fitted on the bike! However, integrated hub gears make a lot of sense. Deraileurs may be at their pinacle but personally I find them a pain for touring in terms of maintenance, vulnerability to the elements and whatever might get in their way. Roloff have a good reputation although they are costly and heavier and make taking out the wheel more complex. Can't have it all.

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Gear Talk / Re: Type of bike for touring Brazil

« on: November 18, 2011, 08:33:31 am »

I may be prejudiced, or misinformed, but I'd suggest something you won't be too upset over if it gets stolen.  Once met a Brazilian cyclist in the US and that was the first thing she said when I asked about cycling there.  Although, I'd guess, like almost anywhere else, cities would be worse in that respect.

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Gear Talk / Belt drives?

« on: November 18, 2011, 08:25:48 am »

This may have been discussed before, but I've recently seen a video of some guy cycling through India showing how these things are supposedly almost indestructable.  He deliberately cut his almost in half for the promotional video just to show how tough it is and continued cycling with it.  Guess he had a spare.  You have to have hub gearing too - which I'm contemplating, and lower weight and maintenance are advantages.  However, if they're so good how come they're not more popular? Any thoughts or experience ?

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General Discussion / photography and cycling

« on: December 10, 2010, 09:48:03 pm »

Here's just an idle passing thought.  I've recently concluded that, for me, photography and cycling don't mix that well and I'm not sure exactly why that is.  I'm pretty serious about photography as a means of expression having worked semi-professionally at it for many years and logically you'd think being out on a bike would give a lot of photo opps.  However, I'm also pretty serious about getting where I want to go on the bike and focused on the ride as well as the passing scenery, but it seems I can't do two things at once - namely focus on riding my bike and focus on looking for interesting  photos at the same time.  Stopping for pictures every five minutes gets frustrating.  My last big ride on the West Coast produced some very unmemorable images apart from those I did while taking a day off from the bike.  Same would probably be true if I was driving a car, but when I do I usually have a specific destination in mind where I'm going to photograph and blank out what's inbetween - or get someone else to drive - whereas when cycling I'm just trying to be open to whatever I see en route.  The destination is what distracts me in that I'm looking for road signs, or at my map, listening to that mysterious knocking on the back wheel or just watching out for traffic or wondering if I'll get there before dark or before I collapse because I haven't found anything to eat along the way or haven't drunk enough liquids.  Too many mental/physical distractions.  So, I've concluded I either I focus on the ride or the images, not both. Seems I can't get into the serendipity of multi-tasking.  Latest trip I didn't take a camera at all, just a sketch pad and had a much more focused and enjoyable ride. Just no photos! 

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General Discussion / Re: Tec talk: loose casette

« on: December 01, 2010, 04:35:09 am »

Thanks for the input.  Not sure if it was the cassette lock ring or what but I took it to my local French bike mechanic this morning and he fixed it in a couple of minutes.  He took the wheel off, took out the spindle/wheel locking device - sorry if I get the terminology wrong - and used a wrench on one end and a long allen key inserted on the other and tightened them up.  Seems to have solved the problem although I'm not sure what he actually did or what got tightened.  He's not given to much in the way of explanation, but is the only guy in town I come close to trusting and can sort of communicate with and fixes most of my bike problems for free ever since I bought a Trek mountain bike from him six years ago.
Next time I do a long trip in parts of the world where the only so-called mechanic you'll likely see is a village teenager with a blow torch and a big hammer I'll try to get the tools mentioned above and figure out how to use them first.

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General Discussion / Re: Shrink wrapping your bike for flights

« on: November 30, 2010, 05:41:35 am »

Latest info on alternative ways of packing a bike for air travel: as above but this time I met a very tough looking middle-aged German woman cycling solo around Thailand.  I asked about how she packed for the flight to and from Europe.  'Nothing' was her answer.  She just rolls it into the airport and hands it over at the check-in desk.  Airline staff wheel it away.  She picks it up at the oversized luggage section at the other end.  Doesn't take the pedals off or turn the handlebars: nothing.  Depends she admitted on the airline.  She was flying Qatar and she had Rollof hub gears so was less likely to get any damage there.  Derailers are very vulnerable.  Her philosophy was as the airline staff can see it's a bike and have to wheel it on and off they're less likely to throw it around, as they might be with a box.  But I'm sticking with a box at least until I can aford Rollof gears.

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General Discussion / Tec talk: loose casette

« on: November 30, 2010, 05:25:24 am »

While in the middle of an 800 km ride last week I noticed a repetative slight knocking coming from the rear cogs - specifically two of the mid-range gears which get quite a bit of use when I'm loaded up.  Wouldn't go away and no visible evidence of anything wrong until I tried wiggling the cogs with my fingers while stationary and with the chain tensed.  What I found was that with the chain in the lower gears - the smallest cogs - I could move the entire upper cassete back and forth by about 3 cms each way.  If I put the chain up into the largest cogs I could do the same with the lower part of the cassette.  Note: this only was possible with the part of the cassette without the chain holding the tension.  When I returned from the trip - nothing bad happened except the continuing knocking - I compared with my mountain bike and I can't get that kind of movement on that cassette.  So what's going on in there?  I have no tools for dismantling the rear cassette and/or tightening it and wouldn't know how to go about it anyway.  It looks serious and fortunately I wasn't all that far from home, but if I'd been in the middle of Tibet!!!!  I can take it to my local bike mechanic but would like to hear what others might have to say. In all other respects it changes gear smoothly.  It's Shimano Deora XT and only a year and a bit old so you'd think it wouldn't just fall apart.