Author Topic: Luxuries  (Read 38005 times)

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Offline Galloper

Re: Luxuries
« Reply #30 on: February 26, 2011, 07:54:13 am »
Coffee!   I normally just have a jar of instant but what are the (lightweight) alternatives?   I suppose a simple metal coffee pot on the stove would work although I recall reading an article some years ago which said that coffee made in this way was the worst for you as it brought out all the chemical compounds more strongly.   Any ideas?

Offline dombrosk

Re: Luxuries
« Reply #31 on: February 26, 2011, 09:36:23 am »
"Coffee!  ...  what are the (lightweight) alternatives?  "

For a semi-coffee caffeine fix, both GU and Cliff Shots make caffeinated espresso energy shots.  One of those while I'm breaking camp gets me to a cafe for some real coffee with second breakfast.

For a real coffee experience, the little Starbucks "VIA" instant coffee packets are surprisingly good... a three-pack weighs 0.35 oz, and grocery stores are starting to carry them.  Pricey, but not like any other instant coffee I've tried.

Offline staehpj1

Re: Luxuries
« Reply #32 on: February 26, 2011, 05:44:40 pm »
Coffee!   I normally just have a jar of instant but what are the (lightweight) alternatives?
Doing without except when I stop at diners works fine for me.  I drink coffee every day when not on tour, but drank very little coffee on any of my tours.  I really prefer to get up and be under way in 15 minutes or so and that means grabbing a granola bar and going.  I do like to stop for breakfast after 10 or 20 miles if there is somewhere to stop.  If there isn't I just munch while riding.

I do tend to use GU with caffeine sometimes, but not always.

Offline Westinghouse

Re: Luxuries
« Reply #33 on: February 28, 2011, 06:26:29 am »
Coffee is a must. I drink it daily.

Offline johnsondasw

Re: Luxuries
« Reply #34 on: February 28, 2011, 03:29:46 pm »
Chips Ahoy chocolate chip cookies with natural crunchy peanut butter on them.....gotta have it.
May the wind be at your back!

Offline DebKirk

Re: Luxuries
« Reply #35 on: March 01, 2011, 01:12:21 am »
Well, I tellya, one must have coffee. Starbuck's has come out with an instant that is actually quite good. We added a solar charger for cell phones and ipods. About $100.00 will buy you one that works well, assuming you have sun. That way you are not tied to 'shore power'. It reduces the anxiety of getting your phone to its next 'fix' of AC power.
After 40, crashing does not hurt as much as getting up

Offline mucknort

Re: Luxuries
« Reply #36 on: March 01, 2011, 07:58:00 am »
Coffee!  Any ideas?
After our travel french press coffee maker broke at the end of our latest tour, I hit the internet for extensive research. What I ended up with is great for home and travel use. The Aerobie makes some of the best/smoothest coffee I've tasted because the water doesn't have to be as hot (so you don't get the bitterness/chemicals) to make coffee. Once your water is hot, you can have a cup in under a minute. It does use filters, but they are these small little wafers, and cleaning the thing out takes seconds. When done "brewing", you remove the end cap and push the plunger all the way and the grounds come out in a compacted "hockey puck". That was always a drawback to the french press - cleaning out the grounds, especially when in a hurry.


Offline EnduroDoug

Re: Luxuries
« Reply #37 on: March 01, 2011, 01:46:53 pm »
Coffee is no more of a luxury than spare tubes, patch kits, and a helmet.  ;D

For me, its the Kindle.
I happily leave my battery-sucking Android phone at home. Kindle gives me over an hour of reading every night for a month on a single charge.

Also important luxuries are: a foldable camp pillow and a small flask of bourbon. Knob Creek travels well.

Offline gordonharris912

Re: Luxuries
« Reply #38 on: March 07, 2011, 08:22:41 pm »
I vote for the luxury of carrying the least amount of weight possible.  Ive bicycle camped every summer for 10 years now, and keeping it light is the key.  I guess my luxury is my Bob Yak.  Here's my journal from one of my Quebec tours:  http://www.bikenewengland.com/quebec.html

Offline Stevenp

Re: Luxuries
« Reply #39 on: March 08, 2011, 05:27:17 pm »
A luxury I am looking into bringing is a FAN! I am going to be facing some nasty heat and I hear there are some small, battery operated fans that work real nice. I think that is a luxury I most likely will add to my panniers.

Any good fan suggestions for a touring trip?

Offline Tourista829

Re: Luxuries
« Reply #40 on: March 08, 2011, 09:17:38 pm »
Coleman 830A550 Cool Zephyr Ceiling Fan with Light $16.00  ;)

Offline mucknort

« Last Edit: March 08, 2011, 10:32:30 pm by mucknort »

Offline Tourista829

Re: Luxuries
« Reply #42 on: March 09, 2011, 08:51:11 pm »
Quote
I might use the amazon fan for my desk. Thanks
The Coleman fan hangs from the ceiling via bungie cord or a magnet.

Offline CharlieR

Re: Luxuries
« Reply #43 on: March 10, 2011, 10:11:46 pm »
If I were... buying the fishing license, which state would that be?...starting in S.Carolina and ending up in Washington

First time on this forum, but I've been on BikeForums for some time. My two cents: I was a truck driver and had a license for every state east of the Mississippi (except NH) at the same time. The expense really wasn't that high compared to the possible losses from not having one. Not counting the vehicle and freight - just the time and court costs for a one time occurrence was more than the licenses. I just didn't get them all at once.

Now I'm planning an 'around' the U.S. trip and I'm taking the fly stuff with me - I got a year or two to kill. I'll pick and chose where I get a lic and fish, but get a license. And if your a fly fisher - there are a LOT of wonderful places along the way.

Offline CharlieR

Re: Luxuries
« Reply #44 on: March 10, 2011, 10:22:10 pm »
My luxuries - and I'm going to be out for over a year.....

Kindle, Android Tablet, New digital 14 mp camera. I won't call my fly rod and flies luxuries as I can feed myself with them. Coffee is a necessity - I picked up a GSI collapsible coffee 'thing' (a filter goes in and it sits on top of the cup) that works pretty good since I've been test driving it.