|
Post by Nixie on Mar 3, 2009 15:46:36 GMT -5
Have you ever gotten the urge to pack a bag, pick a direction, and go? To wander with no destination?
It's weird, but I've been feeling more and more like doing that. Packing up some essentials and hitting the road. It's so irrational. I'm sure I'd drag myself back home within a couple weeks. Still, I wonder where my feet would carry me if I did that.
|
|
|
Post by Kristal Rose on Mar 4, 2009 2:10:47 GMT -5
I've been getting a bit of that urge again. I've done it once, and it's the best thing I ever did. Your step-fathers experiences were quite the opposite though.
I think one's karma in such things depends hugely on if they are looking for adventure &/or spiritual pilgrimage, or if they are coming from desperation and escapism.
I think everyone should do it, preferably in their 20's, at least by their mid-30's. Any older, and you're less likely to take up unforeseen opportunities, and treat it more as a consumer vacation package. The best thing that happened to me was having my money taken. It's not a true adventure if you think you can plan and choose whatever suits you. You have to have an open mind and let the spirits guide you.
A few of my friends hitch-hiked all over Europe and the mid-east, sleeping in ancient Roman catacombs and such. I stuck to the North California coast.
As soon as I'm done with this bankruptcy, my next plan is to get my moped built for such a trip again. This time though I'll have an apartment at home, and a cat sitter. - not quite as adventurous. It's not like I might go with someone on a whim to a Haitian voodoo commune, or become a Nebraskan cattle rancher.
If you decide to do it, get plenty of advice from C and I first. We'll have some opposite advice, I'm sure. He of course will do everything in his power to prohibit it. Unless you have a really fantastic tent and sleeping bag, your first step should be getting a ticket to some place warm (New Orleans, Turkey?), and having a return ticket fund from anywhere you might reach waiting for when you finish. Aside from that, don't plan on holding on to a single security.
I brought many tools and ended up paying for room and board with my skills, restoring a 1900 bandsaw and hot-rodding Harley carbs. Never had time to make my tarot deck, but took great photos, and had many adventures worth putting into my tarot deck. Mostly I learned all sorts of inspiring stuff that left a huge impression on me which I would not have encountered at home, stuff like jug bands, nature spirits, historical wood-working. I stayed on boats, cooked fresh dived abalone on a wood stove, all sorts of stuff I never could have planned on.
One major thing my walkabout did for me was expand my ability to communicate with and learn from other people.
Your options seem to be closing in on you there. World-wide as the internet is, it's somewhat a single culture and still extremely limited compared to real life exposure to the myriad extreme niches of society hidden amongst us. A walkabout could be what you need to get a fresh out-of-the-box perspective on your life options. It could change how you go about life.
Making/finding a suitcase with off-road wheels might be a task to start on. Sorry, but I just tossed my spare frame backpack. It was kind of ugly anyhow.
Bathing is the toughest trick on the road. DO NOT get involved in soup kitchens or homeless showers. That's disease waiting to happen. I think my road trip played a large part in my insistence on getting an apartment with a bathtub. It switches from sabbatical to desperation if you get needy. The only thing I ever asked for was a couple of cigarettes, the rest magically appeared as needed.
On the other hand, if you did stick it out as far as trying to get work in a city, you'd quickly develop a knowledge of why down people stay down. You can't find work when you don't have coins to photo-copy your résumé, have no phone, have oily hair, and have to hike five miles to today's sandwich hand-outs, and don't know where your bed for the night will be till five minutes before you sleep. As a woman it's quite easy to slide into informal prostitution in such circumstances.
Hitting the road is about unleashing all the world and you can be about. It's no wonder it was often the final rite of passage in many cultures. If you don't do it, it will always dwell with you as something undone. A vacation or roadtrip with friends is way different than a walkabout. On vacation you are an outside observor paying for services. On walkabout the quality of your survival is entirely dependant on making a solid connection with the deepest energy of your surroundings, human or environmental, and bringing out the light in it; You can't brush anything off and drive back to your hotel room; You are in the thick of wherever your guardian spirits brought you and have to deal with it.
Heavy as it could be, I don't consider it irrational at all, but rather a natural compulsion built into us humans for our own advancement.
You might also get advice from Dona, as she's done this big-time as a woman, where I did it as a beginning TG. I'm not sure who has it worse.
~
My solar paraglider is planned as an extreme walkabout tool. I found last trip that there places I wanted to visit which couldn't even be reached by bike or hiking the hills. That will have to wait a year later though. I'll have my hands full just building the moped.
|
|
|
Post by Nixie on Mar 4, 2009 2:28:43 GMT -5
Most of the stuff stopping me from doing this is money related. We do have an awesome tent and I think we have 20 below sleeping bags, but... I don't have the right kind of backpack to carry a tent and sleeping bag as well as living supplies. My only vehicle is my bike, which would require me to bring repair tools and a pump... And I definitely can't afford a plane ticket back from wherever I should end up.
I know if I do this it would be a personal journey, but it still isn't something I'd like to do alone.
I remember Mark telling me that he was getting similar urges to pack a bag and leave, and he's currently facing the loss of another apartment. If I told him what I was planning, he's probably come with me.
|
|
|
Post by Kristal Rose on Mar 4, 2009 5:08:44 GMT -5
I went on a honeymoon with D in a VW bug camping at all the national parks and hot-springs of the western US. It was a lovely fun trip, but not remotely as engaging as going solo. We didn't make friends or even have a single philosphical discussion with anybody. It was about us.
I started off on bike, but then dropped off the bike at my moms and thumbed it. The bike too turned out to be an isolating liability compared to hopping in cars to distant places. With a bike and luggage combo, your options are limited to places directly on the highway you're travelling. Just heading up five miles up the canyon for a day job picking apples becomes too great a burden. That's why I'm taking a motor this time.
You would though be safer with a friend. Hitchhiking penniless with a friend might at least be more involving than a road trip with a friend.
I just said 'ticket', not necessarily plane ticket. Trains are my preference, and cheaper. Busses are just a bit cheaper, but the most miserable. You can take walks on a train, the seats are spacious, and they have the best scenery.
If you accepted that $30/mo, you'd have $150 by July. Even if you headed off with no funds, we'd all pitch in to get you a ticket home, I'm sure. I can't do anything such thing spur of the moment anymore. It has to be budgeted in advance.
One option is stopping by to meet your relatives in Oregon and Santa Cruz. They're all fun and hospitable.
I really do think a suitcase that can be hauled behind on a highway is the best, unless you want to camp in the woods, or travel by motor. Loaded with luggage, my best biking days were 30 miles, and some days I only got a few miles. Hitchhiking I got a couple 12-hour straight rides down the interstates. Not nearly as charming though. Five miles can be like a distant country if you look deeply, which being on foot or bike encourages.
Mark's the guy you watch Star-Trek with? Maybe that could work out. Going as a duet cuts down on your options too. People are less likely to take in someone who's attention is divided elsewhere. On the other hand, it doubles the sort of odd jobs you could do. It being a guy is a huge plus for avoiding the inevitable sexual offers.
I was already thinking to make a second electric bike motor for you as well. I was thinking towards Christmas, but I could bump that up to Summer. The expensive part is batteries (minimum 3x $10, max 6x $20). (Well actually the motor and controller costs about $80 to make). You'd also need a way to charge them. If you went house hopping, or could get offers from diners and gas stations while touring the local sites sans power, you'd do all right. Just today I came up with a charger system in which my solar paraglider doubles as a solar/wind vertical wind sock which powers the bike motor in generator mode from a fan at the bottom, but theres little chance of that being ready by summer. The idea is take off leisure days while the batteries recharge. The way I'm doing it, the electric motor is just a back up for quiet areas and a generator for the lights and guitar amp. The main power is my 4-cycle lawn mower engine, and I'd bring gas money for my intended destinations. That set-up is not cheap at all, and unlike my nearly clip-on rim motor, requires extensive assembly; in my case much mounting hardware, a 5:1 reduction gearbox, and a motorcycle chain driving an extra chain-ring at the back pedals of my tandem. For my paragliding expedition, I intend to ditch the gas motor and go solar/electric. Up North, you'd probably have to go wind-electric. Either way, you have to have recharge days going all electric, no gas.
A tent should be large enough to spread out your gear in on rainy days. Also keep in mind hidden roadside niches aren't ideal dry spots. The food needs to last through rainy spells unless you'll bike through them. I found biking in shorts in the freezing rain was still better than wet jeans. I suppose biking pants are much better.
Two bikes would be much more secure too. It cuts down on combined luggage (like frying pans), spare parts, and affords you to carry fewer types of spares since one person could make a rescue trip if you lost a rim or something. Carry a spare brake cable. I've been on long steep downhills with lots of gear where even with the best of brakes, I was worried I'd snap both cables and have to get the bike into a skid on it's side or face worse tragedy at the bottom of the hill. Such trips can bring up all sorts of things one wouldn't have imagined.
Does Mark have a bike and gear?
Bike luggage doesn't come cheap. I never regret buying my Trek heavy-duty tote bags which clip to luggage racks. I just wish I'd got ones with rain flaps. My huge rectangular laundry basket on the rear rack has been my best sytem yet. Two long skinny laundry baskets behind the rear axle would be even better, leaving the top of the rack to secure a back-pack, as I did. It can take days just to pack, to get the best of categorical organization, accesability, and low center of gravity. I had to spend an extra day repacking when my first arrangement wouldn't fit on the elevator to take BART across the SF bay. I would hav liked a trailer, and did eventually get myself one. Disadvantage, you can't fit on the shoulder and tie up traffic sometimes. Advantage, you don't have to unpack your whole bike just to get it off the highway and across a ravine or ridge.
With some forewarning, if you made a pilgrimage to the ranch, D & C would have another reason to come pick you up.
Beautiful as Washington and Oregon can be, they aren't ideal for hitch-hiking or biking unless you want to spend lots of time in wet tents, or are invulnerable to that sort of thing. I sure wasn't. Come to think of it, I think hitch-hiking is illegal on Oregon highways. Fortunately I didn't know that at the time.
Biking takes a lot more gear preparation. It's worth it for instance to create yourself an exact gear ratio chart. The difference between 2-2 & 3-5 could be huge with lots of weight for an hour. You can't afford to dally in the wrong gear. I did come up with a simplifed rule though; If you want to switch to a different front gear (which is where the next exact higher or lower gear is going to be located), like from 2 to 3, while switching, switch the rear gear two clicks in the opposite direction. That way you're immediately roughly in the same gear you were just in, and either in, or just a click away from the one you want. If you're going to carry a lot up hills, it helps to have custom gearing, like a front 22 and rear 32. With tons of weight you can't tilt your head to correct, you have to swing a leg out like a ballerina. I had myself a Shimano silent hub, which is such a joy when coasting through nature. I got myself another, but who knows when I can afford to have it laced to a worthy rim.
Cruising corners down the hills by the Muir Woods coast I realized that just a stray acorn would send me dashing to the rocks and waves below the cliffs. I once slept on a ridge in Jenner where if rolled over wrong, I'd be down those cliffs too. But man was it gorgeous and invigorating.
I thought I might get odd programming jobs along the way, but no one I stayed with even had a computer or TV. They had things like Victrolas and foot powered wood-working tools, made their own stuff. Living was their entertainment. I did stay meet a guy doing a photo-shoot for ILM though, turning Tomales Bay into Morocco of all places. Partied with Argentinians, stayed with a shaman, had all sorts of adventures. The bleakest part was Portland, where I was living in a hotel with a victorian tub and lukewarm water, living on ramen, and trying to get programming work via their fax machine while waiting for an 'instant' tax return which didn't actually arrive for months, and turned out instead to be my apartment deposit here after leaving the shelter.
I bought a very nice bike and borrowed bike luggage and camping gear from Wolf. Aside from that, it was running out of money, not saving money, which brought me to hitting the road. What little I did have saved up for travel expenses, about $180, was quickly stolen by the otherwise nice people who were hosting me, when they borrowed my debit card and went into town saying they needed to cash a check. My intuition told me to call for my balance while they were out. Intuition plays a big part on the road. So does faith and trust.
I might actually have room these days to put up a guest or two, if you made it this far.
Luggage, transportation, funds, company, climate, all factor in to the sort of journey you will have.
Do you have any ideas at all what you'd prefer? Perhaps you can get a passport and hop a freighter to Japan.
|
|
|
Post by Kristal Rose on Mar 4, 2009 22:45:25 GMT -5
Ya know, D & C are probably going to be mad at me for even discussing this with you with an open mind.
|
|
|
Post by Nixie on Mar 6, 2009 1:47:33 GMT -5
So I've discussed it with my parents, and with Mark. My folks didn't try to talk me out of it and they are rich with advice (and warnings). They aren't mad at all. I have no definite plans yet, but Mark would like to come, and the more I think about it, the less I like the idea of going alone.
I think I'll wait at least a month before leaving; that'll give spring a chance to spring, and me a chance to pack properly.
There are a few shaky things. One is the fact that Mark's bike sucks and seems to like falling apart. It sucks bad enough that he'd have to get a new one or go on foot.
|
|
|
Post by Kristal Rose on Mar 6, 2009 19:57:25 GMT -5
It's easy to be rich with warnings and advice on this subject. I tried to restrain myself for use of time until I found further if you were serious.
You would end up at the hospitality mercy of strangers unless you feel like sticking out your thumb on the highway just after you had unpacked to get to sleep, and even some of the kinder ones will consider sexual favors a natural payback, so going with a guy way helps preclude people getting that idea in the first place.
It does significantly hamper the personal journey part though.
Every day doing distances with luggage is like a couple months of bike wear at home, so yeah, a bike has to be in top notch condition, well tuned, and you have to know how to change gears carefully, quickly, and accurately.
Maybe we could all meet up at G-M's when she needs help moving.
I could expedite making an electrical motor for you if think you'd be traveling along places to charge batteries.
Basically you have two choices, hitch-hiking or biking. Hitch-hiking is more of a walkabout. With a bike you have far more direct ego control of your fate, and fewer likely curious diversions.
Either way I'd recommend a month just to assemble the ultimate packing and TEST it well before you leave.
C. was able mix doughnut batter on a sheet of plastic in his lap and deep fry doughnuts in a tin can. That one always impressed me.
Recall my frukked up back! Quite possibly it was the result of carrying a backpack and two suitcases down the west coast, even though the problem didn't show up till I was settled at a shelter and had a job moving dorm furniture. Suitcase wheels which work on asphalt, or maybe even dirt would be good.
I took various automotive tools and a huge set of Pantone markers with me, tarot decks, and various micro sculpting supplies.
Start saving up the best tiny plastic bottles. You'll need decent ziploc freezer bags. No luggage is really rain-proof.
Trail-mix, spaghetti/rice, powdered milk, tang, walkman with ziploc of CDs, DIARY, camera w/ usb cable, battery charger, parachutes for the cats, acetone... Cool as laptops are, they can't be trusted on such trips. Even diaries are at risk of damage. (or theft).
One paradox of humanity on such trips is that it will often be the people without a dime to their name who help you the most. It would be good to have some helpful services in exchange, like sewing, that don't require computers.
Overhauling the drive train on a bike costs around $200 (incl. rear hub and crank bearings). The gears and chain all have to match exactly or they'll wear each other out. Not all bike shops know that. Marvel Mystery oil is great bike lubricant to carry with you.
|
|
|
Post by Nixie on Mar 7, 2009 17:52:11 GMT -5
No electrical motors, please.
C did tell me his donut trick. I will have to keep it in mind.
I'm gonna go by bike. Less dependency on hitchhiking, less strain on my body than carrying a huge pack and walking. Mark will either get a new bike or borrow C's. My stepdad's not gonna let us go until we can both prove that we can fix most common bike maladies.
I think my test trip will be a journey to visit Cly and getting home. Even that will have to wait a while. It's supposed to snow this weekend.
I don't think I'll bring tarot decks with me. I don't need to bring CD's or a CD player... I have a tiny little piece o' crap MP3 player, much more compact. I would, however, bring a big sketchbook & some pencils for sanity as well as commissions. That's probably my best bartering tool. I've also gathered that it might be a good idea to bring a pack of cigarettes even though neither me nor Mark are smokers. Not gonna bring a laptop. Even if I had one, I'd leave it behind, as it would be thief-bait.
|
|
|
Post by Kristal Rose on Mar 8, 2009 1:48:21 GMT -5
Good for C. Make sure adjusting a steering wheel is on the list (luggage riding can tweak them). Brakes adjustments are the toughest, but what you'll need to know most. Know how to adjust a derraileur into a set gear in case your cable snaps.
I was going to recommend that M. rebuild anything that needs rebuilding, getting spare parts on eBay (cheaper if you wait for deals). As long as you have a good frame, anything else can be replaced. I got myself a $1000 trek (including the extras like fenders and luggage racks), but the drive train has been replaced like three times now.
Fork/frame shocks weigh too much, but a $22 shock seat post doesn't.
Maybe you can talk C into building a laundry basket rig like I had with support struts. They are so dang convenient when you can just pile loose bags and stuff in. They are a bit top heavy though. Mine allowed for still snapping bike panniers beside the wheel.
Luggage on the front requires more riding effort. I just had my lock attached to the front fork, and two Trek (built really tough, if you could find some) grocery bags clipped to the front rack full of light spacious stuff like feathars (feathers? I meant sweaters). Oh wait, I also had a Plano tackle case mounted on top the front rack with all my jewelry, pens, tools, batteries, and such. Under the clear lid I had my shifting chart (still have that).
I could send you my pair of Zefal rain fenders. I haven't used them since I got to LA. They don't send rain up your skirt, but they ensure your cuffs will be drenched.
Sounds like you got the packing concept down. Again, packing issues are access, low center of gravity, & organization. For cooking gear: one pot and one thermos for one person, add a frying pan for second person, no other kitchen gear except can opener, spatulish spoon, dish soap and scotch-brite pad, and utility knife with needle nose pliers.
Three must have bike tools are mini-channel lock pliers, 8-10mm wrench, 5mm hex key. Spare 5mm & 6mm bolts and nuts with various lengths and heads come in really handy too (your bike may differ). Anywhere you have bolts, like holding down water bottles or racks, is place to put longer bolts and spare nuts. Bring a hacksaw blade and you can just cut down longer ones to fit. Plastic zip ties and duct tape.
I have spare fabric bandaging tape I'll send. C. admired it and I've sent him a roll already.
Why no motor? It could make the difference between 25 miles per day and 55 miles per day. Is it because it's something of my doing, or because 100% foot-power sounds more romantic? It's true they might not hold up for a month of rain, but if it did fail you could just toss it.
Camel makes cigarettes now which crush to optionally become menthol. Bring a couple BICs, not untrustworthy lighters.
~
I was talking to G-M, then D on the topic. G-M is concerned that you don't handle crises well. D doesn't either, but she managed to do Brussels, England, Scotland, Greece, Germany, and Turkey ok. She told me to remind you of hostels. I stayed at a few myself, my favorite being at the Pt.Reyes Nat'l Seashore. Suggests you could find people online doing touring circuits. She said her biggest deal was immediately wanting to go home when she arrived in Brussels, and every few months thereafter.
Save luggage space for souvenirs like driftwood. To be sure I travelled in style, I brought a large picnic hat. Have good ziplocs for all the art-paper stuff, bike lubes, TP, toiletries, rice/flour, rustables, electronics.. If you can't throw your luggage in a swimming pool, it's not road ready.
Travelling often ends up as parties, so bring along a nail polish, fave party dress, and a pair of earrings that you only wear for occasions, hooks with plastic retainers anyhow. I wore dressy girlie suede hiking sandals everywhere (still do mostly).
You probably already have a web email account. A flash drive is probably worth bringing even if you have no other computer gear.
Gilette Venus w/ replaceable blades are most expensive of all, but best I know of for travelling.
You may likely find that even if you pack things 10 toothpicks, that you won't bother to use them if it takes you 20 minutes to get to them.
You'd have to be in the middle of a foggy wilderness to actually need a compass.
Tiny AM/FM radios are nice, not just for weathar reports and to alleviate boredom with your mp3 collection, but because local stations will have music which fully conveys the flavor of place, which is what travel is about in the first place.
Do keep in mind both C and I managed to find ourselves at gunpoint. In his case from someone posing as a minister to rob them in their sleep, in my case because my host had a bad debt with someone who had been a friend just weeks earlier, and guns are how they do things around those parts.
All told, that half year left more of an impression on me than several other years put together.
|
|
|
Post by Nixie on Mar 8, 2009 2:16:38 GMT -5
Mark does not have a good frame. He's got a Target bike that's many years old. I doubt any part of his current bike is worth saving.
Can't have all your luggage on the back of a bike, or the thing'll try to do backflips when going up steep hills.
No motor because I have no idea if we'll be able to plug things in, AND I'm sure it would take you three years.
Parties that require nailpolish?! What difference is nail polish gonna make if I haven't bathed in a week? And by the way, I don't think I've ever been to a party where people were expected to actually look good. Oh wait, prom. Prom was so bad I left early.
|
|
|
Post by Kristal Rose on Mar 8, 2009 4:28:45 GMT -5
You do want the majority of weight in back though. For stuff on the front you want heavier stuff hugging the wheel or dead center above the axle, not to the sides or front.
I've somersalted forward a couple time hitting the front brakes too hard. I think ideal is just short of flipping backward with no rider.
Nail polish could help compensate for not bathing in a week. Just a thought. It's about having a means to feel human and civilized when situations are grim. On party nights I did indeed do my nails and wear a cocktail dress with black nylons, drinking, playing harmonica, and doing tarot readings. Of course that's what I do at home and in town too, or at vacations at G-Ms for that matter. It's like the Hitch-Hikers guide recommendation to carry a towel (I think I did at least have a hand towel).
Crazy memorable party was half the idea, creature comforts was the other half. I actually brought several colors doubling as utility paints for bike scratches and such, and did my nails once to resemble the abalone we were often eating. (actually I'm currently in the midst of an abalone nail job done by going through the rainbow with a new color each time the prior color chips. I've got yellow, green, and blue, and am about to add purple soon).
I live in LA, no different than SF, where people are always expected to look good (at least in my age bracket). I don't think even the college gals next door would check the mailbox without make-up. I was kinda surprised though to find that most people in college these days just wear jeans and t-shirts. SF was a bit more of a bizarre hybrid. The BART subway was full of women doing their make-up.
Charging motor batteries could be problem, unless you house/hostel hopped, or made deals with gas stations and diners, or snuck power from campgrounds and parks. You definitely wouldn't want the extra weight if you couldnt charge the thing. I'll try to make you one anyhow. It would be useful in town at least as a commuter vehicle. Three years, hopefully not, but yeah, that is my sort of track record.
Less weight the better, of course. You may be able to just as easily pedal the difference between 30 pounds and 120 pounds at whatever different speeds briefly, but even a couple of pounds adds up over an hour or a dozen.
Good jackets and sweaters button all the way open or button around the neck.
Oh, important, straps! Way better than bungee cords are nylon straps with buckles that can be cinched, but pinched open for quick release. You can buy sets of such buckles at the hardware store and buy the strap bulk by the foot. Get too much and tie up the extra with rubber-bands made from inner-tube sections. Geared or metal strap tensioners used by movers are over-kill though. Inner-tube rubber is also useful for strapping things to frames with cinch ties so they dont slide, for instance if you need to secure your luggage rack after a bolt-tang snaps off. You can also make bungees with it, and I suppose even patch other tubes with it. Automotive tube patch kits (if you can still find them) are the same as bike kits for cheaper. With tiny kits, once you open the cement tube, it will quickly go dry.
I took lots of sponge baths and used a battery powered epilator rather than shaving. That way I was never too unshaven even if I had gone a few days. More of an issue for me than you though.
Lights are an issue. What I used was front and rear flashers, a cats-eye, plus a rubber-band mount for my mini-mag, all with rechargeable AA batteries (charger was size of an audio cassette case). There are nice lights these days costing $80-300, but I suspect powering them is still an issue.
Unfortunately I know of no good light generators (too much friction). That's actually one advantage my motor would have, it's designed to double as an exacting low-friction generator.
Oh, I had a trip computer too. It was a super-cool amusement, but got stolen in LA. On occasion, besides just logging day trips, total trips, and showing speed, it actually was practical for those occasions where a road sign said "turn right 4.2 miles". On the down practical side, it let me know how little mileage I was actually making daily. As I said though, a few miles can big cultural differences some places. Maybe I'll buy you a road computer for your B-Day.
I might even have another one destined for my moped. I'd need it to get my moped license, but afterwards I could program my own into my motor controller. Nyeh, the things are cheap enough I should just keep the functions separate. It would cost me as much to add a clunky screen and buttons to my motor controller as to buy one that was built like a waterproof wrist watch.
Do you have front and rear racks (that bolt to the frame, not just the seatpost). That's a semi-expensive must have. I hope you've gone through my notes and started putting an equipment list together.
Oh hey, I could also send you the yellow rear panniers I inherited from Wolf which I used on my trip. They've seen better days. I bought a yellow submarine patch to sew up a tear in them, which along with an orange tandem, was kind of a theme. Chances are I'll make my own pannier system more akin to backpacks or dufflebags down rear of the the rear tire.
Oh, if any tires need replacing be sure to get ones with a centerline tread like Aramadillos. This will make a huge difference in daily road friction. Don't get integrated tire-tubes. Too much spare weight, not patchable. The tube patching system is as follows: alternate between between road tubes and a patch tube. Have a second unused spare tube used only if your patch efforts fail, and buy a replacement for it if you ever end up using it. Luckily I only had one flat on my whole trip, though many in LA. With two of you on a long trip, it might be worth carrying a spare rear wheel.
Oh, with two you, the better matched your bikes are, the better, as in having same number of speeds, and being able to share brake pad like stuff is a good thing. Get lengths of brake and derraileur cable long enough for the longest bike. The best road tool for cutting them are toe-nail clippers of the sort that look like pliers (useful for guitar strings too.. and toenails (though I prefer my swiss-army knife scissors for that)). A good utility knife might have good dikes built into the pliers. Nothing cheesy will work.
You will inevitably get your hands greasy, possibly daily. A tube of Gojo or Goop is worthwile to bring, in an easy access pocket, especially if you'll be wearing white.
Hmm, considering I plan to be doing this soon myself, I should be putting a list together too.
I brought lots of spices. Little baggies were a messy pain. This time I'd probably only bring four: Chinese five spice for pancakes, Cumin for cottage fried potatos, italian seasoning, taco seasoning. Instant espresso is good. There are some dang good powdered soups around these days. Falafel mix.
I actually keep a box of bike camping food handy at all times. It doubles as earthquake preparedness. When I find something useful at the grocery, like cocoa packets, I get a spare for the box, and occasionally rotate the stock.
Fruit syrups and powdered juices are good. You don't want to carry more water or beverages than you have to. Generic club soda cans might be useful, you could make a soda, but use it to cook spaghetti if forced to. (I suppose there's nothing wrong with sphagetti cooked in cherry cola though). The art of cooking noodles with no leftover water is useful. Tuna can be found in pouches these days.
Keep in mind I wasn't just bike camping, I was doing it with flair. I rode most of the time with a black lace skirt and white floral lace stockings. People I stayed with later said that they invited me in because they could see at a glance that I was someone extraordinary, someone with greater gifts than a need for dinner.
So, three questionables thus far: fenders, panniers, b-day bike computer?
|
|
|
Post by Nixie on Mar 8, 2009 4:50:54 GMT -5
I have a rack mounted on the back of my frame. Aren't panniers the frontal mounts? And what do you mean by a bike computer? Are you talking about a GPS? We've already got one of those.
|
|
|
Post by Kristal Rose on Mar 8, 2009 21:04:53 GMT -5
Panniers are luggage bags which clip to the sides of the rack. A bike computer is a little gadget about the size of a watch which clips to the handlebar and has a magnetic sensor on one of the spokes. It's mostly a speedomoter/odometer with functions like current speed, avg speed, top speed, miles today, total trip miles. Some of them have like 60 functions. Fancy ones these days are probably combined with GPS or altimeter and weight data to tell you how many calories legs of a trip take and project where you can reach. The odometer is it's main purpose. Once one knows what 20mph or 33mph looks like, the speedometer seves little purpose.
I suppose a fancy GPS these days could tell you things like trip distances or even speed too.
|
|
|
Post by Kristal Rose on Mar 9, 2009 4:26:33 GMT -5
I just came up with a cheap way to build a trailer, useful for hauling groceries, with motors, or to alternate between persons on camping trips. It's main benefits are being cheap at thrift stores, and being a means of towing along spare bike parts on trips, in fact, towing along a complete spare bike (just in case).
Basically you just take the front wheel off a light bike (maybe a cheap old ten-speed), and mount it's front fork to pivoting brackets on the main bike rear fork. Additionally you attach the ends of the handlebars with telescoping struts (or at least bungees) to the seat post of the main bike. The entire towed bike then becomes something you can hang saddlebags over. (You should remove the pedals and seat). Advantage over most trailers is that it fits within shoulder of highway.
|
|
|
Post by Kristal Rose on Mar 9, 2009 22:33:40 GMT -5
I thought you were going to learn tune-up stuff from C. You should know how to: Adjust brakes and derraileurs Adjust cables Clean derraileurs Lube cables and drive train Straighten rims Patch tubes & change tires
Any of those may be required if travelling more than a month, or if you have a break down or accident. Of all these, brakes are most complicated (rotation, height, depth, angle of attack, spring balance), and truing rims the most confusing (which way do I turn this?). I use alcohol and marking pens to true rims. Spin rims with pens to adjust out high spots, first out of round then out of parallel, alternating sides several times, releasing all tensions uniformly if any spokes get too tight. For brakes last finesse is second guessing tweak which will occur when tightening wrench and hex key.
For all cable things, set cable towards middle mostly with room for stretch before adjusting component (that way most of your future road adjstments can just be via cable). Fine tuning of derraileur cables is best done on silent night road test to hear misalignment. Best adjustment usually involves briefly going past final click to get onto largest gear, but drops onto smallest gear automatically.
Save bike shops for tools you don't have like replacing gear clusters, crank bearings, and chain links (I have those tools myself), or the joy of lacing rims from scratch.
If you need to replace a stretched chain, replace gears at same time (or vice-versa), all matched by brand-type.
If replacing gears, spend a good long time choosing gear ratios for carrying loads (Excel spread-sheets help immensely). You wont want to go quite so fast over bumps with weight anyhow, so just a lone distant high gear for home use will work. For the rest of the 3x8 (or whatever you have), keeping in mind the angled chain ratios only exist in theory (or wear parts down), the idea is to get smooth transition, no duplicates between available ratios. "Alpine gearing" is typical, meaning you'll have to keep switching front gear to really go through all gears. In addition, logarithmic (rather than evenly spaced) is common, bigger spread between less common high and low gears, but then you have to know what your most common gear ratio will be. The one huge important thing here is that you have a really low gear, like 22(front)-28(rear) {=.79 ok}, or 22-32 {=.69 good} 32-34 {=.94 poor}. Beyond 32 on rear requires special derraileurs. Chain needs selected after gears are chosen, otherwise you may not have enough chain to do a 52-32. Conversely, you might not have enough chain retraction then for 22-11.
My tandem came stock with a 24-32 {.75}. I outfitted my Trek with a 22-32 {=.69 good}. At the high end my Trek has a 52-11 {=4.7 dang high}. I'm sure you get the idea by now. With a logarithmic rear cluster, say 11.20.24.26.27.28.30.32, and whatever matching center gear worked for you on front to do loads on flats all day, you'd sacrifice alpine gearing, but be able to get by with just single rear shifts in that 24 to 28 range.
This may sound like an overkill concern, and even your bike mechanics may think you a nut, but anyone with camp touring experience (and the authors on such) know what I'm talking about.
Lugging a heavy bike up a hill is a pain. I was really wishing I had some sort of ratcheting tire lock instead of having to squeeze the brakes between each push (with a broken hand from my first day out). I also invented ratcheting brake levers for long down-hills (as that can get tiresome too). For that matter I invented the steering column lock, crank lock, and brake pad locks. There often aren't even trees out there to lock a bike to, but if your bike is heavy with luggage, no one can steal it it they can't ride it.
When I was just down to suitcases in Hollywood I had to just leave all my stuff on a crowded street corner to go shopping. People will presume you are one of the many people standing in the crowd around it.
Optimizing a bike is like optimizing guitar tuning or preferring particular Photoshop tools.
~
I invented yet another luggage system. It's a bit like low-slung side-cars made from folding cots to both outsides of the pedals. Better for tandems, otherwise it has to hang from the crank. Eitherway struts like non-turning handlebars suspend the things. Problem is stepping over it to (dis)mount.
~
The bike shop delay is probably a good thing for two reasons: you need to learn this repair/adjustment stuff anyhow, you need to research before making new parts/gear purchases. Best reason to go to bike shop is to 'window shop' oogle at gear, know what's current.
Don't buy latest trend shifter/brake systems. Cheap conventional replacement parts on eBay is important. 7-speeds are less fragile than 9. Hopefully mfgrs wil return to them.
I'd be interested in a DaVinci drive with infinite gear ratios (high/low limit range isn't infinite though, and is even less I think). Thus front gears would need properly selected. {I invented infinite gear ratio system myself 25 years ago. Mine even had auto transmission, no shifting required. Wouldn't surprise me if they figured that out too by now}. I don't know how reliable their system is though, or how much drag it adds. It's based on a rubber ball inside the hub.
What exactly were you hoping for at bike shop?
My two favorite options were adjustable telescoping kick-stand (useful if you have much luggage but have to park on incline), and the shock-absorber seat post. You can mount a water bottle rack on your handlebar riser yourself with tape or zip-ties. For camping I made lots of custom clamp-downs, so things like my stove clipped in place inside the frame just like water bottles. - how to fasten things is probably the most particular skill to camp touring.
Tis a bit like G-G as a bush pilot who's skills included knowing how to carve a propeller from a tree and patch wings with duct tape. Family on the ranch and the folks at Jenner had similar skills sets, being able to make most any machine from wood, leathar, and some scrap metal.
Sealed bearings and stainless-steel parts are good investments. Stock cranks are often too short, sacrificing full pedal range for clowns who don't know to keep one pedal down during sharp turns. Likewise they are making crank hubs too high for same reason.
You may have a lot of stamina to consider this up north. October No. Cal coast was bit much for me. One day through freezing rain was rewarded by rainbow prarie scene which looked I'd gone to Oz though.
|
|