Touring - Keys Tour Day 5 Finish

After a stop at a convience store for some snacks I started day 5 by crossing the Everglades to Fl City on Rt 1 some 20 miles .There was a good shoulder but the whole way there were 4 alertness bumps across at frequent intervalsthat you have to ride between. In spite of this I literally flew to Fl City riding on the edge of the road and then shoulder when traffic approached (luckily at 3:30 AM the traffic wasn't bad as has been reported at other times for this stretch.Anyway I was in a groove and cyced as fast as I have on a tour or ever over a 20 mile stretch.I think the cool night air as well as low traffic had something to do with it as well as adrenaline rush from the incident I mentioned last post.Anyway I decided to take US 1 through Homestead and pick up Old Cutler Road in South Miami and take it over towards the beach as I didn't want to ride on Krome Ave. again.After a cup of coffee and more donuts than I had intended in Homestead I reached Old Cutler which was suppose to be a nice ride through some nice neighborhoods.It was after the first couple of miles through a getto where I passed a church with a preacher blasting out hymns over a PA system that sounded more like James Brown as a carnival barker and could be heard for blocks.On in Miami I mistakenly got off Old Cutlr onto Red Rd but decided to continue as it looked like a nice road and way headed the right way however when I got to US 1 I got my directions mixed up and headed west instead of east .Back on US 1 headed north through Downtown and over the causeway to the beach.I passed near Mike and Dave's and thought of stopping in to say hi but I decided not to drop in unannounced plus I had a appox. 120 mile day planned if I was to make it home.On the causeway my tire problems started again with a vengence.I got and fixed a flat again on the same rear wheel with one of those self sealing tubes which I had gotten in Marathon.It was my last tube besides the patched one and lasted about half a mile where I put one the patched one and it lasted maybe a quarter mile. So there I was on the causeway in view of all the cruise ships patching tires etc And some rubber dingy starts checking me out I think the might have thought I was a terriorist or something.Anyway I got a tire patched enough to ride into South Bch and up towards Miami Bch. I think I was riding largely on the rims and when it was definately flat again I had had enough and walked my bike a few miles to the bus stop in front of the Fontonblue Hotel and was able to take buses the rest of the way.This last days milage was perhaps 60-70 miles but that is just a guess.
As far as biking in the Keys I can say the scenery is fantastic and I would do it again (and again)but I didn't like the mismash of shoulders,paths and lanes.The drivers seemed to think bicyclists belonged on the bikepaths and not the roads and to tell the truth many particularly in Key West did as they only followed the rules of the road when it was convinient for them and darted all around.The bike paths often crossed sides of the road or dissappeared altogether and I only used them when the shoulder dissapeared and traffic was heavy with a few exceptions.I saw more of the drivers Fl has a reputation for (Yelling honking etc.)than I notice in Broward particularly in some of the small towns.Some small truck driver in I think Big Pine Key or Summerlan Key yelled at me to get on the sidewalk when there vweas not even a sidewalk there. I was well over in the shoulder and it was his mistake because the venom I pilled on him can't be repeated here.In my opinion I think the best solution is to include bike lanes or adequate shoulders on all roads and require bikers follow the road rules.Bike path should be limited to recreational cruising in most cases

Sounds like you had a good adventure carl. Thanks for posting it. Kinda bummed out that i havent had much time for biking touring lately, (yknow, blocks of free time)...but ill definatley use my first chance to go out somewhere far and back...

you should have stopped in for some colada' when you rode by...im sure that would've gotten you home quick. :)

Mike Perhaps we can plan a keys tour starting in Fl City or even Key Largo needing only two or three days.Capkos over on the road cycling board plans to be in the keys on vacation and wants to get in some cycling . Carl

Sounds good...hey did you take the same amount of stuff that you took on the other fl. tour?

I'd make a few modifications to gear for the keyes i'd presume.

Pretty much the same stuff to start with.Both trips I probably carried too much food because I return with the same things uneaten.A better strategy seems to be restocking at the grocery stores along the way and only carring a few snacks and any staples that are hard to find in a regular grocery store.I may go to the clipless pedals because my toes were definately getting sore by the end of the trip in my hiking shoes .

Yeah, i sometimes think about how you did the fl. tour w/o your feet falling off...

def. invest in some pedals...and perhaps some panniers? Did you ever get any?

Right now I am still in a recovery mode with a stiff lower back ,chafing and a sleep deficit.Tomorrow I hope to get my bike mechanics sorted out and then look into some upgrades.I have looked at various panniers and am trying to sort through which features I want most.I like the Ortliebs except I kind of want side loading.Another feature I would like is conversion to a backpack and I find it interesting Dave just said he had trouble with this feature of the Ortliebs. How are your Cannondales holding up.Didn't you have trouble with them breaking or something. I also saw the type Shawn had at a good price and was tempted to just get them.I meant to stop at a bike shop in Miami on Sunset that advertizes deep discounts I think the link is over on the Deals board but was to rushed to figure exactly where it was .The problem is everything in bike shops in Broward are at full retail.

Dude, look on ebay for panniers...the cannondale ones are pretty ideal since they go on pretty strong...the problem with mine on that trip was that since the blackburn rack on the bike was breaking apart, the spring holding the pannier to the rack wasnt at full tension, and upon going down a curb it popped off and got sucked into the cassette... sucks. Anyways, it was easily repairable.

going with durable bags that arent all "fancy" usually become customizable as you have it secured to the bike in other *non conventional ways - ie. bungees, ropes, etc.
not just clips to hope they will "fit" well, shown mostly on the newer style panniers. (ortliebs)

thats just my opinion, i may be wrong. -(dm.)

I don't know enough about panniers to know exactly what you are saying .Are cannondale an example of the durable type?If I am just going to secure with bungies I might as well stay with the duffel.I could then get a camelback with 70 oz water capasity and 1200 (I forget the units)of gear capasity that I have been eying on sale for access to items during the day.How does that camelback sound?Is that enough water capasity?I know Dave's and some of the newer ones have 100 oz. capasity but they don't have the gear capasity and the weight is about the same approx.1.5 lbs.

Riding with lots of stuff on your back, isnt the best for your back. Its better to just have that dead weight on the bike. What i mean by durable panniers, are ones that secure strongly to the rack on the rear of the bike.

The cannondale bags here are really nice...although expensive im sure...
http://www.cannondale.com/clothing/model-BPN818.html

check out panniers from this link page...diff. pannier companies
http://www.mikebentley.com/bike/panniers.htm

-mike

Are you saying you think 70 or 100 oz of water on your back is too much weight even if I didn't use the extra gear space for biking .I not sure I would disagree with that plus you all seemed to go through water faster with the camelback and always be out of water.My dilema is I also want to replace my backpack for hiking etc. with a lightweight one and so having panniers that could double as a backpack is an appealing one to me.Plus this adds versitility which is always good for gear items and for security reasons you could then just carry them into the store etc.I saw one I think by Arkel on their website that was a real backpack as well as single pannier that could attach to your bike.Something like that might work because I am actually doing mostly day bike trips with an occasional week or less tour thrown in(probably the less part in the near future for the same reason as you) so gear space should not be that great.The thing most appealing about the Ortliebs is their supposed full waterproofness.I need to check more into their backpack conversion feature. Do Cannondales have this option?

Many panniers have that function (bike panniers transformed - backpack) ... just look around...Dave's ortliebs do that as well.

Dales? hmm...i dont think they do that
not too sure anyways...

After checking the prices of these bags, it seems the best idea is to just buy em used or something...i dont know, they all seem so pricy.

I agree ebay sound enticing but I'm skeptical of buying something like that sight unseen.With the bungee my duffel does very well though it doesn't look quite as sharp as the panniers.

whatever works best i suppose

My current setup is only adequate until what I want comes along at the right price.I am still actually trying to figure out exactly what I want.I have never even been on ebay.Are there any protections against defective or damaged or worn out goods being sold ?

Ebay's good with things like that...

They have this strict policy that you must display whatever you're selling in the exact condition its in, etc.
Most sold items have pictures to go along with them...and most users have a background so you can see how many sales they've made, and if users reccomend buying from that buyer or were happy with the sale. I think if you're unsatisfied with the item it can be returned as well...

check it out