'08 SF-LA Tour - Tour Type Poll

[MTBMaven]

This poll is to help establish what type of touring people want to do for the 2008 SF - LA Bike Tour. The poll will close on November 15th to give people time to have their voice heard.

You can follow the lengthy discussion about this tour here: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=355852

[Scootcore]

donde esta the poll????

[MTBMaven]

donde esta the poll????

Man give a guy a chance. :D Hit enter and something happened. Poll should be there now.

[Scootcore]

it is it is!!!!!! thanks man!!

[Scootcore]

great minds think alike so far....

[roadfix]

I voted.

[MTBMaven]

it is it is!!!!!! thanks man!!

No worries. Glad I can help getting this thing going. Heck if we can pull it off it will be great. I just hope to meet some of you all before the trip.

[Scootcore]

come out on a ride! where are you at??

[VanceMac]

Hotels rule, apparently.

Hey, I gotta plug in my hair dryer somewhere, right?

[Scootcore]

true....tobias would get angry otherwise....

[Happytime]

Hotels rule, apparently.

Hey, I gotta plug in my hair dryer somewhere, right?

I have to watch The Daily Show every night. :D

[awiner]

Warm showers after a day of riding rock ! So do Hot tubs :)

[cole505]

I voted.

+1

[jpconrad]

Just a thought, but if there are a few people who would like to be a part of this, but not ride the entire time, they could alternate SAG and riding.

[tprevost]

Just a thought, but if there are a few people who would like to be a part of this, but not ride the entire time, they could alternate SAG and riding.

VMC and I may do this as well... really depends on the date etc.; we can either ride a day together and backtrack the next day (we can only do the first two days assuming they are on a weekend) or one of us will drive and one will ride, then switch off....

[efficiency]

I honestly think SAG would make the whole thing more complicated.

[DanteB]

Let's make it a 2 day ride! That way we only need a hotel one night, maybe 2 the night before the ride.

[merider1]

I honestly think SAG would make the whole thing more complicated.

+1

I was thinking this would be a fun, unsupported juant down the coast. No need for SAG and people should be self supportive. I figure that if someone has an issue, they can jump on Amtrak (or, at least, that would be what I would do). This may end up being a couple of trips of different groups (nothing wrong with that). But that may be the only way all ideas of what kind of ride this should be can be realized. :)

[merider1]

Let's make it a 2 day ride! That way we only need a hotel one night, maybe 2 the night before the ride.

And Dante will be in group 3 with UMD, Jpconrad, Whitecarbondude and Adam. :D

[jpconrad]

Let's make it a 2 day ride! That way we only need a hotel one night, maybe 2 the night before the ride.

+1

[jpconrad]

+1

I was thinking this would be a fun, unsupported juant down the coast. No need for SAG and people should be self supportive. I figure that if someone has an issue, they can jump on Amtrak (or, at least, that would be what I would do). This may end up being a couple of trips of different groups (nothing wrong with that). But that may be the only way all ideas of what kind of ride this should be can be realized. :)

How many days were you thinking this would take and what were you planning to do for clothes?

[VanceMac]

And Dante will be in group 3 with UMD, Jpconrad, Whitecarbondude and Adam. :D

+1. I think we'll have the biggest group. :p

[merider1]

How many days were you thinking this would take and what were you planning to do for clothes?

Well, officer, :rolleyes: :p, I was thinking at a minimum five days and I would borrow bags from one of the sweet guys who offered (Roadfix, Thomson, Scootcore) and as for clothes, a change of cycling clothes, t-shirt (long sleeved), shorts/capris, tank (to sleep in), 2 pairs of panties and a bra. Obviously, some washing of clothing would be necessary along the way!

I don't know that I could ride 100 miles/day. And if you are thinking 2 days :eek:...well, good luck.

[jpconrad]

Well, officer, :rolleyes: :p, I was thinking at a minimum five days and I would borrow bags from one of the sweet guys who offered (Roadfix, Thomson, Scootcore) and as for clothes, a change of cycling clothes, t-shirt (long sleeved), shorts/capris, tank (to sleep in), 2 pairs of panties and a bra. Obviously, some washing of clothing would be necessary along the way!

I don't know that I could ride 100 miles/day. And if you are thinking 2 days :eek:...well, good luck.

Heavily loaded bikes would make over 100 miles a day impractical. I figure you'd need a really large bag or 2 saddle bags. And cycling clothing that can be dried, so no Assos. :(

Ya know, all you need is one cycling outfit, just wear a bedsheet while you're cleaning it! :D

(toga! toga!)

[merider1]

Okay, folks, let's get this straight. This trip is not a hot-tub, nude, toga party. Got that!? If we want to do that, might I suggest we plan to ride to Palm Springs. :D

[ronjon10]

How many days were you thinking this would take and what were you planning to do for clothes?

From the other thread.


I'd bring:
- 2 sets of riding clothes (alternate & wash daily)
- 1 pr shorts & boxers
- 2 t shirts,
- rain jacket
- Arm / leg warmers.
- multiple tubes
- extra emergency food bars

+ normal bike tools/camera etc.

All that should fit in one backpack size thing and normal bags no problem.

This trip would probably be 6 days on the bike depending on exact start / finish. It's right around 500 miles.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=rzyi&doc_id=1712&v=2H

[jpconrad]

It might be good to do a two day trip first. Palm Springs?

[roadfix]

We're all survivalists. We don't need no SAG. Where's the adventure? :p :D

Anyway, I voted for hotel/no sag because I don't feel like hauling my kitchen sink on this trip but I'm flexible so I'm cool with whatever the group decides.

[Enzo Gucci]

I wouldn't be in favor of a rolling SAG. I think that if people aren't able to pull off 70-80 miles a day without being self sufficient, they might be in over their heads with something like this. Not only that, but having a car leapfrogging us could complicate things and make it dangerous, especialy along certain sections of the coast.

Between a quality backpack and jersey pockets, I think people could manage being self-supporting.

I probably wouldn't go, so these are just my opinions as an outsider.

-Ciao

[MTBMaven]

I wouldn't be in favor of a rolling SAG. I think that if people aren't able to pull off 70-80 miles a day without being self sufficient, they might be in over their heads with something like this. Not only that, but having a car leapfrogging us could complicate things and make it dangerous, especialy along certain sections of the coast.

Between a quality backpack and jersey pockets, I think people could manage being self-supporting.

I probably wouldn't go, so these are just my opinions as an outsider.

-Ciao
Welcome Jesse. Thanks for the comments. See ya on STR.

[DanteB]

Well, officer, :rolleyes: :p, I was thinking at a minimum five days and I would borrow bags from one of the sweet guys who offered (Roadfix, Thomson, Scootcore) and as for clothes, a change of cycling clothes, t-shirt (long sleeved), shorts/capris, tank (to sleep in), 2 pairs of panties and a bra. Obviously, some washing of clothing would be necessary along the way!

I don't know that I could ride 100 miles/day. And if you are thinking 2 days :eek:...well, good luck.

Bra and panties:eek:, just go commando.:D

[big john]

You can wash your riding clothes in the sink/shower and they will dry overnight. Things that don't dry can be carried in a mesh bag on the next day's ride to air dry. You can use a laundromat every few days, if needed. Some motels have machines, so no problem.
You shouldn't worry about weight, as long as you don't carry way too much. I rode 600 miles per week on a 50+ pound bike. My friend's bike was 75 pounds when we started our tour across the country. I met a young Swiss mountain boy who's bike was close to 100 pounds.
People who go fast always worry about weight when they tour. It's not an issue if you just calm down and enjoy the trip. Every day doesn't have to be a race. Trust me, I know motel touring.
If you want to do an overnighter to check things out, Ojai is a good one. 150 miles round trip (from SFV) and pleasant.

[merider1]

John, all great advice and since you've done a multi-day tour, I'll be heeding it! As for bikes, can I do this trip on my road bike. Dumby question of the year, I'm sure, but do I need a tour bike for this? Also, an Ojai two day trip would be fun too, just as a dry run.

[big john]

John, all great advice and since you've done a multi-day tour, I'll be heeding it! As for bikes, can I do this trip on my road bike. Dumby question of the year, I'm sure, but do I need a tour bike for this? Also, an Ojai two day trip would be fun too, just as a dry run.
You don't need a touring bike for this type of thing. Cathy, Deb, Orrie, and Vicki all rode their regular road bikes on our trip this past spring. They did pack too light, because they were cold walking around at night and should have brought jackets. If you have rack eyelets on your bike, you can carry panniers and carry anything you want.
I agree that a SAG car is an extra expense and an extra logistical problem. I also think it takes away from the feeling of freedom and adventure. Just ride and enjoy.

[big john]

Only 2 of us had touring panniers.
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u308/bigjohn53/R00106831.jpg

[big john]

Deb had a giant Camelbak and Tom had a BOB.
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u308/bigjohn53/R00106911.jpg

[roadfix]

John, that trailer looks familiar. I'm glad to see it was useful on your trip. :)

[ronjon10]

You can wash your riding clothes in the sink/shower and they will dry overnight. Things that don't dry can be carried in a mesh bag on the next day's ride to air dry. You can use a laundromat every few days, if needed. Some motels have machines, so no problem.

You shouldn't worry about weight, as long as you don't carry way too much. I rode 600 miles per week on
a 50+ pound bike. My friend's bike was 75 pounds when we started our tour across the country. I met a young Swiss mountain boy who's bike was close to 100 pounds.

People who go fast always worry about weight when they tour. It's not an issue if you just calm down and enjoy the trip. Every day doesn't have to be a race.

Trust me, I know motel touring.
If you want to do an overnighter to check things out, Ojai is a good one. 150 miles round trip (from SFV) and pleasant.

+2342 These are all fantastic points.

When I was touring over in England, I planned to average 10mph. Some days were a little faster, some were a little slower. It's about the scenery and the trip, not the average speed.

[big john]

John, that trailer looks familiar. I'm glad to see it was useful on your trip. :)They took turns pulling it and we were amazed by how much stuff they had in there. Tom would show up for dinner in a different warm shirt every night. He brought long pants and other things,too.

[Cassave]

+2342 These are all fantastic points.

When I was touring over in England, I planned to average 10mph. Some days were a little faster, some were a little slower. It's about the scenery and the trip, not the average speed.

10 mph is almost universally accepted as the favored touring speed.