Introductions - Hello From Ohio

My name is James Knott and I am cyclist in Columbus, OH. I do a lot of mountain biking, but I also enjoy road biking. I recently did a tour across the state of NY and it was a lot of fun. I made a video about it. Check it out..

http://StrayCompass.com/bikeny.php

I'm looking forward to browsing the forum and learning about what kind of panniers I should buy for my next tour. Any suggestions?

Talk to you later or see you on the Ohio Mountain Biking Championship Series!

James

Welcome to the BF Columbus Contingent! You might want to look a this thread, it turns out that there are a bunch of us on BF. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=362628

Hi James, what bikes are you currently riding?

Welcome to BF, and feel free to PM me with any questions :) !

East Hill
Forum Moderator

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t162/dminorwa/pinkstar.jpg

I am currently riding a Trek 520 Touring bike and a Giant Trance X2 Mountain Bike. I'm very happy with both of them. I recommend both of them.

I have heard very good things about the Trek 520 :) . Enjoy your riding.

East Hill

The 520 is a great bike. I was very happy with it. The rack that comes on the back of the bike is not good though. It bent and caused me to wreck. If you know anyone that buys the bike, then tell them to change the rack if they are doing fully-loaded touring.

Interesting. I'll keep that bit of advice in mind, thanks!

I take it that you did not damage either yourself or the bike too much?

East Hill

I just got some bruises and scratches. The rack bent and and the bags swung into my back tires. They froze and the bike came out from under me and this was not the only problem.

My friends had really good luck with bags and racks from Jandd, Topeak and Novarro.

James,
I saw your 3 part video of your Erie Canal bike trip. I then showed it to my now 13 year old son. He really enjoyed it! I did as well. My son and I biked it last summer taking 8 days. I see that in Holly you didn't quite make it to the place where the bicyclists were suppose to camp about 100 yards east of where you actually camped. When we were there there was a music in the park gathering. Showers were great!

You did a really nice job with the video production. What about doing the C&O Canal and the GAP trails with a similar production?
Wells Horton
Sherburne, NY

I just got some bruises and scratches. The rack bent and and the bags swung into my back tires. They froze and the bike came out from under me and this was not the only problem.

My friends had really good luck with bags and racks from Jandd, Topeak and Novarro.

It sounds as if you were quite fortunate in escaping worse harm...

East Hill

There was someone camping in the official camping area, so one of the locals who runs the lift bridge told us we could camp near the boat docks. In the morning, the police told us we were in the wrong spot, but by that time we were done sleeping, so we packed up and kept pedaling.

I'd like to do a video about the C&O, but I've never heard of the GAP. What's that?

The GAP is the Great Allegheny Passage. It follows an old railroad bed starting about 15 miles south of Pittsburgh, PA going all the way to Cumberland, MD where it meets the C&O Canal Trail. You can ride within 15 miles of Pittsburgh from Washington, DC all on trail. Many parts of it are more isolated than the Erie Canal Trail plus there pretty much is off roads. The surface varies, but on par with the Erie Canal Trail.

More is available at the Allegheny Trail Alliance www.atatrail.org

Enjoy!
Wells