Touring - A Bicycle-powered documentary project: Touring North America

Hey guys,

I'm off to cycle across America and make a film about the journey and the people along the way.

Just launched the website, would be great if you wanted to have a gander!

http://www.vaguedirection.com


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_qDSBhduiw

Have fun and good luck! I'll be following along.

You must have experience with film. You did a great job shooting that.

Thanks guys!

Dave (who hopefully doesnt have venereal disease ;-) (over here in North America, vd is generally associated with that, just so you know, kinda like us talking about wearing fanny packs....some terms have diff meanings.)

all the best with your project.

Depending on what sort of weight you will be carrying, you may want to get some informed opinions on your wheels and how well they will handle loaded touring, going from the spoke count I saw on your front in the vid, it may very well take away some grief down the road.
They look like the spoke pattern that some Giant bikes had on their light hybrid models.

Dave (who hopefully doesnt have venereal disease ;-) (over here in North America, vd is generally associated with that, just so you know, kinda like us talking about wearing fanny packs....some terms have diff meanings.)

all the best with your project.

Depending on what sort of weight you will be carrying, you may want to get some informed opinions on your wheels and how well they will handle loaded touring, going from the spoke count I saw on your front in the vid, it may very well take away some grief down the road.
They look like the spoke pattern that some Giant bikes had on their light hybrid models.

24 spokes?

http://distilleryimage2.s3.amazonaws.com/c09b13de097911e2b0a81231381f24bf_7.jpg

Dave, just looked at your project website and see that you will be using a 36 spoke rear wheel, thats good. I'd consider finding an inexpensive 36er for the front as well, just one thing to not have to deal with on a trip if you are indeed using the 24 spoker shown in the vid.
Do realize these suggestions arent just to be contradictory, but come from experience. Here in Canada, one can find a reasonably priced 36 spoke wheel for maybe $100 or something, and once you take into account busting spokes, having a wheel go out of true, some repair costs etc, time lost...using a low spoke wheel for a fully loaded trip does not seem prudent (you will be carrying a dslr camera, perhaps extra lenses, laptop, maybe a tripod--all extra stuff I never carried when touring--so you may have at least 10lbs more than a non doc making trip)

cheers

Ah thanks guys. Yeah the rear wheel in the video has been swapped out for a much stronger and more suitable 36hole setup. I probably will end up swapping out the front too, as it's a bit crap. Thanks for your advice!

And the VD thing, yeah it quickly became apparent that this is a dodgy name! Oops, it will be referred to as the Vague Direction project everywhere except the username! ;)

as per the dodgy name, I know, I just couldnt help taking the piss outta ya.
again, all the best getting your trip together, cheers

That looks like a lot of fun.

That looks like a lot of fun.

Cheers guys, all starts in 2 days now! Have a look at the website where I'll be blogging about it all with video and photo updates too. www.vaguedirection.com (http://www.vaguedirection.com)

Looks like the weather will be terrible for the first week or so. Just part of the adventure right?!

Dave, just looked at your project website and see that you will be using a 36 spoke rear wheel, thats good. I'd consider finding an inexpensive 36er for the front as well, just one thing to not have to deal with on a trip if you are indeed using the 24 spoker shown in the vid.
Do realize these suggestions arent just to be contradictory, but come from experience. Here in Canada, one can find a reasonably priced 36 spoke wheel for maybe $100 or something, and once you take into account busting spokes, having a wheel go out of true, some repair costs etc, time lost...using a low spoke wheel for a fully loaded trip does not seem prudent (you will be carrying a dslr camera, perhaps extra lenses, laptop, maybe a tripod--all extra stuff I never carried when touring--so you may have at least 10lbs more than a non doc making trip)

cheers

Still need to update the photo, but finally got 36h salsa delgado rims f+r, so hopefully should be a bit stronger now!

Just put a kitlist on the blog: http://www.vaguedirection.com/gearheads-a-kit-list-that-isnt-a-bike-spec/

Cheers guys, all starts in 2 days now! Have a look at the website where I'll be blogging about it all with video and photo updates too. www.vaguedirection.com (http://www.vaguedirection.com)

Looks like the weather will be terrible for the first week or so. Just part of the adventure right?!

Damn good thing you didn't start in NYC a week ago! I'm sure you will be seeing lots of damage and cleanup as you make your way down the coast.
Cheers