chas58

Those look like Topeak you have on there? Not very durable for that type of trip. Ortlieb is the way to go (I have both).

Yeah, with batteries, your best bet would be to have them shipped from China to your starting location. That is kind of a logistical mess.

For the seat, I kinda like Brooks, but the most important thing is that your butt is conditioned to sitting on the seat for so long (Shami butter is good stuff!). Seat and tires are two areas where I don’t’ scrimp.

For my brother’s trip, it’s been years, but he just went down to the bottom of chili and road north for about 3 months. Traveled pretty light as I recall.

Want an inspirational video? I don’t know how to find it, but at the Banff film festival several years ago there was a film about someone who stuck his tandem on a plane in the UK, flew to Alaska, and road it south to the bottom of Chile, picking up stokers as he went along. That was an adventure!

Just from my personal experience, hill climbing with a loaded bike is tough. But then again, if you are in decent shape before the trip you will be in killer shape after a week or two on the trip. One of my favorite memories is riding a 500lb loaded tandem (including rider weight) past dozens of weekend warriors on 15lb race bikes up one of the steepest mountains in France. But then again, coming down the back side overheated the drum brakes. ;-)

jaysodyssey

Chas

wow, you have had some adventures! I don't even know what a "stoker" is, maybe its just me or we probably call them something else!

Yeah the electric/motor idea was good in theory but in reality it would create more issues than it would solve

TOPEAK yes! (sponsored) and going back where they came from, they ripped the first day and even though I reinforced them, well let's just say I am headed the ortleib route! I still cannot find a rack for them, the review shows a sliding handle on the back of the pannier, I don't know if there is a special rack for them or if I can use just any!

I DID NOT like the topeak but in fairness to the company the quick release system was pretty neat, and I did like how all of it was one piece for fast unloading and loading!

But they were never designed for this anyway, I know that now!

I'll look into Shami Butter, As for tires I thought about packing a bunch of that stuff but honestly if you carry EVERYTHING you will need well you might as well bring a trailer with you!

My seat is pretty good, definitely better then the saddle the bike came with!

sliptdisk

The seat is the most important bicycle part,then you need to know spandex shorts underneath-pants-shorts will keep sores from stopping your journey.so no ebike,can you put a gas motor on a plane?

jaysodyssey

NO electric or GAS allowed on the plane, I do not know if this is a post 9-11 thing, or if it was always this way.

from the southwest (my most likely chosen airline next flight) website

"

• Internal Combustion Engines: Southwest Airlines does not allow internal combustion engines as checked or carryon baggage. This includes new or used equipment. This restriction includes lawn equipment, engine-powered scooters, and any other fuel-operated combustion engine."

Technically I could get batteries shipped if i "pretended" to have a wheelchair or assistive device, But I am not willing to go that far!

chas58

The gas/battery ban is a long standing ban. Yeah, I left a camping fuel bottle in Australia because I didn’t think of that, long before 911. I was tempted to dump the white gas down the airport toilet, but just decided to buy another bottle.

Topeak makes nice stuff, but certainly not designed for what you are doing. The ortliebs will fit any normal rack fine. They are the Mercedes of panniers (in price, design, and country of origin). Their quick release is pretty slick too (just pull up on the handle and it releases from the rack).

A stoker (in this context) is the guy on the back of a tandem.

jaysodyssey

Chas,

I suspected that, They took a lot of freedoms from us from 9-11, but i suspected that was something to do with safety more then bo#$bs on aircraft. There are easier ways to take out airliners then electric batteries lol (strictly speaking to make a point of course)

topeak DOES not hold up at all!

Ortleibs are what I am shooting for and I hope the change will make quite a difference. Also today I went to use my bike and it had a flat, I HAVEN OT EVEN LEFT PHOENIX LOL, I had mr tuffy liners in the wheels, when I took the tube out i found a sliver of metal had PIERCED the tire, AND the liner, I will not be writing a favorable review of the MR. not so tuffys lol, I will be returning those as well, and looking for something stronger! I just put a new tube in instead of patching a hole that is probably going to be hell to find. My plan on the road with flat tires will be to change the tube on the road, and PATCH when I arrive at my destination for the night.

As for the ORTLEIBS here is a link to a rack I am considering for the front, As i said I am now familiar with the QL1 system but have yet to find a rack that specifically supports it!

I found a deal online for 4 panniers and a handlebar bag for like 220.00. I have asked the guy for more photos!

Ahhh I see (me and my girlfriend) when i lived in Key West rented a tandem bike. She was on the back if I recall, so I guess she was the "Stoker". Here a Stoker is the name of the guy that makes the vampire movies, and also the guy that keeps the fire going on the old locomotives!

Axiom Journey Front Suspension Disc Lowrider Trekking Touring Bike Pannier Rack | eBay


This is for the front only, I am hoping a basic Axiom rack will work for the back Panniers as well! The goal is to get one that will have a spot on the top I can stick my tent on!