djb

you can say that again! (literally)

and yes, pretty goofy with a beach cruiser but good for you that you made it work and you had fun, that's all that matters.

PhilJohnson

It was a lot of fun, got lost though and was talked to by a BLM Ranger for accidentally trespassing. My friend wound up going off a cliff but luckily there was a cactus to break his fall. I accidentally jumped on a cactus earlier in the week myself. No flat tires though. The beach cruiser is an unconventional choice for sure but it's comfortable for me. Not a huge fan of the bent over riding position. I don't like putting weight on my wrist. Hopefully I can get some time off of work to do some more touring, but this time in flat Wisconsin instead of super mountainy Arizona.

Thulsadoom

Where's the ferret?

rodar y rodar

But maybe somewhere else. Wisconsin is looking a bit dry this year

hukapits

My CC on my short two days touring

Jamoni

Ha! I have the same bags on my light touring setup! They work great as long as you keep the straps up out of the spokes.

X-LinkedRider

Awesome for making the AC.O website. That erie is a great trail, along with the C&O!

Joe Padilla

Heres my 2011 Trek 520. I had it a year on April 13th and the longest ride was 116 miles in one day to the coast. I leave june 18 for my cross country trip to Oregon from NC. I just got the rear panniers right now, ordered my tubus racks last week so I'm watching the mail! hand my front panniers and a handlebar bag next week. If anyone is interested I'll post the pics each week I get something new as I get my bike ready for my trip!

Joe Padilla

Love it! Love my 520!

Joe Padilla

I leave on the Trans American route from Yorktown VA to Astoria or on my 520, hope to see you out there!

Joe Padilla

Joe Padilla

Heres my first 100+ ride a one day, a month after I got my 520. It was soooo painful!

Joe Padilla

Here's a pic a week after I got my 520 on my first overnight trip.


On the way home from that trip I ran into a cyclist from England, and haven ridden 8000+ miles in the year since I know how often you don't see other riders, especially other tourers, been hooked every since. Don't own a car only my 520!

A British man named Phil!

Standalone 

I think that's a Topeak Mule. I have one on my longbike. No longer made.

Tony N.

Great picture. I too have a early 80's 520 that I love. Used it to pull my now grown kids around in a trailer. Now plan on using it as my tour bike. Mine still has the original DT shifters and 27" wheels but I've been thinking about changing to barends and 700 wheels. What barends do you have and how well is the shifting and are those 700 wheels?
Thanks for posting the pic.
Sorry for the double post.

Tony N.

Finally got to the right poster.
Great picture. I too have a early 80's 520 that I love. Used it to pull my now grown kids around in a trailer. Now plan on using it as my tour bike. Mine still has the original DT shifters and 27" wheels but I've been thinking about changing to barends and 700 wheels. What barends do you have and how well is the shifting and are those 700 wheels?
Thanks for posting the pic.

Jamoni

Here's my light touring bike, set up with my light hiking pack. It's not ultralight, since it tops out at more than 10 lbs, but not by much.



Here's the shelter and a little peek at some of my gear. I've added a couple things, notably an SOL Emergency Bivy, a rain suit, replaced the blanket with a "sleeping bag" (more like a sleeping bag liner made from some polypro blankets), and I've replaced the weird mess kit with a Sierra Cup. I also made up some stuff sacks for food and mess kit, and a compression sack for the sleeping bag.
Hopefully I'll make it out next weekend for a 2 nighter.

BicycleCrazy

What percentage of your gear do you carry in the Bob?
Trying to decide if I should go with panniers or trailer??? or Both??

MightyLegnano

This used to be the most expensive model of a greek bike manuftacturer. Now, it's an old mule but with a kind soul and very tough attitude. This bike has been rolling on the streets every single day virtually non stop (snow,rain, wind, greek sun) for 25+ years. I've done crazy things with it.

Those plastic bags on the floor had peanuts and raisins (best touring snack ever), delicious chocolate cake and cheap biscuits.


Here with handmade panniers.

PeaceP@

I recently switched up my compact crank to a full triple in the front along with a new derailleurs, bottom bracket, cassette, and chain. Since my bike was going to be pretty much stripped down during the transition of news components I decided to powder coat the frame black, up close it sort of look like leather. To strip the paint I had the frame soda blasted which does not hurt or damage the integrity of the aluminum. This is a 2006 Specialized Tricross Sport. I am touring up to Canada from Utah then down the coast to the redwoods, back trough Utah towards Austin, TX then up to Little Rock, AR (where I stayed for a good minute while touring across the states in '09) then to GA, FL, Boston, back down to TX then into Mexico with my sights set on Argentina. 15-20,000 miles total. I will have the company of my girlfriend and my 2yr old Australian Shepard/Blue Healer (Avenue). The kick off date is July 9th, 2012. I plan to continue my freelance web development services to clients old and new so will be working from the road, please bookmark www.worldsbetweenlines.com to follow the action.

PeaceP@

You should totally buy a Brooks saddle! You will be so happy you did, not to mention you rear

MightyLegnano

I very often see the brook saddle with an upward angle. Are they suppose to be adjusted that way? Doesnt that make your sensitive area get pressed more from the saddle nose?

PeaceP@

I see some pitched way up, level, and tilted down. There is no "one" way to set up a Brooks but I can assure you that when your saddle is broken in at least 200 miles it is like sitting on clouds. I didn't use a Brooks on my first tour of the States and had severe problems down below and blood in my stool. I went through a stock seat and a gel padded seat before I switched over to a Brooks. Now I could ride 500 miles without getting a bit sore...that is if I rode 500 miles strait. But Brooks are the way to go in my opinion! Wouldn't ever give mine up.

Joe Padilla

This was a year ago and I've never had a sore butt, and I ride everywhere, I don't own a car. I'm gonna get a brooks saddle after my CC tour. With the racks,bags,tires,drive train, rear derailleur, tires, map sets, and what not I won't have enough to get a new saddle. But Ive never had a problem with the stock one.

MightyLegnano

500 km straight without butt soreness? That's something! The damn thing is expensive, that's the only drawback. Which model do you have?

I have a 12$ one from a big european discount super market and performed beautifully in very long trips (German quality). I guess it's a matter of butt physiology and luck. But I'd definitely consider a Brooks after all that positive critique.

P.S.: Blood in stool? For real? I've never heard that. How is that possible?