80 mile trip in wine country
 

I tried posting in touring but I don't think my trip is long enough to justify replies from tem.:rolleyes:
So
....

What should I pack?
What rack and bag should I get?
I need space for a pump and bottles (for my wife’s milk):o

80 mile loop around Lake Seneca NY

Any help would be appreciated!!

Are you two doing a tandem or separate bikes? Will both of you be running racks? Will you be bringing all of your own food?

2 bikes
one rack
bring food

also, how long can we figure it will take? 5-6 hours?

What is your current fitness level? To really appreciate the trip and not have to push yourself all the way through I'd plan more for 7 hours with a couple of stops in there. Heck, if I was doing this with my wife I'd say we would go for 8 hours. Take an hour lunch somewhere, a couple of breaks before and after. Maybe maintain like 15 mph avg speed while riding.

As far as racks/panniers Axxis has a sport touring line. However, you may be able to get away with a trunk bag on a rack and no panniers. Not like you'll be bringing cloths and I presume you'll have pre-made meals so no reason for cooking utensils?

I googled Axxis and got nothing, do you have a link?
8 hours sounds good.
We will pack our food pre made
I was thinking of going to the Bully Hill Winery for lunch
but that is 2/3 of the way and we would be pretty sweaty by then.

thanks

Huh... that's my old stomping ground. Where's your start point?/ End point?

Most of the wineries are ok w/ sweatty cyclists. They see em all the time.
Oh, and I'd talk to Mike at Geneva Bicycle Center. He, more than anyone, probably knows the best way to go about this kind of ride. My dad, when he was still alive, would do a loop around the lake once or twice a year (or more). And Mike was his go-to for bike stuff.

If you do drop by there tell him that Sam says hi.

My bad...Axiom, sorry I have my phone support company on my brain for some reason.

We are going to start in Watkins glen
We use to do a 38 mile wine tasting ride with a group every year, but missed this year.
We are going to camp Sunday night and start in the morning.
We may drive down to town first (that would be a killer hill to the camp ground to end with!)
Severing, Did you personally do the ride yourself?
What route do you suggest if you did.

To be honest. I moved out of NY just after highschool (to wisconsin to go to college) and haven't been back for long enough to do a super-long ride, like the one around the lake. And before then I never had the interest to do a ride like that.

In my conversations with my Dad he said he preferred to go counter-clockwise around the lake starting in Geneva (my hometown). So go south on the west side of the lake and north on the east. Mostly because the hills around Watkins Glen are killer. The hill on the west side of the lake going down to Watkins is a VERY long (like 4 miles) one of a moderate grade. But the hill on the east side is more acute (ie... it does a steep climb and then you're on top of the ridge.). Going along 14 from Geneva to Watkins Glen is not bad at all for cyclists. The shoulder is about 5 feet wide or so and very smooth. I never biked the east side of the lake but I've driven it and it seems to be about the same.

thanks!

I emailed the bike shop, we'll see what they have to say

edit:
as for eveyone else,
what would you bring?
camal back and fill it up along the way?
gatorade in the cage?
picnic stuff?

I am going to the LBS this Fri to buy a rack and bag.

Don't forget to have extra space for hauling a few wine bottles......

Hehe...camel back full of wine anyone?

I know that campground and that hill! After circumnavigating the lake, it's not a climb I suggest, and, taking my own advice, I SAGged it from the base of the hill back to camp earlier this year.

I had a great time at this years' Great Finger Lakes Bicycle Tour and plan on doing it again next year. Try it yourself next year.

tsl

Do you have a route to suggest?

That is quite a long day ride for someone who doesn't know how long its going to take.
I guage my travelling speed (inc stops) at 10mph so would allow 8hrs but make sure you have some daylight left at the end. Dark also means cool so extra layers would be needed.
Any rider who can ride 20miles is fit enough but it really helps to work up to that distance gradually or you will know it the next day.
I would take enough stuff to fit into a 20l bag but you will only have one repair kit.

what does that mean?

If you have to ask how long, you havent done much long distance riding. After a couple of long rides you get a pretty accurate notion of how fast you ride and how to pace yourself.

80 miles is a long distance. I ride 10 miles a day commuting but would think twice about doing an 80 without any intermediate distances to limber up. Many people find that doing a big ride with no build up is possible but really hurts and it puts them off further adventures. It is much better to build up distance in stages, a couple of 50 milers, a couple of 70s.
I usually start big tours with a fairly easy day, say a 50miler.

Wear padded shorts and gloves, short sleeved jersey or base layer.
Carry long-sleeved jersey, close fitting leggings, windbreaker plus a waterproof if the forecast suggests. Check the temp forecast for the end of the day and ensure you have sufficient clothing, its really hard when you are tired and cold.
Start fully hydrated by chugging some liquid 1/2 hr before the ride and take 1.5l of water per person (assuming refills). If you use gatoriad, take another bottle of just plain water.
Some food, not neccessarily athletic energy food, just a good picnic with a slow energy release, eg ripe bananas, wholemeal bread sandwitches. You need to snack every hour esp at the begining. A couple of cereal bars are useful.
Spare inner tube, puncture repair kit, pump , basic tools for tightening bolts, adjusting screws, removing wheels.
Camera, map.
If you are assuming an hr of daylight by the end, take at least a rear blinkie light.
For a one-off ride you can bungie a small backpack to the top of a rack. The current fashion for racks that clamp to the seatpost is OK for race bikes but if your bike has suitable threaded eyelets then get a rack that fits them. I like the Blackburn style of rack, light, strong and simple.

Thanks man,
That sounds perfect.
I will check out the racks.
I had thought that a rack bag combo was going to be mandatory.
I saw "sets" that snapped together at the LBS

Thanks again.

Not really. I've only done the ride the one time. If you follow the link above to the GFLBT, on that page you'll find the routes we did this year. There was a 74-mile "Four Falls Tour" between Cayuga and Seneca Lakes, a 56-miler between Seneca and Keuka Lakes and a 44/55 mile circumnavigation of Keuka Lake.

thanks tsl
I'll print them out and show them to my wife tonight.

update...

We did it

85 miles
6 hours riding
7 hours total with breaks
1 flat
1 (still) numb hand

all good