great to meet you all!
03-28-09 | 09:43 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: atlanta
Bikes: gary fisher tassajara, giant cypress
great to meet you all!
howdy, my name is matt and im about 40 miles south of atlanta, ga. been lurking this site for a couple weeks and have gained alot of insight and knowledge. its been quite a while since ive ridden seriously. did quite a few triathlons back in the late eighties and early ninties.
what has brought me here to this site is the advice and camaraderie of others in this sport. about a month ago i began researching a coast to coast ride of the usa. with the economy the way it is right now, my earnings have been slashed...not to mention a divorce. ive suddenly found myself completely downsized and pretty free of responsibilities....i wont be missing much work. so i plan on putting all my stuff in storage and departing east to west sometime in september. given the time of year ill probably stay south, but that could change as i learn from your experiences.
what i need right now is a capable bike. there are so many opinions out there...im leaning towards a jamis aurora. a guy at the lbs says he just built one and has got a few recipes to turn it into what i need. hes gonna get back to me with specifics. im going self-contained with no trailer. im 175 lbs..prob get down to 165...ave build...5'10" tall. right now im gonna be solo...i would love to hook up with others but kind of leaving it all up to the universe...i wont be breaking any mileage, or time records...camping 95% of the way.
there is so much great information here. ill probably be hangin out mostly in the touring section, but look forward to meeting you all.
what has brought me here to this site is the advice and camaraderie of others in this sport. about a month ago i began researching a coast to coast ride of the usa. with the economy the way it is right now, my earnings have been slashed...not to mention a divorce. ive suddenly found myself completely downsized and pretty free of responsibilities....i wont be missing much work. so i plan on putting all my stuff in storage and departing east to west sometime in september. given the time of year ill probably stay south, but that could change as i learn from your experiences.
what i need right now is a capable bike. there are so many opinions out there...im leaning towards a jamis aurora. a guy at the lbs says he just built one and has got a few recipes to turn it into what i need. hes gonna get back to me with specifics. im going self-contained with no trailer. im 175 lbs..prob get down to 165...ave build...5'10" tall. right now im gonna be solo...i would love to hook up with others but kind of leaving it all up to the universe...i wont be breaking any mileage, or time records...camping 95% of the way.
there is so much great information here. ill probably be hangin out mostly in the touring section, but look forward to meeting you all.
03-29-09 | 09:02 AM
#2
Life is good
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 18,208
Likes: 14
From: Not far from the Withlacoochee Trail. 🚴🏻
Bikes: 2018 Lynskey Helix Pro
Welcome Matt.
We sell the Jamis Aurora at the shop I work at (Intown Bicycles). Awesome bike for touring.
I've never done a cross country tour but starting in September seems a little late in the year to me. By the time you get to the west coast it will be cold weather. Riding thru New Mexico and AZ can be cold. Brrrrr.
Anyway, stop by the Touring forum for suggestions about your tour.
And stop by the Southeast Regional subforum and say hello to the locals.
We sell the Jamis Aurora at the shop I work at (Intown Bicycles). Awesome bike for touring.
I've never done a cross country tour but starting in September seems a little late in the year to me. By the time you get to the west coast it will be cold weather. Riding thru New Mexico and AZ can be cold. Brrrrr.
Anyway, stop by the Touring forum for suggestions about your tour.
And stop by the Southeast Regional subforum and say hello to the locals.
__________________
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
03-31-09 | 05:54 PM
#3
Lanky Lass
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 21,434
Likes: 6
From: Take a deep breath, and ask--What would Sheldon do?
Bikes: Nishiki Nut! International, Pro, Olympic 12, Sport mixte, and others too numerous to mention.
Welcome Matt.
We sell the Jamis Aurora at the shop I work at (Intown Bicycles). Awesome bike for touring.
I've never done a cross country tour but starting in September seems a little late in the year to me. By the time you get to the west coast it will be cold weather. Riding thru New Mexico and AZ can be cold. Brrrrr.
Anyway, stop by the Touring forum for suggestions about your tour.
And stop by the Southeast Regional subforum and say hello to the locals.
We sell the Jamis Aurora at the shop I work at (Intown Bicycles). Awesome bike for touring.
I've never done a cross country tour but starting in September seems a little late in the year to me. By the time you get to the west coast it will be cold weather. Riding thru New Mexico and AZ can be cold. Brrrrr.
Anyway, stop by the Touring forum for suggestions about your tour.
And stop by the Southeast Regional subforum and say hello to the locals.
Still, it sounds like fun (I like rain
).Welcome to BikeForums!
East Hill
__________________
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TRY EMPATHY & HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART, PERHAPS I'LL SEE YOU ON THE ROAD...
___________________________________________________
TRY EMPATHY & HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART, PERHAPS I'LL SEE YOU ON THE ROAD...
04-06-09 | 07:47 PM
#5
cyclepath
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,550
Likes: 1
From: "The Last Best Place"
Bikes: 2005 Trek Pilot 5.0, 2001 Specialized Sirrus Pro, Kona Lava Dome, Raleigh hardtail converted to commuter, 87 Takara steel road bike, 2008 Trek Soho
Jamis Aurora, solid choice. Enjoy!
__________________
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"Without music, life would be a mistake."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
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"Without music, life would be a mistake."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
04-07-09 | 05:26 PM
#6
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: atlanta
Bikes: gary fisher tassajara, giant cypress
im about to put the deposit down....
Jamis Aurora $1,000.00
Rack, Topeak $30.00
Pedals Shimano A520 $89.00
Fenders SKS P35 $40.00
Shoes, Louis Garneau Multi $85.00
Total (with tax) $1,331.08
im starting here.....next month front racks and panniers.....swap out shifters.
Jamis Aurora $1,000.00
Rack, Topeak $30.00
Pedals Shimano A520 $89.00
Fenders SKS P35 $40.00
Shoes, Louis Garneau Multi $85.00
Total (with tax) $1,331.08
im starting here.....next month front racks and panniers.....swap out shifters.
04-07-09 | 07:58 PM
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 3
From: Montreal
Bikes: Peugeot Hybrid, Minelli Hybrid
Why swap out the shifters, the Tiagras are convenient and will last for years. I think the gearing might be more worth changing - smaller chainrings (24/36/46) ow bottomgear for loaded climbs and closer ratio cassette (12-26)to give 14,15,16 for cruising.
04-13-09 | 03:02 PM
#8
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: atlanta
Bikes: gary fisher tassajara, giant cypress
thanks for that info regarding the shifters. a guy locally seemed to think he had a better set-up..on your advise ill hold off. i agree about the gearing...ive got several 1 and 2 day trips planned over the next couple months and will see if it is necessary. again thank you for the comments and advise.
i havent searched for this yet, but do any of you guys have any recommendations regarding lights? battery vs. dyno etc?
i havent searched for this yet, but do any of you guys have any recommendations regarding lights? battery vs. dyno etc?
04-21-09 | 11:55 PM
#11
Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: CT
Bikes: Scwinn S-750 Elec. Scooter
Front Light
On my electric Scooter I use a standard lantern..I happened to find a Re-Chargable 6-volt battery..a hunting supply type of ITEM..Company Name=Moultrie,,,also called the OUTDOORSMAN/6v,5amp,Battery-rechargable..MODEL#MFH-RB6..
I bought 2-of these..I think I paid=$$40.00/plus more for the Charger UNIT--
The other handy little ITEM..I found was a HUSKY Product..called the Rechargable Worklight..
Model#HSK142..I removed the Halogen Light portion/and made a system from Cleance Lights(truck lights)..2-white Clearence Lights..that are used to light my Scooter-Up..they are more like a GLOW-light for City Driving at night--they create a "appearance"..of the driver..
Again Re-Chargables are nice..you need to know your Dis-charge Rate--I get about 2-rides from Front(headlight)..that's about 3+Hours..the Clearance Light always seem to ready..I've never really had them catch me off CHARGE--..--the HUSKY is a 12v,3amp(SLA)/..I would think these products a PLUS.../Mark.
===
I bought 2-of these..I think I paid=$$40.00/plus more for the Charger UNIT--
The other handy little ITEM..I found was a HUSKY Product..called the Rechargable Worklight..
Model#HSK142..I removed the Halogen Light portion/and made a system from Cleance Lights(truck lights)..2-white Clearence Lights..that are used to light my Scooter-Up..they are more like a GLOW-light for City Driving at night--they create a "appearance"..of the driver..
Again Re-Chargables are nice..you need to know your Dis-charge Rate--I get about 2-rides from Front(headlight)..that's about 3+Hours..the Clearance Light always seem to ready..I've never really had them catch me off CHARGE--..--the HUSKY is a 12v,3amp(SLA)/..I would think these products a PLUS.../Mark.
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Last edited by 24X18; 10-26-09 at 02:26 AM.
