Hey d8ch,

I'm pretty new at finding my ideal app for biking. I just thought I'd post up one that I found that looks pretty interesting. I've yet to install it, but one of the things I REALLY desire is that it functions offline. With that said, I was reading up the apps out there and found a write-up on MAPS.ME Wish I had a chance to see how it works, but the write-up looks really good. The rating looks pretty darn good on Google play too.

Good luck on what you find and like.

Hello everyone,
I've started work on an ebook outlining basic, routine maintenance and adjustment tips and repair and hack tips for the touring bike. The target audience is cyclo tourists out in the wild- or the not so wild- who might not feel confident that they would be able to fix a problem with their bike well enough to limp to the next shop....no operations that require special tools other than what a practical, reasonably well equipped tourist would be carrying. A few people have asked for something like this and I think fear of not being able to work on the bike prevent some from even trying bike touring. I know there are people on this board who have more knowledge and skill than I do but there are others that don't. I'm interested in hearing from both groups to get feedback on what you think should be included. If there is another ebook already out there please list as I would be curious to check it out.

To add to and modify Matchka's post I go with Peak brand whole milk in powdered form. Add it to the oatmeal granola before the tour, add water when ready to eat, and you are done. Make sure you get the whole milk
otherwise it's not even worth the effort, as low or no fat doesn't taste like anything. I also use it for my coffee.

This stuff is awesome and contains no junk sweetners:
http://www.amazon.com/EMERGEN-C-ELEC...+c+electro+mix

Marketplace: Pfizer's Emergen-C among vitamin products that fail to meet label claims - Health - CBC News
Dubious claims on the Emergen-C front

I don't care for that product as much as the Electro-Mix. Also, it is not designed to do what I was referring to, and that is to replace the minerals that you loose while sweating. I have my own experience to go by, and I have a cousin who is a roofer that swears by it. If you think you or I sweat a lot riding our bicycles you ought to go up on the roof through the summer with him! It is brutal. Lastly, sugar from the "sports drinks" is not so good for you, no matter how much you believe in the marketing. They also (Gatraid) have 2 minerals (Powraid has 6). Actually, better than Electro-Mix overall is a product called Rebound. It has other stuff in it that I find helps me.

Sounds as though that would spoil it for others. Not good in my book.

(1) Smart Balance Peanut Butter (non GMO): Starting in my 50s, it became progressively more difficult for me to digest peanut butter. A couple years ago I tried this and it gives me no trouble. I'm just saying, your mileage may vary.

(2) Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap: Literally a couple drops on a wet wash cloth will clean anything, including you. Transfer 1-2 ounces into a small plastic bottle. See here for some uses: 14 Uses For Dr. Bronner's Soaps - Business Insider

(3) Blue Emu: A small dab is all it takes for major relief from muscle aches. I once pulled a muscle in my lower back deadlifting about 400 pounds without a proper warm-up; this stuff, applied by my wife, got me back in the gym in a couple days--it still took me several weeks to get back to deadlifting, though.

(4) Sleeping Pad/Sleeping Bag: Unless you are camping in winter or high mountains, ditch the full bag for a quilt. I use a Klymite Static V pad (about a pound; you could consider going with the cut-out Klymite X-frame to reduce the weight in half if you are young and light) combined with an Enlightened Revelation down quilt that attaches to the pad with straps. I'm sure cheaper alternatives are available. (My system hard-drive and back up drive died within days of each other, so I lost my spreadsheet with exact weights for all of my equipment or I would include weights.) BTW, for winter camping I have a grossly heavy kit that includes a Mountain Hardwear Ghost down bag (rated to -40 F), an Exped 9 Deluxe down mat, and a Hilleberg Staika, that I load on a pulk for dragging behind me. (The actual coldest temperature I've camped in was -27 F, with windchills about -60 F. On that occasion, I added a special thermal spaceage liner, which got me too warm during the night and I had to unzip my bag!)

(5) Tyvek: I have a large sheet that I really wanted to like. Multiple trips through a washer and dryer, combined with some old tennis shoes, softened it up and removed most of the noise. However, Tyvek really is too permeable for a ground sheet; water WILL pass through from sodden ground. In addition, I find that I don't need a ground sheet to protect any of my tent floors. OTOH, if you know that you will be camping with a firepit, a Tyvek sheet can often be strung up over a line to form a large "L-tent" to block wind and reflect heat from the pit. Just take care to consider how wind direction changes from onshore to offshore after sunset if near water (also how air rises and sinks near any hills). I've never tried it as a cover/camouflage for a bike, though!

I agree. Definitely not cool.

[QUOTE=Miles2go;1460770]I shared the velcro strap around the brake lever trick with about 60 supported tourers on a tour of Maine several weeks ago. Been doing this for something like 12 years and I'm shocked that hardly anyone knows. It can even slow up an attempted theft enough to matter.

Number two...
Wash your clothes in the sink (bring something along to stop the drains), wring them out, place a dry towel on the floor, place a wrung out article of clothing on the towel, roll up completely, walk on rolled towel, unroll, hang garment, you have dry clothes by morning! I always ask for (and get) extra towels.

Number three...
Instead of trying to upload digital photos through your camera, buy a $20 card reader. They are recognized on all XP machines (in libraries) and upload photos much faster than through a camera.

Number four...
Get your butt outta bed early. It's great to have 30-40 miles in by noon. Then stop riding by two or three in the afternoon. This gives you time to actually experience where you'll be staying for the night. Also, even in relatively busy towns, there always seems to be a room available that early in the day.

Number five...
If you don't already have one, spend the $15.00 on one of these mirrors (A Must Have) if you don't already have one. If you have another mirror then buy this one anyway. Try it out for 15-30 days of riding, or just a few after you get it properly adjusted. You'll gladly give your other mirror away. This high quality device that moves with your head (big help) will become one of your favorite touring tools. A potential life saver and joy to use when riding with other tourers behind you. Totally clear, giggle free image that's large enough to really make a difference. I don't work for the company, but I do own two of these wonders.

Number six...
I'm not telling all...and besides, it's getting late. :p



When I built A DIY bike trailer from a garage sale stroller, it came with a locking push button brake lever.
This was otherwise identical to a typical MB lever, click on, click off. Works great; You can get them
from Niagara Cycle on line. If your looking for inexpensive gear check our this bar bag. Thrifts & Goodwill
carry lot of things that adapt perfectly for cheap. I also have others.
Zip tie a key ring to each side of your bar. Then use Zip ties to attach a swivel leash clip to each side
of the bag. Using this method I have a number of bags of different size & purpose I can clip on or off
in seconds. I also found carry-on garment bag that I adapted to a 4 zipper in-frame better than the
commercial offerings.(not seen here)

My girlfriend and i have recently completed a trip from Mongolia home to Ireland on our Surly LHT bikes. You can check out advice and tips we picked up along the way on our photo blog https://crankandcog.wordpress.com/tips/

Wow crank, that sounds like a journey of epic dimensions, if you have video you should post it with Blanche on World Cycle Videos, Vimeo. Even if it's just stills send a montage put to music. I'd love to see it.

P.S. You're a lucky guy; She's a real cutie.

Do you have an extra threadless stem and an old beat up handlebar? Here is how you can convert then so that you can mount your handlebar bag behind you on the seatpost.

I used an old MTB handlebar because that's what i had lying around. A drop bar works just as well and may not need to be shimmed to take your handle bar bag mount.

I cut the handlebar down so that it is just a bit wider than the distance my two bag mounting clamps are apart. I used a couple of old crankarm dust caps to plug the handlebar for looks. Handlebar plugs are better but i used what i had on hand.

I also had to shim the seatpost/threadless stem interface because the seatpost was narrower than the stem. that seatpost is getting replaced.

Here are images of the method I used. I think the process can easily be followed from them.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1620/...f05695be_o.jpg#1 Parts Used by Miele Man, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1569/...04b18e48_o.jpg#2 Step 1 by Miele Man, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1487/...c5c24e96_o.jpg#2 Step 2 Assembly of Stem by Miele Man, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1572/...2fa30355_o.jpg#2 Step 3 Stem on Seatpost by Miele Man, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1609/...618fbc0e_o.jpg#2 Step 4a Handlebar Bag on Stem by Miele Man, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1641/...a001670b_o.jpg#2 Step 4b Handlebar Bag on Stem by Miele Man, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1476/...f31663ba_o.jpg#2 Step 4c Handlebar Bag on Stem by Miele Man, on Flickr

This is a very secure system and it allows me to adjust the tilt of the handlebar/seatbag.

cheers

Converting a Bicycle light for use in heavy fog.

This winter has given our area a lot of heavy fog some nights when I'm riding in the country. My CygoLite Rover II has a maxinum of 250 lumens output and has a low, high, super-high and a flashing (NOT strobe) modes. However even on the low setting the light beams do not pentrate far into the fog but bounce back. I had some clear ambe acrylic here that I bought years ago at a Goodwill store. I think that amber acrylic was originally a car visor.

I cut a piece off of the acrylic. Then I radiused the four corners. Next i cut 2 notches on each side of the cut off amber acrylic. Two rubber bands are used to hold the amber acrylic over the lens.

Here are 2 images that show the light on high beam without and with the amber acrylic in place.


Without:

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1664/...efd4225b_o.jpgIMG_3553 by Miele Man, on Flickr

With:

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1676/...fb5a914d_o.jpgIMG_3554 by Miele Man, on Flickr

There's only one problem. Since I decided to do this there's been no more fog!

BTW, if your light is round you might be able to simply fit a trailer light amber lens cover over it.

Cheers

Zip ties were really helpful for me. Cheap, Quick, and comes in large packs so you can cut and throw away. Also Virgin Atlantic and British Ariways are 2 of the only airliners that dont charge a $200 fee for bikes! They have to be boxed, but they count as a luggage. Lastly, take off your clips. Not worth it to walk around clicking. Plastic pedals are quick and easy to install and dont take away too much power

I agree regarding Maps.me and I too have had little use of it. However, I have downloaded the provincial map so it is easy to see where I am without needing cell data (especially if I'm out of cell range).

Arrive in town mid-afternoon. Find a church, put on a big smile, and ask for a floor and a ceiling. Or try the fire department.

In especially small towns, go to the only mini-mart in town and ask if there's a church/school/fire station where you can sleep on the floor, or pitch a tent out back. They'll know everyone in town, and someone can help out.

When all else fails, ask a policeman where's a safe place to set up a tent. Don't say "Camp," say "Set up a tent." Cops in small towns are usually bored, and will be glad to escort you to a city park, and even check on you later and make sure you're doing OK. They also might know a friendly church.

Bonus: You'll often get fed!

I like this! Really good advice here. Normally I'm kinda the person that would avoid the cops. I guess making sure you give the impression you're just rolling through town helps. Small towns don't really have the facilities for travelers so they would want to help you out as much as possible.

Thanks!

Be nice to them, and most of the time, they'll be nice to you. Kinda like everyone else. Small towns especially, where their job is less "Bust heroin addicts" and more "Serve my community."

People are twice as likely to help out if your tour is raising money for charity. One of the easiest ways to do that is PackJournal.com (see signature). You can choose from four charities (they're trying to add more), keep a small amount for yourself if you need to, and post journals and photos all along the way so people can follow you. And it's all free to use.

* Be aware of the shape of your trunk bag vs the shape of your rack. Otherwise you may find yourself adapting to fit unnecessarily.

For extra security of saddlebags to the bike; or for securing a tent or sleeping bag to a bike or for many other things, I really like Coghlans Arno straps. They look very much like a super-long toestrap and can be had in lengths up to 60 inches.

Arno Straps - 48" | Ropes & Straps | Coghlan's

Cheers

This thing has made me want a handlebar bag:
Thomson/Ortlieb Decaleur

It is super creative and looks really sleek and modern so you aren't just wedded to old school looks.

Chain brush
 

Here’s a low cost, low weight “tool” I take on tour to help keep my chain, cogs and the like a bit cleaner while on the road. When my travel toothbrush starts getting a bit too frazzled for my dental care, it gets transferred to my tool kit. Costs about $2 and the handle keeps gunk out of my tool roll. It hits the magic mark of having dual use, albeit sequential dual use. I’ve yet to mix up the old for the new, but I’m thinking I should put some red tape around the one I’m using as a toothbrush so I don’t make a mistake in the dark at camp.

Things i've learned over the years:

- If you broke your last picket, use some metal saté-sticks, spare spoke or screwdriver.
- Wet clothes dry faster when you wear them because of your body temperature. Watch out that you don't get ill.
- Keep musquitos away with an union or a lemon instead of expensive products.
- Replace all your your torx, plus and minus screws with inbus so you have to take less tools.
- For wild camping, make sure to fasten your luggage to your foot with a chord. You really don't want to wake up left nothing. Been there....
- Powder coating made my bike scratch-free and solid af.
- Always be friendly to everybody in any circumstances. People can be very generous to friendly people :)

I hope it's worth something to you guys.

What is a picket as you reference?

Great tip and just to add to that tip carry a couple of round toothpicks,not flat to put right into the offending hole this will help center your patch as well as not loose were the hole is to begin with wind to back always.:thumb:

This could possibly save someone one day... I was touring last summer and snapped my rear derailleur cable 35 very hilly miles from the nearest town. Derailleur was stuck in the highest gear... not good. After a minute of yelling some four letter words at whatever squirrels or birds happened to be around, I finally managed to jam some small bits of gravel from the roadside into my RD to keep it from moving down onto the smaller cogs without any cable tension. so I could at least make it up the hills without walking the bike.

I had this happen with my front cable once and was stuck in low range. I found a stick of the right thickness and wedged to between the front derailleur cage and frame to hold it out in the middle ring. I could pop it out again when I needed the low range and the inner stop held it in place.

Or you could do it the civilized way :p

Ask a Mechanic: Broken Derailleur Cable Field Repair