Tips for Going Lighter?
01-23-12, 08:54 PM
#102
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 77
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
01-24-12, 01:59 AM
#103
Senior Member
A second tip is to air out your sleeping bag and tent from the moment you get up (if possible). Condensation can limit the loft on your bag, and there is really no point carrying around extra moisture if you don't need to.
Other stuff that is light and good for it's weight -
titanium tea pot (can cook in it, and use it for coffee)
puff ball down jackets
down slippers
3M makes a good light, and bright rain suit (forget the name of the material, but it's like wearing paper, and it breathes nicely)
If you're camping in the sticks, take a small hatchet over a knife any day, the fiskars ones have hollow handles that you can keep your tools in
Then the hatchet... I mean, if you need a hatchet, you need a sledgehammer to drive a tack. I might as well take my pair of pruning secateurs.
Honestly, some people...
01-24-12, 07:12 AM
#104
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Forksbent, MN
Posts: 3,190
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 301 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times
in
15 Posts
I tour where it sometimes gets below 40 degrees in the summer. If you've pedaled all day, your socks are damp, and presto feet are warm.
The camp grounds (if you find one) have nothing but a pad and a fire ring. If you want fire, you make it. A hatchet does a much better job of this than any knife will. The fiskars hatchet weighs very little, probably much less than all the fuel you'd need for a week long tour. When you're out and settle in for the evening, you might as well start a fire to cook over, as you're not needing to carry the fuel. Must be quite a few of us, it's a set up I've seen many times in the northern states. My full up kit weighs less than 23lbs, for a self supported week on the bike or backpack. Sometimes I combine trips into both biking and hiking. Maybe a different idea of touring, so I understand why it might offend your sensibilities...
The camp grounds (if you find one) have nothing but a pad and a fire ring. If you want fire, you make it. A hatchet does a much better job of this than any knife will. The fiskars hatchet weighs very little, probably much less than all the fuel you'd need for a week long tour. When you're out and settle in for the evening, you might as well start a fire to cook over, as you're not needing to carry the fuel. Must be quite a few of us, it's a set up I've seen many times in the northern states. My full up kit weighs less than 23lbs, for a self supported week on the bike or backpack. Sometimes I combine trips into both biking and hiking. Maybe a different idea of touring, so I understand why it might offend your sensibilities...
01-25-12, 01:42 AM
#105
Senior Member
Well, don't bother coming to Australia with similar ideas. Open fires are not favoured, and frankly, the trouble to build a wood fire just seems a total waste of time and expenditure of energy which you could quite easily have spent on bringing fuel and a small stove.
I should point out that in wilderness parks here, open woodfires are banned. There are many days in summer when there are total fire bans anywhere, even in residential backyards. Many campgrounds (ie, RV-style parks) don't tolerate fires.
I also have to say my experience with open fires in campgrounds several times in Canada has been much, much less than favourable -- the density of smoke was almost unbearable and I was thankful we were well away in no-fire areas.
In fairness, I am a survivor of bushfires that killed 34 people in a town near me, and more than 170 in total in February 2009. So my views on open fires for recreational purposes are governed by that experience.
But, I am glad you took my comments in good humour. I'd still like to hear more of your opinions on touring.
I should point out that in wilderness parks here, open woodfires are banned. There are many days in summer when there are total fire bans anywhere, even in residential backyards. Many campgrounds (ie, RV-style parks) don't tolerate fires.
I also have to say my experience with open fires in campgrounds several times in Canada has been much, much less than favourable -- the density of smoke was almost unbearable and I was thankful we were well away in no-fire areas.
In fairness, I am a survivor of bushfires that killed 34 people in a town near me, and more than 170 in total in February 2009. So my views on open fires for recreational purposes are governed by that experience.
But, I am glad you took my comments in good humour. I'd still like to hear more of your opinions on touring.
03-16-12, 04:18 PM
#106
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 169
Bikes: Trek 820, Specialized Sirrus Elite
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Not necessarily true in all locations. There are lots of places in the middle part of the US that are far from cafes or even grocery stores. A prime example is along I29 on the western side of Iowa. In about 350 miles from Sioux Falls, SD to Atchison, KS, there's only about 4 places to stop for food. There's Sioux City (~85 miles from Sioux Falls), Council Bluffs (~100 miles further down the road) and Atchison which is 144 very empty miles further along. There are lots of little towns along the way but almost all of them (in 2003) have been hollowed out by the ant hill effect of HelMarts at all of the above cities.
A very similar situation occurs across parts of eastern Colorado. For example in section 7 of the TransAmerica from Alexander, KS to Pueblo (292 miles), you pass through a whole bunch of wide spots that used to be towns but not many of them are anymore. If you need food, you go to Lamar, La Junta or ...almost never... to Pueblo. In fact, if I were traveling the TransAmerica, I'd drop 30 miles south and follow US50 which still has some civilization left...and it's more interesting.
A very similar situation occurs across parts of eastern Colorado. For example in section 7 of the TransAmerica from Alexander, KS to Pueblo (292 miles), you pass through a whole bunch of wide spots that used to be towns but not many of them are anymore. If you need food, you go to Lamar, La Junta or ...almost never... to Pueblo. In fact, if I were traveling the TransAmerica, I'd drop 30 miles south and follow US50 which still has some civilization left...and it's more interesting.
I was searching for something and came across this post by you. I am curious as to why you made that statement about the TransAM route especially because a ton of people ride it. Why do you think ACA chose the TransAM route they did instead of using US50? especially if it was more interesting. also can you ride a bike on US50?
Gary
03-16-12, 06:08 PM
#107
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,475
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6276 Post(s)
Liked 4,312 Times
in
2,417 Posts
Hi cyccocommute
I was searching for something and came across this post by you. I am curious as to why you made that statement about the TransAM route especially because a ton of people ride it. Why do you think ACA chose the TransAM route they did instead of using US50? especially if it was more interesting. also can you ride a bike on US50?
Gary
I was searching for something and came across this post by you. I am curious as to why you made that statement about the TransAM route especially because a ton of people ride it. Why do you think ACA chose the TransAM route they did instead of using US50? especially if it was more interesting. also can you ride a bike on US50?
Gary
Adventure Cycle also doesn't tend to take you to places that are necessarily interesting. The road from the Kansas line to Pueblo goes across the most featureless parts of the featureless plains. Just because you are riding a bicycle doesn't mean that you only want to ride a bicycle. I tour to see places I've not seen before. I've had this problem with ACA routes I've used in the past. They just aren't all that interesting so that you can avoid traffic. Avoiding traffic is nice but not at the expense of interest.
Yes, you can ride on US50. It's a nice road with good shoulders and far more towns than CO96 (the Eads route).
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
03-16-12, 06:49 PM
#108
Senior Member
03-16-12, 06:57 PM
#109
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 599 Times
in
331 Posts
Adventure Cycle also doesn't tend to take you to places that are necessarily interesting. The road from the Kansas line to Pueblo goes across the most featureless parts of the featureless plains. Just because you are riding a bicycle doesn't mean that you only want to ride a bicycle. I tour to see places I've not seen before. I've had this problem with ACA routes I've used in the past. They just aren't all that interesting so that you can avoid traffic. Avoiding traffic is nice but not at the expense of interest.
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
03-16-12, 07:30 PM
#110
Senior Member
Pay attention to the "big 3" as backpackers do: tent, mattress, and sleeping bag. A two-person tent should weigh no more than 5 lbs, Getting it down to 3 or 4 lbs can be expensive. My 35-degree down sleeping bag weighs 2 lbs. In the summer I would only use a light quilt. Personally I don't skimp on mattress comfort. My Exped Synmat weighs about 32 oz which is quite heavy, but it's one of the most comfortable mattresses on the market. So that makes 9 lbs for those 3 items. That's considered midweight in the backpacking world, so it's possible to get it lower than that.
03-16-12, 07:51 PM
#111
Senior Member
Congrats mate, just in time for the unusually warm weather! Here this weekend they are announcing close to 70f on Sunday!
Have a great time out on it, and again, I look forward to hearing more about your impressions of it and what changes you do to it.
Have a great time out on it, and again, I look forward to hearing more about your impressions of it and what changes you do to it.
03-16-12, 08:53 PM
#112
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Fayetteville, AR
Posts: 19
Bikes: 2000 Trek 1000, used for commuting and touring
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Me, too. Plus, with tarp camping, I just undo the tarp guyline from the bike and stake it to the ground when I want to ride around camp. it's pretty simple to rig it back to the bike when I return to my camp for the night.
03-16-12, 09:16 PM
#113
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 169
Bikes: Trek 820, Specialized Sirrus Elite
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Gary
03-16-12, 10:34 PM
#114
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 599 Times
in
331 Posts
Hi cyccommute, based on yr. idea I looked up SF to DC on Googlemaps and they brilliantly veer off, adventurously (no pun intended) in Delta, UT on various interstates and highways till Google Maps decided to rejoin US50 in McArthur, OH. So I tried to post an error but Google does not make it easy to enter any text at all. Except that they have various suggestions, including that my Cache/cookies are messed up (no.) Maybe I'll just take along the ACA maps and do US 50 instead. Except that I have to climb the Sierras on Day 2 or 3...maybe I should start a separate thread on the US50 route but since you live in CO, how much of a climb is there on it?
Gary
Gary
But can't you get ahold of some topographical maps?
Google isn't a brilliant mapping program, paper maps will give you more accurate and informative information about your route. And bikely (with all its current problems) should be able to provide you with an elevation profile, at least, for various routes.
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
03-16-12, 10:57 PM
#115
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,475
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6276 Post(s)
Liked 4,312 Times
in
2,417 Posts
Yes, start a separate thread ....
But can't you get ahold of some topographical maps?
Google isn't a brilliant mapping program, paper maps will give you more accurate and informative information about your route. And bikely (with all its current problems) should be able to provide you with an elevation profile, at least, for various routes.
But can't you get ahold of some topographical maps?
Google isn't a brilliant mapping program, paper maps will give you more accurate and informative information about your route. And bikely (with all its current problems) should be able to provide you with an elevation profile, at least, for various routes.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
03-16-12, 11:07 PM
#116
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 11,016
Bikes: Custom Zona c/f tandem + Scott Plasma single
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 77 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 19 Times
in
11 Posts
We motel/credit card toured with 22 lbs of total gear for 2 of us on our tandem.
You don't need a hair dryer, electric shaver, tent, etc.
Clothing gets washed in motel sink and dried overnite; eat out.
Very do=able!
You don't need a hair dryer, electric shaver, tent, etc.
Clothing gets washed in motel sink and dried overnite; eat out.
Very do=able!
03-16-12, 11:36 PM
#117
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,475
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6276 Post(s)
Liked 4,312 Times
in
2,417 Posts
Hi cyccommute, based on yr. idea I looked up SF to DC on Googlemaps and they brilliantly veer off, adventurously (no pun intended) in Delta, UT on various interstates and highways till Google Maps decided to rejoin US50 in McArthur, OH. So I tried to post an error but Google does not make it easy to enter any text at all. Except that they have various suggestions, including that my Cache/cookies are messed up (no.) Maybe I'll just take along the ACA maps and do US 50 instead. Except that I have to climb the Sierras on Day 2 or 3...maybe I should start a separate thread on the US50 route but since you live in CO, how much of a climb is there on it?
Gary
Gary
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
03-17-12, 11:42 AM
#118
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,441
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 33 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
3 Posts
You can get your tandem pack weight down to 22 and camp. Reasonably enough there is a slightly different list of gear for a hotel trip, and the tarp/quilt/and mat just don't weigh that much.
Lightening your bike sounds good, and doubtless is for some people. Consider:
- A fair number of touring folk are above the loaded bike design specs before they get dressed in the morning
- Most of what is up for grabs is the frame and there are nowhere near the pounds there that there are even in typical racks and bags.
- A lot of the lighter bikes are either not comfortable, or they aren't comfortable for a lot of riders
Lightening your bike sounds good, and doubtless is for some people. Consider:
- A fair number of touring folk are above the loaded bike design specs before they get dressed in the morning
- Most of what is up for grabs is the frame and there are nowhere near the pounds there that there are even in typical racks and bags.
- A lot of the lighter bikes are either not comfortable, or they aren't comfortable for a lot of riders
