Thanks Doug, The recommendation to take all these brakes is certainly valuable. To tell the truth, I hadn't really considered it, but I'll work it into my rides. Will try to schedule at least one S24O as you recommend.
René Sent from my iPhone 4 On Feb 24, 2011, at 9:51 PM, doug peterson <dougpn...@cox.net> wrote: > Rene: > > Others have covered the pannier, gear, training, etc. issues well so > nothing to add there. How about doing a few S24Os before your trip? > Load up all the stuff you think you may need for the long trip & see > how it is to ride. You may ID things that aren't so important or > remember things you should have brought. A bike with 4 bags is a > different animal than a commuter load. > > +1 for the comment about getting off the bike frequenlty. I'm a bit > older than you & find that a short (5-10 minute max) break after a > couple of hours in the morning, followed by hourly breaks the rest of > the day, is revitalizing. > > dougP > > On Feb 24, 9:11 pm, Kelly Sleeper <tkslee...@gmail.com> wrote: >> Here is a great site for >> information..http://www.bicycletouring101.com/index.html >> >> Enjoy your Arkels. I've been touring with mine for the last 5 years and can >> state without reservation that they perform as well as anything out there. >> Weight is way over rated, especially when touring. >> >> I'm not saying over pack, but there is comfort a good book brings to the >> campsite, or comfort for me a computer / email / connectivity brings. We >> are all different but comfort is key to me. So pack smart for what you are >> doing, but keep comfort and enjoyment as the top priority. Then room. >> Worry about weight later. Leave space for expansion along the way. My >> last trip I ended up with 10 shot glasses, a new coat, t shirts, ball caps >> and such from tourist traps. >> >> A larger tent adds a pound or two but leaves room for me to sit up in and >> have all my gear inside the tent wtih me. Great for packing up on those >> rainy windy days. Also nice for card games at night. >> >> Speaking of tents.. make sure it's easy to put up and take down since you do >> it daily. >> >> Test before you leave. Even heavy loads work great on hills if you have the >> gearing. >> >> I'm jealous and can't wait to hear how it goes. >> >> Kelly >> >> On Thu, Feb 24, 2011 at 10:21 PM, Rene Sterental <orthie...@gmail.com>wrote: >> >> >> >>> Thanks Dave. You make some good points too. I already have the Arkel >>> panniers. I know some peep think they're heavy, but I just fell in love with >>> them. I'll make it a point to try to pack as efficiently as possible. I'm >>> not planning on carrying a laptop or long cords on that tour, but want to >>> bring my iPhone and my Garmin 800, so I've purchased the watchamacallit to >>> recharge them from the Son 28 hub. I think I'll have to also get adapter to >>> make sjre current flows steadily to the devices when the Son isn't moving; >>> I'm still figuring out how the whole thing works. >> >>> All of this advice is great >> >>> Thanks to all who have submitted it via the list and privately as well. >> >>> René >> >>> Sent from my iPad >> >>> On Feb 24, 2011, at 7:46 PM, Dave Craig <dcr...@prescott.edu> wrote: >> >>>> Awesome, René! >> >>>> I did the ACA tour leader training and I found it to be a lot of fun. >>>> The leaders were very knowledgeable, yet humble, and I really enjoyed >>>> learning more about the ACA. >> >>>> As a counterpoint to Kelly, I think the most important thing is to >>>> pack light. To me, the extra comforts mean that I might think twice >>>> about enticing side roads or stopping at a fruit stand to stock up on >>>> the way to camp. Everything I pack fits inside my Ortlieb front and >>>> rear panniers. I don't usually have anything on top of my racks and I >>>> don't often use a handlebar bag. >> >>>> Your rack set up seems fine to me. Unless you already have them, the >>>> Arkel panniers you mention are heavy and a little complex for my >>>> tastes - to each his own. It seems that whenever I see someone with >>>> that particular pannier set, they are carrying far more than I would. >> >>>> As for training, go with your body. Ride as much as possible, but not >>>> to the point of pain. The ACA folks are used to dealing with middle- >>>> aged folks who aren't super athletes - you'll do fine if you just ride >>>> as much as possible. In prepping for a tour, I seldom have the time to >>>> ride as much as I'd like, so I substitute fast commuting with the >>>> occasional long, slow ride to add mileage and time in the saddle. >>>> Funny, I've never, ever trained with my panniers on before any tour - >>>> that seems like a good idea, but my butt is always the limiting factor >>>> at the beginning of a tour, not my endurance. >> >>>> Dave >>>> (also 51) >> >>>> On Feb 24, 3:22 pm, Rene Sterental <orthie...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>> I have signed up with the Adventure Cycling Association to do their >>>>> Introduction to Bike Touring course in May in Eugene, OR. >>> http://www.adventurecycling.org/tours/tourdetail.cfm?t=EDU11&id=249&p=1 >> >>>>> I am going to do it on my Atlantis, so it's Riv related, and thought >>> that >>>>> there might perhaps be some other people in this group who would be >>>>> interested in joining. Not that you can't just do it on your own, but I >>>>> figured it would be worth for me to get some formal education/training >>> and >>>>> support to go on this adventure. I also got my wife in a "weak" moment >>> to >>>>> agree that this was going to be my 51st birthday present. Birthday was >>> in >>>>> January, and I'm really looking forward to this experience. >> >>>>> Any advise or suggestions from the touring experts in this group >>> regarding >>>>> stuff to take/leave, packing suggestions, etc., will be much >>> appreciated. >>>>> For now, my plan is to use the Nitto Big Rear Rack and my Tubus Nova low >>>>> rider that allows me to keep the Nitto Mini front rack on the Atlantis. >>> I >>>>> also have a Nitto Big Front rack, but am not sure it would be superior >>> to >>>>> the Mini/Nova combo. A set of rear GT-54 and front GT-42 would complete >>> the >>>>> setup, in addition to the Acorn Boxy Rando Bag on the Nitto Mini. >> >>>>> The area where I'm mostly clueless about, but will learn during this >>> course, >>>>> is how much clothes, bike shorts, underwear, etc. to bring. I know it's >>> very >>>>> easy to overpack. >> >>>>> I've started training for this event where I'll be biking about 50 miles >>> per >>>>> day for four consecutive days. At this time my longest rides have been >>> 20 >>>>> milers since my body ailments result in pain that doesn't allow me to >>> ride >>>>> for longer. Still, I'm pushing slowly and trying to get those problems >>> fixed >>>>> with fit tweaks and chiropractic work. I'm basically trying to design >>> daily >>>>> commutes via Caltrain and bike to accomodate this training plan, but >>> there >>>>> are always business trips and other issues that disrupt it. If anyone >>> has >>>>> any good suggestions for a structured training plan to reach my goal of >>>>> being able to do the four day 50 mile rides, I'd be interested. As it >>>>> currently stands, my average speed with my commuting load is around 10 >>> mph. >>>>> With the fully loaded bike, I don't even want to know yet. All I do is >>>>> figure that I'll have to be on the saddle for about 6 hours every day >>> for >>>>> four days... and my body starts hurting! Yet, I remain very optimistic >>> and >>>>> my new diet plan has been working so I've been losing some weight. I >>> believe >>>>> that my best chances to improve are tied to how much weight I can lose >>>>> before the tour starts, as that will allow me to ride faster (less >>> saddle >>>>> hours) and also fit better on the bike. >> >>>>> René >> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>> To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. >> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.- Hide quoted text - >> >> - Show quoted text - > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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