Go Back  Bike Forums > Search Forums
Reload this Page >

Search Results

Notices
 
Search: Posts Made By: Brett A
Showing results 1 to 50 of 228
Search took 0.12 seconds.
Forum: Commuting
11-29-23, 09:41 AM
Replies: 10
Views: 548
Posted By Brett A

I don't bring a snow-covered bike indoors unless...

I don't bring a snow-covered bike indoors unless I know it will be in long enough to completely dry. Thawing and re-freezing can cause problems with mechanical functions.
11-29-23, 09:35 AM
Replies: 176
Views: 10,653
Posted By Brett A

Most of my 50 years on the bike have been alone...

Most of my 50 years on the bike have been alone by preference. But there were stretches long the way when I'd do group rids more often. (TBH, I don't know what counts as a club ride, if it requires a...
11-21-23, 02:23 PM
Replies: 45
Views: 2,501
Posted By Brett A

Tight clothing certainly does keep airflow off...

Tight clothing certainly does keep airflow off your pores. It's okay in the desert. The first time I rode through Death Valley, I wore black, fleece-lined leg warmers (all I had with me) even though...
Forum: Touring
11-20-23, 09:18 AM
Replies: 49
Views: 4,008
Posted By Brett A

I would never simply watch someone steal my bike.

I would never simply watch someone steal my bike.
Forum: Touring
11-17-23, 09:19 AM
Replies: 2,070
Views: 410,725
Posted By Brett A

I've ridden through the Mojave twice. It's my...

I've ridden through the Mojave twice. It's my favorite part of the US for touring. Not many cars, giant vistas, hours-long climbs and long descents. Not a lot of food, water or shade though.
Forum: Touring
11-17-23, 09:12 AM
Replies: 49
Views: 4,008
Posted By Brett A

I was tempted when leaving my loaded bike outside...

I was tempted when leaving my loaded bike outside a coffee shop in Portland, OR. to put a note on it saying something like "I am watching my bike. If I see you try to take it, I will stab you with my...
Forum: Touring
11-17-23, 09:05 AM
Replies: 50
Views: 3,786
Posted By Brett A

Hard to know from here what info goes into...

Hard to know from here what info goes into determining what a sign reads, But I'd venture to say an 11.3 percent average means it was likely 18 degrees or more for some stretches. Google maps, set to...
11-16-23, 04:19 PM
Replies: 26
Views: 2,194
Posted By Brett A

I was going to recommend Fenix as well. I have...

I was going to recommend Fenix as well. I have one. It's 800 lumen. It's rechargeable without taking the battery out. And/or you can take the battery out to charge it in a base charger. Best thing is...
11-16-23, 04:06 PM
Replies: 45
Views: 2,501
Posted By Brett A

I live in rural New England where it can be 90...

I live in rural New England where it can be 90 degrees and 85 percent humidity for much of the summer. I've also toured extensively across the southwest including Death Valley and the rest of the...
11-16-23, 02:32 PM
Replies: 3,551
Views: 976,388
Posted By Brett A

My primary bikes:

~

The one that's been seeing the most use since the pandemic: 2021 Orbea Oiz
...
11-16-23, 02:14 PM
Replies: 37
Views: 2,246
Posted By Brett A

I've been using a chest strap HRM since around...

I've been using a chest strap HRM since around 2004. I trained and raced in 08-09 with the understanding my max HR was 174. Two years ago, at the age of 55, I started to see 182. I may be wrong, but...
11-16-23, 02:07 PM
Replies: 62
Views: 3,224
Posted By Brett A

We only have technical trails where I live....

We only have technical trails where I live. Nothing flowy. They're old hiking trails that see little use. I'm 57 and still doing just fine with them. Not as fast overall as I used to be, but I still...
Forum: Touring
10-06-23, 03:52 PM
Replies: 50
Views: 3,786
Posted By Brett A

Gearing has everything to do with it. My Surly DT...

Gearing has everything to do with it. My Surly DT has a 3x10 drivetrain geared down just under sixteen gear inches (https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gear-calc.html) (22tx36t on 26" wheels). I did 1200...
Forum: Touring
10-06-23, 03:21 PM
Replies: 67
Views: 4,615
Posted By Brett A

I've had some pretty wet weeks through New...

I've had some pretty wet weeks through New England and Oregon. Although I don't always wear it, I always have spandex bike clothes with me, They feel the same whether it's raining or I'm just...
Forum: Touring
10-06-23, 03:09 PM
Replies: 49
Views: 4,008
Posted By Brett A

You're more sensitive to it than I am then. Maybe...

You're more sensitive to it than I am then. Maybe you're total weight isn't that much? Or maybe you don't sustain that many watts? Just my body is north of 200 pounds. So loaded for desert touring (3...
Forum: Touring
10-06-23, 02:13 PM
Replies: 49
Views: 4,008
Posted By Brett A

Experience has shown me that every gram is indeed...

Experience has shown me that every gram is indeed not precious. Weight really only matters if you're an elite competitor. Unless you're entering a race you expect to win on your loaded bike, But I...
Forum: Touring
10-06-23, 01:59 PM
Replies: 67
Views: 4,615
Posted By Brett A

I think fenders are as important as an anything...

I think fenders are as important as an anything if you're ever going to ride where it might rain. and not just during the rain, but afterward when the road is still wet. It's a good feeling being...
Forum: Touring
10-06-23, 01:06 PM
Replies: 95
Views: 6,483
Posted By Brett A

It so depends on the region, duration and...

It so depends on the region, duration and weather. But I like to have soft, cozy clothes for camp.
Forum: Touring
09-19-23, 07:50 AM
Replies: 69
Views: 5,080
Posted By Brett A

Yes, riding the PacNW coast is not at all...

Yes, riding the PacNW coast is not at all relaxing. I was not the only person out there considering changing plans and taking a more inland route, but time did not allow. The people who didn't seem...
09-18-23, 11:50 AM
Replies: 7
Views: 741
Posted By Brett A

I ride a 2008 carbon Roubaix I picked up from CL...

I ride a 2008 carbon Roubaix I picked up from CL for $300 a few years back. It's a good bike. I never worry about it under my 230 pound self. I wouldn't give too much importance to the weight of any...
Forum: Touring
09-18-23, 09:24 AM
Replies: 69
Views: 5,080
Posted By Brett A

I found the Pacific Coast route -at least the...

I found the Pacific Coast route -at least the ~700 miles I rode- from Tiilamook Oregon to San Francisco pretty nerve wracking. I would recommend people avoid it. There's little room for bikes, the...
Forum: Touring
09-18-23, 09:17 AM
Replies: 54
Views: 4,771
Posted By Brett A

It so depends on what you're doing. I've spent a...

It so depends on what you're doing. I've spent a few months riding around the U.S. desert southwest in 100+ degree temps and it would be difficult to carry enough water with a bike packing setup....
Forum: Touring
09-18-23, 08:54 AM
Replies: 15
Views: 947
Posted By Brett A

Favorites have involved riding through Death...

Favorites have involved riding through Death Valley/Mojave desert in September when it's still 100+ degrees (seriously, I love it!). I also enjoyed riding up over Yosemite and the Tioga pass. People...
09-11-23, 12:11 PM
Replies: 156
Views: 8,904
Posted By Brett A

Okay, I'll agree to "fairly low for a road bike"...

Okay, I'll agree to "fairly low for a road bike" :)
That just wouldn't do for me. I just like to keep my heart rate down, relax and make the pedals go around, especially in the mountains.
09-11-23, 11:42 AM
Replies: 156
Views: 8,904
Posted By Brett A

So true. So much of training is about going...

So true. So much of training is about going easier, not harder. It sounds counter intuitive, but it's how it's done. Depending on your local terrain, you can end up walking up hills and attacking the...
09-11-23, 11:33 AM
Replies: 156
Views: 8,904
Posted By Brett A

I wouldn't consider 28t/31t low gearing; not at...

I wouldn't consider 28t/31t low gearing; not at all. (And I've never heard of a 31t cassette. Are you sure it's not 30 or 32?)
12-07-22, 01:36 PM
Replies: 45
Views: 3,189
Posted By Brett A

I would go with whatever type you'd think about...

I would go with whatever type you'd think about least during a ride. I don't subscribe to one being inherently better than the other, but I'm so used to being clipped in, I find flat pedals...
12-07-22, 12:15 PM
Replies: 311
Views: 13,765
Posted By Brett A

Doesn't seem like there's any consensus on what...

Doesn't seem like there's any consensus on what "cold" means in this context. It's strange to me, for instance, that someone would stop riding when it's in the 40's Fahrenheit. That's still...
Forum: Touring
12-07-22, 11:54 AM
Replies: 25
Views: 1,354
Posted By Brett A

I bought one thinking I'd use it, but never have....

I bought one thinking I'd use it, but never have. If it's a rainy day off, I'm happy to spend it in my tent. If it's a rainy day of riding, there's no use for a tarp. I always tour alone, though. I...
11-14-22, 09:20 AM
Replies: 130
Views: 6,601
Posted By Brett A

I've bought and tried indoor trainers and...

I've bought and tried indoor trainers and rollers, but found that I just didn't use them. Just too boring. I live in rural New England, the two things I have done to stay somewhat in shape through...
11-11-22, 05:12 PM
Replies: 156
Views: 8,904
Posted By Brett A

I've got my touring bike geared so low, it's...

I've got my touring bike geared so low, it's easier to pedal than push; low of 15.7 gear inches. Still, if I head out without training I'll get off and push at the end of a long day. It uses...
11-11-22, 05:05 PM
Replies: 9
Views: 1,272
Posted By Brett A

I raced the Vermont 50...

I raced the Vermont 50 (https://vermont50.com/course-descriptions/) several times back in the aughts. It's 50 miles with 8,900 feet of climbing. (80km/2,700m) Good times. I've been on many 8+ hour...
Replies: 10
Views: 1,688
Posted By Brett A

People can only tell you what they prefer. There...

People can only tell you what they prefer. There is no best pedal. Can you afford to try two types of setups? You can get Race Face Chester knockoffs for $30. And it may not be too hard to find a set...
Forum: Touring
11-04-22, 02:42 PM
Replies: 50
Views: 2,696
Posted By Brett A

I have a Surly disc trucker. with 26" wheels....

I have a Surly disc trucker. with 26" wheels. After six years and over 5k miles of loaded touring, they've completely gone out of my mind, except for the piece of mind I feel knowing I could get back...
11-04-22, 01:13 PM
Replies: 72
Views: 3,060
Posted By Brett A

I'm in my mid 50's, so been on a bike about a...

I'm in my mid 50's, so been on a bike about a half century. I've done all kinds of cycling in that time, road, MTB (since '86), touring, some competitively, some for hard riding fun and some for...
Forum: Touring
11-04-22, 01:03 PM
Replies: 118
Views: 7,672
Posted By Brett A

Only for those whose enjoyment is affected by how...

Only for those whose enjoyment is affected by how heavy their bikes are. Personally, I don't experience a correlation.
Forum: Touring
11-04-22, 01:00 PM
Replies: 118
Views: 7,672
Posted By Brett A

I appreciated Darren Alff's suggestion that your...

I appreciated Darren Alff's suggestion that your bike shouldn't be too heavy to lift over a guardrail or similar low barrier. I follow this rule of thumb and it's been valuable. Of course, this...
Forum: Touring
09-06-22, 01:33 PM
Replies: 118
Views: 7,672
Posted By Brett A

No surprise it wasn't a hindrance. I think 175...

No surprise it wasn't a hindrance. I think 175 pounds is less than most people reading this weigh, even before adding bike and gear.
Forum: Touring
09-05-22, 11:36 AM
Replies: 134
Views: 8,647
Posted By Brett A

I always tour alone I have the same tent in a 1...

I always tour alone I have the same tent in a 1 person and a 2 person. (A Marmot Tungsten). Turns out the one person was a waste of money. There's no advantage to it. The weight doesn't make a 1%...
09-05-22, 11:24 AM
Replies: 1,258
Views: 53,348
Posted By Brett A

Spending money to shave grams without taking into...

Spending money to shave grams without taking into account that you and your bike together weigh 200 pounds (give-or-take).
Forum: Touring
09-05-22, 10:54 AM
Replies: 31
Views: 1,885
Posted By Brett A

The higher the speed limit, the flatter the...

The higher the speed limit, the flatter the surface. The smaller the road, the more severe and frequent the climbs.
That said, I try to never push into effort. I don't believe there is any advantage...
Forum: Touring
09-05-22, 10:46 AM
Replies: 59
Views: 10,795
Posted By Brett A

Seems like the important variable are these: ...

Seems like the important variable are these:



Do you experience discomfort that training helps to alleviate such as knee or back pain (similarly, are you concerned about injury)?
Are you...
Forum: Touring
09-05-22, 10:28 AM
Replies: 53
Views: 4,173
Posted By Brett A

I don't know if it's been mentioned here yet, but...

I don't know if it's been mentioned here yet, but it's important to point out the B17 has no aft adjustablity; there is no space on its rails ahead of the midpoint. So if your normal set up requires...
Forum: Touring
09-05-22, 09:54 AM
Replies: 118
Views: 7,672
Posted By Brett A

My fully loaded bike with food and water accounts...

My fully loaded bike with food and water accounts for 28 percent of my total. Or to put it another way, the bike and gear weigh slightly less than half my body weight.
But I don't care too much...
Forum: Touring
07-04-22, 11:30 AM
Replies: 4,817
Views: 2,611,224
Posted By Brett A

Was sorting some old photos and found this from...

Was sorting some old photos and found this from my first tour. I was somewhere down the Owens Valley, CA, about to turn east across Death Valley, September 2016. It's still pretty much the setup I...
Forum: Touring
07-04-22, 11:17 AM
Replies: 64
Views: 9,195
Posted By Brett A

Looks like I'll have time for a mini tour the...

Looks like I'll have time for a mini tour the second week in August. I'm off work for eight days. I'll find a place my wife and I can car camp ~250 miles from the house, then I'll spend the following...
Forum: Touring
07-04-22, 11:11 AM
Replies: 68
Views: 4,920
Posted By Brett A

Those are all good points. They are smartly...

Those are all good points. They are smartly designed. Another reason that informed my choice for Tubus is that they can be repaired just about anywhere in the world. Welding rigs that can weld steel...
Forum: Touring
07-04-22, 11:03 AM
Replies: 29
Views: 2,026
Posted By Brett A

My fist tour was in 2016. Four months before my...

My fist tour was in 2016. Four months before my 50th birthday. I rode solo from Sebastopol, CA (north of the Bay area), down the Central Valley, up over Yosemite, Tioga Pass, down to Lee Vining,...
Forum: Northeast
09-11-21, 08:58 AM
Replies: 2
Views: 912
Posted By Brett A

Did you leave this bag at the Newfane Vermont store?

My friend who owns the Newfane, VT store just posted this to their FB page around 10:00am 9/11.



...
Forum: Touring
06-13-21, 10:20 AM
Replies: 25
Views: 2,588
Posted By Brett A

You've gotten good info so far. I can only add...

You've gotten good info so far. I can only add that there's wisdom on going with whatever you are used to. Shoe interface is a pretty essential part of the activity. Your first tour may not be the...
Showing results 1 to 50 of 228
 


 
Forum Jump

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.