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Search: Posts Made By: SparkyGA
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Forum: Touring
10-21-17, 01:34 AM
Replies: 11
Views: 1,937
Posted By SparkyGA

You either need a different frame bag then.......

You either need a different frame bag then.... This one is too big for your needs. Get one custom made, it's not overly expensive.
Forum: Touring
04-25-17, 07:53 PM
Replies: 71
Views: 10,557
Posted By SparkyGA

High quality 700c/29" tires are the easiest tire...

High quality 700c/29" tires are the easiest tire to find right now at a half decent bike shop anywhere in the world. Low quality (re: junk) 26" stuff is easy to source in the more remote places in...
Forum: Touring
04-07-17, 09:20 AM
Replies: 38
Views: 3,538
Posted By SparkyGA

I've been on the fence for years if I'd want to...

I've been on the fence for years if I'd want to bring an E-Reader on a tour. I like reading during rest breaks on the side of the road but would rather read the news/bicycle stuff/blogs/wikipedia...
Forum: Touring
04-05-17, 05:15 PM
Replies: 75
Views: 9,935
Posted By SparkyGA

Instead of everyone going back and forth on Mech...

Instead of everyone going back and forth on Mech vs Hydraulic I will take my usual stance of "where are you going touring?"

OP, unless your on a long tour in the developing world that will...
Forum: Touring
04-05-17, 12:27 PM
Replies: 14
Views: 1,435
Posted By SparkyGA

Just a thought, instead of going with 700c wheels...

Just a thought, instead of going with 700c wheels on a frame that designed for 27" wheels, why not look at 650c wheels instead? Good options these days in that wheel size.

There are some pretty...
Forum: Touring
03-31-17, 10:59 PM
Replies: 120
Views: 11,150
Posted By SparkyGA

Too much gear is best defined as the stuff that...

Too much gear is best defined as the stuff that is rarely to never used and therefore not enhancing the touring experience.

For me anything I'm not using after 3 days in a tour besides spare...
Forum: Touring
03-30-17, 11:13 PM
Replies: 111
Views: 17,720
Posted By SparkyGA

Flying to Mexico in April (2 months) with main...

Flying to Mexico in April (2 months) with main event being in Guatemala (6 months). Kinda of a hybrid tour/MTB'ing/hiking/learning Spanish/live in Guatemala for awhile trip :)
Forum: Touring
03-30-17, 10:31 PM
Replies: 17
Views: 1,514
Posted By SparkyGA

Honestly there are dozens of great models of bike...

Honestly there are dozens of great models of bike with that description; your basic our ally after a fairly standard MTB that has rack mounts. The bigger question is how much do you want to spend? I...
Forum: Touring
03-30-17, 10:12 PM
Replies: 38
Views: 4,109
Posted By SparkyGA

I carry whatever painkillers I can find in a...

I carry whatever painkillers I can find in a pharmacy. Rarely to do with touring muscle pain but more to do with random aliments that might strike. However I do carry a full course of antibiotics and...
03-25-17, 04:37 PM
Replies: 39
Views: 3,410
Posted By SparkyGA

Congrats on going car free :) You'll find...

Congrats on going car free :)

You'll find you will just get use to living without a car and after awhile you'll not interested in purchasing another car at all. It's absolutely insane how much...
Forum: Touring
03-03-17, 11:23 PM
Replies: 84
Views: 12,386
Posted By SparkyGA

Found a massive pile (50+ mags) of Japanese porn...

Found a massive pile (50+ mags) of Japanese porn buried in the snow on top of a rather large mountain pass in Nagano Pref. Odd place to view to be enjoying photos...
Forum: Touring
02-27-17, 03:41 PM
Replies: 44
Views: 3,669
Posted By SparkyGA

Golden rule of touring: No drinking water after...

Golden rule of touring: No drinking water after your tent is setup :) Save water for cooking and drinking beer and vino instead.

However I rarely drink enough to get drunk on a riding day and...
Forum: Touring
02-02-17, 07:14 PM
Replies: 34
Views: 3,522
Posted By SparkyGA

Black Diamond stuff is pretty good when it works...

Black Diamond stuff is pretty good when it works but I think I've killed 3 or 4 of them by now. All of a sudden they just die but at least Black Diamond has awesome warranty service. I have the...
Forum: Touring
02-02-17, 11:41 AM
Replies: 13
Views: 1,407
Posted By SparkyGA

Weather on the Canadian Rockies side should be...

Weather on the Canadian Rockies side should be alright still, might be +20C, might be blizzard . After the Sept Long Weekend who knows what the weather will bring :)

Honestly though if you...
Forum: Touring
02-02-17, 08:52 AM
Replies: 38
Views: 4,236
Posted By SparkyGA

Big Agnes SL1. Done.

Big Agnes SL1. Done.
Forum: Touring
01-31-17, 06:58 PM
Replies: 50
Views: 4,370
Posted By SparkyGA

You summarized exactly my method to "planning"...

You summarized exactly my method to "planning" while touring. I love hills though and have learned to embraced them on tour :)

1= Easy
2= Medium
3= Hard
4= Crying on the side of the road.
5+=...
Forum: Touring
01-31-17, 11:52 AM
Replies: 53
Views: 3,701
Posted By SparkyGA

Personally I don't even bother with bring my bike...

Personally I don't even bother with bring my bike along for anything less than a 2 to 3 week trip that doesn't have very easy access from wherever I'm living.. Just not worth it for the 2 to 3 days...
Forum: Touring
01-31-17, 11:40 AM
Replies: 31
Views: 2,404
Posted By SparkyGA

Actually there is loads of options getting out of...

Actually there is loads of options getting out of Jasper. Couple bus companies that take bikes, REALLY easy to hitchhike to the Edmonton or Calgary Airport plus the VIA train that will either take...
Forum: Touring
01-18-17, 07:25 PM
Replies: 107
Views: 22,337
Posted By SparkyGA

19.3 GI? Go lower. Think in the 18 GI or lower...

19.3 GI? Go lower. Think in the 18 GI or lower for a good granny gear. You'll use it.
Forum: Touring
01-08-17, 11:30 PM
Replies: 7
Views: 5,795
Posted By SparkyGA

They might fit as these racks are actually run...

They might fit as these racks are actually run pretty wide inside. Height might be a bigger issue. At worst you might have to build a small spacer piece on the bottom rack eyelet to raise it up an...
Forum: Touring
01-08-17, 11:26 PM
Replies: 48
Views: 5,401
Posted By SparkyGA

Swap that crank and hit the road bud. You've got...

Swap that crank and hit the road bud. You've got yourself a fine looking touring bike.

Your frame triangle is actually massive compared to most mountain bikes hardtail that are very common for...
Forum: Touring
01-06-17, 06:59 PM
Replies: 2
Views: 708
Posted By SparkyGA

Thailand is super if not mega popular. I wouldn't...

Thailand is super if not mega popular. I wouldn't sweat meeting people too much. You'll be on a very well travelled route that sees loads of foreigners every year.

Koh Tao is the nicest of the 3...
Forum: Touring
01-05-17, 07:47 PM
Replies: 1
Views: 594
Posted By SparkyGA

It's pretty famous even in Japan. My woman is...

It's pretty famous even in Japan. My woman is Japanese and has mentioned a few times to me about that ride and I've seen it a few times on Japanese TV on various shows. Very popular.
Forum: Touring
01-05-17, 06:45 PM
Replies: 31
Views: 17,624
Posted By SparkyGA

The worst part about Rohloff's? I keep spelling...

The worst part about Rohloff's? I keep spelling it as Rolhoff or auto corrected as Rolloff.

Mine had 52000 km. Would have had a another 8000 km by now but the bike was stolen.
Forum: Touring
01-02-17, 07:04 PM
Replies: 111
Views: 17,720
Posted By SparkyGA

Trying to convince the GF to go to South America...

Trying to convince the GF to go to South America for a year on fat bikes. It's the only place left that I've never ridden a bike. Thinking Bogota to La Paz or to Chile.
Forum: Touring
01-01-17, 08:21 PM
Replies: 35
Views: 2,730
Posted By SparkyGA

I use a cheap, neon green fleece for an over...

I use a cheap, neon green fleece for an over layer and wear a wool shirt or 2 underneath depending on the weather. Was below -10C yesterday and was plenty warm fat biking through the trees :)

A...
Forum: Touring
12-20-16, 10:26 PM
Replies: 77
Views: 8,870
Posted By SparkyGA

Carrying a Park Multitool, a tiny little...

Carrying a Park Multitool, a tiny little Leatherman, couple of tire levers, a stand alone Topeak chain tool and quite often a small pocket knife. Can fix nearly anything with this combination. Its...
Forum: Touring
12-08-16, 09:11 PM
Replies: 82
Views: 21,328
Posted By SparkyGA

Read through the bikes specs. Looks like an...

Read through the bikes specs. Looks like an extremely rock solid bike for the money overall at around $2500 USD. I would totally ride it if I was in the market for bike that was more oriented towards...
Forum: Touring
12-06-16, 11:36 PM
Replies: 41
Views: 2,950
Posted By SparkyGA

Depends. Most of the time I carry about a...

Depends.

Most of the time I carry about a day worth of energy at any given moment as backup in fairly built up areas. Usually a couple of Snickers bars, salami, bananas etc

Have had to carry...
Forum: Touring
12-05-16, 11:54 AM
Replies: 50
Views: 6,597
Posted By SparkyGA

Swap your crankset off. Way easier, you'll get...

Swap your crankset off. Way easier, you'll get the gearing you want and you'll be able to run as low as gearing as you could possibly ever need. Get a crank that is 104/64 BCD and you'll be able to...
Forum: Touring
11-28-16, 11:21 PM
Replies: 66
Views: 4,424
Posted By SparkyGA

Personally I'm a weight weenie and tend to carry...

Personally I'm a weight weenie and tend to carry as little as possible. 25L is all the room I have so I would send the tent back... But if your carrying a tradition 4 pannier load with all sorts of...
Forum: Touring
11-26-16, 08:17 PM
Replies: 38
Views: 3,443
Posted By SparkyGA

I've done 120 km/h winds in my UL tent off the...

I've done 120 km/h winds in my UL tent off the northern most coastline in Japan. Massive flooding, things flying around everywhere, hell I was being blown around everywhere on the road. Tent was...
Forum: Touring
11-25-16, 09:20 PM
Replies: 25
Views: 7,205
Posted By SparkyGA

Extended off road touring for long periods of...

Extended off road touring for long periods of time I like a tire that's around 29" x 2.2". Good balance for all sorts of riding, though not great for techie stuff if your riding a ridged bike.

I...
Forum: Touring
11-25-16, 08:54 PM
Replies: 18
Views: 1,579
Posted By SparkyGA

Donuts with durian filling sounds amazing! ...

Donuts with durian filling sounds amazing!

I'm more of a mid afternoon beer and salty snack fan. Fruit if no cold beer is around :(
Forum: Touring
11-23-16, 05:13 PM
Replies: 28
Views: 2,706
Posted By SparkyGA

Get a waterproof bag that fits everything minus...

Get a waterproof bag that fits everything minus the tent poles. Those can be strapped to the outside of bike, might fit well on the handlebars or strapped to the frame.

25" poles are seriously...
Forum: Touring
11-06-16, 06:12 PM
Replies: 53
Views: 5,516
Posted By SparkyGA

Worst thing I've ever had happen to me while...

Worst thing I've ever had happen to me while camping in the middle of nowhere was my GF's $1 market sandal was taking by a dog in the Sahara Desert. Found teeth marks in the other sandal haha.

I...
Forum: Touring
11-05-16, 01:03 PM
Replies: 23
Views: 2,934
Posted By SparkyGA

I wouldn't sweat too much about the issue. Keep...

I wouldn't sweat too much about the issue. Keep on riding the tires until they die properly.
Forum: Touring
10-25-16, 10:32 PM
Replies: 33
Views: 3,257
Posted By SparkyGA

Never had a rock thrown at me but I've had...

Never had a rock thrown at me but I've had several beer bottles tossed in my direction along with a loaf of bread?

No issues to report in Morocco on anything really. Very good people there overall.
Forum: Touring
10-18-16, 11:09 PM
Replies: 20
Views: 3,057
Posted By SparkyGA

Couple thoughts: - 29" frames and smaller...

Couple thoughts:

- 29" frames and smaller riders don't mix that well. They do make bikes in that configuration but you end up with a bunch of compromises (like a heavily sloped top tube, minimal...
Forum: Touring
10-16-16, 09:57 PM
Replies: 29
Views: 3,049
Posted By SparkyGA

It's a totally a self preference thing. I like...

It's a totally a self preference thing. I like have most of my weight in the front but others like it in the back.

45 lbs in the back might just work for you. I would try to a least a little bit...
Forum: Touring
10-12-16, 09:54 PM
Replies: 58
Views: 25,670
Posted By SparkyGA

I find that I snap 10 speed chains about the same...

I find that I snap 10 speed chains about the same rate that I break a single speed chain, about once every 3000 km. But I also find that I get about twice the life span out of a single speed chain...
Forum: Touring
10-10-16, 11:25 PM
Replies: 109
Views: 9,570
Posted By SparkyGA

I live just around the corner from the wreck...

I live just around the corner from the wreck (literally!). I see divers out there once and awhile while riding the trails... Among the most random wreck dives in the world albeit with a really...
Forum: Touring
10-06-16, 09:56 PM
Replies: 16
Views: 5,704
Posted By SparkyGA

Depending on the price that bike looks like a...

Depending on the price that bike looks like a pretty sweet ride. I'd tour on it as long as I wasn't in a super hilly area.

The Shimano 8 speeds IGH are pretty decent if you learn to use them...
Forum: Touring
10-06-16, 11:08 AM
Replies: 27
Views: 10,383
Posted By SparkyGA

Yeah a lot of the damage seems to stem from 3...

Yeah a lot of the damage seems to stem from 3 events: putting the bike down (I do lots of MTB'ing...), bike racks where you put your front wheel in and the majority of the damage seems to come from...
Forum: Touring
10-05-16, 11:26 AM
Replies: 27
Views: 10,383
Posted By SparkyGA

I run a 180/160 mm Avid rotor combo on 2 of my...

I run a 180/160 mm Avid rotor combo on 2 of my bikes and wouldn't have it any other way. The 20 mm rotor makes a massive difference on braking and depending on your weight and hills your riding, can...
Forum: Touring
10-04-16, 09:45 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 6,514
Posted By SparkyGA

I run a 22T with a 11/36 cassette as a 1 x 10. I...

I run a 22T with a 11/36 cassette as a 1 x 10. I don't like pushing up really steep hills :)

Might have a 5" tire and attempt to ride up really steep MTB tracks :p
Forum: Touring
10-04-16, 06:16 PM
Replies: 53
Views: 5,921
Posted By SparkyGA

I'm questioning if a Smartphone is a luxury or a...

I'm questioning if a Smartphone is a luxury or a mandatory piece of equipment in the 21st century. They save carrying so many other pieces of kit (camera, maps, guidebooks, computer) that I consider...
Forum: Touring
10-04-16, 06:02 PM
Replies: 15
Views: 3,273
Posted By SparkyGA

Sounds about right. I got about 5000 km/3 months...

Sounds about right. I got about 5000 km/3 months on a Travel Contact 37 mm. The tread was fine but the sidewall was falling apart in a lot of spots and held together with a fair bit of Moroccan super...
Forum: Touring
09-25-16, 10:51 PM
Replies: 19
Views: 1,698
Posted By SparkyGA

My bike computer hit 63C on the tar in May this...

My bike computer hit 63C on the tar in May this year along the Spanish/Portuguese border. Hotter than I ever experienced in the summer in Africa... Also a pain in the butt at times to camp in Spain...
Forum: Touring
09-24-16, 11:14 PM
Replies: 17
Views: 1,674
Posted By SparkyGA

If your using the same shoes I think your wearing...

If your using the same shoes I think your wearing prepare to invest in some shoe glue in the future to repair the shoes. These shoes are prone to falling apart as the glue fails :) Shimano MT41...
Showing results 1 to 50 of 469
 


 
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