shelbyfv

Here is a nice 5 day supported tour on the Katy Trail, right out Squeezy's front door. https://mostateparks.com/2016KTRide#fees The cost is $375. I will pledge $100, contingent of course on Squeezy actually registering for and participating in the tour. Squeezy seems to have a special friend in mod BillyD, perhaps he could match my contribution and collect the funds. That only leaves $175 for the rest of you to chip in. $10 or $20 should be worth it to get Squeezy some actual cycling experience! This is a legitimate offer, who else is in?

BikeLite

That trip fills up in a couple of days cuz only 350 allowed. Entry opened Mar 1.

shelbyfv

Registration open according to website.

JerrySTL

I'll be on that ride for the 6th year in a row.

It usually does fill up faster than this; however, many people like going from Clinton to St. Charles better which is done on odd numbered years. It's somewhat downhill plus usually has tail winds.

Count me in for $10.

mantelclock

A supported tour on the Katy does not test the bike.

Squeezebox

My left rotator cuff is about 80% okay. Good enough for a supported Katy. I would gladly accept your offer, particularly since I finally figured out how to post photos.
Would this drop the foolish bickering??

Squeezebox

With a bad shoulder it's an okay start.

I'm not ready for a fund me to do the Great Divide trail.

jefnvk

Man, had I known I'd have gotten sent on a free bike tour, I should have been doubting and arguing all the advice everyone here has given me getting set up for my first tour too...

If anyone here wants to tell me the best way to lace some old wheels, I'll gladly argue your expertise. I wouldn't mind going on the DALMAC in Michigan this year

Doug64

If your rotator cuff is only 80% OK, I'd do a few tough test rides before accepting the challenge. If your bike fit places quite a bit of weight on the arms, it can cause a lot of discomfort, especially if you just had surgery.

Good Luck.

Doug64

A few years ago my wife and I were in Mackinaw City the weekend the ride went over the bridge.

An excerpt from an article I was working on.

An opportunity missed

jefnvk

I've done the bridge walk a few times in my life, but never took the bike across. I'm sure it won't be long before I find myself doing it, especially because I do have every intention of being on that ride (subject to seeing how the first tour goes) this summer!

Happy Feet

Forget it. I have to get off this crazy train.

Squeezebox

80% recovery in 2 months or so is pretty good. No surgery. Katy supported should be pretty easy.

ColonelSanders

The harsh ride of your aluminium frame might ruin your shoulder permanently.

BikeLite

The hardest thing about the Katy ride is the heat.

mibike

There is 3 times you can ride the bridge. the Big Mac ride talked about above is a one day ride on Saturday and then cross the bridge Sunday and take the boat back twice a year.

The other time is DALMAC. DALMAC is a 4 or 5 day supported tour starting in Lansing and it crosses the bridge on Sunday morning of Labor day weekend. We have done DALMAC riding across the bridge spent the night and done the Labor day bridge walk on Monday

shelbyfv

Golly guys, I'm surprised there's not more interest in this. Squeeze, if you aren't healed up for this one, post when you find another that suits you. I'm in for my part, probably BillyD as well.

Craptacular8

Isn't there a project to extend the Katy Trail (maybe it is called Rock Bridge Trail for this section) all the way from Clinton to KC? Any idea when that is estimated to be complete?

jefnvk

Oops, forgot about the Big Mac ride. Didn't realize they brought you back on the ferries, that is kinda cool!

We're hopefully doing the DALMAC for the first time this year, it has been on my list of things to do for a decade now (and part of the reason I started riding again), I've got a few family members that do it every year. Mostly just waiting to see how our Netherlands trip goes before committing, don't need a second tour booked if I get off the first one and find out I disliked it for whatever reason.

Squeezebox

No harsh ride!! Go ride a 920 and get back to us!!

indyfabz

In less than two years I toured nearly 10,000 miles with heavy loads on an aluminum frame, and that was back in '99 and '00. Not harsh at all.

Squeezebox

Yes you are part right. I think. I think it's planned for KC to St. Louis south of the river. I think it's called the rock island trail. Google it and I will also.

Squeezebox

Facts please!! Instead of know nothing assumptions.

elcruxio

Well it is a well know fact that while steel is a stiffer material than aluminum, aluminum easily becomes stiffer and thus harsher in a bike frame due increased tube diameters and wall thicknesses (as stiffness is subject to material thickness and shape).
This is not to say that an aluminum frame cannot be made comfortable. With proper design it can be achieved. But it does lack the vibration dampening steel and carbon fiber do have.

My experience with Trek aluminum was that the frame I did have was surprisingly comfortable, almost suspiciously so, but it was also extremely flexy when loaded and caused the frame to get the death wobbles at any speed above 6mph.

The 920 does take larger tires (which you have for some reason swapped for thinner ones) which in turn increases comfort in a bike even if tire pressures are raised.
And there are of course a lot of other factors such as what dampening properties the bars have (double tape, gel inserts, carbon bar etc etc), how the fork is shaped (not a fan of the 920 straight alloy fork shape, but it can work), does the seatpost have some dampening (thudbuster for example).

All in all, nowdays it's very rarely about the frame material.

PhotoJoe 

Just a preemptive word of encouragement - BillyD's request in the Show us your Trek 920 thread stands. Taking the same crap from one thread to another doesn't do anything to help the situation and will not be tolerated. Not everything has to be an argument. Inflammatory comments aren't helping anything, either. Let it rest...now.