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864 online
Server Time:
2024-05-06 11:21:20
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 Descending
  
Location: F/RoX
Gender: Male
 |  |  | Re: UE bike roadtrip
<Reply # 20 on 2/14/2010 9:05 PM >
|  | | | Posted by DevilC
I have been exploring abandonment since you were in potty training.
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You might be my hero.
mANVIL- "if a super advanced race of aliens takes over the world, they will keep me alive for my efficiency, all you petty humans and their chewing"
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bfinan0
Location: Rochester, NY
Gender: Male
| |  | Re: UE bike roadtrip
<Reply # 21 on 2/14/2010 9:27 PM >
| | | | Posted by DevilC
I grew up on Lake Erie - I have family in Rochachacha.
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That would explain that part; still, your suggestion to "start small" with a longer trip than I was looking at to begin with, and a much more difficult one logistically, I don't see the point.
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DevilC
  
Location: Washington, District of Corruption
Gender: Male
I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their views.
| | | Re: UE bike roadtrip
<Reply # 22 on 2/14/2010 9:30 PM >
| | | | Remember when I said "blow it all up and start from scratch?"
Let's re-visit that concept, yeah?
Posted by bfinan0
I don't see the point.
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MIGHT? ;)
Posted by Descending
You might be my hero.
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[last edit 2/14/2010 9:32 PM by DevilC - edited 1 times]
Science flies you to the Moon. Religion flies you into tall buildings. |
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AnAppleSnail
Location: Charlotte, NC
Gender: Male
ALL the flashlights!
| | | | Re: UE bike roadtrip
<Reply # 23 on 2/14/2010 9:31 PM >
| | | | Posted by bfinan0
Possibly evading the use of the tent was why I thought more research needed to go into using state campsites (lean-tos) and abandonments for sleeping in. Also, I planned on getting food as sequentially as possible, so as not to need to carry a large volume thereof.
The engineering basis for this is a lot less solid than you would think: it is a transformation of stresses and forces, not a reduction, and the higher the center of mass, the faster one goes on the downhills and the more of a struggle it is going up. On flat ground, it doesn't matter where you put the mass as long as it's centered front to back.
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Definitely do some practice rides before then, and know how to change a flat bike tire. You will probably need a pump, spare tubes, and tools to change those. Get a small pump, you're unlikely to need pumping in a hurry. The idea behind having less weight on your back is that sitting on a bike saddle leads to fatigue. You ever stand up on the pedals to pump harder? The tripod will enjoy the ride up and down, and you won't notice the extra 3 lbs immediately. Mainly for comfort, zip or velcro tie it to your frame.
Bring batteries and 2 lights, maybe even one you can attach to helmet or handlebars. You can get my with surprisingly few batteries assuming you sleep at night and can stock up at stores. Practice practice practice! As soon as the weather's good, go 5 miles out and back. See how that feels, and tune your brakes. Learn to fix common bike problems and you should do ok.
Achievement Unlocked
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\/adder
Location: DunkarooLand
Gender: Male
I'm the worst of the best but I'm in this race.
| | | Re: UE bike roadtrip
<Reply # 24 on 2/15/2010 2:07 AM >
| | | | Posted by AnAppleSnail
The idea behind having less weight on your back is that sitting on a bike saddle leads to fatigue. You ever stand up on the pedals to pump harder? The tripod will enjoy the ride up and down, and you won't notice the extra 3 lbs immediately. Mainly for comfort, zip or velcro tie it to your frame.
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This.
By putting the heaviest of your gear on the bike is going to make it harder to get the bike moving but will be much easier once the bike gets into motion. As an engineering student you should recognize this is because the bike is powered by momentum rather than your muscles. And keeping your pack minimal will save on your back like aas mentioned.
"No risk, no reward, no fun."
"Go all the way or walk away"
escensi omnis... |
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bfinan0
Location: Rochester, NY
Gender: Male
| | | Re: UE bike roadtrip
<Reply # 25 on 2/15/2010 3:46 AM >
| | | | Posted by WarBird69 [13]
Because an item attached to the bike frame is not carried on your person, thus the reduction in weight being carried on your person (asuming backpack is being worn) will reduce fatigue, thus potentially extending your mileage per day.
Posted by AnAppleSnail [22]
The idea behind having less weight on your back is that sitting on a bike saddle leads to fatigue. You ever stand up on the pedals to pump harder? The tripod will enjoy the ride up and down, and you won't notice the extra 3 lbs immediately. Mainly for comfort, zip or velcro tie it to your frame.
Posted by TheVicariousVadder [23]
By putting the heaviest of your gear on the bike is going to make it harder to get the bike moving but will be much easier once the bike gets into motion
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On an uphill, Vadder seems to be right that weight on the bike would make it harder to move; on flat terrain, WarBird is right that weight in the pack would be harder to carry; on a downhill, weight in a pack would be beneficial for added momentum. So it seems like the engineering aspect of it does generally favor attaching the weight to the bike. I stand corrected. Or I just won't bring a tripod.
You can get my with surprisingly few batteries assuming you sleep at night and can stock up at stores.
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Yes, but the additional supplies required for sleeping at night might weigh more than batteries. At night, it will be much colder than during the day, so it would probably be the better time to be moving: less mass of clothing and shelter needed. I was thinking of probably sleeping from about 5PM-1AM, that way if I knew where the locations I wanted to explore were, I could ensure that I get to most of them during daylight, but would also be able to sleep when it is warmer, and move in the coldest hours, 4 hours each side of sunrise.
or, for that matter, disregarding conventional 24-hour day/night cycles altogether, just keep going regardless of light/dark until I'm too tired to go any farther, sleep until I naturally wake up, and repeat; that also seems like a logical way to go about it
[last edit 2/15/2010 3:48 AM by bfinan0 - edited 2 times]
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splumer
 
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Gender: Male
| | Re: UE bike roadtrip
<Reply # 26 on 2/15/2010 1:22 PM >
| | | | Having done this before (though not for UE) my first recommendation is to get a good-quality bike. The extra stress from the added weight can play havoc on a cheaper bike, especially in bearings and stuff like that. A cracked bearing race 100 miles from a bike shop will put a serious crimp in your plans. Also make sure your tires are up to the added weight. Road bike tires that are really thin aren't really designed for touring. Get actual touring tires and tubes, and not from Wal-Mart.
A decent pannier system will distribute the weight more evenly across your bike and make it a lot easier to control. The greater weight makes turning and general control more difficult. You might want to look into a trailer, as well, depending on how much of a gear head you are. I recommend at minimum taking two spare tubes and the proper tools to replace them, plus a small pump and whatever other tools you might need. Nashbar makes some bike-specific multi-tools that can save a lot of weight.
Greyhound will take bikes, too, so if you didn't want to get rid of it or do a loop, you can take it home with you.
“We are not going to have the kind of cooperation we need if everyone insists on their own narrow version of reality. … the great divide in the world today … is between people who have the courage to listen and those who are convinced that they already know it all.”
-Madeline Albright |
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bfinan0
Location: Rochester, NY
Gender: Male
| | | Re: UE bike roadtrip
<Reply # 27 on 2/15/2010 1:42 PM >
| | | | Posted by splumer
Greyhound will take bikes, too, so if you didn't want to get rid of it or do a loop, you can take it home with you.
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Would you recommend, then, starting at the far end of the road and riding home?
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metawaffle
King of Puns
Location: Brisbane!
Gender: Male
Purveyor of Fine Lampshades
| | | Re: UE bike roadtrip
<Reply # 28 on 2/15/2010 2:17 PM >
| | | | Posted by bfinan0
Would you recommend, then, starting at the far end of the road and riding home?
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I really do wonder if this guy is for real, sometimes.
http://www.longexposure.net |
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bfinan0
Location: Rochester, NY
Gender: Male
| | | Re: UE bike roadtrip
<Reply # 30 on 2/15/2010 4:49 PM >
| | | | Posted by junkyard
If it takes 5 hours by car, it would take just under 50 on a bike. Sounds like a great plan.
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Fixed -- and going by car isn't really an option anyway, besides being less adventurous.
[last edit 2/15/2010 4:49 PM by bfinan0 - edited 1 times]
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bfinan0
Location: Rochester, NY
Gender: Male
| | | Re: UE bike roadtrip
<Reply # 31 on 2/15/2010 6:32 PM >
| | | | Posted by splumer
Greyhound will take bikes, too, so if you didn't want to get rid of it or do a loop, you can take it home with you.
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Actually, false (for all intents and purposes): They will ship bikes, but only in wooden crates or canvas cases, or as component parts that fit in a 28x22x12 space.
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Descending
Location: F/RoX
Gender: Male
| | | Re: UE bike roadtrip
<Reply # 32 on 2/15/2010 8:41 PM >
| | | | Forget the bike, the food, the weight distribution... What you really need to worry about is finding a baseball card to put in your spokes.
mANVIL- "if a super advanced race of aliens takes over the world, they will keep me alive for my efficiency, all you petty humans and their chewing"
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Oryx
Location: Who knows
:|
| | Re: UE bike roadtrip
<Reply # 34 on 2/15/2010 11:20 PM >
| | | | Posted by Descending
Forget the bike, the food, the weight distribution... What you really need to worry about is finding a pokemon card to put in your spokes.
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fixd
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bfinan0
Location: Rochester, NY
Gender: Male
| | | Re: UE bike roadtrip
<Reply # 35 on 2/16/2010 2:40 AM >
| | | | Posted by junkyard
Fixed, it would actually take less than 2 hours. Mine is mostly stock, except for the 116 and nitrous.
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I can't really afford nitrous, and don't even know what 116 is/does. I have just an ordinary non-motorized bike with a top speed of 8 2/3 or so on flat ground, maybe 20 on a downhill (it's all i'm licensed to drive in this state, anyway). I think my estimate is more accurate by far, unless you can provide me with some 116 for a modification; I'd also take hydrazine if you have any of that around.
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splumer
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Gender: Male
| | Re: UE bike roadtrip
<Reply # 36 on 2/16/2010 1:31 PM >
| | | | Posted by bfinan0
Actually, false (for all intents and purposes): They will ship bikes, but only in wooden crates or canvas cases, or as component parts that fit in a 28x22x12 space.
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Bummer. My mistake. The local buses in Cleveland all have bike racks on the front, and the trains and high-speed buses have areas inside for bikes. That doesn't do you much good, though. I'd just hate to get rid of it after, plus then you have to hump all your gear with you.
“We are not going to have the kind of cooperation we need if everyone insists on their own narrow version of reality. … the great divide in the world today … is between people who have the courage to listen and those who are convinced that they already know it all.”
-Madeline Albright |
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bfinan0
Location: Rochester, NY
Gender: Male
| | | Re: UE bike roadtrip
<Reply # 37 on 2/16/2010 2:20 PM >
| | | | Posted by splumer
Bummer. My mistake. The local buses in Cleveland all have bike racks on the front, and the trains and high-speed buses have areas inside for bikes. That doesn't do you much good, though. I'd just hate to get rid of it after, plus then you have to hump all your gear with you.
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It was worth a try; riding the bike back is definitely not an option as it would take far too long; I only have 6 days for this trip. I don't really mind abandoning the bike at the far end though.
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Air
 
Location: Canada
| | Re: UE bike roadtrip
<Reply # 38 on 2/16/2010 3:19 PM >
| | | | Posted by junkyard
If it takes 5 hours by car, it would take just under 2 on a bike. Sounds like a great plan.
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You Sir, win.
[last edit 2/16/2010 3:20 PM by Air - edited 1 times]
"The extraordinary beauty of things that fail." - Heinrich von Kleist |
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mr.v
Location: Rhode Island
Gender: Male
"Man cannot separate means and enlightenment"
| | | Re: UE bike roadtrip
<Reply # 39 on 2/16/2010 4:55 PM >
| | | | Posted by makman
So, presumably, you'd want the basics of camping:
-Tent (small as possible)
-Sleeping bag
-Food (or pay for food on the way)
-Flashlight
-Fire-making tools (just a lighter, probably)
-At least one change of clothes
And you'd want some bike basics:
-A small kit for basic mechanical things*
-A spare wheel tube and/or a patching kit.
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Even lightweight pup tents are pretty heavy. Those 5-8 pounds are going to be a bitch. What a lot of people I know do is just bring a small/medium sized poly tarp and some thin cord.(a groundcloth is a good idea) Enough to make decent shelter but not overdoing it. It's less work and you'd save yourself a few pounds along the way.
As for the food, I might make a small alcohol stove (Instructables) to cook, unless you are planning to go all-out with Cliff bars or something between rest stops.
Make sure to bring some dryer lint in a ziploc for tinder, you won't want to be stuck with just chip wrappers and soggy leaves to start your fire.
Also, one of those tiny air pumps that clip to the bike is a good idea- if you're going through the mountains I don't imagine you'd be within walking distance to a gas station if you get a flat.
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