Page 2 - Touring Chainring

30-07.-2005, 09:35 AM

#16

rsheard

Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2005

Location: Pinehurst, NC

Posts: 25

Re: Maximum Gear Range

Quote:

Originally Posted by nun

I'll conceed that photographers among us will want a good digital camera, but I think most folks basically want to send e-postcards back to people and the majority of pictures are of cyclists with bikes at the top of a pass or on a bridge so the cameras in phones are fine for this. The GPS is another device that you'd have to take separately, but I think the cell phone/PDA combo is far better than the cell phone and separate pocket mail.

I've considered the Blackberry (or similar unit) to replace the cellphone/pocketmail combo, but two issues make me pause. First, the Blackberry unit and whatever plan you have to sign up for is considerably more expensive. I already have a cellphone (prepaid, inexpensive plan) and the Pocketmail unit is $50 or $100, depending upon the model. And the monthly plan for Pocketmail is much cheaper and can be canceled after the 3 months of the trip.

The second concern I have with the Blackberry/cellphone is coverage. I haven't toured across country before so I don't know how well the cell network extends. The Pocketmail can be used to transmit using any phone, cell or land, so even a pay phone would suffice when I didn't have cell coverage.

A couple of touring groups I followed online have used the pocketmail successfully (some cyclists and one Appalachian Trail hiker). Have you journaled any of your trips with a PDA? Just wondering what your experiences have been. (I have almost a year to figure the logistics out.)

Of course, it may all be moot for me because a friend today asked to come along and drive a support vehicle. If that's the case, EVERYTHING goes

31-07.-2005, 09:02 PM

#17

geoffs

Registered User

Join Date: Sep 2003

Location: Ashfield, Sydney

Posts: 553

Re: Maximum Gear Range

Quote:

Originally Posted by nun

1) Yourself, I'm 30lbs over weight, so loosing that will reduce my load a great deal and improve my power to weight ratio (none of it is muscle).

2) Equipment, don't bring along stuff you won't use.

3) What you do bring should be light weight. For this I'm taking the approach of ultralight backpackers towards equipment

http://www.monmouth.com/~mconnick/chklist.htm

here's an example of one ultralight backpackers equipment list. Total weight of it is 25lbs including the rucksack.

4) If you do need something the bike gives you the flexiblity to ride to a store and then you can use a credit card to buy it.

The one area where I thin k I'd compromise on weight is the bike itself. It needs to be strong and suitable for touring. Of course if your kit only weighs 25 lbs, its not such an issue, but there are things like fenders and racks that are essentials. I'm not sure about the frame material you'd save weight with Ti, but maybe cost becomes the biggest limiting factor there.

Hi Nun

There are some great ideas on that list. A sleeping bag that weighed only 450grams would be great. I thought ours were good at 800grams!
We have to be extremly careful about what we carry as we have the same storage as a single but there are 2 of us so light and compact are the way to go.
Wasn't to keen on the stove though as cleaning pots after they have been used over a wood fire is a pain. We use an MSR Firefly and run it on unleaded petrol.
After the 2200kms we did in France and Austria and another 600kms since then I've managed to lose over 9kgs (20lbs) and my jowls! We are now commuting about 250kms a week plus some long rides on the weekends to keep fit. My wife is pissed as she has put on weight! (its muscle though).

I have seen a few aluminium bikes dented from transit accidents so If I was going to get a single touring bike, I would still stick with steel such as 853 or something similar. 36h wheels with good hubs such as Hugi or Chris King, Velocity Dyad rims with 14/15 spokes would be reliable.

Cheers

Geoff

08-08.-2005, 06:02 AM

#18

spartanstorkbir

Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2005

Location: Tallahassee, Fl

Posts: 7

Re: Touring Chainring

Hi,

I use a 20, 34, 53 and have a megarange freewhell which is approximately 14-32. I would prefer a 12-32. The 20 is great for going up hills at 2-3 mph. I have rear panniers almost always, fronts sometimes, and a trailer too occassionally. Best Wishes. Let me know if this is helpful. spartanstorkbird@yahoo.com

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Hunter

I am presently using a 50/34 chainring but I'm looking at changed it to a triple for touring. What is a good triple combination for touring.

10-08.-2005, 04:24 AM	#19
athoma00 Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Stratford, New Zealand Posts: 28	Re: Touring Chainring My bike has an 11 - 34 with a 28,38,48 Front. I found that the 48,11 ratio is only very rarely used and on tour am mostly 38 to 23,20 or 17 (15 at the most). When commuting its mostly 38 to 17 or 15, occasionally 48 to 17. I have just ordered a Sora 52,42,30 for my bike and will probably buy a 13 - 23 to suit for normal commuting use. I will split this up and combine with some of the old cassette's ratios on tour to maybe give a 15 - 34 mix of some sort on tour. I'm happy to sacrifice some top speed ratio to get more choice where most needed. When the bike is loaded I'm not going to see how fast I can go down some hill anyhow. While the new chainring sizes may seem a little high this is the only model I could find which A. are steel, and B. replacement chainrings are available, and cheap. In fact I also ordered 2 extra 42's and a 52 for not much more. Sugino also make a steel toothed crankset in 46,36,26 that I know of but I could not find replacement chainrings so that made the decision for me. When on tour I keep it fairly light, which is easy as I haven't gone too far from home (i.e. not overseas or anything) and usually only for 3 or 4 weeks. All my stuff can fit over the front wheel which is good. I found the 28,34 ratio probably even too low against some fairly good hills, maybe the 30,34 will be just right.

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