Cycling UK Forum

Free wifi is readily available in cafes and diners, some campsites even have it. Most small towns have a library too which will have free wifi. I rode the PCH last year and never had an issue finding somewhere to get online with my iPad.

That's not just the case with the west coast, it was common right across the trans America trail too.

My elderly aspiring touring friend bought some Brompton butterfly bars. They didn't match his stem diameter. He popped back to the shop to be told his stem diameter was 25mm and his bars 24mm.

Both are dimensions I've never heard either of before. He was told he'd need a 1mm shim.

Does such a thing exist or are the dimensions wrong?

The stem was similar to this. It was fitted to a Dawes Karakum, I'm not certain of the year model.

Dave

I've ridden the Trans America trail from east to west.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/mcandaimeegoc2c

The best advice I can offer if you are following this route is to buy the route maps from the Adventure Cycling Association in Missoula. The initial outlay will be more than covered by the savings you'll make with accommodation etc listed therein.

Read some of the blogs on Crazyguyonabike that deal with your chosen route, they can be invaluable for up to the minute local information not listed elsewhere. I took my iPad with me and followed guys a week or so ahead of me so I had more of an idea of what lay ahead.

It's a fantastic ride, you will meet and will probably ride with lots of new friends.

Peter

Here's a complete set of ACA maps for the TransAm. Great value @£35. Not mine.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/classifi ... d=3421&v=3

Is there a Les Douche Chaudes App, when I used the regular App, I couldn't find any listings in France. What am I doing wrong?

The ACA maps are well worth the investment, they list every possible overnight camping site, contact numbers and services along the route. The illustrated route is supplemented with a turn by turn narrative. It may not be the most direct route, but it keeps you off the busiest roads and you'll see a much more varied landscape with more of an opportunity to see the real America. You'll also be riding in the tyre tracks of other C2C riders, it's a special community.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/8912

I rode the trans America trail last summer leaving on June 11 from Yorktown headed west. We had next to no rain the whole trip, but we did experience extreme heat and humidity in the eastern states until we hit Colrado. Snow was not an issue for us headed west. It can be a problem for those headed east, even the McKenzie Pass in Oregon three days ride from the Pacific is under snow in late May.

There are so many places to camp in 'city' parks, churches and fire stations you will be spoilt for accommodation. We camped too, and stayed a few nights in motels more to get some air conditioning than because of bad weather.

It's a great ride.

I lent my maps to a friend who is riding with this guy who is out there just now. http://transamandy.wordpress.com/

Good luck,

Peter

I lived in Orkney for fifteen years. Yes it can be windy in March and April, May, June.....

All the sites will be open, even the farm museums which are a must see. There are many hostels and bothies you can stay in if the weather is too bad to camp. Brown's Hostel in Stromness is a friendly place. It should be quiet early season, but its packed all summer. Be sure to visit the outer isles, Westray and Papa Westray are reached by ferry from Kirkwall. Hoy is well worth a visit, there is a bothy at Rackwick on the the way to The Old Man.

http://www.warmshowers.org/

This is really popular in the US, it's a reciprocal hosting site for touring cyclists. I'm thinking of registering for my Pacific coast - Cascades tour in the autumn.

I'm keen to hear what experiences folks have of being the host? How many visitors you can expect in a season. Any bad experiences?

I live on a national cycle route and regularly see laden touring cyclists in the summer. Having been the recipient of random hospitality on a tour, I think it might be nice thing to offer.

http://www.hendersonsmetalcleaning.co.uk/index.htm

These guys in Edinburgh are very good. They beadblasted my Dave Yates and painted it.

lol at the trouser/chain interface!

That's happened to me both with trousers and shoe laces!

Thanks for all your input folks. Local experience is always a bonus. My OP was perhaps a little misleading, what I meant by mellow touring was just for day riding. My plan is to build up a steel bike, fit some mudguards and use it as a general hack bike.

I found it addictive 25 years ago, and still spin a highish cadence. It should be possible to build one up cheaply. I noticed this ad on ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HUB-CONVERTER-FIX ... 33625c6e93 for a converter. I have a set of wheels this would work on. Has anyone had experience using a fixed wheel with a Quick Release skewer? Back in the day mine was bolted on. I'd imagine that was because QRs wouldnt be used on the track.

Thanks again, Peter

I'm thinking of building a cheap fixed gear winter bike. Its got 700c wheels. I have a 38T chainring.

I remember riding fixed in Edinburgh (hilly) with around a 66 inch gear. I'm a lot older now, but still spin a highish cadence. I live in Fife on top of a hill so too high a gear is a no go area for me.

My 38t 'ring and a 15T sprocket will give a 68 inch gear. A 16T sprocket a 64 inch gear.

What would make a mellow touring fixed ratio? Are these too high or too low?

My feeling is the mech is designed specifically for a standard combination. I think if the smallest ring were a 30T the shift might be better.

Keith

I was after the range of a compact double with a bail out granny.

The rings were all unramped Middleburns, the front mech a triple Ultegra.