Cycling UK Forum

I use non-volatile fiber based storage*,
that way it is still readable in 15 years.
Trip notes on 5.25 floppy disks are unreadable.

*Small notebook and a pen.

In the States Wallingford Bike offers a 6 month return period for Brooks & Berthoud saddles.
Also Wallingford has slightly used Brooks at a discount from the above program.

Before I started listening to machinists I greased the tapers, only had a problem once.
Now I don't grease, but I do use a beam type torque wrench, greased taper or not.
It is interesting how much extra ummphh past what feels tight, you need to reach the torque spec.

horizon wrote:Just to add that perhaps this is an American tourer: no mudguards (!) and poor rear rack which doesn't prevent panniers from swinging into the wheel. In other respects it fits the bill.

The Trek is set up for Lance Armstrong, the rear rack is rubbish, it does have front eyelets for mudguards.
The handling when loaded is mediocre, even with a Tubus rack to stiffen the rear end.

Bruce Gordon is where Americans get good touring bikes.

http://www.bgcycles.com/blt.html
http://www.bgcycles.com/rocknroad.html

If your beater bike doesn't quite look quite beat enough.

http://www.rustall.com/

Don't forget to eat, carry some extra food.

Accept invitations from strangers.

USA carbon fiber, just a zero to the prices being discussed.

http://www.crumptoncycles.com/, Nick Crumpton is the Ron Cooper of CF.
http://staging.serotta.4.cascadewebdev. ... MeiviciSE/
http://www.ifbikes.com/OurBikes/Road/Corvid/

Steel is real, inexpensive.

[quote="Si"]The important thing about steering a bike successfully is not to try and think about how steering a bike works while doing it [/quote

For fun and terror, try an upright racing trike. The steering is the opposite of an upright bike,
you lean away from the turn and steer into the turn.
Very educational, but try it in large open area, thinking will cause you to go straight towards
the nearest wall.

Chuck Harris mirrors... helmet or eye glass mounted.

http://www.palmbeachbiketours.com/looki ... ew-mirror/

Velo Orange has new French headsets and cartridge style bottom brackets available.

http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/ ... ckets.html
http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/ ... adset.html

Being the the CTC forum, I will channel the elders gods, Wayfarer and Petronella and say a
Carradice Camper with a Bagman expedition bag support.

When traveling in the US, the better idea is to ship the bike via UPS
in a large hard case. The airlines are charging $130 one way to take a
bike which must be boxed. Since the airlines are good at losing luggage
knowing your bike is at your destination before you board the airplane
is very nice.

You can rent hard cases in some US bike shops, the shop will
also have an account with UPS giving a much better shipping
rate than if you walked into a UPS Store. (nb. UPS Stores are
not owned by UPS, UPS is not responsible for the antics of
UPS Stores.)

All things considered it is cheaper to go to Switzerland
than bike in the US. (slight overstatement)

Tubus make some beefed up p-clamps and skewer mounts,
they'll work for most racks.
http://www.tubus.com/en/spares-and-accessories

Old Man Mountain racks are skewer mounted.

http://www.oldmanmountain.com/Pages/Rac ... Racks.html

When you get the panniers, load them up with 25lbs worth of books and go for ride.
The first hill you climb standing will give you a good idea how well the rack works.

The Tubus are not beefy, but stiff and expensive.

VIsegrip(tm) made for cog removal.

http://www.pedros.com/visewhip.html