Well it's been over a week since I have got back home and working again. Since I did not have a fancy speedometer or odometer I cannot tell you exactly how far I travelled but it was around 500km with all the side trips etc., for getting to the campsites, buying food. It worked out to approximately 30 hours of riding.
Mathematically that works out to about 16.5km/hr which includes stops, picture taking, rest stops or whatever.
I have lost about 8 pounds that are staying off, which is now about 15 pounds from my racing weight of 3 decades ago.
My stomach took about 3 days to recover which sort of surprised me. I believe that because of the need to control the front end of the weighted bike, the stomach got a workout.
My legs and butt hurt everywhere for about 5 days, before they did not hurt to the touch.
However its my lower back that is taking its sweet time to start feeling better. Due to all the hamstrings working and the loaded bike with close to 90 pounds of loaded bike to ride, I guess they were overused big time. I have not had this problem before, but of course I have not toured for many decades.
I have tried stretching the back,muscle relaxants, hit the Miette Hotsprings, hot tub at the Jasper Recreation Centre, and went to the chiropractor. Its now over a week later and the back still hurts. I also tried to some bike riding a week later and that did not work either. The back still hurts 8 days later.
It is not normally mentioned but it takes time to reorganize all the gear that you had for riding, back to the areas where I normally keep the gear. Of course you need to wash all the clothes, try to hose the tent, tarp, panniers and get everything dry, before being packed away for the winter.
Analyzing what I should not take or bring with me next year, is also being done. What would I do differently? I would most certainly prepare and be fitter. I would also try to have the bike be at least 10 pounds lighter. Perhaps I would look at not camping, but motelling or use the youth hostels, which would be more expensive.
Should I get a better bike? My old bike is 40 years old with parts from every decade. For sure the new bike will have disc brakes, all the eyelets, and hopefully a Shimano SLX drive train.
The research and dreaming will continue.
The snow and cross country skiing is just around the corner, as the forecasted temperature for tomorrow is rain and a high of 4C!!
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
#Bicycle #Touring TIPS and Observations. #Edmonton #YEG to #Jasper.
Well I rode my bicycle from Edmonton to Jasper. The shoulders of the road going west on the #Yellowhead Hwy 16, has lots of gravel, rock, wood, steel bolts, metal, bungy cords, small pieces of chain plus many other types of items.
TIP. You need to keep watch out as to where your tires are going to ride. Hopefully you have some tough tires like the #Schwabe Marathon tires, which is what I had. I was very happy by their performance.
TIP. Use a handlebar with less drop as mine were normal racing 3T bars. You ride slower, you sit up a lot more and are not so concerned with aerodynamics, except when going downhill and then only sometimes. Beside my bigger belly gets in the way, and I am not so comfortable on the drops, then I used to be.
TIP. Carry a bit of electrician tape even if it is just a a foot or two, wrapped around the chainstay which holds your TIP 2 or 3 spare spokes.
TIP. Know when the local holidays are, as you may have a difficult time getting a camping site. TIP. Book ahead if in doubt.
TIP. Get the new brake/shift combo setup. I believe it will be easier on your right side neck that many people suffer from, during and after riding. I believe the constant shifting with the right hand, and the slight slope of the road, causes this neck pain. TIP. The new system also gives you another couple of hand positions.I ride the OLD style Campy Record brakes with no rubber hoodies as they have worn out many decades ago.
TIP. Its a good idea to carry a large lightweight tarp 15 by 15 feet minimum, with at least a couple of 50 foot pieces of rope which can be used for protection from the rain or the sun. Not all campgrounds have a covered picnic shelter as I found out. Tarp or no tarp, weight vs comfort, your call.
TIP be sure to do #sit-ups everyday as your hamstrings are working a lot. TIP. When cycling always think pedaling in circles not just pushing down. Do some stretching after each ride as the picnic table makes it easy to do. Pain in the back is not nice.
TIP. Check everything twice as you may take more then what you need. I had a #Leatherman and a #Swiss army knife and I certainly did not need both.
TIP. Bring the little bum foamy, 1 foot by 1 foot is all you really need, as it is good when it has rained and weighs next to nothing.
TIP. When you pull into a campground always ask if there is a secure spot for power plugs ins for the smart phone. :) smile.
TIP. Ask where are the bear lockers as well? You should also carry a small lock with you to lock up the food, stove, and the kitchen mess kit.
TIP Ask where are the showers and wood location?
TIP. Carry a few real caribiners for getting rope up a tree and securing food, and for tarp ropes.
TIP. Get a small bottle of suntan lotion and use it.
TIP. I am looking at getting a thin pair of neoprene socks to fit under my Croc sandals, or perhaps even fit into my cycling shoes.
TIP. Do I really need a pair of pants or just use my rain pants over my legs if needed?
TIP. A small thermos bottle is not really that heavy. Carry one for tea, coffee or whatever other drink you like.
TIP. A front handlebar is a pain when in town. Do you leave it on the bike or carry it? I left mine back at camp and used my Camelback style backpack for whatever I needed and 2 straps.
TIP. Full sunscreen long sleeved shirts are good for wind and a bit of rain. Make sure the front pockets of the shirt are usable and will hold cell phone and wallet which is normally in my handlebar bag.
TIP. Take a good pair of warm leather work or ski gloves that can be used for keeping the hands warm, grabbing a warm pot, or a wooden log, etc.
TIP. Bring a thin lycra #toque that will fit under your helmet or wear in bed when its below +8C.
TIP. Keep a small supply of various sizes of sandwich bags for wet weather or if you do not eat everything you cooked.
TIP. Get a roll of loonies for showers, laundry mats, lockers etc, rather then constantly trying to get change. Be aware that in some places the loonies need to made before 2012, as not all mechanisms have been updated to the latest coins.
TIP. About 70% to 80% of truckers will move over to the other lane if they are able to.
Be sure to shift to a bit higher gear if 2 or more trucks are passing you, as you will be pulled by their draft, and gain speed.
TIP. Buy a small mirror that mounts to the helmet not your glasses. It makes riding a lot more pleasurable, if you know what is coming up behind you. I had to pull over one time into the ditch, when a large oversized HOUSE passed me, it was sideways, dog tracking, and took up 2 lanes plus the shoulder.
TIP. Know if there is going to be drinkable water at your campsite. Be ready to boil the water if necessary. Its no fun when you have used the last of your water up a few km's back, and there is no water to drink, immediately. This happened to me at #Obed Park!
TIP. The paved shoulders are better going east then they are west, because the ones going east are newer and not so broken up. The wind normally blows from the NW but when temperatures are warm, the wind normally blows from the SW .
Its your call what kind of camera you want to use. However I can say that my old I-phone's shutter speed is way to slow for anything that is moving. It does an ok job for taking still pictures.
Get out there and do it. I had not prepared for this ride. I ride about 3 or 4 hours in a 2 week period, though I did race bikes for 20 years.
I always carry grapes in the handlebar bag and a banana or two.
There is not much choice for campgrounds along the route.
Of course the faster you are the more choice you have for places to stay and groceries, eating etc. I average about 15km/hr (I used to average 20km/hr) and by 5 hours of riding, I am just about done.
The gear I normally was in, on average, was a 46-23 or 42-23 at around 95 rpm with 170cm old TA cranks. I swallowed my pride and walked a 100 m or so in a climb as well. The break does you good and you do not go much faster then you would if you were in first gear.
I favour being on the road by around 730am, and off the bike by around 2pm, if the route allows me.This allows the option to ride into the evening to make it to a particular spot if need be. Maybe the wind is favourable and you can make good time?
The old steed(repainted #BobJackson), gets ready for another ride. The bottles on the bike are bear spray, white gas and the old plastic wide mouth grey bottle carries my tool kit. My water is carried on my back.
Say goodbye to my honey, for 5 days, sniffle sniffle.
First night camp was at Lake Wabamun Campground
Second night was at Niton Junction Hidden Grove Campground
Edson
Third night was at Obed Campground, where I had to boil the water!
#Obed Summit, is pretty easy for most people.
#Hinton. No shoulders through town, take the service road.
Fourth night was at Pocohontos Campground in #Jasper National #Park, It rained and has no picnic shelter.
Lovely scenery after a rain, and snow has fallen at higher elevations, always be ready for cool weather.
#Jasper and then I went straight to the bakery for yummies, by 10am.
Fifth night was at #Whisler Campground about 2km from Jasper. Had to get a tarp in town as it was going to rain/snow/sleet whatever, again. Fun!
TIP. You need to keep watch out as to where your tires are going to ride. Hopefully you have some tough tires like the #Schwabe Marathon tires, which is what I had. I was very happy by their performance.
TIP. Use a handlebar with less drop as mine were normal racing 3T bars. You ride slower, you sit up a lot more and are not so concerned with aerodynamics, except when going downhill and then only sometimes. Beside my bigger belly gets in the way, and I am not so comfortable on the drops, then I used to be.
TIP. Carry a bit of electrician tape even if it is just a a foot or two, wrapped around the chainstay which holds your TIP 2 or 3 spare spokes.
TIP. Know when the local holidays are, as you may have a difficult time getting a camping site. TIP. Book ahead if in doubt.
TIP. Get the new brake/shift combo setup. I believe it will be easier on your right side neck that many people suffer from, during and after riding. I believe the constant shifting with the right hand, and the slight slope of the road, causes this neck pain. TIP. The new system also gives you another couple of hand positions.I ride the OLD style Campy Record brakes with no rubber hoodies as they have worn out many decades ago.
TIP. Its a good idea to carry a large lightweight tarp 15 by 15 feet minimum, with at least a couple of 50 foot pieces of rope which can be used for protection from the rain or the sun. Not all campgrounds have a covered picnic shelter as I found out. Tarp or no tarp, weight vs comfort, your call.
TIP be sure to do #sit-ups everyday as your hamstrings are working a lot. TIP. When cycling always think pedaling in circles not just pushing down. Do some stretching after each ride as the picnic table makes it easy to do. Pain in the back is not nice.
TIP. Check everything twice as you may take more then what you need. I had a #Leatherman and a #Swiss army knife and I certainly did not need both.
TIP. Bring the little bum foamy, 1 foot by 1 foot is all you really need, as it is good when it has rained and weighs next to nothing.
TIP. When you pull into a campground always ask if there is a secure spot for power plugs ins for the smart phone. :) smile.
TIP. Ask where are the bear lockers as well? You should also carry a small lock with you to lock up the food, stove, and the kitchen mess kit.
TIP Ask where are the showers and wood location?
TIP. Carry a few real caribiners for getting rope up a tree and securing food, and for tarp ropes.
TIP. Get a small bottle of suntan lotion and use it.
TIP. I am looking at getting a thin pair of neoprene socks to fit under my Croc sandals, or perhaps even fit into my cycling shoes.
TIP. Do I really need a pair of pants or just use my rain pants over my legs if needed?
TIP. A small thermos bottle is not really that heavy. Carry one for tea, coffee or whatever other drink you like.
TIP. A front handlebar is a pain when in town. Do you leave it on the bike or carry it? I left mine back at camp and used my Camelback style backpack for whatever I needed and 2 straps.
TIP. Full sunscreen long sleeved shirts are good for wind and a bit of rain. Make sure the front pockets of the shirt are usable and will hold cell phone and wallet which is normally in my handlebar bag.
TIP. Take a good pair of warm leather work or ski gloves that can be used for keeping the hands warm, grabbing a warm pot, or a wooden log, etc.
TIP. Bring a thin lycra #toque that will fit under your helmet or wear in bed when its below +8C.
TIP. Keep a small supply of various sizes of sandwich bags for wet weather or if you do not eat everything you cooked.
TIP. Get a roll of loonies for showers, laundry mats, lockers etc, rather then constantly trying to get change. Be aware that in some places the loonies need to made before 2012, as not all mechanisms have been updated to the latest coins.
TIP. About 70% to 80% of truckers will move over to the other lane if they are able to.
Be sure to shift to a bit higher gear if 2 or more trucks are passing you, as you will be pulled by their draft, and gain speed.
TIP. Buy a small mirror that mounts to the helmet not your glasses. It makes riding a lot more pleasurable, if you know what is coming up behind you. I had to pull over one time into the ditch, when a large oversized HOUSE passed me, it was sideways, dog tracking, and took up 2 lanes plus the shoulder.
TIP. Know if there is going to be drinkable water at your campsite. Be ready to boil the water if necessary. Its no fun when you have used the last of your water up a few km's back, and there is no water to drink, immediately. This happened to me at #Obed Park!
TIP. The paved shoulders are better going east then they are west, because the ones going east are newer and not so broken up. The wind normally blows from the NW but when temperatures are warm, the wind normally blows from the SW .
Its your call what kind of camera you want to use. However I can say that my old I-phone's shutter speed is way to slow for anything that is moving. It does an ok job for taking still pictures.
Get out there and do it. I had not prepared for this ride. I ride about 3 or 4 hours in a 2 week period, though I did race bikes for 20 years.
I always carry grapes in the handlebar bag and a banana or two.
There is not much choice for campgrounds along the route.
Of course the faster you are the more choice you have for places to stay and groceries, eating etc. I average about 15km/hr (I used to average 20km/hr) and by 5 hours of riding, I am just about done.
The gear I normally was in, on average, was a 46-23 or 42-23 at around 95 rpm with 170cm old TA cranks. I swallowed my pride and walked a 100 m or so in a climb as well. The break does you good and you do not go much faster then you would if you were in first gear.
I favour being on the road by around 730am, and off the bike by around 2pm, if the route allows me.This allows the option to ride into the evening to make it to a particular spot if need be. Maybe the wind is favourable and you can make good time?
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