Tag: Touring Bikes

What is a touring bike, how is it different from other bicycles.

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Surly Bikes Touring Bicycles

Surly Long Haul Trucker Demo Bikes

6 Surly Long Haul Truckers
Surly Long Haul Trucker, the best touring bike for the money.

 

They are here and ready to ride! As of January 2, 2012 we have in stock six complete Surly Long Haul Trucker touring bikes. 50, 54 and 56 centimeter bikes with 26″ wheels. 56, 58 and 60 centimeter bikes with 700c wheels. We are providing these as bikes for prospective Long Haul Trucker owners to test ride. It’s sort of a leap of faith to plunk down almost $1300 sight unseen for a touring bike and there are very few places (are there any others?) that have such a large selection of sizes. Bike Touring News is listed on the Surly Bikes site as a dealer, a “shop filled with folks who know our products at an ‘above average’ level“. We have years of experience selling these bikes and suggesting the proper sizes for people, but this should eliminate any guesswork.

Surly Bikes does not allow new complete bikes to be shipped because: “We think a bicycle in its built form should come from a bike shop that knows how to assemble and adjust everything so that your ride is ready to go. It only takes a couple of frantic e-mails from customers wondering why their steer tube is so long or in which order the headset parts should go on to cause concern in our hearts. Buying a bike locally gives you a place to go for adjustments, for warranty concerns should they ever arise, and for sizing assistance. Buying locally also helps your neighborhood economy grow, it can help you find a network of riding friends, and sometimes even provide a clubhouse. From our perspective buying bikes through a shop keeps the liability concerns to a minimum and helps keep our products from being simple commodities. We like to think they have a little life in them.” We think that is a good policy and we abide by it.

So, here’s the deal. If you are in the area come in (you might want to call ahead) and we will determine the best size for you based on some observations and measurements we will make. Then you can ride a bike and see how it feels. If you are between sizes you can ride one size bigger or one size smaller. After we have determined your size and know the options you prefer, and after you slap leather for a 50% down payment, we will order your bike. If the supplier is out of stock, or if you need the bike right away we will sell you the demo.

We can still sell all Surly frame sets and components online, so if you know what you need in those departments, give us a shout. If you don’t know what you need, then definitely give us a shout and we will help you sort it out.

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Surly Bikes Touring Bicycles

Surly Long Haul Trucker, Etc.

Surly? I know you are, but what am I?

The Surly Bikes website has a dealer locator which is updated regularly and lists  “shops we know have ordered a lot of Surly stuff or who we know to be knowledgeable in all things Surly”. Bike Touring News is the only shop listed within a 50 mile radius of zip code 83703.  Yes, we like Surly stuff  –  and I am even  surly. surly,surly,surly

surly frame decals

We currently have these customers Surly bikes/frames in the shop:

I talked about the Deluxe Trucker frame in this post. We consulted with the owner and came up with a build kit for this frame. Now I’m going to have some fun putting it together. The deluxe version (with SandS couplers) only is available as a frameset, which means the buyer gets to spec the parts the way he/she wants it. This always ends up costing a little more than buying a complete bike, but allows the opportunity for customization.

picture of frame
The Trucker Deluxe from Surly has two stainless steel couplers which make it possible to take the bike apart for travel.

3 surly bikes
The Trucker Deluxe with build kit is on the counter.

This customer bought the Long Haul Trucker complete version. This bike comes with the parts that Surly specs, and those parts are good. This machine is meant to be taken out of the box, put together and ridden across the country, and many, many people do that.

complete long haul trucker packaging
Surly Long Haul trucker, complete

This customer needs a solid, predictable and reliable commuter bike. He needed to look no further than the Surly Cross Check. We helped him determine the correct size which hopefully avoided some wailing and gnashing of teeth. These bikes too are available as complete kits, but the design features of the frames makes them especially suited for custom builds. The main feature I’m thinking of is the semi-horizontal rear dropouts, which make a single speed setup a no brainer. Although I think he will be building this with parts he already has and with a single chainring and 8 rear cogs. Very sensible! And, as with all Surlys the frame clearances allow for big tires and fenders. “Fatties Fit Fine”!

Surly Cross Check frame
Surly Cross Check frame

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Surly Bikes Touring Bicycles

Surly Long Haul Trucker Deluxe

To Boise from Taiwan via Minneapolis.

The Bike Touring News store stocks all sizes of the Surly Long Haul Trucker in Boise, ID so stop by and test ride one, or more. Surly makes strong, serviceable and sensible bicycle frames from 4130 Chrome Molybdenum steel. We are huge fans. The Long Haul Trucker is designed for long distance, loaded travel in relative comfort. The LHT Deluxe comes with S & S Couplers, machined, stainless steel torque fittings which are brazed into the top tube and down tube. When disconnected the frame comes apart in two pieces, making it possible to pack a complete bicycle into a case that is within airline regulation sizes, without too much disassembly. If you have some time to kill, the company that makes the couplers, S&S Machine has an informative and interesting site.

picture of frame
The Trucker Deluxe from Surly has two stainless steel couplers which make it possible to take the bike apart for travel.

 

picture of closed coupler
One coupler on the down tube and one on the top tube.

 

S&S Coupler
The stainless steel sleeve is tightened with a special wrench, compressing the teeth ot the Hirth joint to connect the tubes.

 

Frame apart
Dismembered Surly Trucker Deluxe

Anyhoo, if you will be doing a lot of traveling and would rather have your own bike than a rental, then a bike with S&S Couplers might be an option. There is a special wrench made for tightening and loosening the couplers and it is important to use the recommended grease on the mating surfaces. You’ll need cable coupler disconnect fittings for your shift cables and rear brake cable too.

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2011 Oregon Manifest Event Coverage

Oregon Manifest 2011 – Three Bikes

I judged the entries by how they incorporated the mandatory design features outlined on the Oregon Manifest site:
-Anti-Theft System
-Fender System
-Lighting System
-Load System
-Free-Standing Under Load (While Parked) System
With a heavy bias toward integration, quality of execution and aesthetics.
In no particular order, I thought these bikes were outstanding.
YiPsan Bicycles
This bike has a two legged kick stand and, depending on how the load is distributed, is balanced in such a way that either the front or rear wheels are off the ground, facilitating flat tire repairs.

Rear wheel removal mode

 

Front wheel removal mode

 

To help stabilize the bike when parked, this pin runs through the fork brake bolt hole and into a custom hole in the frame’s downtube

 

When riding, the pin is retracted and held against the fork magnetically.

There is a Dutch bike style lock which is attached to the frame and locks the rear wheel so that it can’t be turned, and Renold inserted a braided steel cable into the seat post of the bike which can be pulled out and locked into the wheel lock mechanism.

Yep, that cable disappears into the seat post.(Photo from YiPsan Bicycles website)

With fenders, internally geared rear hub, belt drive, generator lights and great load carrying capacity, this bike’s got it covered. And it fits Leah like a glove.

Bauhinia – YiPsan Bicycles from YiPsan on Vimeo.

The more I looked at this bike, by Geekhouse, the more I liked it. I talked to the builder at the lunch stop and took these pics.

Geekhouse touring bike

I thought this was a really creative frame design. Not a traditional double diamond frame, rather an inverted curve or an arch, the other strongest shape, basically forming the seat stays and rack. The double top tubes curve down and sweep back to form the rear rack, also establishing a low stand over height.
The rear skirt guard and front fender design could be improved to provide better spray coverage. And again the ubiquitous Shimano Alfine internal gear rear hub and front dynamo hub. The front light was actually integrated into the stem.

Geekhouse touring bike
The front light is part of the stem, but I think the bag is in the way. Should be an easy fix though.

The shaft of the u-bolt lock is built into a short piece of tubing welded to the two pivot points on the top tube. The shackle portion of the lock is strapped down when riding and pivoted up and removed to lock the bike to a post or bike rack.

Nice work integrating the Brooks bag carrier into the handlebars.

Another bike I was drawn to is the Fremont a collaboration between Ziba and Signal Cycles.

This is one of several side-car designs at the event, but it seemed like the most practical of the bunch to me because the side car folds up over the rear fender to become a rack. And the side car met the additional requirement of providing a support for the parked, loaded bike. The canvas bags were made for the team by a local Portland seamstress.

The locking system is a little clunky since one needs to remove the cable and stash it when riding, but then again it’s not that much of a hassle and there is plenty of room to carry it.
Side Car flipped up and now is a rear rack

I thought these bikes met the challenge requirements in elegant ways and I can see how they would be practical and functional in the real world.

Categories
2011 Oregon Manifest

Great interviews and articles on the Oregon Manifest

The Freemont Ziba Design & Signal Cycles

As the Bike Hermit makes his way back to the bike cave from Portland on Chief,  Sky King thought it would be a good idea to provide a link to the updates on the Oregon Manifest Website.  Some high quality photos and interviews with the builders and the judges.

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Bike Touring Tips

No Sweat, have water bottle will shower

A bit of sweat after a great bike ride

Guaranteed on any bike tour, you are going to sweat.  Ending the day with a shower is one of the ultimate rewards on a bike trip (ranks right up there with a cold beer).  On our recent tour on the Olympic Peninsula we spent each night at a campground but still ran into unexpected issues with using the showers.  Many campgrounds have “pay as you play” showers so be sure to tuck quarters into your pannier.  We arrived at one site “afterhours” and discovered they didn’t take quarters but used tokens that needed to be purchased from the camp host…  Well hell, what to do.  From previous trips we have devised a great technique for impromptu showers, we call it the two water bottles and a camp towel trick.  Simply heat water, pour into two water bottles.  At the campsite that had the shower but needed tokens, I took my water bottles, Dr Bonner’s liquid soap, my camp towel and my bike shorts into the shower stall.  I wet my hands, applied a small amount of soap and lathered all the priority body parts that need attention.  Then I used my two water bottles of warm water for rinsing.  While not as deluxe as a 3 minute shower, it takes the sweat layer off and I can sleep comfortably.

Why the bike shorts in the shower?  We travel with two pairs of shorts and every night  apply a small amount of diluted Dr Bonners to the chamois of the shorts worn that day and rinse well.  The shorts hang off the hammock for the night and if still damp in the am are securely draped over my sleeping bag for the days ride.

As noted we travel with hennesey hammocks so no tent for a private spit bath,  No worries, the rain fly makes a nice shower curtain for the two bottle shower.

A rainfly can double as a shower curtain

In addition to the camp towel and Dr Bonner’s, two other must have items I tuck into my pannier – Nutrogena Face Towelettes and baby wipes.  Both have travel packs.  It is nice to grab a face towelette and get the grime off and baby wipes … well let’s just say what did we do without them.

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Triple Brew Pub Tour

Java Man Triple Brew Pub Bike Tour- Day Four

August 3, 2011

Crack….Thump….Whoomp
I’m flat on my back on the ground.
“Are you OK?”
“Yeah, I’m OK…….are you OK?”
“Yeah”
For all of the trees around here, most of them are massive cedars and they are too big to tie the hammock straps. Earlier, I had tied one end of each hammock to what turned out to be a rotten stump of a tree, with the other ends going to separate trees. The weight of both of us in our hammocks was too much for the remaining roots and the whole thing pulled out at ground level and fell neatly in between us. Sky King had retired before I did and I tried not to think about what might have happened if her weight alone had been enough to pull the tree over, because I imagine it would have fallen on top of her. A rude awakening to say the least.

We scuttled around with the headlamps on to retrieve our sleeping bags from the wreckage and we spent the rest of the night under the stars. I felt dumb, but I don’t think that will happen again!

It’s less than 20 miles to the Clinton ferry from South Whidbey Island state Park, and US 525 has a nice shoulder. A short diversion on Newman Road from Freeland provided a quite ride until the junction with 525.
A few miles outside of Clinton a parking lane appears which is meant for vehicles waiting for the ferry and we coast past a long line of cars which, according to the signs, will still not be on the ferry for another hour. And when we get in line to buy our passes the woman in the car behind us tells us it is free for bicycles going back to the mainland. So we roll right to the front, rejoicing in one of the very few moments when a bicycle has more rights than a car.

texas size shoulder
In Texas they call them courtesy lanes. I don't think they had cyclists in mind but they are nice riding.

I would give directions to the multi use path, or MUP, system from Mukilteo, but I’m still not sure how we found it. I had directions printed off of Google Maps but after talking to a driver at the fruit stand where we stopped who said, “I’ve been delivering here for 15 years and I’ve never heard of Natures Path Road” we abandoned those and used the Droid to find another route. But after getting well and truly lost again we stopped at a fishing tackle store where we were told how to get to the Burke-Gilman trail. We got a few miles closer using his directions but still had to rely on the Droid for the last few miles.
We finally crossed Bothell Drive and were on the trail. A chatty Seattle cyclist lady gave us directions to the Sammamish Trail, but by thus time I was having none of it and decided to trust the Droid from here to Bellevue.

Seattle's Burke-Gilman
Finally, we are on the Burke-Gilman Trail
handlebar shot while riding
making up some time......
walking up a dirt trail pushing the bike
Please, Seattle, if it's not asking too much, more signs!
The shiny, happy town of Bellevue

I have to give kudos to Seattle for their MUP system but I wonder if they could scrounge a few dollars more for some signage. Once we got on the Burke-Gilman we still were confused and took a number of wrong turns before we got to the Sammamish Trail and ultimately to the 520 Trail. But not before a detour over the Bridal Crest Trail, which is dirt and very steep. And then we literally were ejected onto a suburban neighborhood street with no idea where the trail went until we saw a bike rider appear from a barricaded abandoned road which was the access to the 520 Trail continuing toward Bellevue.
Once back to our starting point in Bellevue we both had to agree that this tour was a success. No mechanical failures and no major physical problems presented themselves. This is a spectacular part of the country. I really didn’t realize the extent of the rugged mountains and wilderness which exist so close to Seattle and which we could see in the distance every day of our ride. We plan to do some more bike touring here in the near future.

Categories
Triple Brew Pub Tour

Java Man Triple Brew Pub Bike Tour- Day Two

Loaded up and ready to leave
The campsites at Fay Bainbridge State Park, normally $21 are $5 apiece for bikes. Coin operated showers too.


August 1, 2011
It’s only about 46 miles from Fay Bainbridge State Park to Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend. By the time we were finished riding on the day we had covered 58 miles.

After a few miles on the scenic pastoral backroads we were back to the treacherous 305. Crossing the Agate Pass Bridge on a bicycle is not for the timid. Sky King went first and did it exactly the way it should be done. Timing her entry in front of a big box van, she rode in the traffic lane, since there is no shoulder, and the truck slowed to follow her across, with traffic backing up behind. There is no choice but to hold up traffic in situations like this and most people are not psychopaths and they will not, usually, mow down a bicycler.

Immediately after crossing the bridge we took a right onto Suquamish Way up to Suquamish and to Port Gamble. Winding back roads with low traffic brought us to the town of Port Gamble where we stopped for lunch. Then we were on the ACA West Coast route up to Fort Townsend.

The hills are numerous and steep, but, thankfully, usually short.

We passed by Fort Townsend State Park south of town because it was our intention to stay at Fort Worden State Park. It is not evident on reaching Fort Worden that any camping is even offered. We rode around the barracks and other buildings and found a campsite but the sign said pre-registration was a requirement and that the campground was full anyway. I flagged down a passing vehicle and the driver told us the office was closed but directed us to the hiker-biker camping area. A network of trails connects primitive campsites for tent campers all of which were available except for one which contained a tent already pitched. We stopped at site adjacent to this one to leave our bikes and reconnoiter the area.

A man of normal build and maybe 40 years, wearing basketball shorts, a t-shirt, gym shoes, a short hair cut and a goatee walked passed us and said, “How’s it goin?” in a voice that was maybe a little too loud and forced, before he turned into the next campsite which apparently was his.
“Fine” I replied.

We could still hear him talking and as we continued past his site we saw him standing on the bench of his picnic table facing away from the trail towards the woods and reading aloud from the bible. We thought that was a little different and looked for a site as far away as possible. When we came back to retrieve our bikes he had changed his demeanor and was assuring some person who remained unseen that,
“They are all f****** liars. They’re all f******* liars and they aren’t going to get away with it.”
When our eyes met his words to me were,
“Yeah, I’m talkin’ to you”

We secured our bikes and gear and took them and exited out of the other end of the hiker-biker area. We rode down to the beach camp ground which was also full. I told a passing city cop about the incident in the hiker-biker area. We saw him again a few minutes later and he told us he had spoken to the park ranger who was going to have a talk to the individual, and who was not happy that we felt too threatened to stay in his park. Both the city cop and the park ranger took us seriously and they were concerned about keeping the area safe and so I’m sure this was an isolated incident.

As we were riding back towards Fort Townsend State Park I couldn’t help but feel sorry for this fellow. I can’t even imagine what it must be like to live inside his scrambled head, but it must be terrifying. He might have been a high functioning schizophrenic but still he doesn’t have a lot of choice but to scuffle around and try to find someplace to stay until he gets run off. There are not really any social services for these poor people. I don’t know what can or should be done for them but it’s really sad.

Adjacent to the boatyard, through which runs the bike path, the Port Townsend Brewing Company is located just off Haines Place on 10th Street. This is just a tasting room with no food but the beer is good and there are nearby places to eat. After doing our due diligence here, we proceeded to the Safeway across the street and bought a baked, whole chicken and some broccoli to take back with us to Fort Townsend State Park, where we ate and collapsed into our sleeping bags.

coming into Port Townsend on the bike path
The last section of the ACA route into Port Townsend is on this bike path. Slow down here because the brewpub is adjacent to the boatyard, and the Boatyard Coffee Shop is in the yard.
36 inch wheel bike
You look purty to me boy. Where do you think yer goin'?
riding the big wheel bike
I was taking pictures and the proprieter said everybody in the port rides it. So......"
Categories
Triple Brew Pub Tour

Java Man Triple Brew Pub Bike Tour- Day One

On the I90 trail Seattle

On the 28th of July we drove to Bellevue, WA to attend a relative’s wedding. On the 4th we are going to Sky King’s family reunion on Snoqualmie Pass. In the intervening days we are bike touring. Originally I was going to post a journal on crazyguyonabike, but that site has been down today while I’m updating so I decided to post the tour journal here too.

Once we are in the bike touring mode and all our gear is readily accessible and we’re mentally and physically ready, it is easy to sandwich in a 3 or 4 day tour. It doesn’t take a huge amount of planning and we were going to be in Seattle anyway. It’s not as if a person has to quit their job or even take major time off in order to go touring.

On the 31st we rode to the Seattle ferry terminal and took the Bainbridge ferry. From there we started riding towards Port Townsend via Fay Bainbridge State Park where we spent the night. Getting to the ferry terminal from Bellevue was a piece of cake on the I90 Trail and the Mountains to Sound Trail. The 305 out of the town of Bainbridge Island has a beautiful, wide shoulder with a nice surface but the amount of automobile traffic is astounding. It was only about 4 miles to the turn off on Day Road but the relative silence was  immediately apparent as soon as we got off 305. Then it was a couple more bucolic miles to the state park.

Fay Bainbridge State Park is a wedge of land opening to Puget Sound and holding back housing developments on both sides. Weathered, beam straight cedar logs are spread out on the black volcanic sand, but not in a jumble, rather aligned with the shoreline up to the high tide water’s edge. The view of the sound and Mt Rainier and the Seattle Skyline and the North/Canadian Cascades is nothing short of breathtaking.

While in Bainbridge Island we hit the Safeway and bought beer and vegetables so we were able to make past primavera for dinner. This park only charges $5.00 per bicycle because they want to encourage that type of behavior and the showers are 25 cents for a minute and a half. Good place to stay!

Preparing to leave Bellevue.
waiting for the Bainbridge ferry
One of the best things about bike touring is these short breaks with nothing to do but relax.
Sky King riding
Almost to the end of the first 18 mile day!
Categories
Rivendell Bicycles

Chapter Last- Ready To Ride

full view of complete bike
Complete Renovelo
The Renovelo project is complete and delivered to the customer. The final steps were wrapping the handlebars and installing the SKS P45 fenders. The Fizik Micro-Tex tape has a really nice feel and appearance and I know it’s durable. The P-45 fenders are sized nominally for 700c wheels and tires, but the 650b Nifty Swiftys are close enough in overall diameter that the fenders fit quite well with just a little bit of tweaking.
1/4 view of complete bike
Bikes somehow look more complete with fenders

rear view showing fenders
Nice racing stripes on the SKS fenders.

Photo of the brakes hood/ramp transition
The Cane Creek brake levers have a shape that allows for a nice smooth, flat transition from the handlebar ramps. Good for comfort on those long days.

rear fender
A decent fender line with 650b tires requires nipping the ends off the fender stays for a little tighter radius.


sepia, front quarter shot