|
Nice, I'd like to do that some day! (but much slower) Took me 20 days to do the GB Divide which is only 1,200 miles. I'm also interested in the European Divide Trail, which is like 4k miles, but budget is the biggest limiting factor for me. Just don't have the funds to go riding for 3 months.
|
#
?
Jul 5, 2023 19:39
|
|
|
|
| # ? Apr 27, 2024 15:33 |
|
|
hemale in pain posted:Nice, I'd like to do that some day! (but much slower) Took me 20 days to do the GB Divide which is only 1,200 miles. Yeah, I was kind of in between jobs so I just went for it. Didn't exactly have the training I wanted ahead of time but I was able to ramp up the efforts as I went which concluded with 3 efforts of a full 24 hour pushes on the bike (~20ish hours of moving time). Part of that was also just trying to avoid the heat!
|
|
#
?
Jul 5, 2023 20:45
|
|
|
Aphex- posted:Oh man that is so awesome, congrats! The GDMBR (not the Tour Divide race) is on my bucket list for sure. The GDMBR is absolutely gorgeous and I absolutely want to come back to simply tour it. There are a lot of fantastic people and lodges you can stay at and enjoy when not racing. I definitely wouldn't recommend the Tour Divide deviations unless you really want to race as they just seem to be there to make the route harder and throw in more hike a bike.
|
|
#
?
Jul 5, 2023 20:49
|
|
|
hemale in pain posted:I'm also interested in the European Divide Trail, which is like 4k miles, but budget is the biggest limiting factor for me. That name makes me irrationally angry because it's not actually following a divide.
|
|
#
?
Jul 6, 2023 13:17
|
|
|
Peggotty posted:That name makes me irrationally angry because it's not actually following a divide. To be fair nor is the GB divide! i think it's just the easiest thing to call your long distance bike ride because people will immediately 'get it'
|
|
#
?
Jul 6, 2023 16:29
|
|
|
Oh, that's really disappointing
|
|
#
?
Jul 6, 2023 17:51
|
|
|
Once enough riders wear some ruts into the course they'll make their own divide, it's aspirational.
|
|
#
?
Jul 6, 2023 18:09
|
|
RIP ZEEZ
|
this is a great article but super depressing https://bill-watts.blogspot.com/2023/07/warm-showers-is-not-what-it-seems.html
|
|
#
?
Jul 8, 2023 17:21
|
|
|
drat, I guess I’m walking from that.
|
|
#
?
Jul 8, 2023 18:24
|
|
|
I've been noticing them getting a lot more aggressive with their donation emails. Wild that it's been taken over by a grifterwitch. Why did they even need to dump so much money into app development, just use the loving website for Christ's sake (I know, this is a problem with the internet as a whole). The Facebook group lists TrustRoots as an alternative, anyone have any experience with it? https://www.trustroots.org/circles/cyclists
|
|
#
?
Jul 8, 2023 20:51
|
|
|
i say swears online posted:this is a great article but super depressing WS has since threatened a lawsuit in an attempt to have that taken down. https://bill-watts.blogspot.com/2023/07/why-does-warmshowers-charge-membership.html https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Pg3M-dbegSN12w9s3fy6qrWrBlJoYOy2/edit?pli=1
|
|
#
?
Jul 16, 2023 01:40
|
|
|
Coxswain Balls posted:WS has since threatened a lawsuit in an attempt to have that taken down. Anyone tracking this closely? Only went up read this today and both that new post and the original are deleted. E: it was archived https://archive.ph/2023.07.16-004251/https://bill-watts.blogspot.com/2023/07/why-does-warmshowers-charge-membership.html kimbo305 fucked around with this message at 07:52 on Jul 24, 2023 |
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2023 07:48
|
|
|
kimbo305 posted:Anyone tracking this closely? Only went up read this today and both that new post and the original are deleted. Looks like both of them were archived. https://web.archive.org/web/20230719004010/https://bill-watts.blogspot.com/2023/07/warm-showers-is-not-what-it-seems.html https://web.archive.org/web/20230719004022/https://bill-watts.blogspot.com/2023/07/why-does-warmshowers-charge-membership.html edit: also, it looks like they deleted all of the community discussion forums around the time this thread was made talking about where some of the finances are going. Seems pretty shady that a volunteer community isn't allowed to have a place that talks about said community. https://archive.is/PWTMK Coxswain Balls fucked around with this message at 08:12 on Jul 24, 2023 |
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2023 07:55
|
|
|
Anyone have some Mid-Atlantic recommendations for a multi day trip not too many hours from Washington DC? I've done the W&OD, C&O canal, a bit of riding around the eastern shore of Maryland, GAP trail, and a bit of northern Virginia's gravel roads out to Sky Meadows and was wondering if there's anything else interesting out here maybe on the PA side
|
|
#
?
Jul 30, 2023 02:25
|
|
|
This is a fun one https://bikepacking.com/routes/canaan-valley-forks-of-cheat/
|
|
#
?
Jul 30, 2023 07:17
|
|
|
Oh nice. I sent it to my group and a two-day thing is probably best for friends with children
|
|
#
?
Jul 30, 2023 19:12
|
|
|
That’s a super fun route but I don’t know if I’d recommend it for kids. Lots of climbing and there are several points where you’ll be on some highly trafficked roads, but the majority is spent on quiet farm roads and rails to trails/jeep roads (especially in Blackwater Falls SP.)
|
|
#
?
Jul 30, 2023 20:07
|
|
|
Lol that's a 1.5% average grade over the whole route, including the downhills. On unpaved roads, with singletrack. It looks fun but I wouldn't bring most of my friends on that if we were going to do it in two days, never mind kids. Looks super nice though, would love to ride it.
|
|
#
?
Jul 30, 2023 20:35
|
|
|
pantslesswithwolves posted:That’s a super fun route but I don’t know if I’d recommend it for kids. Lots of climbing and there are several points where you’ll be on some highly trafficked roads, but the majority is spent on quiet farm roads and rails to trails/jeep roads (especially in Blackwater Falls SP.) No, sorry, I meant that they need to get back to the spouse and kids, not that the kids would come
|
|
#
?
Aug 1, 2023 14:04
|
|
|
I posted something similar to this in the general bike thread, so sorry for the double post for those of you who are subscribed to both, but I have some touring specific questions I'd like to ask here as well: I cracked the frame of my favorite bike on Ragbrai this year. A Giant OCR A1 endurance road bike. It wasn't my best bike, but I've had it for 17 years since new and I really loved it. I'm pretty bummed about breaking it. But as a result of that, I'm in the market for a new bike. I've done some road touring with panniers in the past, and really enjoyed it. I'm looking to take this bike on some much longer, mixed surface trips. My current plan is to use a soft bikepacking bag setup if possible. I'd like to do a shake out run on the Empire State Trail, and continue with the weekend-week long routes around Wisconsin where I live that I have been doing, but the end goal would be a cross country trip within the next year or two. I'm currently thinking along the Great American Rail Trail when possible, filling in the gaps with road/gravel road riding. I could also see doing the GDMBR, and some Eurovelo routes, but getting time off for the cross country trip is difficult enough, so that's in the more distant future. I think given the mixed surfaces of the routes I'm thinking of, combined with my desire to ride somewhat quickly and strong preference for drop bar bikes, means a gravel bike is in order. I'm looking for something with enough heft, and enough braze-ons to handle a load, while still being fairly quick unloaded. So all of that long story is to say: If you had, I dunno, $3-5000 for a gravel/touring bike, what would you look at? I wasn't expecting to be in the market so soon, so I haven't done a ton of research yet. I rented a Trek Checkpoint for a week that I really liked riding. I've never ridden one, but if I wanted something a bit more touring focused, I've heard good things about Salsa Cutthroats. I don't anticipate entering into a bikepacking race or anything, and given the distances I'm thinking comfort is pretty important, but I don't enjoy leisurely touring, so I do try to ride fairly quickly. As long as I'm being clueless: What's the consensus opinion on 1x vs 2x for touring? I lean towards 2x, but it's really just familiarity I think. Also, I really only know anything about road focused groupsets, especially Shimano, and know very little about SRAM or GRX. Any pointers on what to look for there?
|
|
#
?
Aug 10, 2023 22:06
|
|
|
edit
|
|
#
?
Aug 15, 2023 12:54
|
|
|
Hey thread. I'm in a curious position; I built up a surly cross check with the intention of touring. I then started training for gravel races, got a bike fit, and it confirmed that I am not built for a surly. Long top tube, short head tube, so in the end this wasn't the frame for me. So, now I have a frame that I am not comfortable on, set up with a dynamo hub, a nice wired light, and a rim brake/direct mount custom wheelset. What are some thread favorites for touring bikes? I want something less cyclocross and more comfortable on distance. I should have known better  luckily I had the foresight to build a pretty flexible wheelset.
|
|
#
?
Sep 1, 2023 04:07
|
|
|
Cannon_Fodder posted:Hey thread. I'm in a curious position; I built up a surly cross check with the intention of touring. I then started training for gravel races, got a bike fit, and it confirmed that I am not built for a surly. Long top tube, short head tube, so in the end this wasn't the frame for me. Is a swept-back bar like a Jones not an option? Those are great for touring and make the front end feel higher and shorter.
|
|
#
?
Sep 1, 2023 04:13
|
|
|
Cannon_Fodder posted:Hey thread. I'm in a curious position; I built up a surly cross check with the intention of touring. I then started training for gravel races, got a bike fit, and it confirmed that I am not built for a surly. Long top tube, short head tube, so in the end this wasn't the frame for me. Ribble CGR Al
|
|
#
?
Sep 1, 2023 04:26
|
|
|
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYRKjKsDgyQ
|
|
#
?
Dec 23, 2023 22:26
|
|
|
Some kid decided to do the circumnavigation of Taiwan tour without any prior cycling or touring experience. Doing pretty well, all told https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1a_38MpSpd/?igsh=MXJqZ3FycmZyNHBsOQ==
|
|
#
?
Jan 7, 2024 11:27
|
|
|
kimbo305 posted:Some kid decided to do the circumnavigation of Taiwan tour without any prior cycling or touring experience. Doing pretty well, all told Must be nice to be so young and do things without training. I’ve been thinking about doing this ride next time I go to Taiwan. Weather in December would be perfect. (Goal to finish in 3 days :V) Shadowhand00 fucked around with this message at 11:34 on Jan 8, 2024 |
|
#
?
Jan 8, 2024 11:24
|
|
|
Shadowhand00 posted:Must be nice to be so young and do things without training. I’ve been thinking about doing this ride next time I go to Taiwan. Weather in December would be perfect. Have to strongly doubt the claim of ‘never ridden longer than 30 minutes before’. He’s in for some pain with a big backpack for that long, and without having spent some time finding clothes (weather, Gooch) and a bike position that works. In for the puncture fix video if he’s as newbie as claimed. I envy having that much free time.
|
|
#
?
Jan 8, 2024 11:41
|
|
|
wooger posted:Have to strongly doubt the claim of ‘never ridden longer than 30 minutes before’. He's doing about 30 miles a day, he'll be fine
|
|
#
?
Jan 8, 2024 12:04
|
|
|
kimbo305 posted:Some kid decided to do the circumnavigation of Taiwan tour without any prior cycling or touring experience. Doing pretty well, all told Friend of mine just did this over the holidays. Wet and windy most days, but still looked amazing. Was super cheap too. It's on my bucket list.
|
|
#
?
Jan 10, 2024 20:49
|
|
|
dema posted:Friend of mine just did this over the holidays. Wet and windy most days, but still looked amazing. Was super cheap too. I didn't bike in Taiwan besides on city bikes around Taipei, but I just want to reiterate that, apart from the flight to get there, Taiwan is surprisingly cheap. I only spent 2 days outside of Taipei, but it was also extremely pretty. There's a ton of biking in the cities, but you'd be somewhat of a novelty on the roads outside of the city (not unheard of, but I didn't see a ton of cycling for pleasure when I was there, although the government is trying to promote it). Drivers seem extremely careful (again, outside of the city) though. Absolutely would be a great trip.
|
|
#
?
Jan 10, 2024 21:56
|
|
|
Grumpwagon posted:I didn't bike in Taiwan besides on city bikes around Taipei, but I just want to reiterate that, apart from the flight to get there, Taiwan is surprisingly cheap. I only spent 2 days outside of Taipei, but it was also extremely pretty. Younger Taiwanese people are super into road biking in my anecdotal experience. Haven't heard a single bad thing about touring there.
|
|
#
?
Jan 10, 2024 22:56
|
|
|
Put the route of this race in your tour if you fancy a challenge. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_KOM_Challenge
|
|
#
?
Jan 11, 2024 09:06
|
|
|
Gonna try doing part of the Transamerican Trail (Yorktown VA to the Mississippi River ~1000 miles?) and was wondering If I have historically done 60 miles a day on dirt and gravel on the GAP and C&O canal, would 80 miles a day on road be reasonable? According to OP, I shouldn't do Warmshowers, is there a better solution other than hotel? Doing hotel only doesn't kill trip, but would like to save on cost.
|
|
#
?
Mar 19, 2024 07:16
|
|
|
SadBag posted:If I have historically done 60 miles a day on dirt and gravel on the GAP and C&O canal, would 80 miles a day on road be reasonable? I'm no expert, but 80 miles a day on road sounds reasonable if you're doing 60 on dirt, depending on your load/tires/bike. I think Warmshowers is still a fine option. As far as I know the alternatives have not advanced to the level of usefulness needed, but maybe someone actively touring will have more information there. What the OP is saying is there was a series of articles analyzing the little bit of financial transparency coming out of WS and found that the money coming in from signups may not be being spent particularly wisely. The community itself is still strong, so if you're looking for a room to crash in, it's still a good option. For what it's worth, since those articles, the level of communication coming from WS has improved. My guess is that the governance of WS is still a mess, but maybe they got a bit of a shake up and are doing better for now. Whether that continues once the extra scrutiny has moved on is another question.
|
|
#
?
Mar 19, 2024 14:04
|
|
|
The FB group I joined that tracked and shared various WS altenative efforts: https://www.facebook.com/groups/243374777243989 recently shared this project by former WS people: https://sleepy.bike/ The group has a separate group for posting hosting requests: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4776942152320806/
|
|
#
?
Mar 19, 2024 22:11
|
|
|
It's not just the financials, but the way they were dismissing concerns and banning longtime users when trying to ask questions relating to stuff like safety. What kicked off that initial lawsuit was the guy just trying to get community feedback on how to handle someone who's clearly mentally ill who knows your address. Witch lady seems to only want positive articles about WS since that helps with her grift on the podcast circuit, and stymies any constructive discussion that gets in the way of that.
|
|
#
?
Mar 20, 2024 00:17
|
|
|
lol one of the ratings on your account now on the new website is how much money you've donated to them, get the gently caress outta here. Am I having a stroke or does every month that doesn't actually start on a Monday looks all messed up? They spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on this when the old site was completely, perfectly fine. 
Coxswain Balls fucked around with this message at 06:01 on Mar 20, 2024 |
|
#
?
Mar 20, 2024 05:59
|
|
|
Coxswain Balls posted:Am I having a stroke or does every month that doesn't actually start on a Monday looks all messed up? They spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on this when the old site was completely, perfectly fine. Yeah, whatever their rendering approach is, they're just not accounting the for the not-shown days of the previous month, so the first partial row is left justified instead of right. Easy fix but absolutely speaks to the lack of money put in the right place.
|
|
#
?
Mar 20, 2024 06:53
|
|
|
|
| # ? Apr 27, 2024 15:33 |
|
|
    Escaping for an overnighter season is here. Did a big loop of our park system, discovered the towpath was closed about 20 miles down, did a detour up a big dumb hill and discovered a really fun mile of downhill gravel. 30mi to the campsite, another 39 miles the next morning. Got a new Wayward Louise harness over the winter and this was the first time with it, works awesome. I am also out of shape because my "I'm gonna zwift all winter and come out of it really strong!" plan didn't actually happen. As an aside, I love that I can walk out of my house and be on a trail in less than a mile for an overnight (or more) trip. It's just as easy to ride all the way to cincinatti and have good campsites the whole way, still staying on trails 90% of the time. I spent a long time being an avid backpacker, but traveling just for a quick escape 1 or 2 night trip is kind of exhausting after a certain point. Bikes are awesome. Hypnolobster fucked around with this message at 17:29 on Mar 30, 2024 |
|
#
?
Mar 30, 2024 17:16
|
|
