17
votes
Giant Toughroad SLR 2 for 200 miles in two days, will it make it?
First, don't worry about the bike - worry about you. If you need a different bicycle, you'll figure that out pretty fast while you're training to do your 200-mile ride.
What's the farthest you've ...
- 10.8k
16
votes
Accepted
Is it possible to construct an overnight shelter using a bike as the upright?
Yes, its been done before, there are various configurations.
Google for 'Bikepacking tarp shelter' for many ideas.
Good resources for this type of thing are
bikepacking.net forums and in the UK Bear ...
- 18.5k
13
votes
Is it possible to construct an overnight shelter using a bike as the upright?
In the current situation I have time on my hands to try things, but only at home (hence the cramped pictures below, with garden toys in). An injury meant last year's trip didn't happen as planned, ...
- 62.6k
12
votes
Are there any 8-speed brifters with internal cabling?
The new Claris, called R2000, has internally routed brake and shifter cables, an improvement on a previous version, that still sported the externally routed shifting cables.
It is still 8 speed group, ...
- 121
11
votes
Is an IP68 rating sufficient to protect a phone during a 12 hour ride in heavy rain?
It should be. That's how I navigate on all my rides, wet or otherwise (phone on the bars). I've done this for a few years, but not completely without incident.
Some tips:
Make sure all port covers ...
- 62.6k
9
votes
Is it possible to construct an overnight shelter using a bike as the upright?
Get a tarp, and use your bike to provide at least three mounting points for it.
Dozens of examples of how people do it: https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/54639/
My quick and dirty solution ...
- 14.4k
9
votes
Is it possible to construct an overnight shelter using a bike as the upright?
You don't mention where you will be riding so I have to use my own area as an example. Using your bike as part of a tarp/tent rig is a horrible example. I know your trying to keep weight down, but ...
- 543
8
votes
Accepted
Priorities for Limited Funds
Given your low budget, priority for me would be to have the gear needed to get going after a road side problem, followed by maintenance tools so you can do as much work as needed yourself. Then add ...
- 53.1k
8
votes
Giant Toughroad SLR 2 for 200 miles in two days, will it make it?
How far have you ridden in a day? The bike will be fine, as the comments say the question is whether you will be. A road bike is more efficient and will get you there easier, but there are many ...
- 2,708
7
votes
Accepted
Are there any 8-speed brifters with internal cabling?
There are two ways to do it.
One is use Microshift SB-R482 levers. (Sorry, I got this wrong because the image is a little tricky and it comes off a link from their front page that says "inner ...
- 88.2k
7
votes
How should I approach safe cycling?
From my experience, the single most important point is properly choosing your route. Google maps and the satellite view are your friends.
For example, there is a 2x2 lanes road nearby. I see cyclists ...
- 1,784
6
votes
Why should I use a mirror?
I am an Audax club member and so am mostly riding on high speed country roads - B class highways in the main.
Firstly I would say that just as a good driver should be using a 'system of car control' ...
- 61
5
votes
Priorities for Limited Funds
I see your immediate priorities as:
Training
Saving money
Roadside repair
Which are all interlinked: a problem you can't fix can cost you a lot in getting home; using your commute and errands as ...
- 62.6k
5
votes
Are there any 8-speed brifters with internal cabling?
They just recently release a new Claris internal cabling R2000 model.
The advantage of this R2000 edition of Claris is that it is 8 speed and has cable routing under the handlebar tape. Internal ...
- 59
5
votes
Preventing red eyes after biking
I have several pairs of sunglasses and find some work much better than others. If your glasses weren't tight to your face, you may just need to look for a different pair. When I wear my looser, ...
- 51
5
votes
About 20-30 people bike to where I work. What equipment/supplies should we have on hand?
Its now late 2016 and a new need has cropped up for my workplace. That's charging points for ebikes.
Most people with powered bikes will charge them overnight at home, for the day's usage. But some ...
- 131k
5
votes
Preventing red eyes after biking
Several solutions:
Clear cycling glasses (which you've tried)
A helmet with a windscreen / windshield / visor that'll help keep the wind and the light from streetlamps and cars out of your eyes
...
- 29.5k
5
votes
Accepted
How to register a custom built for Kryptonite's ATPO Program?
From the Kryptonitewebsite, looks like both the make and model are open-ended text entry forms. So I think you’d be ok to write something like:
Make: Bike-builder’s-name
Model: your-name
So if you ...
- 29.5k
5
votes
Is an IP68 rating sufficient to protect a phone during a 12 hour ride in heavy rain?
You’ll be fine assuming you have a recent phone. They’re entirely glued and sealed shut on the inside, and there’s no battery hatch or anything to worry about either. I ride with my iPhone 7 (only ...
- 17.4k
4
votes
What is the purpose of the plastic disk between the cassette and the rear wheel?
The other reason for the guard is to help keep chain oil off the brake disc. Once the pads are fouled with oil the brake is useless. Sloppy oiling of the chain can cause a spray of oil droplets to ...
- 41
4
votes
What special measures do I have to take to commute in frigid temperatures?
First of all, I haven’t done anything as extreme as you, only -18°C.
The bike should be fine, maybe use less viscous chain oil and grease. I’ve ridden normal (though quite supple) Michelin Mud2 and ...
- 29.4k
4
votes
Long Distance Route for a Beginner!
A further suggestion: before your last training ride but after most of your training miles, get the bike looked over by an expert. This probably means booking it in to a shop for a service (clean it ...
- 62.6k
4
votes
Accepted
What special measures do I have to take to commute in frigid temperatures?
Although this was posted over a year ago, I'll still reply as I've been riding in very similar temperatures (Fairbanks, AK) for about 3 years and I'm constantly finding ways to improve my cold weather ...
- 538
4
votes
Accepted
What makes snap-on roll-up reflective bands want to roll up?
If you were a kid in the 90s, you probably remember slap bracelets. They're basically the same thing. Usually made up of something like a bit of old tape measure (though you can make bistable ...
- 46.4k
3
votes
Long Distance Route for a Beginner!
I plan on going on tour myself this Spring for a few weeks. It'll be warmer and dryer, but other than that:
the more expensive the bike, the better the ride, but a 300 Euro MTB or touring bike (shop ...
3
votes
How Can A Faster Rider Aid A Slower Rider On A Long Ride?
There are some good answers here, but I don't see my favourite, which is for the stronger rider to set a demonic pace at the front, lashing the other with a constant stream of imprecations and ...
- 1,739
3
votes
Accepted
What is the total equipment weight of a tour rider?
Weighing some of my own gear, and allowing some reduction because I'm not especially up to date ...
Helmet 350g to 400g
Shoes 300g to 350g
Outfit 350g to 400g, 100 to 200g more on a cold or wet day.
...
- 17.3k
3
votes
What special measures do I have to take to commute in frigid temperatures?
I will comment on the clothing suggestions, having commuted down to -15F for a few years.
First off, don't forget about wind chill. Air temperature may be -10F, but with windchill it may feel like -...
- 157
3
votes
Prescription glasses getting dusty and greasy
There are cycling helmets with integrated detachable visor. The visor covers the eyes. Yet the helmet is open below.
I see them frequently on my commutes on rainy days. Most are urban style helmets. ...
- 9,818
3
votes
Is an IP68 rating sufficient to protect a phone during a 12 hour ride in heavy rain?
I'd never trust the ratings - after all if it fails to survive, you're up for a new phone. There's no guarantee it will perform.
My phone is a samsung S5 Active, with a similar waterproof "...
- 131k
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