For many years I have wanted to do more touring. In 2006 I had just left California after living in a mountain town for a number of years, I went back to my home town in the Mid-West and was looking to do one of three things. I was ready for something new, my ideas were to either buy a house and let that be my first step into being a landlord, ride my bike around the perimeter of the lower 48, or move to New York City and be a bike messenger (in 2005 I had visited some long time friends living in Brooklyn & working as messengers, it seemed so much more fun than my job).
About two week into being back in my home town I still had not decided because I was having fun being unemployed and hanging out with friends a family I had not seen in a while. That was when I got a call from a friend in Brooklyn asking if I’d found a place to live and job yet. I had not. His news was that they were looking for a roommate and could get me a job working with them. I asked when the room would be open. It was in just a few days and I drove there with my things on time to not let the room sit empty. My decision was made.
In 2009, after living and working in New York for three years I had really started to want to take another tour on my bike. I had some money set aside for travel I just needed to get my touring bike out of storage (a barn at my moms house). That same year I saw the Bicycle Film Festival was doing a big ride from NY to LA, I signed up and was picked to be one of forty two “endurance cyclist” for the two month promotional group ride. The departure date was less than a month away by time I knew I’d made the cut. I made a quick trip to the Mid-West to pick up my touring bike but it was not in shape for a tour, lots of rust on very worn parts. After bringing it to NY, I ended up just setting that bike aside because one of my sponsors at that time sent me a new bike. I put 4000+ miles on a Specialized Tri-Cross Comp in 59 days. The only thing I did to it was put on a stronger wheel set, with a Phil Wood rear hub, for the ride. Afterward I sent it back to my sponsor with a thank-you. Leaving me satisfied in a sort of way for having traveled and with a rusty old touring bike that I’d bought a few parts for just before the Specialized became a reality.
Again in the Spring of 2011 I start to daydream more about a big solo tour. Having no real plans I figure at least I could finish building up my touring bike and at the very least I’d have a road bike to go on some longer rides.
But the more I thought about it the more I really wanted to get away from New York City, to ride quiet roads, to see places I’ve never been, to camp and sleep outside.
I’m living in an ok apartment but the location is not very good. It’s not bad for me because I ride a bike so living a few miles out isn’t a big deal but in the year I’ve lived here I have not had many guests. Not many friends live near me. My roommate feels the same way. We decided not to stay. Sort of made the same decision, separately. Our lease is over as of Aug 1st. I was looking but keeping my rent the same was not very likely. So with a bunch of things in the Pro category I decided to take another trip, this time solo again.
Pros:
Going North to Canada via Maine in August and September seems like a perfect time, from what others have said.
Trying to find time to travel is hard because of funding it and paying rent simultaneously. With my lease over I don’t pay rent.
Converting my rent budget into touring budget would mean living like a king out on the road. But there is no way I’d go that route, I’m only gonna spend money on food and film.
Putting things off is a slow way of not doing them.
Touring is what my bike is built for, and I already have the camping gear.
Riding bikes and taking photos makes me happy.
I usually sleep better when camping.
Time to take my time.
I can turn off my phone (Boost).
But there are some things about such a drastic change that makes me very nervous.
Cons:
I have friends in New York, I don’t know a soul North of Boston. Well, a couple in Canada.
Not knowing where I’ll sleep each night.
Spending money while not making money.
Finding work when I return.
Finding a place to live when I return.
Paying New York City’s storage fees.
Getting ready.
And the biggest one as far as things I didn’t want to do, telling my bosses that I’m leaving just over a month after starting.
But that was kind of the deciding event. If I could say to my new bosses who I’ve known for a few years and really like because I respect their business and admire their attitude about many things, that I’m leaving then maybe I do really want to do this. I don’t have a lot going for me in the job world. I have done a few different things and some were pretty cool but other than this last month or so, every dollar I’ve made in the last five years has be made by riding bikes. I just got an indoor job working for a growing company that produce useful goods in the USA and now I’m basically quitting. I don’t like to quit.
And that’s another con, If I can’t finish what I start with this trip then the whole thing will make me feel like a failure.
I took my idea and asked a good friend who has the materials, tools and space to allow me to make a front rack for my touring bike. It’s so cool that I could make this, I’m glad to have good friends.
I made the cuts and bends one day. On the second day and after a quick lesson in brazing I jumped in and started with this as my first project of this type. Right now it’s not much further than the photos show but it’s straight and fits.
Next step is to clean it up a bit and then figure out how to coat it.
I wanted something that could carry front panniers low like my old Blackburn FL-1 Front Rack and also have a top rack over the front wheel like the poorly designed Jandd Extreme Front Rack I wasted money on. I could not afford any of the big Nitto racks.
Previously: Custom Front Rack Idea
Mead Notebook 45-4872 The Spiral
There were no images to be found so I asked a friend to scan it for me.
Mead, founded in 1846 by Colonel Daniel Mead, made good shit and probably still does. I have not looked into what they have been doing after they moved from Ohio to Connecticut. This notebook is just the thing for me, I don’t geek out about things like this but it says Dayton, Ohio right on it. This is from the 1960’s or earlier because it says Hulman Building. History can be interesting.
There are somethings not shared online. I wrote in a notebook every day on my past tours. Well, not everyday on the sponsored tour but that was a whole different world. On a solo tour my notebook is more valuable than my wallet. Camera, notebook.
I just talked with a friend who did a LA to NY tour with a buddy a couple years ago and he said something about scanning pages of a notebook and printing it as a little afterward project because there are people out there that really like that kind of thing. I always hope that if I write in my notebook it is pure. I think that having in my mind that I could scan it and publish it, one way or another, I might filter things out.
As I think about it more I know that I leave things out already, even in my personal notebooks, because in the back of my mind I know that someone could find it. I don’t want people reading my shit. But I still write. My defense is handwriting so bad only I can read it.
Bought at The Brooklyn Art Library
Cost: $7
Made in USA
I had a Pretzl, or however that popular brand is spelled, LED headlamp but it would start to flicker like the guts of it were weak and it didn’t want to give a steady stream of light. To the point where I’d used it less often because I didn’t like the light it gave, high, low, twitching in the middle all depending on what mood it was in. That thing was junk really.
This one has a few differences the on/off is a button vs. a sliding switch, and the up/down adjustability is over a greater range. Real high to point up the road if I have my head down while biking or low like aiming right down my nose for reading or such.
Another thing is this is made in the US, the package reads “Made in USA with domestic and foreign components”. I was looking at the pretlzs on the next shelf and they were from all over, France, Bulgaria, and Madagascar from what I saw.
EMS in Manhattan for $24
Made in USA
Manfrotto MTT2-P02 Table Tripod
Solid and easy to use. Alternately I have an Ultra-pod II (Made in USA) and have used it with both SLR and point and shoot on tours before. But from that experience I found that I needed something better. The plastic in the Ultra-pod does not keep a SLR stable. Just too much weight, but with a point and shoot it’s fine and the extra mounting options are great.
For shooting with a SLR the Manfrotto wins. 100% metal vs 100% plastic. This is just a bit smaller and marginally weightier. I’m OK with that because I want something that won’t sway in the wind.
I bought this from the B&H store in Manhattan.
Folded Length: 7″
Weight: 5.8oz (166g)
Load Capacity: 4.4 lbs
Cost: $25
Made in Italy
Brunton 9041 key ring compass
Not all products from Brunton are made in USA. This is not the only US made item from them.
It is great that Brunton put “Made in U.S.A.” right on the face of this small and simple compass but in their website they do not list that info in item descriptions. I had to email them asking for a list of their products made in the US. Shortly later I did get an email answering my question but the whole thing reminded me of the question I’m always asking when looking for country of origin info in web stores, “why don’t you just say where it’s made!” Companies like this one and many others make some but not all items in the US. It’s my belief that customers would be more likely to buy American if they had that info. And the companies that do both would be influenced to offer more made in USA options. It’s just that not much is made here anymore, and all these companies are scared. But I might be too tough on them, running a company has to be hard. It’s just that I have a higher respect for ones that start US made and stay that way.
I’m not doing anything huge by buying a $10 compass. But on the other hand buying a $10 compass made in China doesn’t do much good.
Made in USA
It is not an easy thing to find cycling water bottles that are made in USA. These are and they are insulated. I don’t think Polar Bottle makes a shorter version. I’d need a shorter bottle for my under the down tube bottle cage because a bottle this size would hit the fender or front wheel. Or I might just use that cage to carry my peanut butter.
I had one on my last tour and thought that the insulation was not the best but it did something. Although I was testing it in southern Texas, New Mexico and Arizona in July and August.
Bought from a local bike shop
Cost: about $10 ea
Made in USA
Here is a chain tool.
And here is a spare chain tool pin.
Both good things to have.
I remember the first time I needed to use a chain tool. It was on a single speed bike and I used something on a multi tool. It was not the best thing but it worked. I rode about 15 miles and the chain broke as I was riding up a small hill. I was standing on the pedals at the time, and I hit the street real fast and very hard. I remember that I broke my watch but didn’t hit my head. It wasn’t fun. After that I stopped messing with chain tools for a long time.
After moving to NY and making friends with a co-worker who was a mechanic, eventually I changed the chain on a bike of mine with his Park CT-7 shop tool. Having him lend me the right tool and give a few pointers made it easy to get it right and not feel like I might hit the ground in a few miles again.
Eventually I bought a CT-7 for myself and have used it many time without problems. But on a tour that tool would be too much. That’s where the CT-5 comes in. The mini is just as smooth at pushing a chain pit as the bigger one just in a smaller package.
I tested it when I installed the 10 speed chain on my touring bike. I’m sure it’ll be fine. But just in case I went to a local bike shop and bought a spare chain tool pin, and a spare 10 speed chain pin too. The kind you push in and break off the extra bit.
If I have any chain troubles these things should get me back on the road.
Made in USA
A spoke wrench. The specific one I need. I doubt I’ll need to use it very much.
Not having one on a long ride would be a mistake. Bringing one of those Park SW7 multi spoke wrenches that weigh three times more is a bad idea too.
Cost: a few bucks
Made in USA
On this day I was glad to have a spare zip-lock in my panniers. But it wasn’t 24 hours before they were all ate. Then for days my eyes were scanning both sides of every road. I found more but these were the best.
