Pumps

Jon Tallent — Thu, 26 May 2011 03:38:31 +0000

Flats are inevitable in bicycle touring and a quality pump can mean the difference between walking your bike for miles or enjoying your tour on a particular day. Even if you run high quality touring tires which greatly reduce the amount of flats all bicycle tires lose pressure with time and should be pumped up at least weekly. The main factors you want to look for in a pump for bicycle touring is quality, portability, and maximum pressure. No one wants to carry around a full-size pump on tour so the pump must be small enough to fit in a pannier or mount on the frame of the bicycle. The downside to this is it will require more strokes to pump the tires up. Therefore, the pump must be of sufficient quality to handle the excessive strains that will be placed on it. The quality must also be high enough that it will not develop leaks or break. Most touring bike tires require higher pressures that many portable pumps cannot achieve. It is important to purchase a pump rated higher in capacity than the maximum pressure rating of your tires, because many pump manufacturers exaggerate what their pump can achieve under normal circumstances. The pump must also be compatible with your valve stem or otherwise you will have to carry an adapter.

On my first tour I purchased a cheap frame pump from Walmart that resulted in much heartache. It took so many strokes to inflate a tire with it due to its lower capacity and short barrel that I was more tired from using the pump than riding the bicycle. The excessive strain to get to a reasonable pressure caused my friend to break the valve stem off our last remaining tube 20 miles from any store. Needless to say I learned my lesson and on the next tour I purchased a Topeak Road Morph G pump due to incredible reviews from many touring cyclists. I have had such a good experience with this product that it is the only pump I will ever use on tour. It features a long barrel therefore reducing the number of strokes required to pump the tires. Its maximum capacity is 160psi making it suitable for just about any touring tire. A built in gauge makes it easy to keep the tires inflated to the desirable pressure. It also has a fold out foot peg and T-handle to make inflation more efficient. I usually like to recommend multiple options, but this pump is so good it is the only one I am willing to recommend at the present time.

Topeak Road Morph G

Specs
Valves-Presta/ Schrader/ Dunlop
Barrel-Butted Aluminum
Capacity-160 psi
Size (L x W x H)-35 x 5.7 x 2.8 cm, 13.8” x 2.2” x 1.1”
Weight-220 g / 7.74 oz

Positives-Flexible Hose that is replaceable, Mounting Bracket, Gauge, Fold-out Foot Pad and T-Handle for easier use, High capacity, Works with all major types of valves

Negatives-Some plastic parts that have the potential to break. However, I have been very rough with mine and am yet to have this happen.

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Rear Panniers

Jon Tallent — Sat, 21 May 2011 19:50:09 +0000

There are many companies who produce bicycle panniers, but only a select few that produce the quality of panniers needed for extended tours. The factors you want to weigh when purchasing panniers are size, compartmentalization, weather resistance, rack attachment, and quality. The size of the panniers you need will depend on two things. How much space you need for your belongings and how you want to distribute those belongings. Some choose to run just rear panniers while others choose to run both front and rear. Compartmentalization can be important to some as it will make it easier to organize and find items while on tour. Weather resistance can be very important as it is inevitable that you will hit rough weather. Some panniers are water-resistant while others are waterproof. Waterproof may seem like the best option, but do realize that in time the panniers will lose their waterproof coating. Another trade-off is most waterproof panniers tend to be single compartment while water-resistant tend to have multiple compartments. Most quality water resistant panniers will afford you the protection from rain you will need, but depending on the region and clime waterproof may be the best option . Different panniers have different attachment mechanisms to the rack. This can include simple hooks or extensive locking and latching mechanisms. For anyone on an extended tour the most important factor is the quality of the pannier. Just like with any other fabric, quality panniers will last longer and have better seaming.
Arkel GT-54

Ortlieb Classic

Panpack World Tour

Multifuel Backpacking Stoves

Jon Tallent — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 13:57:57 +0000

A multifuel stove has several advantages over other stove types for extended bicycle tours. Canisters and proprietary fuels may be tough to come by in certain regions. With a quality multifuel stove there will almost always be some sort of compatible fuel source available. Depending on the stove these can include white gas, unleaded auto gas, kerosene, jet fuel, diesel, and some even have adapters for canisters. The fuel also tends to be less expensive than canister fuel and leaves you with no canister to dispose of when the fuel is exhausted. Another advantage is multifuel stoves usually perform better in cold weather conditions. All of these factors make a multifuel stove a better choice for extended and international tours.

There are several factors you want to consider when comparing different multifuel stoves. These include total burn time, average boil time, fuel efficiency, stability, and reliability. Burn time refers to how long a stove will burn using a set amount of fuel and also depends on the type of fuel used. Average boil time refers to the amount of time it takes to bring 1 liter of room temperature water to a boil. Fuel efficiency refers to how much water can be boiled per set amount of fuel used. These 3 factors coincide with one another and vary across different brands and types of stoves. Stability refers to how well the support arms of the stove hold the pot. Reliability is very important as most stoves use proprietary parts that may be difficult or even impossible to come by in remote areas. Many of the quality multifuel stove manufacturers sell small maintenance and parts kits to accompany the stove on tour. These usually include the tools to repair the stove and small parts that typically fail after extended use.

Brunton Vapor AF

Fuel type-Canister / liquid
Fuel-Isobutane-propane / white gas / kerosene / jet / auto / diesel
Dimensions-4.1 x 5.2 x 2.3 inches
Weight (without fuel)-16oz
Burn time-(max flame) (White gas) / (kerosene)
Average boil time-(White gas) / (kerosene)
Water boiled per 100g fuel-(White gas) / (kerosene)
Cold weather use-(White gas) / (kerosene)
Stove stability-
Pot stability-
Ability to simmer-
Click for more information and to purchase from REI
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MSR Dragonfly

Fuel type-Liquid
Fuel-White gas / kerosene / jet / auto / diesel
Weight (without fuel)-(Stove and pump only) 14 ounces
Dimensions-6.3 x 5 x 3.5 inches
Burn time-(max flame) (White gas) 26.5 / (kerosene) 30.3 minutes
Average boil time-(White gas) 3 min. 52 sec. / (kerosene) 4 min. 3 sec.
Water boiled per 100g fuel-(White gas) 6.7 / (kerosene) 7.5 liters
Cold weather use-(White gas) excellent / (kerosene) excellent
Stove stability-Excellent
Pot stability-Excellent
Ability to simmer-Excellent

Click for more information and to purchase from REI
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MSR Whisperlite International

Specs
Fuel type-Liquid
Fuel-White gas / kerosene / jet / auto / diesel
Weight (without fuel)-(Stove and pump only) 11.5 ounces
Dimensions-6 x 4 x 4 inches
Burn time (max flame)-(White gas) 25.6 / (kerosene) 29.8 minutes
Average boil time-(White gas) 3 min. 51 sec. / (kerosene) 4 min. 42 sec.
Water boiled per 100g fuel-(White gas) 6.7 / (kerosene) 6.3 liters
Cold weather use-(White gas) good / (kerosene) good
Stove stability-Good
Pot stability-Good
Ability to simmer-Fair

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MSR XGK EK

Fuel type-Liquid
Fuel-White gas / kerosene / jet / auto / diesel
Weight (without fuel)-(stove & pump only) 13.2 ounces
Dimensions-5 x 3.9 x 3.5 inches
Burn time (max flame)-22.3 minutes
Average boil time-4 min. 56 sec.
Water boiled per 100g fuel-4.6 liter
Cold weather use-Excellent
Stove stability-Good
Pot stability -Excellent
Ability to simmer-Unavailable

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Optimus Nova Plus

Fuel type Liquid
Fuel White gas / kerosene / jet / auto / diesel
Weight (without fuel)-15.3 ounces
Dimensions-5.5 x 2.6 x 2.6 inches
Burn time (max flame)-(White gas) 92 / (kerosene) 60 minutes
Average boil time-(White gas) 4.13 / (kerosene) 4.19 minutes
Water boiled per 100g fuel-(White gas) 6.57 / (kerosene) 3.6 liters
Cold weather use-(White gas) good / (kerosene) good
Stove stability-Excellent
Pot stability -Unavailable
Ability to simmer-Excellent
Click for more information and to purchase from Amazon

Primus Omnifuel

Fuel type-Canister / liquid
Fuel-Isobutane-propane / white gas / kerosene / jet / auto / diesel
Weight (without fuel)-15.6 ounces
Dimensions-5.5 x 3.3 x 2.8 inches
Burn time (max flame)-Unavailable
Average boil time-3 minutes
Water boiled per 100g fuel-Unavailable
Cold weather use-Unavailable
Stove stability-Excellent
Pot stability -Excellent
Ability to simmer-Unavailable

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Three Easy Ways to Contribute

Jon Tallent — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 23:08:45 +0000

Contributing to my journey is easy and doesn’t necessarily cost you any money. Here are three easy ways you might consider helping….

1. Spread the word. “Like” my PedaltheGlobe Facebook page and then at the top left suggest it to all of your friends that you think may be interested.

2. Shop at the retailers below. These are retailers I trust and have had good experience with. Shopping through the links below gets me a percentage of the sale and it doesn’t add anything more to the price of your transaction. Note-If you have been to either of these sites within the last 90 days its best to delete cookies from your browser before visiting. Another site could get the credit instead if not.
Amazon

REI

3. Donate via debit card, credit card, or paypal. This is the best way to directly help the site. It is not free to run a website and I devote a considerable amount of time to it. My main motivation is to motivate others to chase their dreams. If you feel like the site helped you in any way and have some money to spare below is a link to my paypal and the funds will be instantly available to me.

Below is a list of ways your contributions might be used by me while I am traveling in a foreign land.
A. Paying it forward and using it in some way to help a complete stranger in need.
B. Buying myself a meal or cup of coffee
C. Paying for a campsite or hostel for the night
D. Paying fees to keep this site going
E. Using it for maintenance on my bicycle or gear

Saddles

Jon Tallent — Tue, 25 May 2010 05:43:28 +0000

The Brooks saddle line is vast and includes saddles of all shapes, sizes, and designs. For a person choosing their first leather saddle this can be quite overwhelming. I am going to discuss the various designs in hopes it will help you make the perfect choice for your touring bicycle.

The company markets their saddles for three types of riding. They are road/mtb, city/heavy duty, and touring/trekking. The road/mtb saddles are designed for riders that spend less time in the saddle and more time standing up. These saddle types are usually lighter, stiffer, and narrower. The sacrifice and trade-off for using this saddle on a touring bike is comfort. Due to this I wouldn’t recommend this type of saddle for use by a touring cyclist. The city/heavy duty saddles are the most comfortable and leisurely of the Brooks saddle types. They are very wide at the rear. The trade-off for using them on a touring bike is they are the most inefficient saddles in terms of transferring power to the pedals and are more designed for coasting around town. The touring/trekking saddles are well thought out by Brooks for touring and are my choice. These saddles provide a good medium between the road/mtb type and the city/heavy duty type. They are more comfortable than the road/mtb saddles, but not as wide as and a little less comfortable than the city/heavy duty saddles. The benefit over the city/heavy duty saddles is you will get more pedaling efficiency out of the touring/trekking saddle type. In touring you are in the saddle for long periods, but many times you are putting considerably more effort into pedaling the bike than one would be when cruising around the city. Therefore, in my opinion this Brooks saddle type is the best place to start your search for the Brooks saddle you will use on your touring bike. The remainder of this article will describe the various saddles in the touring/trekking line Brooks produces.

Brooks B17 Saddle

The Brooks B17 is the most popular saddle in bicycle touring and it is the one I use. They have been producing this saddle for over 100 years. Most find it very comfortable after breaking it in. It is a beautiful saddle and is made of quality leather. It provides the rider with a good balance between comfort and pedaling efficiency. I would recommend this saddle over the Flyer for bicycle tourists who like to ride at faster speeds. It is available in black and honey colors and multiple versions. The B17 S is the ladies version. For weight conscious riders they offer the B17 titanium with titanium rails that is 115 grams lighter. For those interested in aesthetics they offer the B17 Special with copper metalwork. The B17 Imperial has a center cut out in the leather that they claim to reduce perineal pressure. For those who want to limit the break in time they offer the B17 aged that has softer leather.

Click here to purchase the Brooks B17 saddle from REI

Brooks Flyer Saddle

The Flyer is the same length and width of the B17. The difference is it is a sprung saddle. You will lose pedaling efficiency compared to the B17, but it will be considerably more comfortable on bumpy roads and rough terrain. I would recommend this saddle over the B17 for bicycle tourists who are in no rush to their destination and want all day comfort. As with the B17, the Flyer is available in black/honey colors and in versions Flyer S, Flyer Aged, and Flyer Special.

Click here to purchase the Brooks Flyer saddle from REI

How to Break in, Maintain, or Restore a Leather Bicycle Saddle

Jon Tallent — Thu, 20 May 2010 23:29:34 +0000

Leather saddles and bike touring go together like milk and cookies. A very large percentage of experienced bike tourists swear by leather saddles and so do I. A broken in leather saddle provides the rider with all day long comfort and less chance of saddle sores. However, many never take the time to truly receive the benefits of a leather saddle. I have heard numerous stories of those who gave one a “try” only to stop using it after a few days due to discomfort. What they didn’t understand is that a leather saddle MUST be broken in before one can enjoy the benefits. Over time it will conform to the rider’s body and fit them perfectly. The leather will become softer and softer the more it is ridden if it is properly maintained. The problem is without pre-treating this type of seat it can take many thousands of miles for this to happen and can be quite uncomfortable in the meantime.

The solution is to break in the saddle. The key is to soften the leather so that it is able to stretch and therefore confirm to your body more quickly. Once broken in it will act as a natural spring and cushion when riding to help absorb the bumps. The following is a simple process to achieve this goal……

Supplies needed

Leather Bike Saddle-I recommend Brooks Saddles(click here to browse and purchase)
Allen wrench to remove and install the seat and post
A good oil or conditioner such as leather conditioner, Lexol, seal oil, neatsfoot oil, baseball glove oil, etc…
Aluminum foil or cellophane
Soft cloth or applicator pad

1. The first step is to remove the seat from the bicycle if it is already installed. To do this simply unscrew the Allen bolt beneath the seat. It may be easier to first remove the seat and seatpost as a whole.

2. Next lay your aluminum foil or cellophane flat on a table. Use enough that you will be able to completely wrap the seat when you are finished.

3. Gently massage the oil/conditioner into the top of the seat with a cloth or soft pad.

4. Flip the seat over and massage the oil/conditioner into the bottom of the seat. This is where most of the oils will be absorbed into the leather since the top of the saddle is usually treated. Therefore leave an excess layer of oil on the seat so as much as possible can be absorbed.

5. Completely wrap the seat in the foil or cellophane.

6. Place the seat somewhere dark for 24 hours such as a cabinet.

7. Remove the foil or cellophane from the seat and wipe the excess oil from it. You should notice that the seat has now become darker or discolored. There is no worry here as this is natural due to the absorption of the oils.

8. Put on a dark pair of pants or shorts and go for a long ride. It is best to do the ride immediately after treating the seat.

9. Continue to ride your bike as normal throughout the following weeks. You will notice the seat will become more flexible as time passes and may see stretch marks around the rivets where the leather connects to the seat rails.

10. You can repeat steps 1-9 as needed when the seat starts to become partially dry again until it is broken in to your liking.

11. Once broken in rub small amounts of oil/conditioner on the seat weekly to keep it from drying out and becoming cracked. Also, be sure to keep your leather saddle from getting wet whenever possible. It is best to use a small plastic grocery bag or cover when riding in the rain. The great thing about your leather saddle is it will only become better with time. If properly maintained it will last a lifetime.

Southern Tier USA-Day 36-A Roller Coaster Finish

Jon Tallent — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:26:12 +0000

Upon waking up I realized that I had a broken spoke and a severely bent rim. I planned on fixing it myself, but my stepdad insisted that I take it to a bike shop. We dropped it off and told them we would pick it up in about an hour after breakfast. When we got back to the bike shop the mechanic was still working on the rim. I wished I had just fixed it myself, because I wanted to finish my last 55 miles of the trip so I could spend the rest of the day celebrating. He finally got done and we headed for the point I left off the night before. Halfway there I received a phone call from the bike shop saying they forgot to put my skewer in the wheel. Instead of turning around and taking more time out of the day we found a bike shop in the area and purchased a rear skewer from them. My stepdad dropped me off at the same location he had picked me up the night before and told me he would see me at the beach later in the day. The first few miles were nearly all uphill, but finally I reached a downhill run. I coasted through town after town on the backside of the mountain. In one small town I saw a large amount of police cars in front of a small store and asked someone in the surrounding crowd what was going on. He said they had finally caught a local fugitive. I pedaled on past the ruckus. It was a beautiful ride as I got closer and closer to San Diego. I hit some uphill and flat spots, but it was mainly all downhill. As I got closer to San Diego I got more and more anxious to finish. I arrived in the San Diego area around 6pm and pedaled on in search of the beach where my family was waiting. The Adventure Cycling maps were not detailed enough and I got a little mixed up on where to go the last few miles. I finally got it sorted out and saw my family waiting on the bridge before the beach for me. They took some pictures and drove beside me as I rode the last half mile to the beach. At about 6:30pm I dipped my front tire in the Pacific Ocean. It was bitter sweet as I was very tired, but knew it was the end of a great journey. We took more pictures and celebrated in San Diego the remainder of the evening and the next few days. Over the next few days I debated in my head the next big things I want to do in my life. I have some ideas so check back later for more adventures!!!

Southern Tier USA-Day 35-Its Never Easy

Jon Tallent — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 18:09:44 +0000

I was taking my time at breakfast so Samuel went on ahead of me and we had plans to catch up with each other later in the day. The farm road through Plaster City the map took me on was very rough and worn out. I ran out of water halfway through the first leg of the day and was happy to finally spot a gas station where I-8 met up with the road in a small town. I downed two Gatorades and discussed the road conditions with the workers at the gas station. They said the road only got worse. I had to get on I-8 for awhile later in the day and they advised to go ahead and get on it now. After about 5 miles I hit the bottom of the last mountain I would have to climb on this journey. While pedaling up it I realized it was the steepest mountain I had climbed yet. I started at sea level and would have to climb over 4100 feet. About 1000 feet into the climb I spotted three guys with binoculars pulled over on the side of the highway. They were looking at the rock formations and said one of them formed what looked like a goat. They tried to point it out to me for a few minutes, but I finally relented telling them I was too dizzy to spot it. They gave me some extra water, an energy drink, and two energy bars. One of them gave me a bandanna to wet with water and put around my neck to keep my core temp down. This mountain was supposed to be easier than Emory Pass according to other cyclists, but combined with the desert heat it seemed much harder to me. I continued climbing for hours on end and stopped at the radiator bins on the side of the mountain every mile to wet my bandana. I finally reached Old Highway 80 and was glad to get off of the interstate. I stopped in the first town near the top of the mountain and got some lunch. I asked if I was done climbing yet and they said I still had more to go. Continuing on I got a text message from my family saying they had landed in San Diego and were picking up their rental. The plan was to pick me up to hang out with them and drop me back off at the exact pick up point the next morning to finish the last bit of my trip. I told them to head east on I-8 and call me in about an hour. Pedaling on I saw a highway patrol on the side of the road. He told me I had one more 500 foot climb after a small downhill ride, but after that it was mainly downhill/flat to San Diego. It was getting dark and I was worn out from the day. I rode for about another 10 miles until I received the phone call from my family that they were in the area. I gave them directions to my location and a few minutes later they were yelling out the window at me. They couldn’t believe I was pedaling down this dark country road alone and I told them I had been doing this same thing nearly every night of the trip. I had them meet me at the next mile marker so I could pinpoint my location for the next morning. We loaded my bike up in the car and enjoyed the rest of the evening near San Diego.

Southern Tier USA-Day 34-Sand Dunes and Starvation

Jon Tallent — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:45:25 +0000

I stopped for a Frappuccino and pedaled out of the city with it. A car swerving between traffic nearly causing multiple accidents honked at me as if I was in his way. I pedaled on through California farm roads for a few hours before hitting a town with only a gas station. This would be my last place for food and water for 43 miles according to the maps. I had a quick snack/drink and got on my way. I hit desert almost immediately and rolled through sand dunes for hours on end. There was no shoulder for most of the day so I had to watch my back every time I heard a vehicle coming. Samuel called about noon and said he had rode through the night for a 190 mile day and was calling it in El Centro. He asked if I could make it there and wanted to split the cost of a room. I agreed and told him I would probably arrive around 9pm. Halfway to Glamis I hit a border patrol station and stopped for a break. When I finally got to Glamis I found the only grocery/restaurant in town closed at 3pm. The next town was 27 miles which would make 70 miles total with no food or water stops. Luckily I had packed about 4.5 liters before I left the hotel. I pedaled on through total sand dunes with little to no foliage for miles on end. I finally arrived near El Centro about 8pm and zigzagged through the city in search of the hotel. Coasting along a sidewalk I heard a dog and it jumped through a picket fence at me. Trying to get away my BMX instincts kicked in and I bunny hopped off a curb with my loaded bike. It put some bad kinks in my rear wheel, but it was still in good enough shape to get to the hotel room. I arrived around 9pm to find Samuel still sleeping.

Southern Tier USA-Day 33-California

Jon Tallent — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 08:07:23 +0000

I ate breakfast at the same café as the night before while Samuel skipped and pedaled ahead. I had delicious blueberry pancakes made with blueberry pie filling. Just the carb load I needed for the long day ahead. A truck pulling a boat passed me on the road and later I passed it. The wheel on the trailer had fallen off the trailer and damaged the axle. I wished the driver well and hoped he was able to find a replacement as I pedaled along. In the next town I spotted a coffee shop with Samuel’s bike sitting out front. I walked in to him chatting with the locals, sat down, and joined the conversation. I stayed and loaded up on a little caffeine while he left to get a head start. I told him I would catch him up the road. A few hours later I saw his bike lying on the shoulder with him repairing a flat tire. I stopped to help him and a few minutes later two women pulled up. They were professional road bicycle frame builders coming from an expo in San Diego. Very kindly they gave us three tubes knowing there were no bike shops anywhere in sight. I was happy as I had used my last two the night before. Samuel got his problem fixed and we pedaled on in hopes of making California before dark. In the middle of the desert we found a small café, had lunch, and chatted with a local man for a while. After he left the cashier told us he had kindly bought our lunch. The heat had increased so we stayed for another hour to let it cool down before continuing on. We crossed the Colorado River and California state line right at dark and were happy to have made it to our last state. We stopped in Blythe for dinner and coffee. I was on pace to make it to San Diego by my goal of 20 days this leg of the trip so decided to stop for the night. The caffeine buzz and excitement had Samuel wanting to do his first night ride of the trip. He continued on and I told him I would catch him tomorrow or in San Diego. I went to bed praying for his safety from the desert nights.