Danneaux's Sherpa

[Danneaux]

1000 apologies Dan i didn't mean to be a smart ass

Not at all! Don't give it another thought, jags; this is a question people ask me seriously all the time, so no worries. 

Currently, everybody and his brother here seem to be applying for a concealed-carry permit. Here...take a look at this local newspaper article:
http://projects.registerguard.com/web/updates/27962402-55/concealed-county-handgun-permit-lane.html.csp
...and...
http://special.registerguard.com/web/newslocalnews/26952094-41/court-gun-rule-oregon-campus.html.csp

I get in trouble enough as it is, without adding a gun to the mix. 

All the best,

Dan.

[E-wan]

Have you considered a one of these
 http://www.dogdazer.co.uk/

I think you get some that are more powerful than others.  I know folk who have found them useful when walking but not sure how easy it would be to use on a bike

Ewan

[Danneaux]

Hi Ewan,

Thanks so much for the suggestion and link to the DogDazer ultrasonic deterrent. I have seen these before but never really investigated them, and your note is a good reminder to do so. To be honest, I was always a bit skeptical as to their effectiveness until recently. As I have mentioned elsewhere, I live between two um, enthusiasts/collectors of cats. One has in excess of 20, and the other another 14 or so; living in the middle, they kinda drive me nuts. I've spent over $200 in various non-harmful repellents including such exotica as fox urine, all to no avail. The only thing that has worked so far is an ultrasonic repeller called CatStop. Equipped with an infrared sensor, the thing emits a burst of ultrahigh-frequency sound for about 5 seconds, then resets. The cats don't like it and now avoid the *four* CatStops like the plague. I do have to keep moving them around to be effective. I need maybe two dozen CatStops. Or one real dog.

This leads me to think the DgDazer might be just the ticket for repelling dogs like those I encountered Monday. I'll certainly look into it, as the benefits are manifold -- no worry about spray blow-back in the wind or aiming correctly. No concerns about harming the animal, and good reports of effectiveness. Yeah, the more I read about it, the better it sounds for my needs.

Thanks, Ewan; very much appreciated!

Best,

Dan.

[jags]

thinking of getting one myself i'm sure there cheaper on amazon.

[il padrone]

Yep, a good bit cheaper here. 

[Danneaux]

Hi All,

I have come to terms with needing a ring-lock, and have finally solved the clearance problem that prevented me from mounting one on the seatstays. You see, the Sherpa comes equipped with a pump peg on the left seatstay, spaced properly to accept a Zefal HPX pump in the appropriate size (HPX-2 in my case). Unfortunately, this is exactly where a ring-lock would go, and I wanted to keep my pump.

Zefal to the rescue with 20+year-old parts in the form of a non-marring worm-gear nylon pump peg and "Doohicki", designed to mount a Zefal HP(X)-series pump head to a location just ahead of the chainstay bridge. The Doohicki is a little slotted nylon shelf that simply bolts on using the same bolt that secures the bottom edge of the rear fender, and replaces the nut used by Thorn as a spacer.

The pump is actually better protected from mud in the new location, is truly out of the way, and just as accessible as before. There is no contact between the pump or bracketry and any of the paintwork, and the pump is really secure with less pressure. The Doohicki came with a little plug to keep rain water, mud, dirt, and playa dust out of the pump head and sealing gasket, tailor-made to my use.

For more on this saga, see the following Thorn Forum links:
http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=1944.msg9015#msg9015
...and...
http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=4148.msg18856#msg18856

Next up is to order the ring-lock and get it mounted before I leave on-tour in June.

Best,

Dan.

[il padrone]

Hi Dan

This all raises a few questions related to how I kit out my bike.

1. Where did you source that Zefal doohicky? If I could get one I might be persuaded to hunt out a new Zefal HPX.

2. Your three Blackburn 1.5l bidon cages.... where did you buy these? I need one of these and have not seen any about for years (my son has purloined the one I have been using on remote tours).

[Danneaux]

Hi Pete!

A cheery "good morning" from the States earlier your Australian day, so I'm writing from before you asked!

The Zefal Doohicki came from eBay, though a number are still available as NOS in older shops, even 22-odd years after they ceased production. Same for the worm-gear-clamp top pegs. Though made of reinforced nylon and other plastics, these things really stand up. The peg on my tandem has been there for a couple decades with no sign of trouble as yet. I burned out a few brain cells thinking of a solution that seemed so obvious after I had implemented it. I need to get smarter sooner.   

I sourced the Blackburn Bomber 1.5l bottle cages from old shop-stock over the last 6 years or so, and tucked them away against the time when I would use them. They occasionally show up on eBay as well (everything does, eventually). I have two more on the tandem and one more for another of my bikes. I have a similar, lighter-duty Minoura version that uses a rotating sprung clamp that is sizable for different height bottles. Unfortunately, it must be mounted upright atop a tube to prevent breakage and it fits fewer bottles 'cos the bottle neck designs have been shortened to prevent breakage during automated handling in production and filling.

That points up a problem with bottled-water bottles -- at least here in the States, bottle standardization has gone out the window. Everyone now has their own proprietary design and it even makes things look all higgledy-piggledy on the store shelves, as height/diameter vary so much. I have taken to back-stocking a few spares of the sizes that do fit and simply refilling them from the tap when needed for use. I get a couple summers' use from one, or one hard tour. It is getting hard to find bottles for the Blackburn cages as well. I love the Blackburn Bombers because they are so sturdy, and the series of possible mounting holes in the backplate of the main extrusion allows me to center them as needed on the bottle bosses. It is really helpful for the under-downtube location, where it is placed evenly to exert no undue angular torque on the bosses. I simply fit a length of narrow webbing and a Fastex buckle to take the strain off the Blackburn's rubber retaining strap in that location when it is in use. Gives 4.5l total capacity low on the frame. The two 1l Zefal Magnum bottles located on the steerer axis add another 2l for 6.5 on the frame. The MSR Dromedary bag atop the rear rack usually carries another 6l in waterless-hot places, though will manage the full 10l when needed for a grand capacity of 16.5l water if/when needed (as just before nightfall in a dry camp for cooking and next day's refills).

Salsa may have come to the rescue with their Anything Cage, which I am considering, though it appears to require  three bottle bosses (according to their copy; it may be they are simply being careful). Still, worth a look for what one can stuff in them. See:
http://salsacycles.com/components/anything_cage/
...and...
http://salsacycles.com/culture/new_product_-_salsa_anything_cages/

Hope this helps.

Best,

Dan.

[Pavel]

Dan, I've had my eye out on those salsa cages myself for a while now.  The instructions also show a two bolt setup, so I think you can put your mind at ease.  My only question and what stops me from ordering one is what kind of diameter bottle does it hold and what bottles may fit?  I have two REI 46oz bottles and I like that kind of extra water capacity.  I ordered the adjustable cages from sjs but and they fit both 1.5 litre coke bottles (those narrow mouths make them useless for water and I don't drink soda ;( ) and these nalgene REI bottles (which are perfect because while they come with a reatined top the threads accept a regular water bottle top so that one can drink while on the go).  I don't hoewer like them very much because of the loop at the top which is a pain in use and does not look to long term secure neither.  So I'm surely on the lookout for ways to carry more water on the frame and the Salsa cages are at the top of my list, if I can solve the bottle question.

[Danneaux]

Hi Pavel,

I think I can partially answer your question, thanks to a recently-complete eBay auction for a Salsa Anything Cage paired with an Outdoor Research Bottle Parka (see attached pic). They look like a perfect match.

A quick look at the OR site ( http://www.outdoorresearch.com/en/or-gear/accessories/storage/water-bottle-parka-3.html ) shows the Bottle Parkas come in sizes 1, 2, and 3...the amusement comes when you click on the sizes and are taken to the clothing size guide. The description doesn't match the photo, either. Altrec (located here in Oregon) has them, with dimensions:
http://outlet.altrec.com/outdoor-research/water-bottle-parka?cm_mmc=Mercent-_-Froogle-_-Outdoor%20Research-_-49359&mr:trackingCode=8A5AD538-FC0B-E111-AC9E-001B2163195C&mr:referralID=NA
The difference in height doesn't matter, but the interior measurements vary from 3in to 3.5in (to match Nalgene bottles) and 3.75in to 4.5in outside (external) diameter. The parka is supposed to keep your bottle cold(er) or warm(er) than it would be if bare.

It appears your bottles would fit the Salsa Anything Cage if their OD is no more than 3.75in-4in. Apparently, the strap is just a means to secure the bottle from sliding out. I would imagine it would work better if the bottle/cage contents matched the capacity of the cage and if the surface of the bottle wasn't super-slick so there would be a bit more friction. If 't'were me, I believe I'd substitute velcro binder straps for the thread-through buckles Salsa offer. Or make a set with Fastex-style qr buckles.

Hope this helps; it is always a challenge to carry lots of water on a touring bike.

All the best,

Dan.

[Danneaux]

Hi All!

Like a look-see at that's next?

If everything goes well (and I can successfully knock-down some of my workload), this is where Sherpa and I will be either late this weekend or early next week:
http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION4/Video/242_open.wmv
This video of the Dee Wright Memorial (castle-like thing) was taken 4 days ago by the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Nothing long, just an overnight-to-couple-days' shakedown run to make sure all's shipshape before the tour at month's end.

Best,

Dan. (whose shoulder-season tours often range from 5F to 124F/-15 to 51C in a single trip, valley-to-mountains-to-desert)

[EDIT: It's Monday, and I wasn't able to get away on Sunday as hoped. Probably fortunate, because a huge storm has just blown in from the Pacific, and here in the Valley we've got heavy thunderstorms 3-5in/~8-13cm of snow are predicted for above 3800ft/1150m. Sherpa can manage 2-2.5in/5-6cm of snow, but not more with fenders, so the trip is on-hold till possibly Wednesday. Hoping for the best.]

[jags]

stay home dan and wait for better weather you know it makes sense

[Danneaux]

stay home dan and wait for better weather you know it makes sense

Really, really good advice, jags, and some I plan to heed. I don't take unnecessary chances, nor do I go for ego's sake. I got a look at the ODOT traffic cam on Tombstone Pass this morning, and it was just plain nasty. From what I could determine, ODOT decided not to take the plows up on McKenzie Pass today, as more snow is due to fall throughout the week and the Old McKenzie Highway (242) is only open to pedestrians and cyclists at present till the worst of the storms is through and past.

The good news is the weather should take a turn for the better late Saturday night, and I hope to get off at dawn Sunday and stay up there in the snow with Sherpa Sunday night, Monday night, and back Tuesday if all goes well. I'm bumping up against an appointment on Wednesday, so this would be the ideal window for a shakedown cruise prior to the Big Tour planned to start at month's end. I'll be trying a number of new things, and it would be nice to be relatively near to home (couple-hundred miles) if I have some failures.

I appreciate the good thoughts, jags!

Best,

Dan.

[Danneaux]

Hi All!

As I prepare Sherpa for his big tour (and shakedown cruise even sooner), I am attending to the little details that make such a difference in avoiding failure. Today's close examination showed a potential failure point with the rubber retention loop on the inverted Blackburn Bomber 1.5l bottle cage below the downtube. When holding a full bottle on really rough roads, a lot of force goes through that synthetic rubber loop, and besides causing a little noise (can't have that...all Danneaux's bikes are rigged for Silent Running...) represents a point of failure I can't afford.

So.

I did what I did for a smaller bottle and cage with the Miyata 1000LT that preceded Sherpa as my expedition bike: I made a little belt of nylon webbing to take the strain. The flat-fixation Fastex buckle fits under the upper bottle nicely, and a little window cut and heat-seared into the webbing neatly supports the tension loop on the lower cage. My primary drinking source is the two 1l Zefal Magnum bottles on the steerer. The three 1.5l bottles in the Blackburn Bomber cages represent my transferable reserve; they're decanted into the Magnums in turn as the Magnums are emptied, bottom last to keep weight as low as possible to aid handling. When all bottles are emptied, then the routine starts anew after a refill from the 10l MSR Dromedary bag atop the rear rack (usually carrying only 6l except on true desert crossings).

The photos tell the story and also show the adequate clearance between the webbing and any paint. Sherpa and I have been traveling a lot of remote single-track recently, hence the dust on his usually clean coat. A quick shot of filtered compressed air will soon set that right.

Best,

Dan.

[jags]

you sure put a lotta thought into your bike and gear Dan well done, really looking forward to the movie warts and all 
are you starting your tour from your front door what kinda miles is it in total how many miles a day will you cover .