Danneaux's Sherpa

[Danneaux]

are you starting your tour from your front door what kinda miles is it in total how many miles a day will you cover .

Hi jags,

Yes, nearly all my tours (except those outside the country/overseas) start from my front door, including those to California and Nevada and all those in Oregon. I figure I live [here] and need to go [there], so I'd best start pedaling from [here]!  It has worked out pretty well so far.

At this late date and after 4 months' careful planning, I am now in the unhappy position of remapping my intended Big Tour route from scratch, thanks to ODOT's release of new information regarding their spring/summer road construction schedule. The Salt Creek Tunnel on Hwy 58 will be closed completely for four days and most nights and only open to one lane of traffic with a pilot car for most of the summer, thanks to a project to lower the tunnel floor (gain overhead clearance) and reconstruct the approaches. It is the *only* way E-W for all traffic on Hwy 58, so that is out (waits of 4+ hours and then trying to get through in the traffic stream doesn't hold much appeal). Instead, I will have to go over the Old McKenzie Pass (Hwy 242) assuming it is still closed to car traffic by heavy snow (part of my scouting trip hopefully this weekend); with car traffic I won't risk it. Very narrow two-lane with no shoulders, hairpin turns, blind crests and elevation changes. Though traffic is limited to vehicles below 35ft in length, that leaves plenty of leeway for oldsters in huge RVs/motorhomes/caravans who take off from camp leaving the curbside steps down. Many's the time I've heard the wind-scream of a scythelike RV step skimming through the air behind me at ankle level and have had to remove my foot from the pedal a time or two to avoid it. No, thanks.

The other most likely way "out of the Valley, up and over the Cascades" is via a narrow, winding Forest Service Road from the little town of Sweet Home through the old abandoned mining settlement of Quartzville. This is pretty and nice, except that fishing season is in full swing, and hordes of fishermen park their RVs on the narrow, winding (sound familiar? They're all narrow and winding...) road that runs above Green Peter Dam, reducing the road to one lane for all traffic. The effect looks a bit like spectator caravan parking on some mountain stretches of the Tour de France, but without that same level of Bicycle Awareness.  I have to ponder my choices carefully.

My old route would have been about 1600mi/2575km, but that will change. Which way and how much I am not sure at the moment.

As for speed, it works out to average about 76mi/122km per day in the areas where I'll be going, but that is the average between 5mph/8kph climbs up near-continuous 22% grades in dirt and gravel that take most of a day (I'll be returning on Forest Service roads and fire trails along the spine of the Cascades above 6200ft/1900m) and other days where I put in 129mi/203kph on pavement in favorable conditions. It balances out. I try to leave a cushion of time so if I run into problems I have a little leeway. It is supposed to be fun, too, so I don't try to flog myself into meeting a strict daily mileage goal; years of experience tells me it evens out. I usually end up going faster/farther than I expected 'cos there isn't anyone to talk to and there's not a lot to do around camp when I get there except sleep, so I ride instead. I've solved most of the world's problems in my head on these trips. For me it is about recreation in the truest sense -- re-creation, or filling myself back up again. It is nice to deal with Real things compared to the virtual/conceptual world that comprises much of my work. These tours are always a spiritual journey for me as well, little pilgrimages into myself and my relationship with Something Larger, and I treasure them most for that.

I do like to take time out for photography and to see things along the way. One of the highlights of a recent trip near the Oregon/Nevada border was a side-jaunt to see the Greaser Petroglyphs ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greaser_Petroglyph_Site ) and the Doherty Slide Hang Gliding launch-site ( http://westcoastbrit.blogspot.com/2008/08/day4-doherty-slide.html second, aerial view shows where I crossed ), but it wasn't as much fun in the remnants of the previous night's 70mph-wind-driven ice-pellet storm that blew out my tent atop Blizzard Gap. Still worth a looksee though.

So, yeah, I'm really looking forward to my next Big Tour. The goal is always to have some fun with the bike and be safe and get back home in one piece so I can look forward to going again.

Best,

Dan.

[jags]

dan what's that yellow level thingy you have on the bars,

[il padrone]

Looks to me like Dan has the Sky mounti inclinometer - to measure hill gradients

[Danneaux]

what's that yellow level thingy you have on the bars

Sharp eyes, jags! And...absolutely correct, Pete!

That is a Sky Mounti inclinometer made in Austria. It is a direct-reading slope gauge that tells you exactly (in %) how steep the hill is you're riding up or down. It is not a simple spirit level; the secret to its usefulness is the scale is converted to a rise-run percentage for you already, so no mental calculations are needed to come up with a slope percentage.

I love the thing, and would hate to be without it! It is the perfect accessory for hilly Ireland, too. Get one and you can say, "That was a right smart hill, and no wonder, at 20% grade!). For a bike geek like me, the fun quotient is off the scale (sorry) and I can honestly say it is one of my most-used and enjoyed accessories.

They come in a choice of two case colors -- black or red -- and two handlebar diameters. One is intended for standard handlebars and the other for oversize. The oversize model has an extended scale, and I often buy that one (all my bikes have these) to mount on the taped part of my drop 'bars. A rubber shim takes up any size difference. Do be careful when installing, however, as they are easy to break at that point -- they use two sheet metal screws from the bottom, and if one keeps tightening, they *will* crack (never on mine, thanks to great care used when installing). The trick is to get them just tight enough they won't rotate on the 'bars. Also, please install them while the bike is on a truly level surface with the tires aired up, or it won't read correctly. Uphills are read from the forward edge of the bubble, downhills are read from the rear edge of the bubble. A little expansion or contraction can occur in extreme temperatures, but I've never found it to be more than about 1/2 a percentage mark on the scale. The fluid appears to be a thick mineral oil, so the bubble doesn't "surge" when pedaling. I've sometimes had to wait a quarter-second or so for it to move to a new reading in really cold temps.

Some of my Dutch friends (where it is flat!) complain the markings (applied by screen print or industrial tampon transfer method, same as on those little toy Matchbox cars made late by Lesney but now by Hot Wheels/Mattel) can rub off, but I have never had a problem.

Where to get 'em? Well...
Here's the company website: http://www.skymounti.com/html/gb.html
I don't see them at SJS Cycles, but might have missed them on their site. Most EU bike shops seem to carry them or can get them. The aren't terribly expensive, and provide a lot more fun than they cost. Lightweight, too, at only 28g. Everybody "needs" one!

They were scarce as hen's teeth here when I got my first one from a shop The Netherlands in 2007. Now, they're everywhere. Here's some stateside dealers for those on my side of the pond:
http://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/sky-mounti-inclinometer
http://www.amazon.com/Sky-Mounti-Inclinometer-26-0-Diameter/dp/B000PHO6K8
http://www.adventurecycling.org/store/index.cfm/product/193/sky-mounti-inclinometer.cfm
http://www.cantitoeroad.com/inclinometer-black-318mm-2715-sky-mounti

Best,

Dan.

[Andre Jute]

Nice gadget, but I know the gradients of my hills here in Ireland.The steeper ones are called Heavily Perspiring, Are These Maniacs I'm Cycling With Lost or Stupid?, and Call the Ambulance.  --Andre Jute

[jags]

Andre i think Dan's computer is out of action.
have you any idea where i could buy that  gizmo and grand bios tyres .here in ireland or the uk thanks.

yeah theres some right dingers in your part of the country.

[julk]

jags,
Grand Bois look like unobtainium in Ireland and the UK.
Try http://www.m-gineering.nl/indexg.htm and look within the Hard to Finds menu item.
julk.

[jags]

thanks julk will have a look.

[Andre Jute]

Andre i think Dan's computer is out of action.
have you any idea where i could buy that  gizmo and grand bios tyres .here in ireland or the uk thanks.

It's not Dan's computer, it's his IP banning Thorn's IP (nothing to do with Thorn) until Dan manages to persuade them (again) that a customer (Dan) is being punished for what he didn't do, and nobody that he knows did.

I went looking for one of those gimmicks the minute I saw the photograph. I'm afraid I found it in the States (about $25) but not in Ireland or the UK. Also in Germany, of course. I have no hesitation buying from Germany; excellent experience shopping in Germany for a decade now. But I don't really need it. I can look up the URLs again for you, if you like.

Andre Jute

[jags]

Thanks Andre no don't bother don't have the funds yet to buy either that gizmo or grand bios tyres but would be good to know where to buy when ever i do have the funds .

[Andre Jute]

About the Grand Bois tyres in Europe, I've known Maarten of M-Engineering for years on the RBT newsgroup, and you can buy from him with confidence. In fact, that he stocks the product at all is an encomium for the product, as he stocks only the best gear, no ephemeral fashion-victim rubbish. That's all by his reputation, as I haven't actually bought anything from him, as he tends to serve a more sporting kind of cyclist than me, but I've mined his site for good information.

[Danneaux]

Hi All!

Goodness, it feels good to be able to access and post on the Forum again! If there is a Danneaux Hell, it is to lose Internet access in some way, and it really hurts when the Thorn Forum is targeted. I was locked-out for a week, due to no fault of Thorn.

Andre did a great job summarizing the situation, and I surely appreciate him updating the Forum on my whereabouts. Basically, the situation is this:

Thorn's host has a large number of sites at the same numeric IP address, and a few of those sites are infested with malware that can infect visitors' computers. Because of this, the numeric IP is blacklisted on a number of malware watch lists. Thorn's DNS-resolved domain has no problems whatsoever and is "clean". Comcast, my ISP and the US' largest ISP, apparently decided to block the IP, so Thorn's domain was tossed out with the bathwater. I could occasionally access it via proxy, but the connection was so slow it timed out before I could post. Frustrating! I have spent hours on the phone and in live chat with Comcast last week, and yesterday's 3-hours' calling paid off with unexpected access a few minutes ago -- yay!

Catching up a bit...

- The Sky Mounti inclinometer is a remarkable accessory and a favorite toy. Worth every penny in entertainment value alone. It is so terrific it makes a single great leap from the "Want" category to "Need", pronounced "Neeeeeeeeed".  If you have no luck finding them in the UK or Eurozone, Velimpex Marketing has them and will sell overseas. See http://www.velimpex.com/inclinometer.htm . Their site is connected with Cantitoe Road ( http://www.cantitoeroad.com/accessories ) which also seems to be VeloFred ( http://www.velofred.com/ ), as the have cross-filled my orders. Cantitor carry a number of equally-intriguing accessories, including the Chain Johnny chain transport cover, a Schrader-to-Presta adapter (most go the other way), retro-reflective diamond-grade tapes as used on transport semi-tractor trailers here, a variety of bicycle handlebar mirrors, and the Safety Wing ( http://www.cantitoeroad.com/accessories/safety-wing ). I think their Shelter die-cut protective films may be the answer for protecting racks from hook abrasion ( http://www.cantitoeroad.com/frame-protection ), and plan to look into that further.

Altogether, these are very dangerous sites to visit with VISA card in hand, so be wary. As for German retailers, no problem. Now that Rose Versand is back online after their massive warehouse fire, it would be worth checking to see if they also carry the Sky Mounti.

- Grand Bois tires are, essentially, Panaracer Paselas made with a great deal of love and care. They enjoy an excellent reputation among the 650B randonneur crowd, and are very nice indeed (the Hertres I saw recently were in a class by themselves, works of red-treaded art). It would be neat to try a pair of Grand Bois' in 26" size, but unlike Schwalbe's offerings, they really aren't aimed at the Expedition Touring audience. They might well be the ideal all-'round to go-fast tire, however. Can't wait to read user reports on the 26" models.

- I heartily second Andre's endorsement of Marten Gerritsen of M-Gineering up in the northern part of The Netherlands. As honest as can be, an insightful engineering mind, and the best sense of humor in the bicycling industry. He's always a pleasure to deal with and a genuinely nice guy. And yes, he only stocks things that meet his very high standards and prove-out in extended use. He may not always carry "the latest", but you can be assured it is proven and sound. My only regret is 'Merka's reputation for litigious torte claims and lawsuits prevents him from doing business with US residents, a trend that is unfortunately increasing among retailers outside the US. It is perfectly understandable from their perspective, as the insurance costs are staggering.

Getting ready for the tour scheduled to start next weekend if the new rack solves Sherpa's unexpected shimmy problem as I think it will. I still have one more USB adapter to make, and the PAT power booster to install for the Tout Terrain The Plug 2. Going to pick up an Alite Monarch 2-legged camp chair, too.

All the best,

Dan.

[Danneaux]

Hi All!

Those of you who have been following my other thread on shimmy ( http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=4320.0 ) know today was a day for more testing at higher speeds. It seems I have found and addressed the cause at the speeds I normally ride. Now it was time to see how things worked at the faster end. I often log some pretty high speeds on mountain descents, so this was a necessary test session.

Accordingly, we headed for Green Hill in SW Eugene to see how Sherpa would do with the largest, heaviest load I would expect to carry on my extended desert crossings, including reserve food and 16.6l of water. We did three complete climbs and descents. It was a real challenge in the early summer heat (98F/37C) on the sheltered backside of the hill, hauling 154lbs/70kg of semi-willing, desert-loaded Sherpa up 15%+ grades. Well worth it, to find the bike and load were shimmy-free at speeds as high as 53.5mph/86kph. Tomorrow, it'll be back to the rigid 2.0 Duremes to see how we fare. Three runs with increasing speeds should tell us more as I try to deconstruct my success in fixing the shimmy. I want to find and address the root cause.

I do have to be a little careful to miss the herds of deer and flocks of wild turkeys as I fly downhill. I don't want Bambi to become BAM!bi. With better weather, the birds have taken up residence in some sections of town, and they bully traffic! Cars on West 18th Avenue at Bailey Hill were held up through several traffic signal cycles while the birds roamed at will between the cars and on the curbside bike path. Kind of a nice sight. I almost could have touched them as I waited for the light to change.

Despite the heat behind Greenhill, there's still a heavy snow-pack on the Three Sisters in the Cascade Mountain range east of town. Of course, I'll be passing over the Cascades on my way to the Central Oregon plateau and then on to the desert.

Oh! And the Alite Monarch Butterfly chair worked a treat at the Green Hill summit. Just what I was hoping for to elevate me above hot desert road surfaces and melted tar during my rest stops.

Best,

Dan.

[jags]

those turkeys wouldn't last to long over here excellent photo's dan well done.
bike looks  fantastic loaded up really glad all is sorted at long last.
 you can now SLOW DOWN  and relax.
Dan enjoy your tour and be careful out there buddy.

[benstevens]

That's an impressive amount of stuff on your bike and an equally impressive top speed!

The inclinometer is appealing to my inner geek.  Will have to drop less than subtle hints around November to Mrs S.