Thanks for you input. I did consider a first aid kit, but minor annoyances don't bother me as much a carrying even a very small first aid kit, I have also had a lot of first aid training, and I can tell you that pretty much any first aid supply can be improvised.

Rain gear to keep some one warm so they don't go into shock? if someone comes flying off their bike the last thing they are going to want to do is be put in more pain, by moving around to get into rain gear, everyone carries sleeping bags that you can just drap over casualties, and a tent fly it its raining. Since I am carrying these 2 items anyway, I think of any reason that I would need to carry rain gear. And just for FYI people only need to be kept warm if they are losing/lost a lot of blood.

You are right on the rain gear. I wasn't thinking clearly. I carry it on long day rides even with no chance of rain for the reason I described. Wouldn't move somebody to put them in it but it can work as a blanket. I'm a "be prepared" kind of guy though. I also carry a rescue breathing mask in my minimal kit.

Have fun.

Teryk




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First Aid kits can be improvised if the injury is serious enough, so I  don't need one
Wont be cold enough to worry about rain gear.
I might take a little bit of duct tape, but I don't think I will have any use for zip ties.

[Soapbox]
Having a basic first aid kit is the difference between having scrapes and cuts be a minor annoyance and getting your clothing and gear bloody while you find someone to bum first aid supplies from. Splints and slings can be improvised but wound care supplies should be carried in my opinion. A properly cleaned cut heals faster and better. How much does a basic first aid kit for two people weigh? Not much.

Same goes for rain gear. It's not just for rain. Somebody has a serious fall and you need to wait for emergency transport, keeping them warm can keep them from going into shock. Doesn't matter how warm the weather is. If you aren't going to carry rain gear, carry an emergency blanket. It's like an insurance policy, hopefully you never use it, but it's important to have none the less.
[/soapbox]

Teryk



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I went for a few rides staring at my legs while I pedaled to see how much space there was. I made mine 3 inches in back and 5 inches by the head tube so I could fit my cook kit there. Overall it works OK but 2.5 would probably have been better in the back.  I like the wider front for more storage capacity but when standing on steep climbs I can hit it with my knees. It's not a big deal to me and seems a decent compromise for the added capacity.

Teryk

Wow, I have seen that before.  Don't know how I didn't remember it.  Looks like quite a story with all of the trouble they ran into. 

Sorry to continue the thread hijack but I met those guys in Guatamala. I think they were also the ones who rode through the Grand Canyon and blogged about it. When the park service read about it, they caught up with them and cited them.

World record for self supported Ushuaia to TDF is 121 days... mostly road I assume.

http://www.worldrecordacademy.com/travel/fastest_to_cycle_the_Pan-American_Highway-Scott_Napier_sets_world_record_90395.htm

Teryk

Check out the Sendero de Chile. Haven't done it myself and I'm not sure how much is complete but a web search shows people biking sections of it.

http://www.allsouthernchile.com/hiking-trails-sendero-de-chile.html

Teryk

I'll have about 4/5 days to get from Ashland to Santa Monica. I was thinking of riding Ashland/San Fran and Amtrak to SM, but is Big Sur worthy of skipping, compared to Humboldt and surrounds?

Ashland to SF is 500 miles along the coast with no place to grab the train along the way. I did it in 5 days last year but it didn't leave a lot of time for site seeing. Big Sur is beautiful but subject to landslides in the winter which close the road for extended periods.

If you are dead set on getting an extended ride in then Big Sur may be your best bet. On the plus side traffic will be at a minimum and you can grab the train in San Luis Obisbo if you are running behind. On the downside it can be quite wet and stormy with temperatures in the 40's (F).

If it were me, I'd bike around Portland sampling the coffee and beer, then hop the train to SF. There's a decent chance of nice weather in SF and great (road) riding just across the Golden Gate in Marin. If the weather is crappy at least there is great food and music, otherwise you can hop the train and keep heading south looking for better weather.

Teryk



 

No issues with mine so far although I did just snug the crank side cup the other day.  Normal maintenence as far as I am concerned.

Pull the bottom bracket and wrap the threads on both sides with teflon (plumbers) tape and it will stop working loose.

Teryk

Sticking the tubes together is the easy part. Most people braze racks because you don't have to be as accurate with your fittup, ie. you can fill larger gaps with brass than you can with a TIG welder. Brazing is also a bit easier to pick up as a beginner. The hard part of making a rack is making it look good and balanced. There are tools needed and a learning curve to bending and mitering tubes accurately.

Here are a couple good blog posts on how to get started:

http://alexwetmore.org/?cat=298
http://sfcyclotouring.blogspot.com/2010/12/rack-building-tips.html


mTeryk