Wheel weight

On Friday, March 8, 2019 at 4:14:00 PM UTC-5, duane wrote:
On 08/03/2019 3:16 p.m., Zen Cycle wrote:
On Friday, March 8, 2019 at 2:12:36 PM UTC-5, Sir Ridesalot wrote:

I considered getting a GPS unit for my fire/mining/logging road tours
in Northern Ontario Canada, because missing a turnoff to another road
or trail can mean miles of more bicycling which is not the nicest thing
to have to do when it's hot and humid or pouring rain.

when does it ever get hot an humid in northern ontario?


Black fly season.

And mosquitoes that don't bite but just swoop in and carry you off. Black flies so big they are sometimes refueled by aircraft mechanics. LOL VBEG

Cheers

On 3/8/2019 2:12 PM, Sir Ridesalot wrote:


I considered getting a GPS unit for my fire/mining/logging road tours in Northern Ontario Canada, because missing a turnoff to another road or trail can mean miles of more bicycling which is not the nicest thing to have to do when it's hot and humid or pouring rain.

Talk to your friends about whether it would be worth it. We were driving
in Nova Scotia a few years ago, and people there kept saying "Oh, GPS
doesn't work up here."

Obviously, the satellites must; but the database of roads must not have
been well maintained. At one point, following a coastal road to a town
on the coast, the GPS tried to talk us into turning off onto a steep
uphill gravel road. I ignored it, and later saw that road rejoin the one
we were on. GPS apparently thought it was a useful shortcut, never mind
the lack of pavement and 15% grades.

Much closer to home, when we first bought our GPS, we had the GPS take
us on some amazingly screwy routes when a much more direct one was
obviously available. I imagine the updates have since corrected that for
our populous area, but oddities may remain in your outback.

--
- Frank Krygowski

On Friday, March 8, 2019 at 4:59:36 PM UTC-5, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 3/8/2019 2:12 PM, Sir Ridesalot wrote:


I considered getting a GPS unit for my fire/mining/logging road tours in Northern Ontario Canada, because missing a turnoff to another road or trail can mean miles of more bicycling which is not the nicest thing to have to do when it's hot and humid or pouring rain.

Talk to your friends about whether it would be worth it. We were driving
in Nova Scotia a few years ago, and people there kept saying "Oh, GPS
doesn't work up here."

Obviously, the satellites must; but the database of roads must not have
been well maintained. At one point, following a coastal road to a town
on the coast, the GPS tried to talk us into turning off onto a steep
uphill gravel road. I ignored it, and later saw that road rejoin the one
we were on. GPS apparently thought it was a useful shortcut, never mind
the lack of pavement and 15% grades.

Much closer to home, when we first bought our GPS, we had the GPS take
us on some amazingly screwy routes when a much more direct one was
obviously available. I imagine the updates have since corrected that for
our populous area, but oddities may remain in your outback.

--
- Frank Krygowski

All I'd want the GPS unit to do is tell me where I am at the time I activate it. Yes, whether or not it's work in the wilderness is a consideration. Thus far the old map reading skills and wired bicycle computer have worked well but it'd be nice to be able to know one's position without having to stop and risk being eaten alive by black flies or mosquitoes.

As far as not being updated goes. Well I've had times when a topographical map hadn't been updated either for a long time. One memorable case was when I was riding an old mining/logging road and came to the bridge clearly shown on my map. Except the bridge wasn't there! Fortunately it was mid-summer and the river water was nice and warm. It was interesting swimming across first with the bicycle and then again with some of my gear and then a third time with the rest of my gear. Nowadays when in t hat area I carry a spare small car inner tube to pump up and use as a float. That works quite well for ferrying the bicycle and gear across a river.

Cheers

Sir Ridesalot wrote:
On Friday, March 8, 2019 at 4:14:00 PM UTC-5, duane wrote:
On 08/03/2019 3:16 p.m., Zen Cycle wrote:
On Friday, March 8, 2019 at 2:12:36 PM UTC-5, Sir Ridesalot wrote:

I considered getting a GPS unit for my fire/mining/logging road tours
in Northern Ontario Canada, because missing a turnoff to another road
or trail can mean miles of more bicycling which is not the nicest thing
to have to do when it's hot and humid or pouring rain.

when does it ever get hot an humid in northern ontario?


Black fly season.

And mosquitoes that don't bite but just swoop in and carry you off. Black
flies so big they are sometimes refueled by aircraft mechanics. LOL VBEG

Cheers


For a Louisiana guy who is used to mosquitoes the size of pigeons I have to
say I was impressed by bugs that bite. Lol

--
duane

On Friday, March 8, 2019 at 5:42:11 PM UTC-5, Duane wrote:
Sir Ridesalot wrote:
On Friday, March 8, 2019 at 4:14:00 PM UTC-5, duane wrote:
On 08/03/2019 3:16 p.m., Zen Cycle wrote:
On Friday, March 8, 2019 at 2:12:36 PM UTC-5, Sir Ridesalot wrote:

I considered getting a GPS unit for my fire/mining/logging road tours
in Northern Ontario Canada, because missing a turnoff to another road
or trail can mean miles of more bicycling which is not the nicest thing
to have to do when it's hot and humid or pouring rain.

when does it ever get hot an humid in northern ontario?


Black fly season.

And mosquitoes that don't bite but just swoop in and carry you off. Black
flies so big they are sometimes refueled by aircraft mechanics. LOL VBEG

Cheers


For a Louisiana guy who is used to mosquitoes the size of pigeons I have to
say I was impressed by bugs that bite. Lol

--
duane

Up here the mosquitoes dine on pigeons. LOL VBEG

Cheers

On Fri, 8 Mar 2019 14:36:23 -0800 (PST), Sir Ridesalot
wrote:

On Friday, March 8, 2019 at 4:59:36 PM UTC-5, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 3/8/2019 2:12 PM, Sir Ridesalot wrote:


I considered getting a GPS unit for my fire/mining/logging road tours in Northern Ontario Canada, because missing a turnoff to another road or trail can mean miles of more bicycling which is not the nicest thing to have to do when it's hot and humid or pouring rain.

Talk to your friends about whether it would be worth it. We were driving
in Nova Scotia a few years ago, and people there kept saying "Oh, GPS
doesn't work up here."

Obviously, the satellites must; but the database of roads must not have
been well maintained. At one point, following a coastal road to a town
on the coast, the GPS tried to talk us into turning off onto a steep
uphill gravel road. I ignored it, and later saw that road rejoin the one
we were on. GPS apparently thought it was a useful shortcut, never mind
the lack of pavement and 15% grades.

Much closer to home, when we first bought our GPS, we had the GPS take
us on some amazingly screwy routes when a much more direct one was
obviously available. I imagine the updates have since corrected that for
our populous area, but oddities may remain in your outback.

--
- Frank Krygowski

All I'd want the GPS unit to do is tell me where I am at the time I activate it. Yes, whether or not it's work in the wilderness is a consideration. Thus far the old map reading skills and wired bicycle computer have worked well but it'd be nice to be able to know one's position without having to stop and risk being eaten alive by black flies or mosquitoes.

As far as not being updated goes. Well I've had times when a topographical map hadn't been updated either for a long time. One memorable case was when I was riding an old mining/logging road and came to the bridge clearly shown on my map. Except the bridge wasn't there! Fortunately it was mid-summer and the river water was nice and warm. It was interesting swimming across first with the bicycle and then again with some of my gear and then a third time with the rest of my gear. Nowadays when in t hat area I carry a spare small car inner tube to pump up and use as a float. That works quite well for ferrying the bicycle and gear across a river.

Cheers

Back when I lived on a boat and sail a lot I came across a chart that
said on small print "based on a survey made by the HMS whatever in
1790-something." It was some obscure island in the S. Pacific but I
always wondered, "hasn't anyone been there since the 1700's?"

And, at a friend's favorite anchoring spot off Luzon the GPS showed
him about a 1/2 mile onto dry land.

--
Cheers,
John B.

On 3/8/2019 5:36 PM, Sir Ridesalot wrote:
One memorable case was when I was riding an old mining/logging road and came to the bridge clearly shown on my map. Except the bridge wasn't there! Fortunately it was mid-summer and the river water was nice and warm. It was interesting swimming across first with the bicycle and then again with some of my gear and then a third time with the rest of my gear. Nowadays when in t hat area I carry a spare small car inner tube to pump up and use as a float. That works quite well for ferrying the bicycle and gear across a river.

One bridge adventure of mine was when planning a club ride I wanted to
lead. As it happens, there are no super-quiet roads to allow peaceful
cycling going west from here, unless I first ride far to the north or
south. One road that used to go west across the county is still a legal
right of way, but its bridge over a north-south creek has been closed
for years.

I decided to see if I could bushwhack across. But a duck hunting club
owns property adjacent, and they've done everything possible to make
people think the right of way is private property, including digging a
big trench across it. To get past the trench, I picked up a long stout
branch lying nearby, shouldered my bike, then stuck the end of the
branch into the trench for some support as I jumped over the trench.

About 100 feet further, I came to the bridge. All the decking was gone,
but the steel structure remained. I shouldered the bike again and walked
along one edge beam, holding on to the superstructure. (It wasn't scary,
because the bridge wasn't very high.) But I chose not to use that route
for my ride.

Another unusual bridge adventu A friend and I were riding across Ohio
on what used to be called the Cardinal Trail, a route chosen and marked
out using existing quiet roads. The route used to be signed, and you
could buy "Triptik" style maps.

Anyway, we wanted to ride every inch of the Trail, but came to a road
closed sign. We agreed you can always get a bike past a road closure.

But in this case, a bridge was thoroughly out, and being worked on by a
construction crew. Fortunately, they allowed us to carry our fully
loaded bikes about ten feet down a steep slope, then over the single
I-beam the workers were using to cross the creek.

I have other similar stories. So far, IIRC, I haven't run into a place
where I actually had to turn around. It's been close - as in fifteen
scary minutes to cross a creek where a bridge was out - but I've always
made it.


--
- Frank Krygowski

Sir Ridesalot writes:

On Friday, March 8, 2019 at 5:42:11 PM UTC-5, Duane wrote:
Sir Ridesalot wrote:
On Friday, March 8, 2019 at 4:14:00 PM UTC-5, duane wrote:
On 08/03/2019 3:16 p.m., Zen Cycle wrote:
On Friday, March 8, 2019 at 2:12:36 PM UTC-5, Sir Ridesalot wrote:

I considered getting a GPS unit for my fire/mining/logging road tours
in Northern Ontario Canada, because missing a turnoff to another road
or trail can mean miles of more bicycling which is not the nicest thing
to have to do when it's hot and humid or pouring rain.

when does it ever get hot an humid in northern ontario?


Black fly season.

And mosquitoes that don't bite but just swoop in and carry you off. Black
flies so big they are sometimes refueled by aircraft mechanics. LOL VBEG

Cheers


For a Louisiana guy who is used to mosquitoes the size of pigeons I have to
say I was impressed by bugs that bite. Lol

--
duane

Up here the mosquitoes dine on pigeons. LOL VBEG

Those mosquitos are in a *hurry*, Louisiana mosquitos can take their time.

John B. Slocomb writes:

On Fri, 8 Mar 2019 14:36:23 -0800 (PST), Sir Ridesalot
wrote:

On Friday, March 8, 2019 at 4:59:36 PM UTC-5, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 3/8/2019 2:12 PM, Sir Ridesalot wrote:


I considered getting a GPS unit for my fire/mining/logging road
tours in Northern Ontario Canada, because missing a turnoff to
another road or trail can mean miles of more bicycling which is
not the nicest thing to have to do when it's hot and humid or
pouring rain.

Talk to your friends about whether it would be worth it. We were driving
in Nova Scotia a few years ago, and people there kept saying "Oh, GPS
doesn't work up here."

Obviously, the satellites must; but the database of roads must not have
been well maintained. At one point, following a coastal road to a town
on the coast, the GPS tried to talk us into turning off onto a steep
uphill gravel road. I ignored it, and later saw that road rejoin the one
we were on. GPS apparently thought it was a useful shortcut, never mind
the lack of pavement and 15% grades.

Much closer to home, when we first bought our GPS, we had the GPS take
us on some amazingly screwy routes when a much more direct one was
obviously available. I imagine the updates have since corrected that for
our populous area, but oddities may remain in your outback.

--
- Frank Krygowski

All I'd want the GPS unit to do is tell me where I am at the time I
activate it. Yes, whether or not it's work in the wilderness is a
consideration. Thus far the old map reading skills and wired bicycle
computer have worked well but it'd be nice to be able to know one's
position without having to stop and risk being eaten alive by black
flies or mosquitoes.

As far as not being updated goes. Well I've had times when a
topographical map hadn't been updated either for a long time. One
memorable case was when I was riding an old mining/logging road and
came to the bridge clearly shown on my map. Except the bridge wasn't
there! Fortunately it was mid-summer and the river water was nice
and warm. It was interesting swimming across first with the bicycle
and then again with some of my gear and then a third time with the
rest of my gear. Nowadays when in t hat area I carry a spare small
car inner tube to pump up and use as a float. That works quite well
for ferrying the bicycle and gear across a river.

Cheers

Back when I lived on a boat and sail a lot I came across a chart that
said on small print "based on a survey made by the HMS whatever in
1790-something." It was some obscure island in the S. Pacific but I
always wondered, "hasn't anyone been there since the 1700's?"

And, at a friend's favorite anchoring spot off Luzon the GPS showed
him about a 1/2 mile onto dry land.

Years ago a buddy and I were driving through eastern New Mexico, and
Rand McNally told us there was a sizable reservoir on the Pecos river
not too far away. Looked to be a square mile or so. So we checked it
out, and there was, indeed, a *dam* there, but of water there was none.

Frank Krygowski writes:

On 3/8/2019 5:36 PM, Sir Ridesalot wrote:
One memorable case was when I was riding an old mining/logging road
and came to the bridge clearly shown on my map. Except the bridge
wasn't there! Fortunately it was mid-summer and the river water was
nice and warm. It was interesting swimming across first with the
bicycle and then again with some of my gear and then a third time
with the rest of my gear. Nowadays when in t hat area I carry a
spare small car inner tube to pump up and use as a float. That works
quite well for ferrying the bicycle and gear across a river.

One bridge adventure of mine was when planning a club ride I wanted to
lead. As it happens, there are no super-quiet roads to allow peaceful
cycling going west from here, unless I first ride far to the north or
south. One road that used to go west across the county is still a
legal right of way, but its bridge over a north-south creek has been
closed for years.

I decided to see if I could bushwhack across. But a duck hunting club
owns property adjacent, and they've done everything possible to make
people think the right of way is private property, including digging a
big trench across it. To get past the trench, I picked up a long stout
branch lying nearby, shouldered my bike, then stuck the end of the
branch into the trench for some support as I jumped over the trench.

About 100 feet further, I came to the bridge. All the decking was
gone, but the steel structure remained. I shouldered the bike again
and walked along one edge beam, holding on to the superstructure. (It
wasn't scary, because the bridge wasn't very high.) But I chose not to
use that route for my ride.

Another unusual bridge adventu A friend and I were riding across
Ohio on what used to be called the Cardinal Trail, a route chosen and
marked out using existing quiet roads. The route used to be signed,
and you could buy "Triptik" style maps.

Anyway, we wanted to ride every inch of the Trail, but came to a road
closed sign. We agreed you can always get a bike past a road closure.

But in this case, a bridge was thoroughly out, and being worked on by
a construction crew. Fortunately, they allowed us to carry our fully
loaded bikes about ten feet down a steep slope, then over the single
I-beam the workers were using to cross the creek.

I have other similar stories. So far, IIRC, I haven't run into a place
where I actually had to turn around. It's been close - as in fifteen
scary minutes to cross a creek where a bridge was out - but I've
always made it.

Once, riding along a nice country road in central Massachusetts, going
my way according to the map, I was stopped by a large chain-link gate
and a sign that said "military reservation". I turned around.