Palm Beach Bike Tours – Page 20 – Two Wheels, one GPS and a Camera

December 4, 2009December 4, 2009

Year in Review: Bicycle Storage

In the late 70s, we built a 10′ x 20′ storage building in our back yard. It was divided into three spaces: 10′ x 10′ for general storage; 4 ‘ x 10′ for yard tools and a pump for the sprinkler system and a 6′ x 10’ workshop.

It was unconditioned and poorly sealed, particularly when the bottoms of the doors would rot out. Over the years, it became the home for squirrels, rats, a possum family, silverfish, cockroaches and, eventually, termites.

When I retired in September, 2008, I needed a place to store all of my prints, negatives and clips under controlled conditions. We had Brother-in-Law John come down to make the place right after everything was emptied out, triaged and termite-tented.

When he was done, the building was insulated, drywalled, air conditioned and had a hurricane-proof window in the workshop.

How do I store the bicycles?

The only problem was that I had five bicycles to contend with: my new Surly Long Haul Trucker, old Trek 1220, Wife Lila’s Trek Navigator 300 and Schwinn 3-speed. Finally, there was Bro Mark’s 40-year-old Sears Spyder that I had hoped to restore.

Those were all blocking access to the shelves that had my archived photos. Shuffling them around was going to drive me crazy.

That’s when I heard about the Cycle Tree

The Cycle Tree, from Harbor Freight, sounded like my solution.

It holds up to six bikes.
It’s on wheels, so it can be moved from one side of the room to another easily to get to the shelves.
It takes up four square feet of floor space.
Best of all, it costs $44.99 (plus shipping)

Read the full Cycle Tree review

The full review, including detailed pictures of the assembly, is here.

Bottom line: sometimes you really DO get more than you pay for. The Cycle Tree does everything I need it to and for a great price.

December 1, 2009December 1, 2009

Year in Review: Kick Stands and Click-Stands

Part of a continuing series on looking back at product reviews I’ve done during 2009

It’s amazing how almost every topic inspires passionate debate among cyclists. Kickstands are one of those Holy War topics with some arguing that they aren’t needed and others – like me – saying they don’t know how you can get along without them.

Here’s a look at two solutions for giving your bike a leg to stand on. (In the case of the ESGE/Pletscher Double-legged kickstand, it gives it two legs to stand on.)

ESGE/Pletscher Double-legged kickstand

This is what it looked like on my Trek 1220. I moved it over to my Surly Long Haul trucker when I bought it at the first of the year.

You can read the full review here.

The nice thing about this kickstand is that it will raise either the front or rear wheel off the ground, which means it can act as a portable work stand. Taking a wheel off to fix a flat or making brake or shifting adjustment is a piece of cake.

Some folks have had problems with this style kickstand either crushing the chain stays or working loose. I haven’t had that happen on either of my bikes. Maybe that just says that I’m weaker than some cyclists and stronger than others.

The long legs WILL dig into soft blacktop or soil and cause the bike to spill over. A strong wind will also dump it.

In fairness, I can’t think of any time when my bike has fallen over when it wouldn’t have fallen over easier and earlier with a conventional kickstand.

The Click-Stand

Most kickstands attach to the bicycle. The Click-Stand takes a completely different approach.

You can read the full review here.

Think of a folding tent pole that deploys with the flick of your wrist and supports the bike from the top tube.

It probably weighs about as much or less than a regular kickstand. Even my weight wienie brother Mark was willing to try one.

Watch this demo that my four-year-old grandson did minutes after I handed it to him.

Wow! captures the idea.

How does it work?

You slip included brake-bands over the brake levers to keep the bike from rolling. (I used Velcro straps to do the job on my bike.)

You flick out the Click-Stand (WOW!), place the rubberized cradle under the top tube just in front of the seat tube, lean your bike over slightly and place the rubberized bottom end about 10 inches off the centerline of the bike.

Your two wheels and the Click-Stand have become a tripod.

DOES it work?

I was impressed. It doesn’t deploy as quickly as my double-legged kickstand, but it’s much more stable. My bike hasn’t taken a spill since I started using it.

Other info about the Click-Stand

Shortly after I got mine, the inventor came up with some nifty ways to mount it on your bike. If you go to my link above, you can see how I carry it on my LHT. Bro Mark just stuffs his in his jersey pocket.

If you’re a Freakbiker riding a tall bike, you make your own manly variation of a Click-Stand out of an old IV stand.

November 30, 2009January 23, 2012

SwampStomperus and Group Get LOST

Despite our name, we don’t actually lead bike tours. That was an idea that came and went (very quickly). We’re always happy to suggest places to ride and one of our favorites in this area is the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST).

Way back in August, Dave Fletcher, AKA SwampStomperus, contacted my foodie friend Jan Norris about riding the LOST. She passed him off to me and we traded emails until the first part of November when he said he was putting together a gaggle of riders to finally do the ride.

Dave's Group taken when they crossed path with the FORCE riders

It happened to be the same weekend of the FORCE ride. Both groups were starting in the Clewiston area at about the same time, but the FORCE riders were riding clockwise and Dave’s folks were going counterclockwise.

He promised an account of his ride and some pictures. Here it is.

A group of South Floridians had their first go at the LOST on the weekend of Nov 14-15. Thanks to Ken and his great LOST maps, we finally were able to undertake an adventure that at least one or two of us had only dreamed about for several years.

Unofficial Map of Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail

View Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail in a larger map

All ages and experience

With the best support crew you could ask for (Peggy and Carol) we 7 riders set off from John Stretch Park for an unknown, but sure to be excellent, adventure. Dave, Leo, Linda, Patrick, Edwin, Jerry and Yenz, aged 13 to 59…some with years of experience and miles under our belt…and one with a brand new bike and little experience at all.

Drivers surprised these Broward riders

We were a combination of road bikes and mountain bikes—so we knew there would be some road riding ahead but our first surprise came just to the east of the park when we saw the “closed” sign on the LOST. What to do? We decided to forge ahead, hoping that we could at least get by. In fact, we made it as far as Torry Island without a hitch. Then came the road biking to get around levee maintenance. Thank God for iPhones to help us navigate the roads. As for the roads themselves, we were pleasantly surprised. We are from Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood where a road ride is equivalent to a death wish. But we found roads with wide shoulders, smooth surfaces and drivers who actually slowed down or made a significant effort to move over and give our riders a wide berth—what a very refreshing experience!

Our first casualty (so-called) came when our youngest (and newest participant) decided to call it a day. But hey—he made it 19 miles on a trail bike—which certainly would give him bragging rights over any other 13 year old that I know. We were proud of him for having made it that far—and he was good company for our support team too!

Lunch at the Subway

In the meantime, our support team found us lunch at the Subway in Pahokee and it made for a great mid ride break.

[Editor’s note: I’m pretty sure that Subway is actually in Canal Point, which is north of Pahokee. I stopped at the same place on Sunday. The food is OK and the bathrooms are clean.]

We set off again after lunch, resisting so many temptations to stop at the numerous yard sales in Pahokee—what a dream. We continued along the road—again amazed at the courtesy of the local drivers—and inhaling the sweet smell of burning cane—tis the season!

Headwinds take their toll

Attrition hit us again just before Port Mayaca and again at Port Mayaca as our two other trail bikers decided they had done enough for the day. Again, not bad at all, considering they had been riding into a headwind for most of the day. We could all feel the stress and a nice break in Port Mayaca helped refresh us for the final stretch. Now we were back on the paved levee and inspired by the beautiful views of the lake. Down to only four now, we set off again, determined to make Okeechobee in time for a relaxing dinner and the comfort of our hotel.

It seemed that the wind was picking up as the day went on. The last stretch was a bit of a challenge and we dropped another rider at Henry Lock. As usual, our support team was ready to move into action and they were soon there to take him away. Now we were down to three—all determined to make the finish. We finally did pull into the Okeechobee pier a bit before 5 pm. A short ride up to the Holiday Inn and we were done. Our terrific support crew had us already checked in and had our gear in our rooms. They took care of everything (except the massage!). They had already decided on a dinner location so, after cleanup and a short rest, we were off to The Clock, where, again, these south Floridians were amazed—this time by the low cost of dining out! We’ll certainly be back to Okeechobee.

Food and lodging are reasonable in Okeechobee

That evening found a few of us relaxing in the hot tub while others were off to dream land shortly after dinner. The next morning, over a terrific complimentary full breakfast at the Holiday Inn, we discussed alternatives for the day. We knew the mountain bikers wouldn’t make the whole day again. We also knew that the first half of the ride would be on the road, where the lake wasn’t visible and the second half would be on the levee where we would experience more of the natural environment. So, instead of riding the first half from Okeechobee to Moore Haven on the road and then sagging, they decided to have a relaxing morning at the hotel and meet us in Moore Haven for lunch.

Moore Haven bridge is quite a climb

With that decision made, three of us set out along 78. For all of us it was the first time we’d ever been on that road. What an experience. It seemed to be what old Florida must have been like: very quiet, little traffic (but again—very courteous drivers) and some nice landscape scenery. We did take a nice break at Lake Port (home of the Sour Orange Festival) and checked out the observation platforms off Harney Pond Road—taking in the silence and the beauty of the vast wetland there. We also delighted in seeing several ospreys along the way, including two with fish in their talons and several other species of wildlife. Truly this was a remarkable stretch of road and I look forward to returning there some day.

A suprise meeting with the FORCE group

Once in Moore Haven we rendezvoused with our support team and the sagged riders. After a short lunch we set off toward Clewiston, riding the levee, happy to be a team of 7 riders once again. The wind was now a bit behind us and we made fairly good time. We had quite a surprise awaiting us in Clewiston when we actually ran into Ken, owner of this website and whose generous guidance provided us with the information we needed to do the ride in the first place. We were glad to be able to thank him in person.

Ready to do it again

An hour or so later (and down one rider—our 13 year old made it 20+ miles on the second day) we were greeted by our support team as we pulled into John Stretch Park. It was a great weekend—perfect weather, a perfect route, a perfect support team and a perfect group of riders (and friends.) We all left with the resolve to do the LOST again—soon.

November 28, 2009December 1, 2009

Year in Review: Bicycle Pumps

It’s getting to the time of year when folks are looking for gifts for themselves, their friends or their bikes. Here are some links to some pump reviews I’ve done in 2009. This is the first of a series of review reviews.

Blackburn floor pump goes BANG!!!

I pulled my car off to the side of the road to help a rider who had flatted on a charity ride. He got his tire pumped up to 119 psi, but when he tried for 120 psi, there was a loud BANG!!!

It wasn’t the tube. It was the hose that had blown near the base of the pump.

Blackburn has a lifetime warranty on their pumps, so I wasn’t worried. Their customer service is a little disappointing, though. After several emails, two calls and 13 minutes on hold being told that my call was very important, Customer Service Courtney said that they were behind in reading their email, that my pump had been discontinued and that they would send me a new Air Tower 2 to replace it.

Blackburn Air Tower 2 has some nice features

Four days after finally being able to contact Blackburn, a brand-new Blackburn Air Tower 2 arrived on my doorstep.

Here’s the full review of the pump.

Bottom line: it works like a floor pump should. The head has been redesigned. Instead of the T-shaped top on my old pump, this one has a single head with two holes. One is for Schrader valves; the smaller is for Presta.

Some readers have complained that their pumps haven’t worked right with Presta valves, but I haven’t had that experience.

The pump has a nifty storage area in the handle that holds inflators for balls, rafts, pool toys, etc. It’s not a reason to buy the pump, but it’s a nice extra.

Topeak Road Morph Pump with Gauge

I decided my new Surly Long Haul Trucker deserved a new pump. After doing some research, I ended up with the Topeak Road Morph G Bike Pump with Gauge.

It’s a great pump, but the documentation leaves a lot to be desired. To save you from going through the (embarrassing) gyrations I went through, I created the Topeak Road Morph Pump with Gauge Guide for Dummies.

The review also covers how I mount the pump on my LHT and what tire tools I carry.

November 23, 2009February 6, 2010

Surly LHT Gets Shakedown on Unpaved Lake Okeechobee

Wimp Alert: you off-road folks are going to sneer at me.

I took my Surly Long Haul Trucker on an 8.34-mile shakedown ride last weekend with the Florida Off-Road Cycling Enthusiasts when they rode around Lake Okeechobee. I wrote about their experiences earlier. I shot a video before the ride where Tom Rassiga of the Bicyclery gave some good advice about bicycle selection.

8.34 Miles of bone shaking

Map of my short ride

View Lakeport-Indian Prairie on LOST in a larger map

I’ve ridden the paved portions of the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail plenty of times, but I had never ventured onto the unpaved western side before. And, while my Surly Long Haul Trucker has seen some short stretches of gravel and shell rock, it had never had any long rides off pavement.

Lynne Daniels is second from left

Lynne Daniels, president of the Florida Off-Road Cycling Enthusiasts (FORCE) and a rider of a stripped-down Long Haul Trucker reduced her tire pressure. When I squeezed her tire, it was substantially more “squishy” than mine.

(The next morning, Lynn checked her front tire and said it was about 30 or 35 p.s.i.).

I opted to leave my tires slightly firmer

I dropped my tire pressure in my 26″x1.5″ tires to 45 or 50 p.s.i..

My bike and I are heavier than Lynne, and I was afraid I might get snakebite punctures if I let out too much air. I didn’t relish having to change a flat in the middle of nowhere while perched on a fire ant mound.
My game plan was to park my van in Lakeport, ride the dike, then drop back onto 78 to ride the pavement back to my vehicle. I wanted to make maximum speed with minimum effort without pumping my tires back up so I could catch up with the main group at the next stop.

Battle plan didn’t survive the first bullet

I had envisioned some nifty camera angles with the video camera held at arms-length close to the ground so I could show the road surface from the moving bike.

That thought lasted about five feet.

This isn’t a nice, smooth shell rock track broken up with an occasional rut or washouts. There are sizable (and sometimes pointy) rocks that are firmly embedded in the marl dike top. I tried to apply the Cowpie Rule (don’t look at the cowpie, look at the spaces BETWEEN the cowpies when you’re maneuvering through the pasture), but there were too many rocks/cowpies to dodge all of them.

AirZound was the first casualty

The first casualty (after my dignity) was the Delta Airzound Bike Horn mounted on my second stem. It bounced out of its plastic mount in the first few hundred yards. No big deal, I just took a wrap of the air hose and secured it to the bars.

The jolting was hard enough that you may be able to hear my bell ringing from time to time on the video.

Other than that, though, the Surly stayed in one piece.

Finally, some smooth trail

We hit a section where the jolting was almost tolerable because it was covered with grass. Some of the other riders said we were lucky this year because it was cut fairly short. In other years, it’s had a Field of Dreams cornfield feeling.

My love of grass lasted about a tenth of a mile.

Tire manufacturer Schwalbe comfirms grass is hard

Schwalbe just did an interesting report on the effects of tire pressure and tire width on different riding conditions.

It confirms that Lynne did the right thing by dropping her tire pressure drastically lower than mine.
It also points out that riding through grass has six times the resistance of riding on pavement.

Would I ride the unpaved portion of the LOST again?

Probably not.

Non-riders consider all bike riders to be masochists, but there is a limit to how masochistic I am.

One of the reasons I like to ride the LOST is to see the scenery and wildlife. When you’re concentrating on dodging cowpies, then it’s tough to see birds, gators and neat stuff.

When Wife Lila and I were dating, we’d go horseback riding from time to time. I always felt guilt about having some sweaty horse haul me up a hill. I had the same guilt feelings about the pain I was inflicting on my poor LHT. I felt like I should pick it up and carry it to keep it from bruising its tender tires.

I hate cell phones (watch video)

Actually, that’s not completely true. I hate cell phones that ring while I’m riding.

Sure, I COULD turn it off, but lifetime of being on call makes that hard to do. Besides, in might be an important call, like “The Publisher’s Clearing House van just pulled up in front of the house….”

When Son Matt was about two years old, Wife Lila pulled me aside when I got home. “You’re going to have to change the way you answer the phone.”

“???”

“Matt was playing with his toy phone today. It rang, he answered it by saying, “Oh, BLEEP! Hello.”

Some habits are hard to break.

Friends don’t call friends who are riding.

I LOVE pavement

When I got back on 78 to retrieve my car, my LHT cruised effortlessly at 18 mph, with nary a jolt, rattle or ding. It was great.

Lakeport Lodge near the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail By the way, the woman at the Lakeport Lodge didn’t hesitate when I asked if it was OK to park in her lot for a couple of hours. The place looks pretty new. I may give it a try some night.