I bought the GoPro camera without ever having used it before. Then on my trip I used it without knowing what sort of video the images it was taking would make. I could view the images, but until I got to Denver, I did not have the ability to put them together as a video. Now that I have completed the trip and completed making the daily videos, what did I learn? Continue reading GoPro Camera and making time lapse videos
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I spent some time looking at the possible routes to connect up with the Adventure Cycling TransAm route that goes across the southern part of the state. Although the traffic seemed to be a bit much, I decided to ride US 85 to Castle Rock. From there I’d take Colorado 86 east through some small towns until it met up with US Route 40 again near Limon, CO. (Looks like I’ll have a small stint on the interstate I-70…) Then follow US Route 40 through nothing in eastern Colorado until Kit Carson and then take 287 to Eads where I hook up with the TransAm. Distance is 171 miles, and I have heard it is pretty flat so maybe 2-3 days. The Colorado Dept. of Transportation says the shoulders are decent sized after Castle Rock. Hopefully it all works out. Continue reading Day 39 to 43: Rest Days in Denver, CO (October 7-11) I spent my rest days in Salt Lake City mostly resting. In addition to sleeping, relaxing, and talking with my friends, I also cleaned my bicycle, cleaned and oiled the chain, and readjusted the rear derailleur. I had never really spent the time to adjust a derailleur, but after hanging my bicycle up with some parachute cord to the underside of my friend’s deck so the wheels could easily spin, it was not too difficult. I have been cleaning my chain regularly, and carry around a little can of 3-in-1 oil. I know it is not the best oil for cycling since it is relatively light, but it seems to work OK, and there was nothing else where I bought it. I had ordered new front panniers that were the same make as my rear panniers (Ortlieb) and in the same color to make sure everything matches. After all, I gotta look good. Although some might argue that since I chose the bright yellow I wouldn’t look too good. I wear obnoxious, fluorescent green shirts and jackets. Certainly not going to win any fashion contests with them, but I like to think that because I wear them people can see me more easily. The sooner a motorist can see me the better, I think. The same thinking went into my color choice of panniers. REI offered red/black, black, and yellow/black. All have reflective patches to be seen from the front or rear of the bike, but red and black are really dark so they don’t help to be seen from the side. The yellow is not obnoxious, but at least it is lighter and more visible than black or red. Continue reading Day 28 to Day 30: Rest days in Salt Lake City, UT (September 26 to 28)  My bicycle and me on the Marco Polo Bridge. When I belated realized I have to start training for riding from San Francisco to Boston, I ended up buying a bike that I can’t use for the trip. It was too good a deal to pass on despite it not being the right kind of bike. I bought a two year old, used Trek SL1000 from one of the local Trek stores in Beijing. It was one of their rental bikes so it had a fair number of dings and maybe was not in perfect condition. But I felt for 2000 RMB (about $300) it would do well for the several months I had before going back to the US for the trip. A few of the Chinese customers were shocked that I would buy a used bicycle. People are wary of buying used things here whether they are bicycles, apartments, or cars. Considering buying things new is tricky enough (notorious ‘Made in China’ quality) many assume that buying something used you will just get cheated. The only problem that I see is that the wheels will have to be replaced. The wear strips on the wheels are almost gone. I figure that can be done when I return to China after my trip. Even replacing the wheels, it will be cheaper than the most expensive road bike at the local Decathlon store that is nowhere as good a bicycle. It is not designed to take a rack so I can’t use it for that. I have been taking it for two-day trips up into the hills north of Beijing. Anything that doesn’t fit into my hydration backpack doesn’t come. I have started putting small stuff sacks into the water bottle holders. That seems to do well since I use the bladder instead of water bottles. Continue reading My Beijing Road Bike I was thinking about not bringing camping gear for the first week or two of the trip since there would be lots of mountains, I probably wouldn’t be in the greatest shape, and it would save about 10+ lbs. Saving weight it always a bonus. Continue reading To camp or not to camp? I had gotten an iPhone 4 and was hoping to use it as sort of an all around electronics device on this trip, but the evil people at AT&T had locked it to their system. Luckily, the Chinese, being very good at this sort of thing, have found a way around it. I bought a new SIM card tray for 150 RMB ($22) from some guy working out of his apartment. Like many apartment buildings in Beijing, the paint was falling off the walls, not too clean, the lights in the halls were broken, and half the elevators didn’t work. Other parts of the world that would be somewhat sketchy and I might be hesitant venturing in, but in China, that is par for the course. Our office secretary had bought one of the same things from these guys so if she could get out of there alive, I thought I could as well. Continue reading All Around Electronic Device The first time I went to Antarctica in 2001, I bought an Icebreaker merino wool sweater in New Zealand. It was on sale, very soft, seemed pretty warm in the store, and looked good. That was the beginning of my conversion from synthetic fibers to natural ones. In addition to being warm and soft, I soon noticed that it also didn’t smell as bad as quickly. Continue reading Naturally Stink Free! |
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