To Sum It Up...

It was good to get home, but it sure felt like a big part of the trip had been completely skipped.  Driving in a vehicle rather detracts from the journey...

We got to the house and it felt very strange...it didn't even feel like home!

It took me a couple of days to adjust...but I eventually got somewhat used to normal life again.

My ankles healed quickly, and in a little over a week I took a 30 mile ride with very minimal discomfort.  Thankfully they are healing faster than my knee did!

My bicycle was well worn and desperately needed a thorough going-over before she was taken on the road again.

The rear brakes were completely shot; front brakes, severely worn; chain, filthy.  I replaced the rear brake pads with a pair of new ones my Dad had lying around.  The front brakes still work, so I'll wait on those...

Dad was concerned that my chain could have stretched, but it was just fine!  I cleaned it with a toothbrush and kerosene....then thoroughly lubed it with Tri-Flow chain lube.  That stuff worked great!  We used it when our chains had been rained on every night...it eliminated the developing rust and kept them well lubricated.

I was very happy with my Bontrager Select Invert tires....I had no flats or leaks despite having to ride through broken glass occasionally.  Over 1000 miles...and no flats!!  They probably aren't as fast as smooth road tires, but they do well on both dirt roads and pavement.

My bags worked satisfactorily.  They kept all the pouring rain out, securely held our stuff, and weren't troublesome to access...unless the sleeping bag was strapped on top.

I do wish I had designed pockets into my handlebar bag.  Having my loose change mixed with all the other small junk in the bottom of the bag was extremely messy and inconvenient.  My next bag will definitely feature pockets!

I really enjoyed this trip, and am ready to start planning another!  I'm definitely hooked.  

Too Much Stuff!!!!

Today we finally put together everything for our Erie Canal trip this weekend. 

Wow!  

What a huge amount of stuff!

Everything (except the sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and tent) does fit into my four panniers and a little pack for the white Trek.
We will pile the sleeping bags and tent onto the backs of my and my sister's bikes.

I got to test the rear panniers today in a run to the store for trip supplies.  It even rained...and they did well.
We are completely ready for the trip!

Planning a route...

It is definitely more complicated planning a route out of state than one to the next city.  

I printed out nine pages of maps off google for our route to PA.  We won't be able to stray far from the pre-determined path...unless we are looking to lose our way!  Since printer ink is terribly water soluble I went over the print-outs with pen to reduce potenial smudging.  I'm also trying to figure out some sort of zip-lock bag/map case type of protection against wetness...but I haven't come to any conclusions yet.  

My brother is letting me plan the route...should I surprise him?

I have only one more pannier to attach hooks to!

I have had some frustrations, though...  

When I tested the right rear pannier it hung just a little too low...the derailleur interfered with the bottom edge. I couldn't undo my work and fix the problem, so my brother is going to drill two more holes in each hook, just a bit higher.  That will raise the pannier 1/4 inch...all I need!

Today I received a bottle of Potable Aqua that I had ordered.  I'm not planning on using it much...only when absolutely necessary.  Hopefully I can get around the taste of those Iodine tablets...I've heard it's unpleasant!

Today is such a cold rainy day...I sure hope it gets warmer soon...and stays warm!

The finishing touches...

I have finally completely finished the handlebar bag.

My brother made a hanger for it out of a steel rod...  

..that hooks around the stem...

The bag slides securely on...

...and the underside is fastened down with velcro...

I tried it out today by filling it with books and returning them to the library.

It performed flawlessly!

Finishing the Handlebar Bag...

Earlier this week I made two loops for the front toggles and covered their unsightly parts with small rectangles of leather.  Yesterday I drilled holes in and put finish on the toggles.  Finally, this morning I attached them with some leather cording knotted at each end.  

 The toggles on the sides of the flap will only be closed if it is stormy.  They just hold the edges down to keep rain from blowing in.

Bottle of Fuel...

Ebay has been kind to me...

I found reasonably priced, good quality fuel bottles for me to carry extra kerosene in.

They even arrived in less than a week!

I guess two would probably be enough...

Getting a handle on things...

Today I made it to M. Steffan's Sons, Inc again and acquired supplies to finish the panniers. 

One item I bought was a 40" strap of sturdy 1" leather...and 

immediately made it into a handle for the handlebar bag. 

  

 The two scissor snaps easily attach to the braided loops on either side of the bag.

It is so convenient to carry it over the shoulder when not on the bike...

The Final Waterproof...

 Today I waterproofed the last pannier...

I'm going to be finished soon!

The benefits of Spring weather...

The temperature finally got up to 50, so I was able to paint my racks, test the camping stove, and do some other warmer-weather activities.

It didn't take long to spray-paint the racks...they are now a uniform glossy black.

Sadly, I didn't even think of taking pictures when I was trying to light the stove, so there are none.

Since I am using kerosene as the fuel, I need to pre-heat the generator.  When it is sufficiently heated, the kerosene will vaporise as it travels through it.  I could buy expensive pre-heating paste, but instead decided to try Sterno.  It worked flawlessly...even in windy conditions!  I tested the stove by boiling some water. The children added some kale, spinach, and some salt, and we had a little snack of boiled greens!  

My brother and I rode out to the waterfront since it was such a beautiful day.  In order to take my new pump, I had to attach the clip to the bike...

The only available frame space was the underside of the down tube.

It seems pretty secure, but will get messy if I'm riding through mud or puddles.

I'll probably put it in a bag in wet conditions...

Water Bottles

Yesterday was warm-ish and sunny, so I took a ride out to Wegmans to catch their sale on stainless steel water bottles.
I specifically wanted stainless bottles because they won't change the flavor of the water...or leach anything into it.
Unfortunately they don't fit securely in the water bottle cage on my bike.  I will just have to carry them in my bags or figure out a secure cage for these tall bottles.

They each came with two different lid types and a carabiner.

I was glad to get a good deal on quality bottles...

More Stuff...

Today the order from Jenson USA came in!

I had ordered a Topeak Pump, Topeak Multi Tool, some patch kits, and an extra tube.  

    The pump appears to be everything I wished for...
I have actually never used a frame pump before, so my dad thought this one would be a good choice.  It has a flexible hose, so I won't have to worry about stabilizing the pump/valve connection.  It also has a handy fold-down pad to stand on.
    Now that I have the multi tool, I don't have to be dependent on my brothers or dad to supply tools when I have work to do on my bike.  For extended work, I would prefer to use individual tools though...the multi tool is pretty bulky.
    Now that I have all these accessories, I can venture farther from home by myself....if I get a flat, I now have the equipment to repair it myself!

Designing the Handlebar Bag...

It has been a long time since I last made an update....but that is just because nothing has been happening other than more sewing of the same panniers...

Today I finally designed the bag that will hang off my handlebars.
I admire the bags made by Gilles Berthoud so I used one as my model...

I made the rough shape of the bag out of cardboard.
That way I was able to figure out dimensions and see how it would look in position.  Since I was modeling mine after an existing bag, I took the dimensions of that bag and altered them to my liking.  Since the dimensions of the model were in metric, my measurements are also in millimeters...

It is a very rough diagram, but the first step is finished!

The beginning of the end

Saturday I cut out the pieces of canvas for the last pannier.  It is the second front one.  I started sewing it Sunday afternoon.  

It is kind of a weird feeling to be working on the last pannier!  But it is a good weird feeling...

I still have to finish the other front pannier, but that just involves straps and waterproofing.  

I am also waiting for a final design and materials for the two rear pannier attachment systems....

Sarong = towel?

A sarong is a very lightweight rectangular piece of fabric used for clothing or a beach cover-up.  Somewhere I read of a bicycle tourist using one for a light multi-use towel.  We had some very thin cotton sitting around, so I turned some of it into a sarong. I will take this instead of a bulky towel.  I could also use it as clothing...

I'm  very pleased with how it looks as a skirt...   

It folds up quite small, too.

Back racks, front racks, what kinds should I use?

When I got my bike it had a Bontrager rear rack already installed, but since its attachment to the bicycle wasn't very sturdy, I decided to exchange it for a steel rack with a home-designed attachment. I bought two American made Wald racks for about $24...incredibly cheaper than most racks.  One was to replace the existing rear rack, and one was for the front.  I am putting a platform rack on the front instead of the low-rider because my handlebar bag is going to rest on it.  Wald doesn't sell front racks, so my dad decided he could make a rear rack work.

The rear rack

He designed attachment systems for both of the new racks ... now they are waiting for my brother to weld them together.

Front rack

As they stand now...just balanced in place...

My first camping stove!

So, after much thought, a little discussion with my brother, and some research, I finally bought a Coleman Muli Fuel stove.

I decided to get the Coleman because it is compact, being one unit, was recommended by various people, and had good reviews.

There are many other types of stoves out there, but I was specifically looking for a versatile stove. The one I purchased can use gasoline, kerosene, or white gas for fuel.  I have considered the possibility of going to an less-developed country and many of the fuels common here would be unavailable.  

The cook-set a friend gave me should work perfectly on the stove!

Unfortunately I haven't been able to try it out yet...still too cold and snowy outside!

Mirror and bar ends

Yesterday the order from Niagara Cycle Works came in.  I had ordered bar ends and a rear-view mirror.
 I got the bar ends because my bicycle has straight handlebars. On a long ride my hands could get sore from being in one position without change.  There are a couple ways to remedy this : different handlebars, or bar ends.  The bar ends option was cheaper and less complicated, so I went with that.



As you can see in the picture, the bar ends attach to the ends of the handle bar.  This adds another possible hand position, helping reduce stress on the hands.




I attached the mirror to the end of the left bar end. I originally wasn't going to get a mirror, but after riding more, I realized turning my head to see what's coming up behind me is inconvenient, and sometimes downright dangerous. 

Planning...

 Planning this tour has been pretty fun, since I enjoy planning.  I've never done anything like a bicycle trip before, so I am learning as I go.  I am collecting equipment, trying to figure out where I'll be riding, who I'll be riding with, when I'll be going, and trying to get in some bike riding too. 

 I found a bike, which came with a helmet, rear rack, rear insulated pack, tire pump, and cheap cable lock.  I got a Diva cup, a bike computer and a sleeping bag.  Then I bought fenders, pedal clips and straps, bar ends, a mirror, fingerless cycling gloves, rain pants, a Coleman stove, and a huge rear light.  Some of the suppliers were Rick Cycle Shop, Niagara Cycle Works, Ebay, Craigslist and EMS. A first aid kit, knife, pots, spork, and mug were gifts.  I re-waterproofed Dad's old tent, and am making panniers. I also claimed an old sleeping pad from the attic.  There are still many items to be acquired, but slowly and surely I am collecting supplies.

Another part of planning this trip is learning about living without the everyday conveniences found at home.  I did some research on what other people have done for hygiene and food on tour. This journal on crazyguyonabike.com was very helpful for me, being a woman. The writer talks about hygiene; specifically woman-related issues.
I bought NOLS Cookery, a book on nutritious backpacking foods and how to prepare them in the middle of nowhere. I'm planning on getting a book on edible wild plants, to help me find fresh, cheap food.
I am trying to learn as much as I can by reading stories on crazyguyonabike.com of others' bike trips, and asking  questions.

Home made lip balm

I am making lip balm for my family and myself.  It is easy and simple to put together, and is essential for winter weather. I'm also making extra so I can take it on my trip, where lip balm will be needed too. This recipe uses only natural ingredients, so it is quite good for your lips.

 'Cooling Lip Balm'
(The credit for this recipe goes to my cousin.)

4 T almond, castor or jojoba oil (I used castor)

1 T beeswax, grated

2 t honey

20 drops essential oil (peppermint, wintergreen, or tea tree)

I also added 1 T shea butter and forgot the honey...

Melt everything together in a double boiler, except the essential oil.

After it is all melted, add the flavoring oil.

 Place the pan in a bowl of cold water. Beat with a spoon as it cools until it becomes thick and opaque. 

Spoon into containers. For softer balm, add more oil.

It turned into a nice creamy texture, with a cool peppermint flavor.

A knife needs protection

     I have a knife that I am planning on taking with me on my trip.  It was found along the road and has no protection for the blade.  It needed a sheath.  After much searching on the internet I decided to make one myself. It would be cheaper, and I could make it exactly the way I wanted.  I found some tutorials and instructions for making a deep leather sheath. On this site the author talks about some historically accurate sheaths he has made.  He discusses several different styles and methods that could be used. It was very helpful, but I needed some more detailed instructions.  
This is the tutorial I modeled my sheath after.  I followed most of his instructions. Instead of using Acetone, I used water; and instead of dipping the sheath in the wax, I wiped the sealant on. It won't be as waterproof, but it should work.

      I found leather at a little leather goods store in Buffalo. It is called M. Steffan's Sons, Inc. . I was very pleased to be able to support a local business!  The lady was helpful and friendly. She supplied me with leather, thread, leather sealer, and lots of advice.

        I used vegetable tanned leather that was about 3/16 in thick and sewed it with waxed linen thread.  After sewing it, I got the sheath wet, making it pliable, wrapped the knife with saran wrap to keep it dry and prevent the sheath from shrinking too tightly around it, and then slipped it into the sheath.  Using a spoon and my fingers, I molded the sheath to my knife, and set it aside to dry.  After about two days, the sheath had dried into a stiff shell. I was then able to take the knife out with the sheath retaining its new shape. Since water will make the leather pliable again, I waterproofed it by heating it up, and rubbing Sno Seal into it until it darkened into a nice brown.  

The front of the sheath.

The back with belt loop.

The back edge.  You can see the three layers of leather: the two sides, and the welt.  

The front edge. You can see how it was shaped to the knife.

Side by side....