Tag: Travel
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GearAdvent Day 9: Chain Wax
Every few hundred miles a bike with a conventional chain needs to have the chain cleaned and lubricated or it will start to make ugly noises and resist you as you pedal. I picked this pair of chain cleaner and wax based on a comparison review and it works great. After a full cleaning and…
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GearAdvent Day 11: So Many Straps
I grew up in the age of the Bungee Cord – my father being a devoted enthusiast. But today I can report the Bungee Cord has been supplanted in the biking world by the Rubber Strap, borrowed from skiing. I’m not even trying, yet I already have three types of these straps. Some folks refer…
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GearAdvent Day 12: Fenders with Benefits
Just like I didn’t think I was a front rack guy, I didn’t think I was a fender guy. But the Kona came with fenders standard, and I am so glad. I run with them on most of the time, and it’s worth it just not to get that skunk stripe up my back if…
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GearAdvent Day 13: Charging
Since I am counting on my phone for a lot of things, including maps, it’s important to prolong battery life between charges. I took a tip here from an online commenter that suggested getting two 10,000 mah power banks instead of one larger one. Two can be charged simultaneously, plus if one breaks the other…
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GearAdvent Day 14: Lights
For lights I chose the Lezyne Macrodrive 1400+ headlight and Strip Drive rear light, which come together in a kit. My darling bought these for me for my birthday. The wheel of time rolls on. I engineered a way to mount the headlight on the front of the Tubus Tara by using a GoPro mount…
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GearAdvent Day 15: Bert Back Rack
This is my back rack. His name is Bert. Bert works hard and doesn’t make a fuss. Bert is a Chromoly Pannier Rack from Tumbleweed Cycles. Bert gets 11 stars. I was able to delay buying a back rack for most of the summer because I could strap my tent to the back of my…
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GearAdvent Day 16: Pompitude
Bike pumps have come a long way since Hans and Franz made their SNL debut in 1987. Men of a certain age, my age, have to make this joke. With apologies, it’s just required. With that out of the way. Ahem. On the road you have to be able to fix a flat. These days…
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GearAdvent Day 17: Racks and Bags!
At this point we have covered most of the basics for day rides, so now let’s get to the fun stuff. When it came to choosing the first rack and bags, I have to say I stumbled over a solution that I had never considered, with my very old fashioned cycling background. A rack on…
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GearAdvent Day 18: Komoot!
Navigation is one of the first things I needed, especially help finding good rides close to home. For Couch-to-Bike-Camping I had to overcome a lot of years working from a chair, and my physical fitness had deteriorated. I found this app called Komoot which seems to be a bit of an underdog here in the…
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GearAdvent Day 19: Tool Transport
My choice of tool bag for 2024 might be controversial: After exhaustive research, and reading many reviews, I settled on the Ziploc 120 Snack. I shopped for tools and tool kits, believe me. There’s all manner of cool, light, bikepacking tool setups out there from OneUp, Bontrager, Crank Bros, Park Tool, Mineral Designs (RIP). It’s…
The Pragmatic Cyclist 