Category Archives: Review

bikepacking, GPS, Just The Facts, Review

2016 Shore-Footed Tour – Just the Facts

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Here’s what I brought for the ride- for better or worse. YMMV.

Bike:

1984 Schwinn High Sierra (additional braze-ons for extra water bottles), with a Shutter Precision front hub connected to a portable battery pack that charged our phone and lights. Dirt Drops, Selle Anatomica saddle, 2×8 gearing, Soma Portuer rack and the heart of a champion.

Bags:

I used the J&H Bags Calzone frame bag and a prototype Roma Daypack, for when I needed to carry stuff off the bike. Now, to be completely transparent, I am half owner of J&H bags. So there you go, don’t say I didn’t tell you. That being said, they were awesome, worked perfectly, are the best bags I’ve ever owned, and reminded me how handsome I am and that I should ask that cheerleader to the prom because she’d say yeah sure. True Story.

My saddle bag was custom Swift Zeitgeist (not to criticize, but it didn’t compliment me once). And my stuff sacks were Sea to Summit.

Electronics:

My phone & charger, as well as a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 (my good camera was stolen, bummer) and a large backup battery. Also, some bike lights and a headlamp.

Clothes:

So here’s where things could’ve gone wrong. We were expecting warm-to-hot weather, so we brought shorts, t-shirts, light jerseys,etc. What actually happened was three 36 degree mornings in the Pine Barrens. Here is what I brought, because I always over-prepare:

  • 5 T-Shirts
  • 4 pairs of underwear
  • 2 pair padded cycling shorts (that I wore 95% of the time)
  • 1 short sleeve lightweight merino wool jersey (that I wore 99% of the time)
  • 1 complete merino wool baselayer, long sleeved shirt and full length pants (AKA, a total fucking lifesaver)
  • 1 long sleeve merino wool jersey
  • 2 pairs of cargo shorts (no, I don’t care that these are dad shorts; ride 200 miles in cutoff jean shorts and get back to me, hipster)
  • 4 pair of wool socks (that I doubled up on a morning or two)
  • 2 pair of gloves (in case 1 got wet)
  • 1 beanie
  • 1 cycling cap
  • 1 light rain jacket
  • 1 towel
  • a bunch of handkerchiefs
  • sunglasses

Kitchenware:

  • 1 pot for boiling water w/ lid
  • pour over coffee funnel w/ filters
  • esbit stove and 8 tabs
  • 1 silicone mat (2 would’ve been better)
  • titanium spork
  • 1 lighter
  • 3 Waterbottles (2 regular size, 1 large Nalgene)

Food:

There were stops along the way, so we knew we could carry a fairly light load in this department. This was mostly breakfast and road food. That being said, I still carried too much.

  • 1 box of instant oatmeal packets
  • 8 Kind bars
  • 1 large bar of chocolate
  • 1 small container of non-dairy creamer
  • 1 pound of ground coffee
  • 1 container of honey
  • 1 pack of beef jerky
  • 1 bag of cashews

Shelter:

  • 2 person tent, that I can fit my gear into. I’m actually looking to go a little smaller and lighter next time around
  •  3 season sleeping bag (again, looking to replace it, as it was a little too small to sleep in comfortably, not that warm and overly bulky)
  • Thermarest sleeping pad

Route GPS files (download these for your favorite GPS platform):

Shore-Footed Tour GPS

exploration, photography, Review, Uncategorized

Under Your Nose

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There is a lot of writing about adventures in far away places, using only the finest of bicycles and camping equipment.

This is not that kind of writing.

Currently, I live in North Philadelphia. Philly has many virtues, one being some noteworthy and well used mountain bike trails. However, this isn’t about that either. This particular article, much like this blog, is about finding the hidden treasures and carving out something from the routine, easily forgotten or taken for granted.

Off Richmond Street, is a small network of singletrack that is really nothing special, though its paths hide some truly great concrete ruins (e.g. fertile graffiti grounds), as well as a wharf. Mostly, the locals and a few homeless are the only ones to take advantage of this, and honestly, the on-going construction probably makes it seem inaccessible to the casual observer. It’s a pretty fun little ride. How many MTB trails do you get to see street artists at work, as well as a place to get some sun near the water?

The equipment I used for this short adventure: The Gravity Deadeye 3” fatbike, converted to a 1×8 configuration (more on how to do that, and a review later). The photos for this entry were shot with a Samsung NX100. The reason I mention all of this is… none of this equipment is unattainably expensive. In fact, one could have a substantial adventure using little more than this and that’s the point. Arthur Ashe said, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” I think there is true nobility in that idea. This blog, while it will certainly review items and offer “how to” articles, will hold to one philosophy over all others: Run what you brung.

DIY, Review, Vintage MTB

A Review (kinda): The 1984 Schwinn High Sierra

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Vintage mountain bicycles have a special place in the cycling ethos, and for good reason; they are, categorically speaking, the most versatile, fun and easily maintained of all the species. With that said, I’m going to write a review (kinda) about a bike that’s 30 years old and nowhere near stock.

This particular High Sierra has been my commuter, touring bike, get away ride and general all-rounder for a little over a year. I’ve had this one modded to accommodate more water bottles and built it up to my specs (more or less). It’s been crashed, hit by a car (in all fairness, so was I), pedaled into the darkness and pedaled into the sunrise. My current set up is dirt drops, 2×8 drivetrain and a front rack (the Soma Portuer, to be specific). It’s had both cruiser and bullmoose bars in the past, but this setup is my favorite so far. I’m really digging the Soma Junebug handlebars!

Enough about equipment for now. Let me get onto what makes this bike truly special. It’s comfortable, rugged, old enough to know better and young enough not to care. It’s got character. From the almost non-existent paint, to the custom light mount, to the “well loved” green bar tape and the fact that I’ve been using the same low end MTB tires to commute on since I built it up; it’s pure class. This bike is like that one guy at the cafe that is wearing a flannel shirt and a beard, but you can tell if it’s in ernest and he actually chops down trees for a living. Cool, in the most obvious but unnoticed of ways.

The moral of this story is, don’t underestimate that old High Sierra, Stumpjumper or Singletrack. These are all formidable “shred sleds” if I may use the kids’ vernacular. And while you’re at it… 5, 6, 7 and 8 speed drivetrains are totally “radical” as well.

I have some nicer, lighter bicycles, sure. But this one is home.