my death valley ride report (in progress)

[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

I wasn't riding a Rivendell, but my Surly Troll is steel and has generous tire clearance. I still have a few chapters to write, but there are now four posts to get you started (a little scrolling may be required):

http://hiawathacyclery.blogspot.com/

[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

Note, the first post in the series is dated January 4, 2012, and they get newer as you go up.

[jimD]

Jim,

Great ride report.

I've ridden centuries in Death Valley and it is a fantastic place to ride.

Water is the great challenge.

The place is so dry that I never felt that I was sweating I just accumulated salt crystals on my skin.

Thanks,

JimD

On Jan 18, 2012, at 4:03 PM, Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery wrote:

I wasn't riding a Rivendell, but my Surly Troll is steel and has generous tire clearance. I still have a few chapters to write, but there are now four posts to get you started (a little scrolling may be required):

http://hiawathacyclery.blogspot.com/

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[dougP]

Jim:

Thanks for posting; sounds like the perfect adventure for my
Atlantis. I'm going to encourage a local mutual friend to get a
detailed download from you when he returns from his winter vacation,
sporting a tropical tan.

dougP

On Jan 19, 7:16 am, jimD <rasterd...@comcast.net> wrote:
> Jim,
> Great ride report.
> I've ridden centuries in Death Valley and it is a fantastic place to ride.
> Water is the great challenge.
> The place is so dry that I never felt that I was sweating I just accumulated salt crystals on my skin.
> Thanks,
> JimD
>
> On Jan 18, 2012, at 4:03 PM, Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery wrote:
>
>
>
> > I wasn't riding a Rivendell, but my Surly Troll is steel and has generous tire clearance. I still have a few chapters to write, but there are now four posts to get you started (a little scrolling may be required):
>
> >http://hiawathacyclery.blogspot.com/
>
> > --
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.

> > To view this discussion on the web visithttps://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/6bkkvBKkv5wJ.

> > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com.
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[Tim Whalen]

Jim,

Likewise and I am tempted by the pub bike I saw on your site.  Unfortunately, if I leave Colorado this month I am afraid it won't be in the direction of even more winter.  ;-)

I see that you have looks like a B67 paired with drop bars.  I've thought of the same for my Atlantis and so wonder how you are finding the combo?

Thanks,
Tim

[Smitty-A-Go-Go]

Inspiring posts. I have family in Barstow. The wife, kids and I spend a week or so there (Barstow) every year. I've thought about bringing a bike but haven't gone to the effort to get it there. I was mostly thinking of riding around town and the desert immediately around town, but this has me thinking about s24o or perhaps the s72h mini-tour. We usually spend some time out in the desert off roading with siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles and such, but that's a different type of bike.  

[reynoldslugs]

Thanks for the read, Jim. Death Valley is a great place to ride.
Rode the Roadeo there last March - - 32 mm Schwalbes are perfect for
the alligatored pavement.

Here are some pics from the Hell's Gate 100 - - a lovely venue.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41563482@N06/sets/72157626529502314/

Max B
Sonoma County, CA

[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

Tim, I ride a B67 exclusively, regardless of what type of handlebar or how high the handlebar is above (or below) the saddle. This seems to violate the "conventional wisdom" about Brooks saddles, but the B67 is the only saddle I've tried that isn't uncomfortable (to me) after a long day of riding. I have friends who've tried the B67 or other wider saddles, and hated them. One friend even thinks the B17 is too wide. YMMV.

[Steve Palincsar]

Indeed, your mileage varies as your anatomy varies. They make the B.17N
narrow edition because some folks have narrower rear ends than others.

Some find the B.67 comfortable, others find it the opposite. I bought
one to use on my Kogswell P/R Porteur, couldn't stand it for even half a
block. An old Brooks Team Pro I had laying around turned out to be very
comfortable, but although the saddle was almost 20 years old, it
continued to bleed dye into the seat of my tan shorts, and so had to go.
I now use an old B.17 Honey on the bike, but curiously enough although
it was fine on a drop-barred Rambouillet it's OK for short distances but
not really all that pleasant on the Porteur. I still marvel at how nice
that Team Pro was; by all conventional wisdom it should not have been.

[Tim Whalen]

Yep, few things more hard to predict than saddles I bet.  I've had great luck with a B67 and upright bars so will try with drops. Thanks, Jim.
Tim

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[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

Do it! You could cover a lot of ground out there in 72 hr. All you need is 3 gallons of water and a sleeping bag/pad!

Here's my latest:
http://hiawathacyclery.blogspot.com/2012/01/death-valley-furnace-creek-area.html

[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

Latest post, featuring a Trangia set-up:
http://hiawathacyclery.blogspot.com/2012/01/leaving-death-valley-on-december-27.html