RoadSkater.Net - Comments for "touring"

Some things have changed but here are some tips

In reply to A2A Athens to Atlanta Road Skate Survival Strategy:

Thanks to Gustavo for reminding me of this. I use a CamelBak brand waist pack that holds about 48 oz I think it is. I really like this pack and am generally glad I've dropped the m.u.l.e. 100 oz. I used to use. If you have tried fanny packs but not a recent model of the CamelBak, give it a look. One great feature is you can loosen the side straps when you fill it, then as you drink the contents, just pull forward on the straps and it keeps it all tight and not sloshing. I got the optic yellow version and I think it can't hurt and probably helps people see me. I have a second pack of the same style and will likely leave it at 38 to pick up, either the pack or just the bladder. Not sure but it's an idea.

A bit Old but I am sure Great Tips for A2A

In reply to Athens to Atlanta A2A Skate Strategy Guide:

A bit Old but I am sure Great Tips for A2A Thanks for sharing. I'll be doing the 52m A2A this year
GustavoAMH

Count me in!

In reply to Tour de Kale Bike Ride Inline Skate June 21st, 2008:

Thanks for mentioning this event and for the great 2007 review. You sold me!

This event is officially on my calendar & now I just have to work out the details. Maybe with your's, Blake's and other's help I can know what to bring, workout carpool arrangements (I wouldn't be opposed to driving - minivan or convertible - whatever suits people best). If you don't mind, I'm going to pass these links on to TSC & maybe heighten the interest/participation further.

I remember reading your 2007 review & if you recall - the downhill speeds really intimidated me, but after some road miles I think I'm ready. Thanks so much eebee, can't wait to meet you and others skaters!

a multi day weekend

In reply to Getting Ready for 2008 Bike Ride Across Georgia (BRAG) on Inline Skates:

So with Memorial day weekend it's the perfect time to do a 3 day trial set. As I've done in the past for this I'll do a 55 mile and 2 40 mile skates. This will give me a pretty accurate feel on how I'll do over the event.

Eeebee, the ice is a trick I've gotten from the runners and something I've used in the past as well. Even though my boots are feeling great the ankles get sore just supporting me that long. The ice will reduce swelling as well as inmprove the circulation and improve the healing of minor tissue damage. I'll also take ibruprofen (motrin) to help conteract swelling from tendon and joint overuse.

Blister demons

In reply to Getting Ready for 2008 Bike Ride Across Georgia (BRAG) on Inline Skates:

That's great - the blister and bone bruise demons are leaving you alone in your new skates. May we all be so fortunate!

I have not measured the individual mileage between stopping points along the BRAG route, and I didn't see it on the website. You'll be going southeast, so extra mileage can't be due to the jetstream or the coriolis effect :-). Besides, since you're going down the map it'll be all downhill too, right?

Enough of that stupidity.

I was curious about the feet-icing idea. Did you not do that before, and what were the consequences? Or is it just a precaution in case you develop some pressure points from your skates?

the avg is 62 miles a day.

In reply to Getting Ready for 2008 Bike Ride Across Georgia (BRAG) on Inline Skates:

the avg is 62 miles a day. it is not broken up evenely though. If I remember this right it's, 55 miles, 66 miles and then 75 miles. off day and then 63 miles 68 miles and 55 miles again. they say total milage is 433 but the math only adds up to 382 miles.

the boots are the Bont Semi-Race and well new is a relative term. In the 6 weeks since i've gotten them i think i'm up to 300 miles. i've already done a 55 mile and a 44 mile skate and even did the Callaway Marathon in them at only a month old.

72 miles/day?

In reply to Getting Ready for 2008 Bike Ride Across Georgia (BRAG) on Inline Skates:

That sounds like a lot of fun, Chuck! Do they break it up into even mileage, or how do they do that?

I was interested to read that you are going to be doing this on somewhat new skates. What type of boot?

I have a ton of questions but I will wait for your next installment :-)

BRAG is a Charity event for Special Olympics of Georgia

In reply to Getting Ready for 2008 Bike Ride Across Georgia (BRAG) on Inline Skates:

BRAG is a Charity event for the Special Olympics of Georgia (SOGA). The rest stops are manned and provided by SOGA.

I'm not so worried about lack of sodium or such since this is such a well supported ride. So far I've never been late for any of the rest stops, yes I've pushed it a close a few times but never past close time.

Typically I'm in around 1 pm, so plenty of sunlight left for me.

The campgrounds are actually typically school grounds, so yes there is access to electricity but it's not a guarantee.

Not many folks have computers on this event. Between the Tent Camping and it being a week long and baggage being stuffed into a truck no one wants to risk the damage. Some folks of coerce have their own vehicles and they do have extras since they don't need the official baggage truck. I like the safety net of being able to charge my own GPS and not rely on the charity of others. Don't get me wrong, there is a ton of charitable types on this event I just don't want to bother them.

Any one that wants to do a day or a few days is more than welcome to join the event. They love us skaters because we actually make them look normal. On the Web site that have "single day" and a "3 Day" (BRAG Lite) options.

The biggest problem here is your never really alone here. Everyone says "Hi" to you as you pass them or they pass you and of course with you on skates they have a 1001 questions for you. It's fun though I get to feel like a celebrity. Although the massage guys hate us; we get tighter muscles than the cyclists do and actually make them sweat as they try to stretch us skaters out.

BRAG is one of those I'd like to be able to do

In reply to Getting Ready for 2008 Bike Ride Across Georgia (BRAG) on Inline Skates:

Chuck that's great stuff. I can't wait to hear more about the training and practice with the gear, then the event itself. Those are some great ideas.

The Energizer phone charger is what you are using for the Garmin I assume? I guess anyone with a computer with a USB port free could charge the Garmin too.

Do you have access to electricity at the campgrounds? I've seen some solar panels at Wal-Mart in the fishing/camping section but don't know if there's any good there for you, since by the time you finish each day there may be no sun left!

A couple of Soy packets from the Chinese restaurants might work for a high dose of sodium in convenient form. Then you'll want to drink Gatorade again! Or mix in some Morton Lite Salt for sodium and potassium...or bring it in a zip bag.

Any tips on packing are welcome here. Most who know me know I used to and still tend to bring everything. Not a great plan for an event like BRAG.

Is BRAG a charity?

It's great that you're continuing this tradition. Let us know what it takes to be ready next year. We have some folk here who might manage to join you if you like.

Skateylove amigo...roadskater

Ground Pepperoni, Lots of Parmesan Cheese, Some Dried Red Pepper

In reply to Bicycle Toy & Hobby High Point NC 2007 Tour to Tanglewood TR Photos:

I had an incredible ride home, as I think I indicated, and as can be seen from the photo of the partially-consumed pie. Once everyone was gone from the bike shop, or close to it, I ambled over to Sir Pizza, scene of many happy visits in a portion of my youth where my family would drive from several miles away for a night out to eat.

click here to see a larger photo

This being usually a once-per-year-or-less treat (at Sir Pizza, I mean, as Elizabeth's on Lawndale is more like once-per-week-if-we-skated), I decided to get the biggest pizza they had, with the ground (not sliced) pepperoni. Once it was ready, I asked for some cheese and pepper to go, but what they gave me were packages I thought would be not worth the effort.

I went into the restaurant eat-in section and took the top off of a parmesan cheese dispenser and sprinkled, yeah varily dumped, cheese among all of the wonderful, hot, pepperoni grease on top of the pizza. This accounts for the wonderful color variations between pale yellow, dark red and the blend, the good stuff. Then I think I added red pepper but I am not certain, and I don't see any in the photo. I may have decided just to taste the creation without the extra fire, as it was tasty already with the awesome pepperoni and other quality ingredients.

I can say proudly I ate the whole thing...but not on the way home. I probably ate 3/4 of the edges or maybe all the way around on the way home, then a bit more upon arrival, and snackies later and for breakfast. Yum!

What was on the pizza?

In reply to Bicycle Toy & Hobby High Point NC 2007 Tour to Tanglewood TR Photos:

That pizza in the last photo sure looks good! I wish I could have joined you for some of it but I was getting pretty sleepy and I don't think I could have. Always fun to see photos of the scenery and the smiling faces out there on the road.

Good Catch and Welcome rueschmike

In reply to Inline Skating the Hotter'n Hell 100 Wichita Falls, Texas:

Hey! Thanks for signing up to post that photo link. I believe you are right and boy look at that road. He's right there finding the smoothest bit he can get. Last weekend we were on desolate roads briefly and opted for the smooth bit between the double yellow lines for awhile...but it was nothing like this I bet. Thanks again. Were you there on a bike? We'd love to know your story.

Great Hotter'n Hell Hundred Photos on TimesRecordNews.com

In reply to Inline Skating the Hotter'n Hell 100 Wichita Falls, Texas:

http://www.timesrecordnews.com/photos/galleries/2007/aug/25/hottern-hell-100/134/

Believe this might be you.

eebee Wins Politenice Award!

In reply to Inline Skating the Hotter'n Hell 100 Wichita Falls, Texas:

Now that I look at it, I think eebee knew all along what johnny meant by 'wider riders,' but was just being nice and polite. I guess I explained something that didn't really need explaining, but it was a line I loved when I read the original post. It sure is fun to be with the cyclists who are working hard to improve and are very appreciative of company on the roads.

I need to see if I can find those photo links of Johnny crossing the line and of his funky survival bag thingy.

wide riders

In reply to Inline Skating the Hotter'n Hell 100 Wichita Falls, Texas:

You got it Blake.

At times I pray for sumo wreslers cross training on bikes.

The backpack was about 3 lbs. I also carry 2 20-oz bottle in pockets.

It was a cool day. 94 F sounds about right. A typical 1pm finish is over 100 F. I over-hydrated and sharpened my road watering skill as result. That's another topic.

Continuously Upgrading to Wider Riders

In reply to Inline Skating the Hotter'n Hell 100 Wichita Falls, Texas:

I loved this line because I have experienced this myself, being a wider skater. If I start near the front, I'm passed by the skinny folks first, and as the day goes on, the riders start to look more and more like my body type. I loved that he considered this an "upgrade," though, since the windblocking was ever better as the riders became ever wider. Those who can stand to skate as slow as me know I block wind pretty well and add considerable momentum to any skate train, ha!

Congrats and thanks for the report!!

In reply to Inline Skating the Hotter'n Hell 100 Wichita Falls, Texas:

A big congratulations to you for making the 100 miler cut-off, and completing 102 miles on less-than-optimal road surfaces. Pickle juice! Good idea for sodium, if you can stomach it. Also, your camelbak must've weighed a ton. You were smart to start slightly ahead to avoid the 40 min traffic-jam.

What do you mean by 'wider riders' after mile 26? They were cycling two or more across the road?

Also, what sort of temps did you have on the day? Looking at wunderground.com stats for Aug 25th 2007 at Wichita Falls, TX, you had a high of 94. Does that sound right? Yikes! An even bigger accomplishment.

Congrats also to your friends who completed the event, and comiserations for their injuries.

the uphill

In reply to My Story: The Assault on Mt. Mitchell 2007:

Hi, its a 32 mile climb uphill except for 2 one mile descents. The last 4 are totally brutal..

Everyone should try to get in on this one if your a cyclist.

I agree, they should have a epic uphill for skaters!

Congrats on your Personal Best!

In reply to My Story: The Assault on Mt. Mitchell 2007:

Thanks for posting this! That's one heck of an achievement. I have a dumb question (I'm not that familiar with the Mt. Mitchell area, and I'm not a cyclist): is the 32 mile climb really climbing all the way, or are there any brief, steep or dangerous downhills in between?

Sigh. I wish there were an event like this for serious inline skaters, with climbs like that. Of course the summit would have to be the end, as downhills would be prohibitive, but that's ok!

Congrats again on your new best time and keep us posted on your training progress for next year, plus any other race reports you have this year...

Glad You're Back

In reply to T2T Elon Bike Shop Training Ride:

I am so glad your back on the road Jack. I wish I had some time to get out there with you some time. Maybe if it would cool down some I could.

Craig

Brakes are a lifesaver

In reply to Give Yourself a Brake...For Your Inline Speedskates:

I didn't realize until the Tour de Lions that they made heel brakes for speed skates. After having witnessed first hand their ease of use and definate advantage, I purchased one as well as the gatorstrap from Mark at Gatorbackskate.com.

This setup has kept me out of trouble more than once in the last couple of months since i purchased them. I have more confidence to go out on the highways now since I have a more reliable way to stop and am not wearing massive flats on expensive wheels. If you share the roads with cars or explore new roads that come upon hills or stop signs unexpectedly, you could benefit from the security of a brake.

GatorBrake availability . . .

In reply to Give Yourself a Brake...For Your Inline Speedskates:

It appears that to buy a GatorBrake, you actually can't buy it through them any more but through SWAT, www.ntsk8.com, under accesories. I don't know what other frame/wheel sizes it fits other than 100mm.

I had the GatorBrake mounted on a K2 frame. For the short time I attempted to use it, it appeared to be of excellent quality. I needed the Gatorleash in order to use it though. The leg strength needed to use a heel brake on a 12.8" frame was beyond me without the leash. Leverage definitely speeds up the process even more, Mr. Roadskater. Try it; you'll like it!

Also, on www.gatorbackskate.com, it seems as though they are sold out of frames, but expecting to have 110mm frames with a built-in heel brake. I shudder to think what that would be like to rein in without a leash. Get the leash while you're at it!

I am no expert on brakes but rather more of an equipment "geek". It is "pancake" flat in my world. I had been hoping to use it when touring elsewhere. Proficiency just wasn't happening without challenging practice, and for me, I found the heel brake sticking out the back to be a bigger liability. I can see where someone with more challenging grades than mine would want to go this route though.

Great Service from GatorbackSkate.com

In reply to Give Yourself a Brake...For Your Inline Speedskates:

Ha! The reason clairem has no brake is that she sold it to me! Last year's Philly Freedom Skate finally convinced me I should have a brake, and skatey-mark loaned me one long enough to solidify that thought. Then clairem made me a nice offer on her GatorBrake.

Recently I realized I was about to wear the last of my brake pads down, or well, should I say I was beginning to wear my new brake frame down, so I had to put in an order. I checked out the GatorbackSkate.com website and put in an order for 30 brake pads for $50.

I got great service from GatorbackSkate. The order went in on a Monday night, the shipping label was printed on Tuesday, and I received the brake pads on Wednesday. It couldn't have been easier or faster. I've heard that Mark Farnsworth of GatorbackSkate is making frames now that have a brake pad holder built in. Seems like a great idea.

Meanwhile I've been getting good results from my GatorBrake, and even good comments from cyclists at Tour de Kale who commented that when I took a wrong turn briefly, they were impressed with how quickly I got stopped and going in the right direction. That's all without actually having the pull handle installed on my frame (yet?).

Tour de Lions Photos feedback

In reply to Tour de Lions 2007 Photos:

Teletubbies ---> this way...

http://www.roadskater.net/tour-de-lions-2007/070519101124.htm

Funny!

I liked the 'do and the 'tude in this one:

http://www.roadskater.net/tour-de-lions-2007/070519082840.htm

And I like this one of post-event cheerfulness:

http://www.roadskater.net/tour-de-lions-2007/070519120358.htm

Thanks for the photos. I enjoyed them!

Stingy Is the Squid Word

In reply to TimV Sweeps at Up2Speed 25 mile Greensboro Depot Ride:

It's true, I was less than generous in my offers of samplings to my fellow gastronauts. It is definitely the meal, not the preface. I did, however, offer to go in on the cost of an additional order for our trio to enjoy outside in the warm sun. Yum.

Cajun Calamari

In reply to TimV Sweeps at Up2Speed 25 mile Greensboro Depot Ride:

Oh yer killin' me with all this talk about the squid - stomach rumble. It was so good that those of us who ordered other menu items soon realized we'd made a big mistake! I hope they keep that item on the menu at least until I've had a chance to go back and order a whole plate for myself!

Natty Greene's Cajun Calamari After Historic Greensboro Skate

In reply to TimV Sweeps at Up2Speed 25 mile Greensboro Depot Ride:

Yes, it's true. We did another route development skate this weekend...eight miles at a nice easy pace with heart rate monitor frustrations (more on all these subjects later), and the happy last stop was Natty Greene's. I was intent upon the Cajun Calamari after last week's experience. The homemade potato chips were good and a decent bargain in fact, but the Cajun Calamari was surprisingly great.

The route still needs work, as there are too many downs to stops just now, but the start and finish are in good order. Hopefully I'll have some time to work on the route more soon and then we'll try this as a weekend night skate perhaps...a down2slow skride...a skateylove roll.

It was a really nice afternoon on some really nice roads

In reply to TimV Sweeps at Up2Speed 25 mile Greensboro Depot Ride:

Thanks for the props, Blake. I enjoyed that Sunday afternoon very much. And counting in the riding from home to The Depot and back, I did 38.5 miles that day on a coaster-brake beach cruiser bike, so I had no problem with matching your pace on the 25.5 we did together. It turned out to be a very pleasant outing. And the Cajun calimari at Natty Greene's was also a most excellent discovery that day too.

Please Support SkateStrong, Mark and MS Research

In reply to Free(*) Skating Workshop in Raleigh, NC -- March 24, 2007:

SkateyMark this is awesome. I apologize for not being more helpful in the background on this when you asked for some help, and want everyone to know that you are the one who got this together without even much encouragement! It sounds really great and I'm very happy to hear you are hoping to VIBE this year for the Tour to Tanglewood to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society research and treatment.

This will be a great warm-up for the Eddy Matzger Road Show inline skating workshop in Greensboro NC Apr 6-8 (we need some sign-ups to make this happen!), and a great way to know how much or how little we've done to prepare for 2007 roadskating as spring arrives!

Thanks again for all you do in public and in the background to help people who can't enjoy skating the way we do. And thanks for so much encouragement to me along the way too.

Excellent Idea

In reply to Free(*) Skating Workshop in Raleigh, NC -- March 24, 2007:

Teaching skating proficiency, roping in new skate-addicts, getting cash for those suffering with MS and then possibly some more...it's wonderful! Way to go.