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@thedoggedcog
The fact of the matter is, there are times where it makes sense to ride a bicycle on the freeway. In some cases, freeway riding is permitted and legal simply because no other roads are available. In other cases, freeway riding is for the convenience of the rider. In the case of Mario Cipollini, he needed the freeway for speed....
Retail propaganda will lead you to believe that Spring is just around the corner. Brewers are putting their spring seasonal brews on tap. Retail stores are selling off their winter clothes and gett...
I’ve never met Al Roker. I do not know Al Roker. Al Roker does not know me. I don’t hardly watch TV and when I do its not to see morning shows. But I do know one thing about Al Roker. Al Roker is most certainly among the baddest of bad asses.
At some point in your bicycle travels you will find yourself coasting up to a line that separates two countries. Crossing borders can be the source of a lot of anxiety for bicycle travelers, but wi...
PedalRound cycling blog
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Tipping Speed - n. the speed below which the bicycle and rider will simply fall over causing great embarrassment to the rider. I can't explain how a bicycle stays upright. Its probably some combina...
This post is not about climbs. But you know....we obsess about climbs. We boast about our climbing achievements. Our rides are measured not only in miles but also in feet of climbing. Champion ride...
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This year was the third annual Bicycling Magazine Fall Classic here in Allentown, PA. I rode the first year, and missed the second. But this
Border Crossing on a Bicycle 2: Money Money Money
If you’re bicycle touring internationally, you may find yourself standing at the border between two countries with intent to cross from one to another. You may get lucky and your destination country uses the same money as your own. But in many cases you will need to change a little money. I've already written about how to arrange your travel documents to make border crossing go smoothly, but none of that does you any good if you're using the wrong kind of currency. This article is the second of a three part series about crossing international borders on a bicycle. Money and how to exchange it...
Image: Official Ecuadorian Currency
Cash Rules the World: Duh. Cash is likely the single most important material possession that you will carry with you on tour. If you need food you will use cash to buy it. If you need bike parts, a few bucks will buy that too. If you need someone to help you, a few rupees of baksheesh might just be what you need to convince them to do so. Even if you lose your passport and travel documents, pay a few bucks to hitch to an embassy and pay a few more to have them replaced. Cash may also be the limiting reagent for your tour. For many a tourist, when the money runs out the tour is over. But if you have the wrong money at the wrong time, you might as well be using Monopoly money.
Image: Monopoly money - which is surprising useful if you're actually playing Monopoly. And please...set yourself up for success and buy the orange properties.
FIRST! Research Research Research: If you read the piece about travel documents, you will recognize this familiar refrain. You need to know what the exchange rate is BEFORE you go to change money. Failure to know this tidbit of knowledge greatly increases your chance of getting ripped off. Where do you find this valuable information? Go to the internet of course. I like x-rates.com. And while you’re there take a look at the stability of the currency. In some countries, the currency is so unstable you may be better off sticking with US Dollars or Euros anyways.
The Black Market: There are a few ways to exchange cash during your tour. The first of these methods is a black market money changer. This could just be a smarmy guy carrying a wad of bills who touts near the border crossing. You can use these guys. I did once because I had no choice. It resulted in a hilarious situation where we both sat down in a restaurant and pulled out our calculators together much to the entertainment of the other patrons. Your results may differ and if you go this route do recognize you're taking a risk. Remember you will want to know the exchange rate in advance as the rates will probably not be posted. I prefer to do the transaction in a semi-public place so my chance of being mugged is reduced. Opinions on this will differ greatly so assess the situation and act accordingly.
Money Changing Establishments: These are small places that specialize in changing money. You may find these in the airport or around border crossings. Some of these are affiliated with banks and some are not. The exchange rates at these houses are generally not great. But they do usually have their rates posted so that’s good. I find that the exchange houses near the borders are good to get a minimum amount of cash required until I find my way to a larger city with ATMs.
Banks: Many of the larger banks will change money for you. In my experience banks generally offer the worst rates with the highest fees. They do offer high security, a posted exchange rate, and ATMs (more about this later). Banks also offer the ability to cash advance a credit card, receive a wire transfer, or exchange traveler’s checks. Fees for these transactions may be high so watch out.
ATMs: ATMs are my preferred method of getting money in a foreign country. The exchange rate from ATMs is generally the best you can find. Bills are usually in excellent condition, but they're also frequently of high denomination so they may not be immediately usable. Using ATM's can also reduce the amount of cash you have on your person at any given time.
Credit Cards: Credit cards can also be used for purchases and cash advances. Just watch the fees. Credit cards charge extra for cash advances and many of them also charge a service fee for changing money – even for credit card purchases – so read your terms and conditions carefully. A great exchange rate doesn’t do you much good if they're taking 5% off the top.
Some Tips:
Do your research for exchange rate and currency stability in advance.
Use your own calculator to double check the rate – particularly if you're changing money at a place that’s a bit shady. Some changers may use sleight of hand or even rigged calculators to put the rate artificially in their favor. I carry a small calculator in my bag specifically for this purpose.
Count your money carefully. Remember you may not recognize the values of the bills and coins as readily as you recognize the money in your home country. Take your time.
Aim to get bills that are in good condition. In some countries, bills in poor condition may not be accepted by all merchants.
Also aim to get a decent amount of smaller bills or coins. In some places it may be next to impossible to use a bill that is even is as “small” as a $20 equivalent. Small bills can be difficult to obtain when using an ATM.
Optimize your exchange rate. If you're in a place where the exchange rate is high, just exchange a small amount of money to get yourself to an ATM where you can get a more favorable rate to exchange a larger sum. This is one of my favorite tricks.
Every time you change money you lose a little, so try to convert only the money you need to make it to the next border.
In most cases, you will get better prices if you use the country’s currency even if merchants accept money from your home country. This isn’t always true so do your research.
At some point in the future, I’ll write about how I like to manage my money on the road. Good luck out there.
Image: Zlotys
Now go out and cross some borders!
The Kamikaze
Last week I talked about my first foray onto Mammoth Mountain. What I didn't talk about was my encounter with perhaps the most famous mountain bike downhill run in the country. The Kamikaze.
Image: Hiking and Skid Marks to the left, instant death to the right
The Downhill Race: Downhill racing is essentially a downhill time trial style race. The timing is sort of like downhill skiing. Racers compete by being timed individually on their runs. Fastest time wins. Modern racers ride bicycles that are designed specifically for high speed, downhill trail rides. These trails are usually very rugged, and the bikes are designed specifically to handle steep drops, long jumps, and embedded rocks of varying size. The bikes are heavy and relatively inefficient for pedaling, but have loads of suspension and stability. They are designed to be literally pointed downhill for maximum effect. The riders of these machines have fast reflexes, fine balance, and nerves of steel. They typically wear protective gear to include full face helmets, pads, and plastic guards for protection in case of grief.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Mammoth Mountain Day 2: That morning started with me at Footloose Sports again only to discover that they didn't have a full suspension bike in my size. As I started eyeballing the hard tails, the shop offered a great discount on a high end Intense Tracer 275. This bike is a 6" travel all mountain bike with 27.5" wheels. The wheel size splits the difference between the more traditional 26" and the 29" and is rumored to possess the positive attributes of both. This bike is a sweet sweet ride and I'm thankful to Footloose for letting me take her out for a spin. I rode this bike all morning, and by afternoon, I was eager to open her up on some faster terrain. Kamikaze was calling my name.
The Kamikaze: As I wrote last week, Mammoth Mountain has dozens of trails serving riders of all abilities. Many of these trails are called double black diamond which denotes a high degree of difficulty. Other trails are just plain old regular black diamond which are allegedly slightly less difficult but still scary as hell to the uninitiated. One of the most famous in the world is located right on Mammoth Mountain and is called The Kamikaze.
Image: Looking down the throat of Kamikaze. And behind me...well...Skid Marks
The interesting thing about Kamikaze is that its not even a trail. Kamikaze is just a dirt road that is used by service vehicles to access the top of mammoth mountain. According to legend, some ballsy bikers back in the 80s decided to race down this road and were able to achieve speeds of over 60 mph. Soon thereafter, pro riders including John Tomac were hauling ass down the mountain for bragging rights and glory. Even today, racers of all abilities go to Mammoth Mountain to test their courage and prowess on the slippery surfaces of Kamikaze. Note that this "road" isn't paved or particularly well groomed. The surface is loose and washboardy. Sure its wide and there are no jumps, but going 60 mph on this road is nuts. Doing it in spandex with a regular helmet and on a 80s vintage full rigid mountain bike is...well...amazing. Watch this video to get an idea of the craziness.
My Ride Down Kamikaze: I have a habit of biting off more than I can chew, but I have almost always considered it to be worth the risk. Kamikaze is no exception. Being on the same mountain as a trophy ride such as this is something I simply could not resist. So one afternoon in late August 2013, I rode my rented Intense Tracer 275 down Kamikaze - one of the most famous downhill runs in the world. To an outside observer, it was a tentative, brisk coast down a fire road on a bike with very hot brakes. But in my world - the only world that mattered to me for those 11 minutes - it was a ride of speed, concentration, and unexpected beauty.
Thousands of riders - many of them the best in the world - had tested themselves to the limits of speed and courage on this very run. I am fortunate to have this unexpected opportunity to coast behind them and appreciate their skill and what they have accomplished.
Opportunities like this abound. When you're out riding take a look and maybe a special or historic route is nearby that you can pedal and appreciate. You won't regret it!
Riding Mammoth Mountain
So I was in California for my wife’s family reunion, but I had a couple days to burn before I head back to PA to join them. My original plan was to cycle down the California coast from Crescent City to San Francisco but those plans were ruined when I learned that U.S. Air’s bicycle baggage fee is $200 each way. My fault for not checking in advance, but come on. That’s ridiculous. So I traveled here without my bike.
After some wishing and washing, I decided to head up to Mammoth Mountain. Mammoth is an outdoor recreation area in the Sierra Mountain range in California. In the summer, there is hiking, cycling, and paddling. In the winter its skis and snowboards. Late August is a good time to visit. At that time, they are at the leading edge of the shoulder season so the trails are not crowded and accommodations are still available.
Since I am bikeless (screw you U.S. Air!) I rented a Norco Fluid - 29 inch full suspension four inch travel cross country rig from Footloose Sports for 51 bucks. Footloose is a pretty good shop, and I think the price was fair. The bike was in good mechanical order, and they were kind enough to put my own pedals on and adjust the suspension. I’m not crazy about their you break it you buy it policy. I understand why they do it, but its pretty easy to damage a mountain bike and sometimes things just break because they are due to break, and I’m not sure its fair to have the consumer so directly cover that. But the shop did say that repairs would be at cost and they seem like straight shooters so it’s probably all fine. And some consumers are downright abusive. Some of the other shops have optional insurance you can buy for $6 that covers most things that would break from normal use on a trail. I think that approach may be better.
Image: The bike at rest in the shade.
The Bike: The Norco Fluid outfitted like this one is about a $2000 machine. It performed very well. It was quick on the climb and handled very well on descents at speed. It was my first time on a 29er and I was impressed by its ability to absorb chatter and washboard. I love my 26” Ellsworth, but I think my next buy will have 29 inch wheels.
The Norco was also equipped with the Fox Float CTD (Climb-Trail-Descend) rear shock. This shock has a lever with three positions. You move the lever to the position indicated by the type of terrain on which you are riding. In the Climb position, the rear suspension is held almost completely immobile for the maximum power transfer to the rear wheel. In Descend mode, the rear suspension is fully active to maintain control as the bike moves quickly over rough terrain. The Trail position is in between for running on moderately level terrain with a balance of pedal efficiency and shock response. I was happy to see that the CTD feature made a huge difference in the performance of the bicycle through the various types of terrain. If I get a new bicycle, I will be looking for CTD as I am already a fan of Fox. In fact I may even look to upgrade my Ellsworth.
The Trails: Mammoth has everything from family friendly bike trails to hard core double black diamond descents. My style of riding falls somewhere in the middle so that’s what I rode. My first foray was heading up from the Village and climbing up the mountain on the following trails - Uptown, Break Through, Lincoln Express, Lower Skid Marks, Juniper, and Downhill. This ride took me three hours so I coasted back down to Mammoth Lakes to relax and eat some lunch. The ride varied from about 8,000 to 9,000 feet so I was pretty winded through a lot of it.
After lunch, I decided to ride again so I took the shuttle and gondola up to the top of the mountain for a beautiful ride down. There is no way to ride to the top of the mountain, and even if there was I didn’t have the energy or time to do it. The ride down was on the back side of the mountain on Off the Top and Beach Cruiser trails. I took a 15 minute break at the Adventure Center and then rode the Downtown trail back to the Village and then onward via road to Mammoth Lakes. I really enjoyed the ride down. The trails are technical enough to be exciting but still very negotiable even if I were on a hard tail. Many of the switchbacks are banked - some even with concrete and these are a lot of fun since you can really lean in hard with speed and keep the momentum up.
Final Words: The 29 inch wheels live up to the hype at least for my style of riding. I also give the Fox CDT rear shock high marks. The trails of Mammoth Mountain and the infrastructure to support the trails and the riders is quite simply awesome. The fact that they support double black diamond riders, families with kids in trailers, and everyone in between is quite good.
I turned my rental bike back in today, but I think I’ll rent another one tomorrow and try to pedal a few more trails before heading back south.
Image: Giant eagle attacking bicycle
In the mean time, go out and find your adventure!
Border Crossing on a Bicycle - Travel Documents
Border crossing is something that most Americans don't need to spend a whole lot of time thinking about. If you're on a trip and you cross a state border you might stop, take a picture, or maybe make an obscene gesture and move on (sorry Texas). But international borders are different. They can be daunting. They demand respect. And I'm not talking about the easy ones like in the European Schengen Agreement. I'm talking about hard ones where maybe the countries don't get along and you don't speak the language. This blog entry is the first of a series of primers on how to cross borders on a bicycle. Note this is geared for U.S. Citizens but much of it also applies to travelers from other nations.
Image: TheDoggedCog. And actually Texas is a pretty cool place if you can avoid the lethal injections.
FIRST! Do your research! Do not leave border crossing to spontaneity or chance. Countries have governments. Governments have jails. Governments can levy fines. You don't want these things, and if you do then stop reading now because this blog isn't for you. You don't want border crossing to be a big deal. When you get there, take care of business and pedal on. Knowing what you need before you get to the border is mandatory. Memorize it.
Image: Buster Keaton
Travel Document Basics:
Passport: You'll need one of these. A passport is a cool little dark blue book that proves your identity and lets the U.S. government tell the world that your international travel is approved by them. Treasure this document. It may be your most important material possession except for maybe cash. You can get a passport from the U.S. State Department. If stuck in a foreign country without a passport, you can go to the U.S. embassy or consulate in that country and get one from there. If there is no embassy or consulate...I'm not sure what you do. Don't get stuck in that situation. Don't pull a Snowden. Know your backup plan ahead of time. Hopefully you at least have some money so you can find the internet, make a phone call, or pay someone to take you somewhere. You did your research right?
Even if you aren't planning on traveling, go get a passport anyways. For one, it really is a cool little book. I wasn't exaggerating about that. But more importantly, it's a government form of ID you can use for all sorts of things like air travel and so forth. And heck, maybe you can capitalize on some cheap last minute fares to Nicaragua for spring break or something. Passports are generally good for 10 years. If you're a travel whore or travel whore wannabe, order your passport with extra pages for all the stamps and visas you will get!
Image: U.S. State Department
Visa: A visa is an authorization that resides in your passport and tells the border official that your destination country has given their approval for you to enter. Some countries require them and some don't. Whether you need a visa is dependent largely on what country your passport is from. Brazil may require U.S. passport holders to get a visa but perhaps citizens from Argentina can travel there without one. But here is the kicker with visas - there is a good chance that if you need a visa, you will need it in your passport in advance of your arrival to your destination country. To obtain a visa just contact the embassy or consulate of the country you want to visit, but know that you may need to surrender your passport for a time which can put a damper on your cycling schedule. There is also a fee normally associated with getting visa and these fees can be steep so be ready. The good news is there are many nations that allow U.S. Passport holders to enter without a visa. Some countries allow you to get a visa at the border station which is also nice. Find this out in advance by doing your research.
Image: newdadsontheblock.com Example visa for India
Entry Stamp: In almost every case, when you do enter the country you will be given an entry stamp in your passport that shows the country name and the date of entry. You may also be given a number of days that you are allowed to stay in that country (that information may already be on your visa). You would be wise to not exceed this number or else face fines, jail, or worse. Always verify that the date of entry is legible and correct or you risk having issues when you leave.
Exit Stamp: Before you leave a country, you should get an exit stamp from the border authority of the country you are leaving. This stamp combined with the entry stamp proves the length of your stay, and may come in handy should you decide to return to the country in the future. Also, verify the exit stamp is legible and correct although in most cases it will probably be less critical.
Image: Travelvice.com Romanian Entry and Exit Stamps
RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH: Again, you should know what you need to get into a country before you show up at the border on your bike and wearing your styrofoam helmet. Learn the answers to these questions:
Does your passport need to be valid for a certain amount of time after you enter the country? Some countries require that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure.
Do you need to have a visa?
How much does a visa cost?
Can you buy the visa at the border or do you need it in advance?
Do you need proof of onward travel e.g. a round trip ticket?
If you are on a bicycle and don't have proof of onward travel, how will you respond to this request? (hint: Try something plausible. Even the truth may work. Tell them you are riding around the world. This actually worked for me once.)
Are there fees you must pay at the border? Note there may be exit fees for the country you are leaving and entry fees for your destination country.
What currencies are accepted at the border?
How long are you permitted to stay?
Where to find information: To learn the answers to these important questions, you can go to a guidebook - Lonely Planet and Let's Go are good ones - or better yet go to the U.S. State Department Website. In fact, while you're there make sure you read about all the dangers in your country of interest so you can scare the hell out of yourself before embarking on the journey of your lifetime. I'm serious. Those travel advisories will scare you pantsless. But read them anyways because they might save your saddle chapped heiney someday. Note the entry and exit information is valid only for U.S. Passport holders. I assume the dangers apply to everyone - including residents of Texas.
Or you can just ask this guy who is - judging by the smile - also pantsless...
In closing, don't panic. People cross borders everyday. Just be prepared and all will go well.
Cycling Terminology You May Not Know - Mulfinger Nipple Loader
For riders on tour, you can rest assured that unless things are going particularly badly, your nipples will be fine. If you do need to twist a nipple while out on the road, you can probably get away with a regular spoke wrench, a flat head screwdriver, a bicycle multi-tool, or even an adjustable wrench. But if you're a hard core wheel builder the tool you'll want is the Mulfinger Nipple Loader. But before I get ahead of myself...
Image: Yubabikes
The Wheel: The bicycle wheel is quite elegant really. A typical wheel consists of a rim, a hub, and spokes. The spokes join the rim to the hub. The spokes are attached to the hub via a bend in the spoke. The spokes are attached to the rim with a nipple. Now spokes are under a heck of a lot of tension, and they probably don't get the credit they deserve. When you're sitting on the bicycle, your hubs are sort of hanging from the top spokes perhaps more than they are resting on the bottom spokes. And while the bicycle is rolling the load is continually being transferred among the spokes as the wheel is turning. That's mighty impressive when you consider how fast a wheel turns. Its like a really fast bucket brigade of weight only instead of putting out a fire they're carrying you and your cargo down the road. But anyways...
Image: 43hardware.com
The spokes are simply screwed into the nipples - only the spoke cannot turn because it is attached to the hub so the nipple turns instead. Turning the nipple adjusts the tension of the spoke and can be done in many ways. The most well known among cyclists is the spoke wrench. These work great for minor adjustments or just good ol' fashioned ruining your own wheel if you go crazy with it. But if you're starting with just a hub, a rim, thirty six spokes, a bag of nipples, and an assload of ambition then forget the spoke wrench. Leave it in your bag, on your peg board, in your pants drawer or where ever you keep it. Save it for later. Right now, your nipples need serious twisting so you should call in the cavalry of the nipple turning world. You need the Mulfinger Nipple Loader.
Image: Efficient Velo Tools
Loading up the nipples: The Mulfinger is ingenious and simple. The tip of the tool is simply inserted into the back of the nipple where it is held on by friction. The nipple can then be poked through a rim and twisted onto an awaiting spoke. A couple twists to get it started is all it takes and then you move on to the next nipple. The following video shows how the tool is used: Mulfinger Nipple Loader YouTube
But why is it called the Mulfinger? I contacted the inventors - Efficient Velo Tools (EVT) - to ask. Jason Domann, the Operations Manager, explains:
The origin of the term Mulfinger is from Brett Flemming's past. The Mulfinger brothers (Freddie and Charlie) were machinists born in the 1800's, and they were Brett's mentors. Charlie was the first real machinist he ever met. Freddy taught Brett how to braze. They owned a place called Tri-State welding and they did welding jobs for Albrecht Cycle Shop in Sioux City, IA where Brett began his cycling career in 1979. They were in their 80's back then, so they're long gone now.
Brett Flemming is the founder of EVT and he is clearly a heavy hitter. I have a Mulfinger in my tool drawer. If you're interested in getting one you can visit EVT or Amazon where they will be available after 8/19.
The Shoulders of Giants: Inspiration sometimes comes unexpectedly. When I started developing this topic, I was sure I was going to end it with a picture of Janet Jackson at the Super Bowl. But respect is called for here. The folks at EVT were kind enough to send me a picture of the Mulfinger brothers themselves.
To anyone who has ever picked up a tool with intent to build or repair, we'd be wise to remember we stand on the shoulders of giants.
Now go out and buy yourself a Mulfinger. Even if you never use it, you won't regret it.
Your Bicycle Metal Lacking Mettle? Find a Welder!
Sure steel is as strong as steel, but sometimes it still breaks. When it happens on tour you will probably need a welder to fix it. Like most things on tour, this can be much more difficult than it is at home where you can ask your friends, thumb through the yellow pages, call in favors, and return for a redo if you get bad service. On tour, your options may be limited to asking strangers and looking around for blue arcs. Both of those methods work and you should try them. When you do find a welder, you can expect that person will without a doubt fall into one of these three categories:
Category 1 - The Good: These are the welders you want to find. They are competent. They are brave. They are fair. Some are even artistic. Their welds are strong. And what they have welded is better than new. When these welders are finished, you feel as if your bicycle has been born anew. Your legs will be stronger. The sun may shine brighter. Butterflies will appear in abundance. If you find a welder like this write it down. You may ride away and never use that welder again, but you'll want to remember what its like to have a repair so thoroughly and successfully completed by someone you've never met and will likely never see again. Oh, and tip heavily. They earned it and you are representing cyclists afterall.
Category 2 - The Good Enough: These welders will get you going. Their welds are ugly, oxidized, but strong. After you get a few hundred miles on them you stop worrying if that glob of solidified black metal is going to fall apart. It won't. Your entire bike will fail before that weld does. It may not be pretty, but heck its - well - good enough. So get on that bike, smile to the wind, and ride on proudly.
Category 3 - The Bad: At first glance, the welds performed by welders in this category are indistinguishable from the welds in Category 2. But there are two clues to their identification: 1) The welds in this category will fail as soon as you have ridden a distance from the shop beyond which you are not likely to return. It is unknown if this is purposeful on the part of the bad welder, but if so that's impressive in its own right; and 2) you will pay twice as much for these welds than you will pay in the other two categories but you will not realize this until at least a month later. In these cases, rudimentary repair materials (twine, zip ties, dental floss, tape) are essential to allow the ride to continue. Don't let it get you down. Overcoming adversity is a hallmark of a successful touring cyclist.
I have little advice regarding how to identify these welders preemptively. You need to get a weld from them and see how it goes. In many cases you wont have a choice anyways. If they are in Category 1 you will realize it quickly. Categories 2 and 3 will be difficult to distinguish in real time unless you know something about welding.
Finally, there is a 1:1:1 ratio of these welder categories scattered throughout the world. Regional ratios vary. Therefore if you need a welder and you select one randomly from the world population of welders, you have a 67% chance of finding one who is at least good enough. When you think about it, that's not bad.
The same applies to doctors, but that's another blog post.
Good luck out there and may all of your metal stay strong.
Images: The Dogged Cog
Special thanks to Phelps Auto in Sanderson, TX for the best welding for a broken bike in 2005.