In Memory of Warmer Summers

Sterling, KS to Larned, KS

Miles: 55

Total so far: 2,295

Sunset last night near Sterling, KS

We are riding touring bikes.  These are different than the average “road bike” one sees at bike shops these days.  It would be rare for a bike shop to stock touring bikes as they are not the lightweight steeds the market craves these days. Featherweight carbon fiber in racing configurations will not hold up to what we are doing.  Carbon fiber can hold a heavy rider, but when touring panniers are placed on a lightweight bike, odd things take place because of the significant change in centers of gravity, and the geometry of the bike.

Sunrise near Sterling, KS this morning - we were already on the road

These bikes are steel through and through.  They have to hold up to heavy loads placed in odd configurations, and treated roughly.  I am riding a Co-Motion Americano Co-Pilot.

Co-Motion Americano

A bike specially configured for touring from the same steel tubing and components used in Co-Motion tandems (a tandem is a single bike built for two riders).  This bike has couplers that allow the frame to be taken apart.  The bike breaks down and fits in an airline compatible suitcase.

Sallie is riding the venerable Trek 520.  This is a model of touring bike that has been around for 30 years or so.

Trek 520

Hers is only about five years old, and reflects improvements in design and components consistent with modern bikes.

Although these have  all the appearance of a “road bike”, the gearing and associated components along with the brakes are actually from the mountain bike world, allowing very low gearing for pulling steep hills with heavy loads.  Both of these bikes have “old school” bar-end shifters that allow room for handle bar bags that will not interfere with shifting cables.  We are running 700×32 Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires.  These are a touring favorite and are pretty bomb-proof.

Our bikes have front and rear cargo racks from Tubus, and our panniers (bags) and handle bar bags are manufactured by Ortlieb.  We weighed my bike the other day on a digital scale used for deer at 78 pounds fully loaded (without the rider, of course).

Maintenance-wise, we’ve done pretty well so far.  I had to replace a freak broken spoke on my front wheel at about 600 miles into the ride (for you mechanically inclined out there, I say it was a freak thing because it not only broke on the front wheel, but it broke inside the nipple at the threading.  My wheels have 40 spokes each so they do not often break).  I’ve had to true Sallie’s rear wheel once, and lube some clicking pedals.  So far that’s it.  Cyclists NEVER like to mention the “F”-word while still riding lest they jinx themselves, but to date, we’ve not had any flat tires to repair.  The credit for that goes to Schwalbe for making such a tough touring tire.

Kansas today

Early morning shadow play

Arriving in Larned, KS; Agenda: Have lunch and go to the pool.

100 degrees? Great pool! (Trans Am cyclists are invited in for free)

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Tomorrow’s ride is dedicated to Jason Curtis Barnett

Jason Curtis Barnett

Jason Barnett was killed by a drunk driver on May 14, 1997.  Jason was from Elkhart, Kansas.  An impaired driver failed to secure his trailer.  It became detached and went into the oncoming lane causing a head-on collision.