Category Archives: Bike Touring

Going places on a bike for the longer haul.

Prescription for Relief: A Short, High-Rise Stem

Has riding your bike become a pain in the neck? Then take a close look at the bike’s stem.
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by Tamia Nelson | January 29, 2018

Have you found that riding your bike has become a pain in the neck? (Or back? Or shoulder?) If you have, the solution to the problem could require more than an attitude adjustment. You may need a shorter, higher stem. While standover height gets most attention from cyclists when they’re shopping for a bike, reach is important, too. If you have to stretch to reach the bars, or if you find yourself forced into an exaggerated “racing crouch” when you really want to sit tall in the saddle, the answer might be a smaller frame. Or it could be as simple as swapping out your stem.

As luck would have it, I didn’t have to. My Surly Long Haul Trucker had a short, high-rise stem right out of the box. But then I changed my handlebars, and the stock stem wouldn’t accommodate the new bars’ larger-diameter tubing. So I needed to … Continue reading »

It’s a Wrap: A Cyclist’s Tool Roll in Three Easy Steps

Do you have trouble finding your tools when you have to do a roadside repair? Then you need a tool roll. The good news? You can make a custom one for yourself, and it need not cost a cent. Tamia shows you how.
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by Tamia Nelson | 24 January, 2018

When I head out on trips that will take me more than an hour’s hike from home — and that’s most of the trips I take — I carry a roadside repair kit in addition to my seat-pack tools and the rest of my cycling gear.

For a long time I carried tools in my handlebar bag, tucked away inside a plastic freezer bag. This wasn’t ideal. The tools rattled with every bump. More importantly, they weighed in at 2 pounds 4 ounces — about as much as a full quart water bottle. That’s a lot of weight to add to an already overloaded bar bag. I needed to find a better way. Luckily, I always mount a rack trunk or small pannier on my bike for longer rides, and … Continue reading »

How to Keep Your Hands Warm When Cycling in Cold Conditions by Tamia Nelson

Cold-weather cycling can be every bit as pleasurable as the fair-weather counterpart, but nothing can bring a winter ride to an end faster than numb hands. Here are some strategies to help avoid that.

Who likes bicycling with cold hands? Not me, and not you either, I’d be willing to bet. Not only can cold hands be painful, but they are unresponsive. Working shifters and brakes when fingers are numb is dangerous. But finding a way to keep hands and fingers warm and supple on cold rides isn’t as easy as simply keeping them warm. Warmth and dexterity must be reconciled. Mittens are the enemy of dexterity, while gloves don’t always manage to keep the hands warm in slicing cold winds. I’ve always favored gloves, but they’re not as warm as mittens. There’s more. A fabric’s ability to keep hands warm is a function of the thickness of insulation, yet if insulation is too thick, dexterity is hampered and it’s hard to get a solid grip on the bars.

So clothing hands for cold weather … Continue reading »

Surly Long Haul Trucker: There are Many Like it but This One’s MINE

There’s no doubt but that the Surly Long Haul Trucker as been one of the most popular touring and all-rounder bikes on the market, but each cyclist has his or her own requirements to fine-tuning this rig. Here’s how Tamia has outfitted her LHT.
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by Tamia Nelson | November 10, 2017

Special Note For Short Riders If you’re thinking of buying a Surly Long Haul Trucker with a 42cm frame, then you might want to check out “Small Talk About the 42cm Surly Long Haul Trucker,” which answers the most commonly asked questions prospective short-frame owners ask. Just click through the hotlink to get there.

For years I wanted a a Surly Long Haul Trucker, and finally, in April, I bought one. The 42 cm LHT, painted “utility blue,” was a terrific fit right out of the box, and I was pleased with Surly’s choice of components for its steel frameset (in other words, the frame and fork). But like most enthusiastic cyclists, I couldn’t resist customizing the bike—dubbed Petra—to suit my particular … Continue reading »