Category Archives: Activities

Always Inspect Your Tires Closely!

REI had 26×1.8 Michelin City tires at 25% off $28. I was worried about my decade-old tires, particularly the fact that at only 1.4 inches, rim damage seemed fairly likely on a tour. I nabbed the last two tires. I … Continue reading

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Nashbar Waterproof Front Panniers

I needed a set of front bicycle panniers for my upcoming West Coast ride. Since it will be rare that I’ll need more storage capacity than my Ortlieb Backrollers offer, I didn’t want to spend a lot of money. Nashbar … Continue reading

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Bicycle Wheel Bearings

I’m looking for replacement bearings for a Shimano M760 XT rear hub. According to Shimano’s technical documents website, it uses 1/4″ bearings, nine per side. The lowest price I found for bicycle bearings was 25 for $4.80 at JensonUSA. However, … Continue reading

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Photo Journal: Dempster Highway to the Arctic

Dempster Highway to the Arctic, Vancouver to Inuvik is an interesting photo journal by David Cambon.

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Rock Climbing Gyms in Japan

I’ve begun to gather information on rock climbing gyms in Japan and put them into Google Maps. This map is centered on Tokyo, but I’ll add gyms anywhere in Japan as I come across them. My goal is to provide, … Continue reading

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Cheap Bear Canisters

Harbor Freight, of all places, sells a bear canister for a mere $29.87. It looks an awful lot like the Garcia Bear-Resistant Container at REI, which sells for $69.95. I’ve heard this bear canister isn’t approved for use in the … Continue reading

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Mountain Bike to Cyclocross/Touring Conversion

I need a touring bike, and I’m on a budget. My old Barracuda AM2, aluminum-framed mountain bike frame is tapped for rear pannier mounts, so perhaps a conversion is in order. As I quickly found out, there’s a lot more … Continue reading

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Finding the Black Rock Mountain Bike Area in Falls City, Oregon

Since I managed to get lost trying to find the Black Rock Mountain Bike Area in Falls City (despite being more or less a local), I thought others might benefit from a clear guide. This follows the route from Salem. … Continue reading

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Ecco Track Elite: Best Boots Ever

The Ecco Track Elite, model 24604, is easily the best boot I’ve ever owned. It’s far taller, and provides much more support, than any of the other Track series boots. Ecco’s soles are soft and comfortable. While this results in … Continue reading

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Bummer!

In addition to my Halloween plans falling through, I just found out that independent hiking on the Inca Trail is prohibited! Since June 2002 trekking independently on the Inca Trail has been prohibited. Regulations state that each trekker must be … Continue reading

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