Ever since I bought my first touring bike I did not know what brand the rear rack was that I picked up at the same time. The shop gave me a deal on a rack from the discount bin. It didn’t have a name.
While looking around for ideas I found it and learned the brand name it’s from. Beto. Never heard of it but they make a good rack. I’d probably just keep using this but the struts are a tad short to clear the fenders after I move up in tire size.
Ive been back to Brooklyn just a bit longer now than the time that I was away. Finally made a rough line of where I was.
View 2011 tour in a larger map
I made this. I had a need for something i couldn’t find to buy so i had and idea and a friend with some supplies and i got to work. During this racks first tour I crashed in loose gravel twice and was badly doored once. The rack held up fine.
My idea – Custom Front Rack Idea
During build – Custom Front Rack In Progress
Outlier has many items I want to have with me on a long tour. Clothes determine comfort. They keep me warm, they keep me cool, they keep me dry. This tank has a simple classic look. It reminds me of something from the 30’s or 40’s. Plus it serves two uses, I can wear it alone if the temperature is high or if it’s very cool this makes a great base layer.
Here is the story from Outlier.
A sleeveless henley style baselayer, perfect for warm weather or year round simplicity. The Super 100 merino rib minimizes skin contact to enhance merinos natural cooling and moisture wicking performance. For added cooling ability unbutton it down to the sternum. It’s counterintuitive for sure, but we find that it’s more comfortable in hot and humid climates to wear a Summer Merino Baselayer plus a cotton shirt than it is to wear the cotton alone. The New Zealand merino is Super 100 grade (18.9 micron) and Zque certified. Soft, dry and insanely comfortable, a summertime classic for cool layering.
One thing about Outlier, and I may have said this before, they make small batched so some items sell out and may or may not come back the next season. A few of the articles I have are no longer available. When I think about that I’m glad I got in in time because these clothes are the best I own and having them determines my comfort in a positive way. For people new to their products, if it seems expensive, remember these are the best quality fabrics, made in New York, and owned and operated by people who care about their products and the customers who wear them.
Made in USA
I’m bringing one pair of pants and theses are the ones. I thought about bringing my Outlier Workwear pants because I think they have a more durable fabric but I think the climbers are better because they have more stretch. The Climbers are still durable, this cloth has so many good qualities. It’s light, warm, repels water but dries fast when wet and seems to just stay clean after many wears. But mostly because I see myself squatted over a camp stove and these are really good for biking in as well because of the 4-way stretch. I’ve gone on hikes in varied terrain and they never felt encumbering. They fit me close but not tight although I don’t really need to roll the leg up while on the bike.
Like everything Outlier makes, these are the shit. A perfect pair of pants for bike touring.
Made in USA
My last full day in NYC for a little while. I’ll probably be in CT before Monday night.
Today I had a couple few things still to go to storage, but as I was about to go out with it a friend called and asked if I could help him get a couch out of his 3rd floor apt and down to the curb. That was not a bad thing because I did want to say bye. and after we sat down for a cold drink, it was pretty hot out. After I finished the storage stuff. Then when to pol0 for a quick few games. Library to return, Post Office to send back my last Netflix. (still need to forward my mail). Got a juice from Liquiteria. Called some friends. And back home to clean the apt w/ roommate. After that her and a friend and I went to a place for dinner and they would not let me pay. That’s sort of embarassing but maybe it’ll bring me good luck. But really I should have paid for them b/c they are watching my plants.
At pol0 there was a Boston player visiting NY and he’s a friend so I mentioned that I’ll be in Boston soon, he said they play on Wednesday nights at 6pm till about 9. Also offered a place to stay. I didn’t say I was going to be on a touring bike. My goal it to get to Boston and play a game and have a place to stay. Leaving Monday at noon realistically, I should make it.
Later I emailed Portland, ME and Bangor, ME pol0 clubs to figure out the days they play. Within an hour I heard back from both. After Bangor no pol0 clubs till Halifax.
As I type this late Sunday night, it’s fucking raining!
I never expect all the little things at the very end to take so long. I’ve walked from the living room where my bike sets to my bedroom and back about 900 times in the last two days. And up and down the 4 flights of stairs about 90 times. I hope I’m glad to be riding my bike in one really big loop.
Brooklyn Machine Works is a frame builder based in Brooklyn, NY. I have a couple BMW’s one set up for the street and one for bike pol0. Good bikes. The guys are real nice and make a good product. A while back they did a shoe with Adidas, I have a pair.
These look a little funny if you don’t know what they are from. It’s a throw back to some 70’s cycling shoe.
Made in Vietnam
I made some last minute changes to my system of carrying my tent, pad and bag. I was going to shove it all in a large Bailey Works Messenger bag and I had a friend modify some straps so I could cinch it to the rear rack. That would have worked and it would mean I could use the messenger bag as a backpack if I ever needed one. Plus the other little pockets in a Bailey Works bag would be nice for organization.
But then I wanted to get a water-tight sack for my down sleeping bag, and keep it in a sack, in the bag to really keep it dry. I bought a 35L so not to stuff it into too small a bag diminishing it’s loft. But then I was only using ½ the volume of the sack to still get into the messenger bag. Maybe lose the mess bag?
The stuff sack that came with my tent is way too big for the tent so I wanted to get a better fitting one for that. 9L is just right.
The stuff sack that came with my sleeping bag is tiny, as in back backing tiny, and I’m no longer using it for my sleeping bag but it works great for my air pad (that did not come with a stuff sack) and the sheet cover I made for it.
So now I needed some good straps because bungeeing multiple things is not very secure.
Sleep pad and cover in small sack tied to top of front rack. Sleeping bag in dry bag, tent in new stuff sack, Poles in stock pole bag and ground tarp folded, flat underneath it all. This is all double strapped by two “hook release” accessory straps that encompass the whole mess. But it does not look messy. It looks right and is lighter than adding a messenger bag into the mix.
Also bought a silk liner to save the sleeping bag from my dirt.
The only bummer is that I did this all a little too late to find the made in USA options.
All this shit is made in China.
