This is new, light and warm. As of this post I have bought it at EMS in Manhattan and brought it home. I’ve yet to take it camping. I can’t wait.
Made in USA
Category Archives: Things
Paul Neo-Retro
I have the Neo-retro(seen above) on the front and the Touring canti on the rear. Seems to be a pretty popular touring bike set up. The idea is the on the front the Neo-retros will provide more leverage and more stopping power, and in the rear the Touring canti will still be a strong brake but also provide a slimmer profile and be less in the way of rear panniers.
Getting my hands dirty removing the old off the rack brakes i could see the low quality of them. Then unpacking these to install, big difference. Even compared to something like a Tektro, the Paul brakes are way better looking. And even though I dont know everything about brakes, these are not difficult to install and work very well.
These stick straight out and away from the frame. The Touring canti stick up and at an angle.
Made in USA
Bondhus L Wrench Set
I bought a 9 piece set but only need the 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, and 6mm for my bike.
I have a Park Tool 3 way 4,5,6 and a little mini 3mm jammy that came with my shifters. The reason I’m bringing these is because the 3 way, or “Y” tool, won’t fit in everything, such as the Paul rear brake spring adjusting bolt. The rear rack is in the way. And the bottle cages, “Y” tools on bottle cage bolts is worse than a punch in the head.
Lesson is, check all the tools you bring fit on all the things you need them.
Cost: about $10 for the set
Made in USA
Park Tool CBW-1
Custom Front Rack In Progress
I took my idea and asked a good friend who has the materials, tools and space to allow me to make a front rack for my touring bike. It’s so cool that I could make this, I’m glad to have good friends.
I made the cuts and bends one day. On the second day and after a quick lesson in brazing I jumped in and started with this as my first project of this type. Right now it’s not much further than the photos show but it’s straight and fits.
Next step is to clean it up a bit and then figure out how to coat it.
I wanted something that could carry front panniers low like my old Blackburn FL-1 Front Rack and also have a top rack over the front wheel like the poorly designed Jandd Extreme Front Rack I wasted money on. I could not afford any of the big Nitto racks.
Previously: Custom Front Rack Idea
Mead Notebook 45-4872
Mead Notebook 45-4872 The Spiral
There were no images to be found so I asked a friend to scan it for me.
Mead, founded in 1846 by Colonel Daniel Mead, made good shit and probably still does. I have not looked into what they have been doing after they moved from Ohio to Connecticut. This notebook is just the thing for me, I don’t geek out about things like this but it says Dayton, Ohio right on it. This is from the 1960’s or earlier because it says Hulman Building. History can be interesting.
There are somethings not shared online. I wrote in a notebook every day on my past tours. Well, not everyday on the sponsored tour but that was a whole different world. On a solo tour my notebook is more valuable than my wallet. Camera, notebook.
I just talked with a friend who did a LA to NY tour with a buddy a couple years ago and he said something about scanning pages of a notebook and printing it as a little afterward project because there are people out there that really like that kind of thing. I always hope that if I write in my notebook it is pure. I think that having in my mind that I could scan it and publish it, one way or another, I might filter things out.
As I think about it more I know that I leave things out already, even in my personal notebooks, because in the back of my mind I know that someone could find it. I don’t want people reading my shit. But I still write. My defense is handwriting so bad only I can read it.
Bought at The Brooklyn Art Library
Cost: $7
Made in USA
Princeton Tec Fuel LED Headlamp
I had a Pretzl, or however that popular brand is spelled, LED headlamp but it would start to flicker like the guts of it were weak and it didn’t want to give a steady stream of light. To the point where I’d used it less often because I didn’t like the light it gave, high, low, twitching in the middle all depending on what mood it was in. That thing was junk really.
This one has a few differences the on/off is a button vs. a sliding switch, and the up/down adjustability is over a greater range. Real high to point up the road if I have my head down while biking or low like aiming right down my nose for reading or such.
Another thing is this is made in the US, the package reads “Made in USA with domestic and foreign components”. I was looking at the pretlzs on the next shelf and they were from all over, France, Bulgaria, and Madagascar from what I saw.
EMS in Manhattan for $24
Made in USA
Manfrotto MTT2-P02
Manfrotto MTT2-P02 Table Tripod
Solid and easy to use. Alternately I have an Ultra-pod II (Made in USA) and have used it with both SLR and point and shoot on tours before. But from that experience I found that I needed something better. The plastic in the Ultra-pod does not keep a SLR stable. Just too much weight, but with a point and shoot it’s fine and the extra mounting options are great.
For shooting with a SLR the Manfrotto wins. 100% metal vs 100% plastic. This is just a bit smaller and marginally weightier. I’m OK with that because I want something that won’t sway in the wind.
I bought this from the B&H store in Manhattan.
Folded Length: 7″
Weight: 5.8oz (166g)
Load Capacity: 4.4 lbs
Cost: $25
Made in Italy
Brunton 9041
Brunton 9041 key ring compass
Not all products from Brunton are made in USA. This is not the only US made item from them.
It is great that Brunton put “Made in U.S.A.” right on the face of this small and simple compass but in their website they do not list that info in item descriptions. I had to email them asking for a list of their products made in the US. Shortly later I did get an email answering my question but the whole thing reminded me of the question I’m always asking when looking for country of origin info in web stores, “why don’t you just say where it’s made!” Companies like this one and many others make some but not all items in the US. It’s my belief that customers would be more likely to buy American if they had that info. And the companies that do both would be influenced to offer more made in USA options. It’s just that not much is made here anymore, and all these companies are scared. But I might be too tough on them, running a company has to be hard. It’s just that I have a higher respect for ones that start US made and stay that way.
I’m not doing anything huge by buying a $10 compass. But on the other hand buying a $10 compass made in China doesn’t do much good.
Made in USA
Polar Bottle 24 oz Insulated
It is not an easy thing to find cycling water bottles that are made in USA. These are and they are insulated. I don’t think Polar Bottle makes a shorter version. I’d need a shorter bottle for my under the down tube bottle cage because a bottle this size would hit the fender or front wheel. Or I might just use that cage to carry my peanut butter.
I had one on my last tour and thought that the insulation was not the best but it did something. Although I was testing it in southern Texas, New Mexico and Arizona in July and August.
Bought from a local bike shop
Cost: about $10 ea
Made in USA
Park CT-5 and CTP
Here is a chain tool.
And here is a spare chain tool pin.
Both good things to have.
I remember the first time I needed to use a chain tool. It was on a single speed bike and I used something on a multi tool. It was not the best thing but it worked. I rode about 15 miles and the chain broke as I was riding up a small hill. I was standing on the pedals at the time, and I hit the street real fast and very hard. I remember that I broke my watch but didn’t hit my head. It wasn’t fun. After that I stopped messing with chain tools for a long time.
After moving to NY and making friends with a co-worker who was a mechanic, eventually I changed the chain on a bike of mine with his Park CT-7 shop tool. Having him lend me the right tool and give a few pointers made it easy to get it right and not feel like I might hit the ground in a few miles again.
Eventually I bought a CT-7 for myself and have used it many time without problems. But on a tour that tool would be too much. That’s where the CT-5 comes in. The mini is just as smooth at pushing a chain pit as the bigger one just in a smaller package.
I tested it when I installed the 10 speed chain on my touring bike. I’m sure it’ll be fine. But just in case I went to a local bike shop and bought a spare chain tool pin, and a spare 10 speed chain pin too. The kind you push in and break off the extra bit.
If I have any chain troubles these things should get me back on the road.
Made in USA
Park SW-0 Black
A spoke wrench. The specific one I need. I doubt I’ll need to use it very much.
Not having one on a long ride would be a mistake. Bringing one of those Park SW7 multi spoke wrenches that weigh three times more is a bad idea too.
Cost: a few bucks
Made in USA
Berries
On this day I was glad to have a spare zip-lock in my panniers. But it wasn’t 24 hours before they were all ate. Then for days my eyes were scanning both sides of every road. I found more but these were the best.
Custom Front Rack Idea
I’m not sure if this would work. Each color is a separate bent tube. I think it would be easier to get the pieces right if none has more than two bends.
It would have attachment plates at the forward eyelet on the dropout and at the mid fork. And a connection at the fork crown.
Also not in this sketch are a few straight pieces to make the top deck give more support.
Ps this is a test post from my iPhone.
MSR BlackLite Classic Cookset
I’ve had this since my living-in-a-van-and-snowboarding-everyday days. The coating is still there, it’s light enough, and doesn’t take up too much space. On a solo tour I’d probably ditch the smaller pot and just go large pot, fry pan, gripper and the stuff sack it came with.
I did use this an average of once a day for two months on my last tour. Still in great shape.
I don’t think this option is still available. I have no idea where it was made or how much I spent on it.
All I remember is I bought it at Kittredge Sports in Mammoth Lakes, CA. about 6 or 7 years ago.
MSR SuperFly Stove
Not all MSR stove are made in the US, this model is. The Pocket Rocket is not.
The Superfly cost about $10 more and is not as small but it has 4 of those things that hold the pan up, vs. 3 on the pocket rocket. And this one has a larger circle for where the fire come out. I think that gives a more even heat, kind of important when making pancakes or grilled cheese or cooking eggs.
I had just finished my touring bike and had a weekend day off that lined up with the opening of a new REI store in Yonkers. I’d never been to Yonkers and REI was giving away gift certificates to the first two hundred people in the store. So I got up early and rode about 27 miles and waited in line about 20 minuets while I ate free bagels and juice then was greeted at the door with a branded water bottle with a $25 G.C. inside.
Cost: about $30
Made in USA