Topeak Tourguide Handlebar Bag–Mini-Review

Topeak Tourguide

I have used this bag a couple of times now and like it so far.  It holds everything I want it to with room left over.  It opens and closes easily while riding.  It attached to the handlebars easily and securely, but is easily removed when I want to take it with me.  It has a map case that stays put and will hold a full standard sheet of paper.  And, it has an ok amount of reflective tape on it.

Not really much else to say–it’s a handlebar bag–it works like it should–it does what I want it to–so far, so good.

Google Maps to Garmin GPS Tool

While waiting for a storm to pass so I could go for a ride I found an online tool that will take a map that I save in the My Places section of Google Maps and upload it to my Etrex.

This tool, called  TakeitWithMe is actually pretty simple to use:

• You Create a map in Google Maps
• Save the map to My Places
• Select the map you want to export to your GPS
• Clink on the link icon
• Copy the url you’re given
• Paste the url into the space given at Takeitwithme (next to the load my map button)
• Click the Upload to Garmin GPS button

The app will then search for your GPS and export the map.

In the Etrex 20 you find the imported map in the Route Manager.  The sections of the map imported are listed as separate routes which are based on the points you give when creating the map.

For instance:

I used the map below which I created for my upcoming trip entitled Ron’s Spring Fling.

On this map you see five points which cover four sections:

1. Home to Summit Lake State Park (End of Day 1)
2. SLSP to Gaston (the end of this section of the Cardinal Greenway)
3. Gaston to Mounds State Park (End of Day 2)
4. MSP back home (Day 3)

The reason for having five points for four segments is that I wanted to extend the section from Summit Lake to Gaston a little farther than the route generator in Google had originally given me, so I pulled the route east to where I wanted to connect to the Cardinal Greenway this created a separate point, but not a separate section.  I did this after the route had been created.  Had I done it before deciding on the final destination for the section as Gaston the route creator would have made it a separate section.  If this explanation is confusing, feel free to ask questions and I will try to clarify it.

Since Google separated the route into four sections the takeitwithme app exported four separate routes to the Garmin.  All I then have to do now is find the section I want, select it, and it will show up on the Etrex map.

To use this app I select the route or section that I want to use and the app overlays it onto whatever map I have loaded into the Etrex.  I then pick a point on the map and click “go.”  Now as I ride I can see all of the points created on the original Google map displayed on the Etrex’s map, along with position and my trail.  I used this app with a shorter map following a known route to a known point, and it works great.

In use I don’t receive turn by turn directions per se as I would on an automobile unit, but I can see where my next turn is and if I have missed it.  This will help keep me from getting lost on unfamiliar roads out in the middle of nowhere, and if I am paying attention, should keep me from having to do a lot of backtracking to find a missed turn thereby adding unnecessary miles onto an already long day, which is something I have done more than once in the past.

Note:  The route overlayed is the GPX data from the Google map not the actual map.  So, you get all of the points from the Google map such as direction changes, but they are placed on the map you have in your Garmin.  For instance:  I still have the “worldwide basemap” in my Etrex.  As I mentioned in my review of the Etrex this map lacks any real detail, so many of the roads which are on the route do not show on the Garmin, but the intersection/turn points from the downloaded Google map do.  I am putting aside money to get the better maps for the Garmin, and will hopefully have them before my trip, but even if I don’t the printed turn-by-turn directions combined with my being able to see where I am in relation to where the turns are should prove helpful.  The problems with this would come into play if I have to re-route due to construction or such, though with the generated waypoints it will be easier to get back on track than it would have been without the points.

A few notes on creating the initial map:

When I originally exported the map I used here from a route I created at RideWithGPS Google maps named the segments. The directions I printed out for my use were from the original map I created before I imported it to Google for embedding in this blog. While the Google-naming of the segments didn’t cause issues for me initially, once I exported the map to my Garmin I noticed several “routes” that were redundant or basically nonsense. This confused me at first, so I went back and looked at the map as it was in Google.

I noticed that Google had created some of the segments twice, and in some cases divided the segments into pieces then into a whole segment. So, I went into the edit mode for the map and removed all of the redundant segments and segment pieces; renamed the segments to make them easy to identify; re-saved the map; then exported the map to my Etrex again. When I exported the edited map it overwrote the first map and I ended up with a map which was divided into the proper segments and were named so I could easily find them.

The point here is: if you use this app make sure you have gone through the original map, cleaned it up and/or edited it in a way that will make it understandable to you after you export it. This may involve some trial and error so do it with a map that isn’t important so you can play around a bit. For me it wasn’t as confusing as it may sound here, and even if it is a little frustrating for a while try to remember that the map created and the app exporting it to your Garmin are both free.

One other potential issue I have noticed since I started playing around with this is that you can use only one route created this way at a time.  Even if you try to add a totally different route it will overwrite whatever takeitwithme route you have previously downloaded, because it seems to identify all routes the same.  For instance:  I tried loading the short map I mentioned above, and instead of letting me put both maps on the Etrex the app overwrote the Spring Fling map.

This issue isn’t that big of a deal for a route of a few days or few hundred miles, because you just create and then download the entire route as one map.  As long as you have created each day’s stopping points you will get routes for each day, like I did for the map used here.  However, I think if you wanted to download a really long route broken into daily segments or an unusually complicated route, the resulting “segments-as-routes” feature could become a bit unwieldy as you have to name each segment with the edit feature in Google maps.  It would still work, but would involve a lot of planning and editing.

Despite the few issues I have found with the takeitwithme app I still think that it is a useful tool for creating routes then downloading those routes to my Garmin.  As I find other similar tools I will bring them to your attention.

Packing List-Ron’s Spring Fling

Here is my packing list for the upcoming trip.

For this trip I have decided to try using all panniers instead of taking Mule along.  I have been avoiding this type of cargo-carrying due to a lack of a front rack, which has been taken care of, and Bertha’s having 32 spoked wheels, which I have been leery of using under fully loaded panniers.

When I’m using Mule only about 15% of the cargo weight is on the rear wheel and the mechanical advantage offered by the trailer’s wheels means less effort to pull the same amount of weight, however there are added risks for flat tire and a little less maneuverability plus added torque on the left side of the bike’s frame.  I had planned on getting a set of 36 spoked wheels for their increased strength anyway, so I thought I would test the all-panniers route to see which method I liked better.   I’m hoping that since this trip will be relatively short (around 160 miles) and fully on pavement my current wheels will be okay.

The list here is an adaptation of a list I have been using with a trailer.  Basically, anything listed as packed in a rear pannier or the rear rack would normally be carried in Mule.  Also, some items I carry in the Winter i.e. a down jacket, and insulated pants, aren’t on this list.

I have also left out the water filter I usually carry when I’m not planning to use campgrounds, or am touring in the winter when water sources in campgrounds are often shut-off.  The carrying of a water filter goes back to my hiking/climbing days when carrying a 1 pound filter was far better than carrying extra water at 8 pounds per gallon.  To me, this concept equally applies to bicycle touring.

The front panniers I’m using on this trip are my new Ortlieb Front Rollers.  The rear panniers are an old set of Axiom Seymours that I have been using for commutes and groceries.  The Axioms are far from Ideal for this type of trip:  they aren’t fully water-proof so everything in them is also in a waterproof stuff-sack; they are a little small-they hold what I need them to, but without the extra room needed for a longer trip; and they don’t fasten to the rack as securely as I would like.  If I like the all-panniers setup I will get some better rear panniers, probably Ortlieb Rear Rollers and a Rack pack, which seems to be a solid weatherproof setup.  They also seem to be a $200 setup meaning I would need to sell another $200 worth of stuff to go the all panniers route, so I want to make sure I would prefer that kind of set-up over using Mule before I start laying down the cash.

The handlebar bag is a Topeak Tour Guide that I got from the sale of some old camping cots.  I like the pockets, map case , and size of this bag and really like the ‘fixer 8’ attachment for electronics (gps, computer, phone, etc.).  I haven’t used it on any long trips yet since it’s new, so we’ll see if it performs as well as I hope.  I have been using a small KOKI handlebar bag for a few months now, and love having things like Cliff bars, gels, phone, camera, etc. accessible while I’m riding without these same items being tucked away in various pockets.  I don’t like that a handlebar bag takes the spot where you would normally mount a front light, but I’ve found that with the right mount, and some ingenuity this issue is easily resolved. (I have also been eyeballing a Danish company’s battery free light setup which mounts on the fork crown)

Updated Cockpit

Anyway, to the list:

Packing list Warm weather– no-trailer

Item  [i.e. Bowl](where carried [i.e. RFP])

RFP=R front Pannier–LFP= L front pannier–RRP=R rear pannier

LRP=L rear pannier–HB=Handlebar bag–Rack=rear rack platform

Eat-(Food, Drinks, Kitchen, etc.)

Stove and fuel(RFP)

Bowl(RFP)

Spoon(RFP)

Vacuum bottle(RFP)

Nalgenes(1 ea RFP,LFP)

Water bladder(RFP)

Coffee(RFP)

Food(spread among RFP, LFP, LRP)

Grocery (Garbage) bags(LFP)

Sleep-(Gear for Sleep, Hygiene, Medical, and Off-bike activity)

Tent(rack)

Sleeping Bag(RRP)

Sleeping pad(in tent bag)

Reading Glasses(HB)

Toiletries: Soap, Deodorant, Tooth paste, Tooth brush, Mouthwash[small bottle], Fingernail clippers, Comb, Sunscreen(Stuff sack LFP)

Baby Wipes(LFP)

Wash rag(LFP zip lock)

Towel(LFP)

Camp clothes for off days:  Pants 1 pr, Shorts [ # varies on length of trip], Base layer [# same as shorts](LRP- All clothing not being worn except rain jacket is together in a stuff sack)

Medications(LFP w/toiletries)

Sandals for showers and off bike excursions (LRP)

Paracord 50 ft.- for clothesline, hanging food, various other occasional uses (small stuff sack LFP)

First aid:  Band-Aids assorted sizes, Tylenol [small bottle], Antibiotic ointment, Antacids[small bottle], Gauze pads, Tape, Steri-strips(stuff sack LFP)

Wrap around Knee brace(LFP)

Ride-(Gear for Bertha and for Me while Riding)

Panniers(Racks)

Handlebar Bag (handlebars)

Bike(under butt)

ID, Debit card, Credit Card, Cash, Parks passes(HB)

Road ID Bracelet(arm)

Bike tools:  Multi-tool, Assorted Allen keys, Small crescent wrench, Presta/Schrader adapter, Zip-ties, pocket knife(Stuff sack LFP)

Water bottles(Frame)

Glasses(HB)

Bike shorts(LRP)

Chamois butt’r(with toiletries)

Jerseys-t shirts(LRP)

Long-sleeve jersey(LRP)

Socks-1 pr. per day(LRP)

Shoes(body)

Spare parts:  tubes, Derailleur cable, Brake cable, Quick link, Spokes and nipples, Patch kit, Spare fender and rack bolts(Stuff sack LFP)

Front light(HB)

Rear light(frame)

Helmet(head)

Frame pump(frame)

Lock(HB)

Maps/directions(HB)

Kitchen sink(home)

Worries and concerns(home-next to sink)

Bike food: Clif bars, gels, electro. Powders(HB)

Notebook and pen(HB)

Rain Jacket(LFP)

Electronics–

Phone(HB)

GPS(frame)

MP3(body)

Rechargeable AA, AAA Batteries(stuff sack LFP)

SPOT locater (Arm- I carry it here because I could be separated from the bike, but  if separated I’m from my arm I have a big problem)

Fuse(rack)

Cables and adapters(w/batteries LFP)

Camera(HB)

Pile for Spring Fling

So, there we have it.  It really looks like a lot on paper (or screen), but isn’t that much when packed down.

The Pile all Packed Up

Altogether, the bike weighs 88.4 pounds fully loaded:  Bike-37.2 pounds, Gear and Bags-51.2 (including a gallon of water).  Throw in my 145 pounds and  Bertha, all our gear, and I weigh 233.4 pounds.  A good bit of weight, but I have heard of heavier.

Loaded and Ready to Roll

As with all lists like this, I’m sure there are things that some people think I should add or remove.  A lot of my ideas about what and what not to take were developed from similar packing lists I had for hiking and climbing trips, so some people will feel I am carrying too much, others will think I’m not carrying enough, and still others may think my choices are down right odd.  If you have any suggestions, questions, or comments about this list or any of the items on it I honestly welcome them, and am always open to ideas that will make my trips more enjoyable.

Cycling Indianapolis-A New Site

Indy Ride Guide

Since Bertha and I live in Indianapolis (for now) most of our time spent together is also in Indianapolis. Most of our training, and recreational rides are here in the city, and all of our commuting errands are through the city. In short–the vast majority of the miles we rack up together are in and around Indianapolis.

While I consider all of the miles Bertha and I cover together  training for the Great Escape, not all of the observations I make during our urban forays have a lot to do with it. In my surfing I treat touring and riding around town as separate topics, except where the latter is training for the former, so I figure that posts concerning one but not the other would be better if separated for different readers e.g. two separate blogs. So, I’m considering starting a separate blog that will focus solely on cycling around Indianapolis.

For topics that span both areas (ex.- equipment used for both touring and commuting) I intend to simply copy the post and put it in both places. For posts that are particular to a specific area (i.e. packing lists for touring, observations about a local bikeway) I will simply put them in the home which best suits them. My hope is that this separation of topics will keep this blog from wandering into areas that don’t interest its readers, while at the same time give readers interested in rides around the city, but not long rides through the state or country a place to find information helpful to them.

For those interested I will place a link to the Indycentric blog at the bottom of this post as soon as I work out the format and get it started. Hope to see you there.

edit:  For anyone interested–The Indianapolis Sans Motor site is up and running.

My First Ortliebs

Once again I have transformed a bicycle I no longer ride into equipment for The Great Escape. This time a single speed that I had built-up from an old 70’s Huffy Scout sold on Craigslist and the money, in part,  went toward a Tubus Ergo front rack from CycloCamping.com to carry the Front Rollers I got from my last bike sale.   I got the panniers at REI because with my 20% members coupon and some of my dividend from last year they came out to just over $80, which is half-price. I got the Ergo from cyclocamping because they had it on sale. Daddy loves bargain prices.

I have been wanting a set of Front Rollers since last Thanksgiving. Since the death of my wife family holidays are a bit rough on me so Thanksgiving weekend has generally become a time of travel. In the past my children and I have used that weekend to visit St. Louis, go Mountain Biking in Tsali in N.C., go rock climbing in Red River Gorge, and go camping in the mountains all over western N.C. This past year both children had plans with friends, so on ‘Black Friday’ I loaded up Bertha and Mule and rode out to Mounds State Park for the weekend.

Since the highs that weekend were in the low 30’s and the lows below 20, I needed extra space to carry bulkier winter gear so I used some cheapo rear panniers and a rear-rack trunk-bag to carry road fuel i.e. water, cliff bars and gel packs; emergency supplies i.e. first aid, and tubes and tools; as well as layers that changed during riding and stops.

During the rides to and from the park I noticed an occasional ‘shimmy’ of sorts from Bertha’s backside. After checking the spokes, wheel and tires and then doing some research when I got home I came to the conclusion that the problem was Bertha’s backside being too heavy in relation to her front, which caused her to ‘shimmy’.  I’m told that this is a common problem for ladies like her.

Since the accepted weight distribution for gear on a touring bike is 60% front and 40% percent rear to account for the distribution of the rider’s weight I came to the conclusion that I needed to shift the small amount of weight I was carrying in panniers and bags from rear to front. Enter Ortlieb Front Rollers and a Tubus Ergo.

As for the Ergo, it installed quite easily.  I did have to place a few washers between the supplied spacer and the fork to allow more room for the ‘tubular’ shape of Bertha’s fork–something to keep in mind if you are looking to buy this rack.  Aside from this minor hiccup there were no major issues and the rack sits nice and level. I also used some stick-on felt bumpers (commonly used on cabinet doors) to keep the rack from potentially rubbing against the fork. And I used some loctite to keep the bolts from vibrating themselves loose.

Once installed, the Ergo is quite solid.  I was a bit scared about this since it is so light (406 grams or 14.2 oz), but I guess the claims by Tubus about their geometry are well-founded, since I felt no sway and the rack didn’t budge a bit while loaded.  I chose the Ergo over its sister the Tara because it has a little more adaptability for mounting and more options for the lower clip placement on the Ortliebs and only weighs 46 grams (1.6 oz) more.  The Duo simply wouldn’t work because the mounting holes on my fork don’t go to both sides.

There’s nothing I can really say about the Front Rollers that hasn’t been said thousands of times in thousands of other places, so I won’t go into a review mode other than to say I really love these bags. Once I adjusted the placing of the attachment points to the Ergo and put in the correct Clip spacers the bags felt secure and ready for a test ride. So, I gave them one.

(If anyone needs a set of the 8mm clip spacers for Ortliebs, get in touch and I’ll mail them to you)

Berth’s New Luggage

I loaded the bags according to what I planned on using them for: Tools, tubes, first aid, locks, and water in one, and kitchen supplies, lights, and water in the other. This came out to about 8 pounds per bag. There was plenty of room left in each bag which is a good thing as I plan to carry other things in them like rain gear and food when I’m on the road, but I didn’t want to get too carried away until I found out how the bags affected handling. To simulate the tongue weight of Mule (10-15 pounds depending on the load) I put a gallon and a half of water in the old commuting panniers on Bertha’s rear rack. I then took them with me on the same ride I used to test my Etrex.

I know I said I wouldn’t go into review mode, but I want to add my name to the thousands of others out there who have praised Ortlieb’s attachment system.  Once adjusted for the Ergo and attached, the Front Rollers didn’t budge until the end of the ride when I grabbed the carrying handles and lifted them up and off–easy peezy.  Also, due to the roll-top and straps, combined with the attachment system the gear inside these beauties didn’t rattle or shift around while I was riding, which is a definite improvement over the old panniers which tend to noticeably sway when loaded.

As for my only real concern–handling, I was very pleasantly surprised.  It took a couple of seconds to get used to the slightly heavier feel when turning the handlebars at a stop, but once I got Bertha rolling her handling was noticeably better, not worse as I had feared.  She seemed more responsive and ‘solid’.  There are many statements out there about how dedicated touring bikes like the venerable Long Haul Trucker feel and handle better under load, but while Bertha shares some traits and geometry of a touring bike she is classified as an ‘urban bike’ so I didn’t expect this to apply to her–I was wrong.  She felt like a whole new bike, and seemed to love the extra weight up front.  symmetry good – asymmetry bad.

Stopping and starting with the Rollers in place also felt different, but not much.  Like I said before it took a couple of seconds to get used to the steering being heavier when sitting still, but after the first couple of stops I didn’t really notice it anymore.  Though I could see how not evenly weighting the panniers would cause problems.  As for stopping, the extra weight on the front wheel didn’t really cause a problem for Bertha’s disc brakes. The heavier feel to the steering as I slowed down took a bit to get used to, but once again after the first couple of stops was hardly noticeable.

Granted, on this ride I never reached speeds over about 14 mph or did any sharp climbs or descents, any of these things could have impacted my results.  But, Indianapolis is a flat place.  The best hill I know of for such a test is at the northern end of the Fall Creek Trail so I will try this test again the next time I use that trail which means I have one more test to confirm what the results of this test are screaming at me–this new set-up with trailer and front panniers is definitely the way to go for me.