Problems, Failures and Troubles

Problems, Failures and Troubles

5 flats - 1 from worn out tire - 1 from picky pear cactus seed - 3 from wires worked through tire liner
1 slick tire worn through to the liner - rear slick worn out at 1800 miles - replace with used kobbly fat tire - the front slick made all the way and plus another thousand miles - almost three times farther than the rear - shows the differs that weight has on wear on tires
1 fat tire split - I was over inflating the tire by 5 to 15 LB over the recommend rating - use tent repair kit to sew split together and duct tape it and then used it for a spare tire
grip shifter housing crack - duct tape it and then replace with a used shifter at Tucson - the shifter got crack in shipment to San Diego - mine fault, should did better job of packing bike, I got the smart idea of using sleeping bag as packing material, the sleeping bag moved around and the stuff pack in it came loosed
odometer seal broke and display became unreadable - unable to fix - junk it - should have got new one - they are very handy and I miss it
1 broken spoke - replace it, no problem
seat rail broke at the clamp - replace with new seat

air mattress - the vinyl become stiff from freezing temperatures on the first morning and split - try to repair with crazy glue and duct tape - didn't hold - trash it
cheap wristwatch - stop working and didn't replace
Yeshica Profile Zoom 200 Camera - camera wouldn't load a new cartridge - fortunately this happen near end of trip - got a replacement when I got back home - camera suppose to be idiot proof, right
Third Eye Mirror - the mirror is at a right angle to the temple, so it couldn't be laid flat and thus it is easy to break off, I replace it with cheap bar-end mirror from Wal-marts - I like this better than mirror on glasses or helmet - a mirror is a must have

spoke wrench - the spoke wrench on the Cool Tool is very hard to use
"hyper cracker" freewheel remover - I didn't know this version existed - it is lightweight and don't need all the extra wrenches for when a spoke breaks on the freewheel side of the rear wheel
bicycle pump - you can wasted CO2 cartridges very fast - CO2 cartridge inflator would be OK if you have a partner with a pump

underwear - did OK without
shoe covers - thought I use plastic bags or duct tape instead
cycling gloves - I'm the one person in ten don't need them
insect repellent - I figure to buy some if needed - bugs were no problem on this trip
pepper spray - for self defense and to spray bothersome dogs, I didn't because to be any good you must carry it all time and be in a ready to use position - unfortunately, it's no good against cars and trucks
spare brake pads, chain, brake cable, derailleur cable, eta - put on new brake pads at start of trip - check the cables and the chain
altimeter - be nice to see how much attitude gain or loss done each day
high-tec computer watch - with altimeter, thermometer, barometer, digital compass, eta - be nice, but didn't want to spent the $150 - afraid I would lose it or would break it
Gore-Tex rain gear - didn't want to spent the money
cellular phone - didn't want to wound the experience
digital camera - I check into it, cost to much as now, but will be a good thing real soon - buy no more film, no developing of film, easy to transfer to computer, etc
laptop or palmtop computer - just dreaming

bike pump - get a bike pump - Blackburn Mammoth Mountain pump is the best pump made
better shoes - get a pair of lightweight trail running/speed hiking shoes - light, very breathable and quick drying
better rain gear - lightweight Gore-Tex coat
brighter T-shirts - get a colorful cycling jersey for visibility
windscreen for stove - many times I used piece of cardboard for a windscreen or I try finding a place out of the wind
cyclocomputer - get a waterproof model
drink more water - try to stay away from sugar water

food poison - got food poison in Van Horn TX and was unable to ride the next day, stay close to the john all day - salmonella, I think - felt weak for the next four days
sore lips - from dry air and sunburn - totally clear up when got into humid air in central TX
sore arms - from lying on hard ground
dehydration - staying hydrate was hard, part of the problem was I didn't drinking enough liquid early in the day - when I get to camp, then I would drink to much and my belly would get waterlogged, then you didn't feel like drinking again
sunburn - by always traveling in a eastern direction the right side of the body was in the sun and was starting to burn even with suntan lotion - I duct tape a piece of cloth to the worst spot on the leg - start to wear the long sleeve shirt