Author Archives: Rob

About Rob

Bike trail and long distance cyclist and publisher of about-bicycles.com

Fox River Bike Trail Conditions 2010

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I just checked out the construction on the FRT in South Elgin and am starting this blog post for the Fox River Trail conditions for 2010 even though I have not ridden the rest of the trail yet this year. 

FRT Construction

FRT Construction in South Elgin

 

I knew that the South Elgin construction was a major event on the trail so I wanted to check that out before planning any log trips on the FRT. 

I ended up taking quite a few photos and had quite a bit of additional information so I created a new page with the updates and photos (see the link below). 

There is quite a bit of information at the page/link below and in the 2009 FRT Bike Trail Conditions in this blog so I’m not going to rewrite all of that here but I do want to have this post available for additional updates on the Fox River Trail conditions. 

I’ll be updating post this as I ride more of the trail this year but if anyone else has updates on the FRT conditions, please feel free to add comments. 

For the Stearns Road Bridge construction information and photos see:  The Fox River Trail South Elgin Construction 

Thanks, Rob.

Topeak RX Trunk Bag – with Fold-Out Panniers

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I have made my bike bag decision and I am sticking with the Topeak RX Trunk Bag DXP (with the fold-out panniers) that I purchased at REI yesterday. 

I like the size and I love the Topeak QuickTrack™ system to attach and remove the bag.

Topeak RX Trunk Bag Expanded

I was a little undecided about whether or not I wanted to stick with the more compact Topeak “RX” Trunk bag or if I wanted to move up to the larger Topeak “MTX”  bike bag.

For my purposes, I am sticking with the smaller (“RX”) version. I like to keep my bike bag permanently on my bike and for 95% of my riding, I only carry a few items with me. The other 5% of the time I bring some extra things for longer trips (a camera and camcorder, some tools, lunch and maybe a light jacket) and I believe that the RX Trunk bag, with the fold-out panniers should be able to handle this.

Actually, I was not really interested in the fold out panniers until I started to look into them and checked them out in the store. You lose most of the space in the 2 side compartments but with the extra space that you get when you fold out the panniers (or side pockets), I think that it is well worth it.

For those who prefer more space (for touring, longer trips, commuting, etc.), I would recommend the larger Topeak Trunk Bags (the “MTX” is a pretty good size trunk bag that has the fold out pannier option) and/or full size panniers.

If you are not familiar with the Topeak QuickTrack™ system, it is a patented mounting system that allows you to quickly and easily attach and detach the bike bag from the bike rack.

Topeak RX Trunk Bag Closed/Compacted

By lining up the rail on the bottom of the bag with the rail in the bike rack you slide the bag onto the rack until it clicks into place. To remove the bag you just press the yellow clip. It really does work quite well. No more messing around with Velcro straps.

Note: You do have to have a Topeak QuickTrack bike rack if you are going to use a Topeak bike bag but the racks are no more expensive than other brands and can also be used with bike bags from other manufacturers.

Since this bag is brand new, I don’t have any first hand experiences with it yet, but I know I will, in time, and I’ll be sure to update the about-bicycles blog or website pages with my experiences.

I am pretty particular about bike bags and I have learned quite a bit in the process of searching for this one so I have updated the Bike Bags Page on this site with the latest information.

OK, so I am a little partial to Topeak now and I have also favored REI a little too, but having preferences and making honest and helpful (hopefully) recommendations are part of what this site is about. 🙂

I’m sure I will have more on this topic soon, but that’s it for now.

Bike Bag Decisions and In-Decisions

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I am in the process of updating my bike bag and it has been quite a process due to the bike that I ride and my own in-decisions on which bag I want.

For many years I have just used a handlebar bag attached to the back of my seat. I don’t have a lot of space on my handlebars and it fits behind the seat and allows me to carry at least a small number of items that I need.

This year I had decided to finally get a rack and trunk bag setup which I had been looking into for quite some time now (although I will be updating this page very soon, see Bicycle Bags on this site for some good information and online resources for bike bags)

My own particular needs are primarily to have a fairly compact bag to carry some essential items on everyday rides but also be capable of handling larger loads for longer trips (or even utility rides to the store, etc. for small to medium sized items).

I had decided on a trunk and rack system, but the bike that I ride is a racing bike (Trek 1500) and therefore is not designed for luggage racks. 🙁 My bike does not have the threaded holes in the frame that allow you to easily attach a bike rack.

After talking to a guy at my local bike shop, I found out that I can attach a bike rack to the back of my (racing style) bike by using rubber coated clamps. It’s not the ultimate setup but I’ve tried it (2 times now (more on that later)) and it does work! One hint for a better fit and to avoid scratching the frame is to cut up an old inner tube and use it between the clamp and the frame.

OK, so yesterday I finally bought a frame (Bike Planet brand) and a very nice trunk bag (Cannondale Bobby Cargo Bag ($65)). This is a very nice trunk bag with a good amount of space, multiple compartments, a bungee cord on the top, a water resistant zipper and Velcro straps to attach to the rack.

I also looked at Topeak Bags but I didn’t really like the idea that you had to have a Topeak rack (with their “Quick Track” system) in order to use one of their bags (they do not have any other way to attach to the frame (like with Velcro)). So I didn’t go with Topeak.

After installing the frame on my bike and enjoying my new purchase, I started having second thoughts about the Topeak Quick Track setup. In addition to the convenience of the Quick Track system, I had found that there are a lot of really well designed Topeak bags out there and I had a lot more choices if I used their rack.

It turned out that the Topeak rack was no more expensive than other racks but allowed me to use Topeak Quick Track bags or any other bags whereas if you get another kind of rack you can use pretty much any other bag except for Topeak bags.

So I changed my mind and decided to go with the Topeak rack. This meant uninstalling and returning my first rack and buying and installing the Topeak rack. 🙁 This was quite a job for me due to the limitations of my racking bike (described above). So much for changing my mind!

Well, I’m going to have to wrap this up, but the story isn’t really quite over yet so I will be doing some more updates in the next few days.

Anyway, I found that there was a GREAT selection of Topeak bags out there once I got the Topeak rack. I ended up returning my original Cannondale bag and going to REI and getting a Topeak RX Trunk Bag DXP which I really like.

This trunk bag has fold out panniers in the side compartments. I wasn’t sure if I wanted that at first, but I am sold on it now!

My only concern now is if the Topeak RX Trunk Bag DXP is the size that I really want. Keep in mind that this is a pretty compact bag and not made for very large loads. It does expand and allow you to carry quite a bit of stuff but the “MTX” version of this bag is much bigger and only about 1 lb heavier so right now I am still undecided as to whether to stick with my 2nd purchase or trade up for the larger version.

Well, I am set on the Topeak rack and bags so now my final decision comes down to which size to get (or stick with).

More very soon…

New Exercise Bike Reviews and Best Buys.

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I just completed some major updates to the exercise bike pages on this site (even though it is kind of the off season for fitness equipment) including a new “Best Buy” Exercise Bike page.

In the process of reviewing the exercise bike pages on this site, I have discovered that many of these bikes have really come down in price from the late fall early spring time frame.

Of course, this makes sense, since we are all getting outside now with the weather getting much better but if you are considering one of these machines, it really makes sense to get them this time of year.

Well, I hope that you like all of the additional exercise bike information that is out there now, the new format and the “Best Buy” page.

As for me, it is a BEAUTIFUL DAY right now (here in Chicagoland) and I need to get out on my regular outdoor bike for a ride!

I’m also in the market for some major outdoor bike accessories so stay tuned for more on that soon.

Later, Rob

Cool Springtime Bike Riding

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I just took a really nice bike ride and it is in the mid 40s here in Chicagoland. It reminded me of bike riding with the air conditioning on (maybe a little too high even 🙂 )

I was also thinking about those really hot and humid bike rides that I would take in the summer and how I would wish that it was really cool like it is now so I guess it’s just a matter of appreciating what you have and enjoying life as you live it. OK, maybe that’s a little heavy but it’s true and I did have a great ride too (almost up to 100 miles on my odometer for this year already!)

A couple of things that I wanted to mention regarding this kind of cool bike riding weather is that it is really important to dress properly for the weather that you’ll be riding in. I know that that sounds pretty basic but just putting on the right cloths before you hop on the bike can make a huge difference between a great ride and an uncomfortable ride

Sometimes I forget at what temperature I wear jeans and when to switch over to shorts or when I need gloves and when I don’t so I usually refer to the article that I wrote on this a year or so ago. I wrote the “How to Dress for Bike Rides in Any Weather” article as a very general guide but I actually find it very handy in the transitional seasons.

Like I said, I’m a jeans and jacket kind of rider but I could actually use a much better riding jacket and maybe even some rain gear. Oh yea, since it is spring, don’t forget to bring along some kind of protection for all those bike electronics that you might be carrying around (bike computers, cell phones, GPS, cameras, etc.). I wrote about that in the “how to dress…” page that I referenced above also.

Well, I hope you enjoy those springtime rides!

Exercise Bike Updates

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Here’s the latest updates on the About-Bicycles Exercise Bike pages. The weather has taken a turn for the worse here in Chicagoland and since I haven’t been able to get out a ride the trails today, I’ve been doing some really good work on the Exercise Bike pages on this site.

I am actually planning on doing many more significant updates to the exercise bike pages and this is really just the first step to putting the new format into place.

Although cyclists do have and use exercise bikes and trainers (bike stands for your regular outdoor bike),  many of the visitors to this site are primarily interested in exercise bikes (as fitness equipment) and are not really interested in all of the other bike pages, bike accessory pages and bike trails articles on this site.

Therefore, the most significant change that I have made is to use a different web page template for the Exercise Bike page on this site so if you are browsing the site for exercise bikes, you will have all of the exercise bike links easily accessible (and always in the same position) on the side bars.

In addition the the new template, I have also reviewed the existing exercise bikes and trainers that we currently recommend and validated the current prices for these bikes at the merchants that we recommend.

Although the exercise bikes that we recommend are excellent choices, unfortunately, there are currently not a large number of exercise bikes listed on the site for comparison. We do intend to be upgrading the exercise bike section of this site quite extensively in the next few months (in addition to the regular bike, bike product and bike trails information on this site) so if you are looking for fitness equipment (exercise bikes, trainers, etc.) stay tuned and check back soon.

About-Bicycles Bike Blog Registration Updates.

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This is just an administrative note on the About-Bicycles Bike Blog.

I must apologize to those who have registered to this bike blog with the intention of contributing to the blog. I had the default registration setup for “subscriber” rather than for “contributor”.

I believe that blog comments were still allowed but not new posts.

I have changed the default registration to “contributor”.  I believe that I will still need to approve new posts but I will see how that goes. At the moment, I do not get so much volume that I can’t handle the reviews and I do check the entries daily.

I am leaving the approval process in for now to avoid unwanted spam on the blog. I do have some spam filters but as we all know spammers do attempt to get their message out there to irritate the rest of us.

Anyway, I hope this new default registration role helps and please feel free to add comments. As long as the posts are legit bike related info and not spam or unethical, I will approve them quickly.

Algonquin Road / Paul Douglas Bike Trail Conditions – 2010

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I just did my first ride of the season on the Algonquin Road / Paul Douglas Bike Trail today! It was an excellent day for a ride and I’ll be updating my Bike Trail condition reports for this year, as usual.

 There is no construction on the trail but there are a few wet areas (where you’ll need to slow down to avoid a mud streak on your back (unless you have fenders or something) and unfortunately, there is a little flooding again this year just north of  Lakewood (on the west side of Paul Douglas woods).

The flooding is not nearly as bad as it was last year and it is completely possible to ride through it though. I’d say that the deepest part is only 3 inches and that is only for a few feet in distance. It’s not much worse than riding through a deep puddle but you will need to slow down to get through it.

Flooding along the Paul Douglas Trail

Flooding along the Paul Douglas Trail

I took a few photos with my phone. My phone is old and the photos are not very good but I think that they are good enough for you to get the idea.

Another thing that I noticed is that the house that was at the top of the hill, just east of the Grassy Ridge Meadow park is now gone! I guess they just leveled it. I don’t know who owned the property and house or if that was Forest Preserve land, but the hose is no longer there.

And one final note. I did see a couple of my deer buddies along the trail again so I guess they made it through the winter OK!

2010 Bike GPS Updates

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The 2010 biking season has definitely begun here in Chicago now and I have spent many hours reviewing the latest cycling GPS units again this year.

I am considering a new bike GPS unit for this year and I think I pretty much know what I personally would get but in the process I have also reviewed quite a few biking and handheld GPS units in order to keep my Bicycle GPS page  up to date.

As I have mentioned, I have spent hours researching this subject. There is a lot of good information, comparisons and videos on the Garmin site and I have also reviewed countless entries in Bike Forums and reviews on other websites.

What I have found is that the Edge series is probably still the most popular cycling computers although some bikers do not really need the bike specific functions and still go with the hiking and handheld models like the Etrex series, GPSMAP 60csx or the Oregon or Dakota series.

Even though you know you are in the market for a cycling GPS unit, there are still some additional decisions that will need to be made. You need to consider if the mapping and advanced navigation options are important to you or if you would rather keep the costs down and are primarily interested in  the workout and training data. Also, if you are a mountain biker, you may have other requirements and priorities.

If you are primarilary interested in the training and workout data and would like to keep the costs down, the most popular units are the Edge 205 and Edge 305 units. The main differences between the 205 and 305 is that the 305 has barometric altimeter, heart rate and cadence where as the 205 does not.

If you are looking for a higher end unit with more navigation and mapping options then you will probably be more interested in the Edge 605 and Edge 705 series. The main differences between the 605 and 705 is that the 705 has barometric altimeter, heart rate and cadence (and a few other options)  where as the 605 does not.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, Garmin EDge 705I pretty much know what I would want (for my particular riding style and preferences) and I would choose the Edge 705. Even though I am really not that big on the heart rate and cadence attachments, I would like the barometric altimeter and you can also get the 705 bundled with Street Maps SD card which I would want and have to buy separately anyway.

As for the handheld and mountain biking GPS units, the GPSMAP 60CSxm eTrex Vista HCx, eTrex Legend HCx and the Oregon and Dakota units seem to be the most popular. The Oregon and Dakota are a little more expensive but they have the touch screen capabilities.

As you can see from this post, selecting a bike GPS unit can be a complicated process. Even though I have a good idea about what I would choose, I am also trying to keep the GPS page on this website up to date and help to simplify the process as much as possible for those who do not have the hours to spend researching bike GPS options.

I have just updated the original Bicycle GPS page , on this site, with the latest 2010 information and links so this page has some good current information and links for places to buy these units online.

I hope this helps a little bit for now. I am not done with my research for this year yet, but I did want to share what I have discovered so far.

Just My Rides – Spring 2010

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First Ride of the Year!!!

Sorry for the long winter hibernation (on the blog) but I didn’t have that much to write about in the off season. But it’s 52 degrees right now here in Chicagoland and I just did my first ride of the year!

This was pretty much a warm up ride to get my legs back. I walk alot (outdoors) in the winter to stay in shape but riding is a whole different thing. Anyway, I did a little 13 mile ride in the subdivisions by me since the roads seemed fairly dry.

I also checked out the trail behind our house, that connects to the Algonquin and Paul Douglas trails and it was also pretty dry. There was a lot of leaves, dirt and branches left over from the thaw but it looked pretty good so I think that my next ride will be out on the trails.

I am starting this blog post for casual ride stories (I like having a place to post this kind of blog but I don’t want my blog to be nothing but ride stories so I’ll be adding comments to this post for additional ride stories).

For those of you who don’t know, I welcome other people ride stories too but I haven’t really received any yet. I can see by my blog stats that I have quite a few people visiting this blog but not that many contributions. I understand that and that is perfectly fine, but if you would like to comment, feel free and I’ll approve/post your comments (unless they are just spam).

Well, riding season is here and let the rides begin!!!