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Gear & Equipment

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Bike Computer:

The bike computer is a Planet Bike Protege 9. This is the only one he could find to stay on during an unplanned dismount.

GPS:

 

Gear Bags:

The gear bag is a Revelate designs "gas tank" bag on the top tube and carries just about everything needed on the trail. The top tube bag was used because the dropping seat post does not accommodate a normal seat bag.

Hydration Packs:

 

Tubeless Tire Inflation Hose:

 

Bike Transportation

Bruce normally carries his bike inside his Suburban unless he has more that three to carry. In that case, he has a Thule T2+2 hitch-mount rack he installs. This allows him room for 5 people, luggage and 5 bikes.

Computer

The computer is a Planet Bike Protege 9. He initially "sacrificed" two Cat Eye computers to the trail during crashes his first year of riding, and switched to the Protege on the advice of Tommy. This computer has been on the bike since 2007.

(Insert photo of computer and bell.

The bell in front of the shifter is for passing other riders and hikers. I also use it to irritate Rodney.

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GPS

 

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Top Tube Gear Bag

On the top tube is a "gas tank" bag that carries just about everything needed on the trail. The top tube bag is used because the dropping seat post does not accommodate a normal seat bag. The contents include:

  • Multi-tool wrapped in a shop rag with 4 power links for the chain.

  • Chain holder made from an old spoke.

  • Spare tube just in case the tubeless tire has a catastrophic failure.

  • A set of tire levers, CO2 inflator and CO2 bottles.

  • A plastic tire splint and 4 cable ties used to repair a torn sidewall.

  • Spare derailleur hanger.

The multi-tool and power links are wrapped in a shop rag with a couple of rubber bands made from an old tube around it. The shop rag keeps the multi-tool from banging around in the wedge, and comes in handy for cleaning up after a repair.

The spare tube is tightly folded and kept in a separate compartment for protection. The inflator and CO2 bottles are wrapped in paper towels to keep them from banging around inside the tank, The tire levers, tire plugs and insertion tool lie on the top of the bag. A sidewall splint was made from an expired credit card cut to fit the curvature of the rim and the tire. If Bruce tears a sidewall, he can put in the spare tube, fit the splint over the slice in the sidewall on the outside of the tire, secure it with cable ties, air up, and ride back to the car. He pulls the ends of the cable ties up into the spokes so he does not need to cut them off on the trail. On two occasions, this has saved him a long walk back to the trail head.

The photo below shows the contents of the top tube bag. The top row shows the bag with the spare tube in its separated compartment. This protects the tube from chafing. The second row shows the cable ties, credit card splint, tire plugs, power links, CO2 canisters, derailleur hanger and CO2 nozzle. The bottom row shows a couple more power links, chain keeper, tire levers and multi-tool on a shop rag. The multi-tool and power links in the plastic bag are rolled up in shop cloth and closed with a couple of rubber bands made from an old tube.

The next photo shows the bag packed but open. The cable ties and multi-tool are in the bottom with the CO2 canisters wrapped in a paper towel and in a plastic bag. This keeps them from rattling around. The tire levers, derailleur hanger and CO2 nozzle are on top in the front compartment, with the tire plugs, cement and insertion tool in the back compartment.

The final photo shows the bag closed.

The final photo shows the bag on the bike.

 

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Hydration Packs

Bruce has two hydration packs. One is the 100 ounce CamelBak Mule used on long rides where lots of hydration is needed. The second is a smaller 50 ounce pack used for racing. In addition to the packs, he can carry an extra bottle on the frame of the full suspension bike and two on the hard tail.

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Tubeless Tire Inflation Hose

Below is a photo of a special inflation hose he made up to facilitate the installation of the tubeless tires. It was made from an air line chuck with a 1/4" female pipe thread, a 1/4" hose barb for 3/16" ID plastic ice maker tubing (Watts LFA-96), and 10' of 5/16" x 3/16" polyethylene tubing (Watts LSPFD10). It all came from Lowe's.

The air line fitting plugs directly into the compressor and the tubing goes over the valve stem. This results in an excellent air flow which is sometimes necessary in seating tubeless tires.

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Bike Transportation

Bruce normally carries his bikes inside his Suburban with the third-row seating removed, so seating for 5 is available. If he has more that three bikes to carry, he has a Thule T2+2 hitch-mount rack he installs. This allows him room for 5 people, luggage and 5 bikes.

Carrying the bikes inside keeps them secure while stopping in public places in route. He uses a Saris track with fork mounts to secure the bikes in the back of his Suburban. He removed the trim at the back of the cargo area and installed a couple of backing blocks with T-nuts. The blocks are held in with strips of double-stick tape between the plastic ribs.

Using a small drill bit, he drilled pilot holes through the trim from the underside and then used the pilot holes to drill larger holes in the top side for the 1/4" thumb-screws. He also installed a couple of wooden shim strips to the track using double to get the track to sit properly. The photo below shows the underside of the track with the leveling shims as well as the holes in the trim to install the thumb-screws.

The photo below shows the track installed with washers and thumb screws. The thumb screws allow him to easily remove the track if he needs to carry furniture or other large objects.

The finished installation with bikes is shown below. The front wheels need to be removed to fit the in, but he still has the full center row seating available. A third bike can be carried inside between the two in the track if the front is facing forward. He can carry 5 people in comfort with their bikes and luggage if he uses a Thule hitch mount rack.

The foam sleeves are old furniture shipping protectors normally discarded, and protect the forks while the wheels are strapped to the frame with bungee cords. You can also use foam pipe insulation.

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Version 0.1, June 27, 2015