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Who caches via Bicycle?


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if you're interested in a flat-foot bike with upright position, i suggest not a "comfort" bike, but something like a town or cruiser bike from a company like electra.

 

http://www.electrabike.com/home.php

Those look like they'd be good on airline trails, but not sure how they'd do if you wanted to venture onto a true trail with some roots and rocks.

 

I wince every time I see someone on one of those things. I'll take a properly fitted cross-country bike any day of the week.

Perhaps I should have said "hybrid" instead of "comfort" bike. I'm thinking of something like the Specialized Crosstrail, which works well on roads and on trails. They provide a good all around balance and work great for road riding or venturing down a trail if you want. Yes, they're not as good as a specially designed road or mountain bike, but for the majority of people, they work great.

 

8292-30_EL_CT_comp_rb-blk_d.jpg

 

Around here, most people who ride a lot use a Specialized Stumpjumper FSR. They're pretty much the "go to" bike when someone wants a good quality bike.

 

9393-33_SJ_FSR_elite_black_satin_d.jpg

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My friend (Visioncity) and I just did the Chicago L.A.T.E. Ride and cached at the same time. It was great and I think I'm hooked on doing my caches on my bike.

 

I'm so glad I got a decent mount for my GPSr. I'm glad I didn't have to fumble around with it in my hands. I think I'm going to have to take the plunge on some saddlebags thou. Having my geocaching bag on my back was a PITB but at least it served double duty as a hydration pack.

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I'm so glad I got a decent mount for my GPSr. I'm glad I didn't have to fumble around with it in my hands. I think I'm going to have to take the plunge on some saddlebags thou. Having my geocaching bag on my back was a PITB but at least it served double duty as a hydration pack.
I snagged a good bar mount for my MAP60CSx off Ebay and the first one I got, the molded in nut pulled out so they sent me another free. Managed to fix the first one so gave me a mount for road and mountain bikes :(

 

Piece of advice... make sure GPSr is clipped totally secure in clip before riding. Had mine plop on the ground from a good test of the front shocks a couple times but luckily was over sand. And once found the tight, wet, muddy, thorn riddled bike trail I was donating blood on was actually a hog trail leading into the brush. Turned and fought my way back to the main trail to notice my GPSr mount was empty. Luckily found it laying in a stream I crossed.

 

And a friend used saddle bags and in his haste for a FTF, he forgot to clip his bag shut. Arrived near GZ and had no GPSr. Found in the road a quarter mile away, run over several times and in a few dozen pieces. No GPSr, no FTF :D

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Also the standard holder for the MAP60CSx that works on the bike mounts also work in the fully adjustable suction cup mounts which work great on the top of a kayak. Of course I tether it when doing this as it's been bumped into the drink before and don't want to test if I can grab it faster then it can sink....

 

yakclip.jpg

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I do quite a bit of caching by bicycle, to combine two of my favorite things to do. Choosing between my mountain bike, cyclocross bike or road bike just depends on what I've got planned. (I've never cached with my BMX bike though!) I'm also known for bushwhacking and I'm not afraid to shoulder my bike and bring it with me. Maybe I'll find a better way out.

 

When we planned a fifty-mile route so some of my Boy Scouts could complete their cycling merit badge, we made sure to hit some geocaches to break up the ride.

 

Anytime there's a bike path cache or three, it makes sense to have a bike in the car to go get 'em. And I've hiked 2 1/2 miles, one-way, on an old rail bed to get a couple of caches, wishing I'd brought a bike.

 

I use an old toestap to hold the GPSr on the handlebar stem. The rubberized back keeps it in place and the strap keeps it on. I haven't lost it yet! The picture below shows a black nylon strap, though I usually use a nice, old, Italian leather Binda strap that is kinder to the GPS unit. I'm on my trusty Specialized S-Works Cross bike. (And I'm only 41.3 feet from the real treaure (sic) GBT #2.)

 

b17b9658-4ab1-43a5-9389-07f706a91384.jpg

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My hubby and I discovered geocaching about the same time we started riding his recumbent and my recumbent trike. It has been great deciding on our destinations each cycling day...a good excuse to get out of the house and re-hab my ailing knees. The only problem is we've cleaned out all the caches near our home and I've had to build up to longer distances.!!

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Just went out and did a 12-mile round trip ride around town on my bike, went 6-3. Biking is a great way to cache, especially since you can use "I'm resting and having a drink of water" as a cover for looking for a cache!

 

twelve miles; that's so cute.

Edited by flask
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Just went out and did a 12-mile round trip ride around town on my bike, went 6-3. Biking is a great way to cache, especially since you can use "I'm resting and having a drink of water" as a cover for looking for a cache!

 

twelve miles; that's so cute.

 

Yeah, and it was all on sidewalks a paved roads, why don't you act condescending about that, too? And I was only out for 4 hours in 80 degree temps too, hope that doesn't disappoint you.

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Just went out and did a 12-mile round trip ride around town on my bike, went 6-3. Biking is a great way to cache, especially since you can use "I'm resting and having a drink of water" as a cover for looking for a cache!

 

twelve miles; that's so cute.

 

Yeah, and it was all on sidewalks a paved roads, why don't you act condescending about that, too? And I was only out for 4 hours in 80 degree temps too, hope that doesn't disappoint you.

 

Pay no attention to flask. flask is an "artist" or "musician" or some other worthwhile individual with delusions of grandeur.

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Okay, well, I blame you ALL.

 

Inspired by this thread, I decided to take my bike out for a spin, and get some caches in as well. First time since the winter*

 

Oops... front tire is flat. No problem! I'll just wheel this thing over to the gas station and pump it up. Faster then dragging out the car-mounted bicycle carrier, getting the bike on, driving over, airing it up, and repeating the whole process it reverse. (And it really was faster!)

 

Yay! Bike works. Lemme head for this cache 2 miles away.... Man, it's hot out. I'm glad I brought water.

 

5 minutes, if that, later, found me lying in the grass on the side of the road, trying to get rid of my last meal. A very kind passerby loaded my bike into the back of her car and gave me a ride home to die there.

 

.... anyway, the moral of this story is either

A) I'm a wimp (in my defense, I can and have been known to walk 7 miles on a caching run on a whim, and I am pretty good on a stationary bike!)

:D I really need to ease back into this gradually, and frantic steep uphill biking doesn't count as easing back into it.

 

Okay, maybe I am a wimp. I'm not ashamed to admit it. I can get over it!

 

* Winter, in this case, being defined as the period of months from October to late July, apparently. It was a LOOOOONG winter!

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Okay, well, I blame you ALL.

 

Inspired by this thread, I decided to take my bike out for a spin, and get some caches in as well. First time since the winter*

 

Oops... front tire is flat. No problem! I'll just wheel this thing over to the gas station and pump it up. Faster then dragging out the car-mounted bicycle carrier, getting the bike on, driving over, airing it up, and repeating the whole process it reverse. (And it really was faster!)

 

Yay! Bike works. Lemme head for this cache 2 miles away.... Man, it's hot out. I'm glad I brought water.

 

5 minutes, if that, later, found me lying in the grass on the side of the road, trying to get rid of my last meal. A very kind passerby loaded my bike into the back of her car and gave me a ride home to die there.

 

.... anyway, the moral of this story is either

A) I'm a wimp (in my defense, I can and have been known to walk 7 miles on a caching run on a whim, and I am pretty good on a stationary bike!)

:D I really need to ease back into this gradually, and frantic steep uphill biking doesn't count as easing back into it.

 

Okay, maybe I am a wimp. I'm not ashamed to admit it. I can get over it!

 

* Winter, in this case, being defined as the period of months from October to late July, apparently. It was a LOOOOONG winter!

 

I can not stress this enough. EASE back into bicycle riding.

Although I don't ride my bike nearly as much as I did when I was younger, I know of what I speak.

When I was 18, my motorcycle was stolen and I was forced to rely on my bike all of a sudden. I wasn't out of shape yet since I rode my bike 8 miles each way to school before I started driving. When I was riding my bike to school, 40 miles in a day was easy enough.

Well, my apartment was 30 miles from my work and I set out on my bike. No problem getting to work. It was 6AM and about 60 degrees and since I lived on an approach to a mountain, it was a pretty easy ride. Going home wasn't nearly as easy. It had gotten to 100 degrees and i had to ride the 30 miles. It really wasn't hard for the first 15-20 miles but something I never considered back then was hydration. By the time I got to my apartment I was delirious and my head was throbbing. I immediately ran my head under cold water for a few minutes and drank, and undrank a few glasses of water. Then I passed out (slept) for 6 hours. I suffered for a few more days but I developed a problem with heat on that day. Thank goodness my lungs were fine since I had scar tissue in them from a prolinged illness between age 5 and 9 with a major damaging event when I was 9.

 

Fast forward to many years later. I have been spoiled by driving a car for the most part, anywhere I go. One day I decided to take off on my bike for a run. Just a quick ride, nothing big. Hydration wasn't going to be an issue because I had money to buy water now. It was only 85ish degrees and a great day for a bike ride. 15 miles later I was home and exhausted. The hills hit me hard and I injured my lungs with the heavy breathing. I deveoped pneumonia and was sick for over 2 weeks. Should have eased back into it on both occasions.

 

Anyone who thinks a bike ride is easy peasy should keep in mind that not everyone is young, or as healthy as you are. Bike for caches if you can but take care of yourself and don't over do it.

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Pay no attention to flask. flask is an "artist" or "musician" or some other worthwhile individual with delusions of grandeur.

 

you're just jealous because you don't have a mac.

 

I have a Mac. I just don't USE a mac. The Mac is about 8 feet from me ATM. I have a second one in another room. No, I'm not at work, or in a library. I have 2 Macs in my house.

No jealousy. Nope, none.

 

I have about 10 PCs though.

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Two days ago, I took my bike out to find one leg of the "Green Swamp Challenge" GCWJCE in West Central Fl. The first couple of miles I was loving it, moving right along a logging road and then a nice dry elevated trail. : ) Knocking down Huge Bannana Spider webs over the trail. : (

 

Then Oh Oh! It IS a swamp you know. I was able to ride a little and then walk and push, then MY FAVORITE carry the bike through the water. Then the Trail DISSAPEARED? Had to go back, running out of water at that point, in 100 + degrees in the sun.

 

As a native to Florida, I decided it would be best to wait till cooler and more dry weather to complete this challenge,then the trail would be more visible and drier.

 

Yes, I love to use the bike to cache very useful tool. :D

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... But our area is notorious for industrial strength sand spurs so before we discovered armor tire liners and green slime this was a normal biking scene

 

Those sand spurs are likely tribulus terrestris, the wicked seeds of the puncture vine. They're everywhere. Here's the innocent-looking culprit:

Tribulus_Terrestris_P_E_.jpg

goathead-thorn.jpg

 

Interesting trivia about T terrestris is that it's a medicinal herb purported to increase testosterone production. I'll let others formulate the punchline.

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I plan to get a string of caches along a trail soon via bicycle. It is a well maintained 26 mile trail that runs along a canal. There are countless caches hidden along the way. I agree 100% about getting good shorts. I used to

wear my everyday cargo shorts while biking and it would leave me with a serious case of monkey butt, I then started wearing actual cycling shorts and it made a world of difference.

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33.6 miles, 21 caches yesterday - all urban save for a couple detours through regional parks. 21 caches in 33 miles isn't much, but this was a "cleanup" ride to pick up stragglers in areas I'd already cached. Today I'm off to another loop with 50+ caches on it, but I'm not sure how hard I want to work today so how many I'll actually try to grab is unknown.

 

Pete

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... But our area is notorious for industrial strength sand spurs so before we discovered armor tire liners and green slime this was a normal biking scene

 

Those sand spurs are likely tribulus terrestris, the wicked seeds of the puncture vine. They're everywhere. Here's the innocent-looking culprit:

Tribulus_Terrestris_P_E_.jpg

goathead-thorn.jpg

 

Interesting trivia about T terrestris is that it's a medicinal herb purported to increase testosterone production. I'll let others formulate the punchline.

 

Punchline has been formulated, and enjoyed! :) Those little....!

 

I remember those things from the years I spent in the Southwest, but I never knew where they came from. Dogs hate 'em, too!

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My mum (choppnhappydog) and I just did some caching on Mackinac Island, Michigan. If you plan on going, I STRONGLY recommend taking a bike. And if you've been to the island, you know why I don't recommend driving a car. :D

 

Though, with the hills and trails, I would suggest some sort of mountain bike to get around the island, but all-in-all it helps getting around the island, and it saves your muscles versus walking everywhere.

 

Many of the bike rental places offer a simple 3-speed bike with a basket for about $7/hr which pays off quickly.

Edited by The Zachalope
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Who else caches via Bicycle?

 

For me, biking has become part of geocaching. Only if it's too far away to take a bike will I take a car (and who can really say what is too far away on a bike?).

 

And I'm not going to post a photo of my bike, its a crappy old Schwinn Sidewinder mountain bike. But it is loved.

 

Man, you people have nice rides.

 

Haha, to mount my GPS, I just tie it to the handlebars with its lanyard. It has always worked for me :lol:

Edited by Creek Hopper
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I love bicycle caching - got the handle bar mount for my GPS so it is hand free and I can just pedal in the direction of the next cache. I find that with a mountain bike you often find caches much faster than any other way. Bicycle caching is especially effective in parks with bike friendly trails :D

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In the city of Chicago the bike makes cacheing easier, more enjoyable and takes care of the parking dilemna. Since this is a BIG city, some 10miles wide at spots and over 25 long the access is so much easier by bike, and now that our busses have 'decent' bike racks the city opens like a bloom.

And the 'green necklace' of forest preserves really offers some great riding/cacheing tours.

This past few weeks has seen several solo and co-op rides that logged many caches of the 80+ logged hits I have.

My stable is multifaceted for my use. My Fisher Paragon hasn't been out for way too long as most my rides are errand/shopping/casual done on my MadWagon City Bike a nice alum frame 9sp rear only derailuer upright position that is very comfy on the streets where seeing is surviving. And if I'm doing distance in the city the ancient steel framed Schwinn Prelude drop bar that I retrofitted with STI brake shifters and 16 gears allows even this decrepit old fart to hit resonable cruising speeds and durn near 'twitchy' control on the city torture tracks.

I use a mix of waist packs, trunk bags and panniers and all have rear racks.

Yep bike porn but it was all on topic...sorta...

Jeff

The Chicagoan

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I do the majority of my caching on a bike. But of course this becomes more challenging once all the nearby caches have been cleared out. I've found all the caches in my hometown and a neighboring town, so it now takes a minimum round trip of 24 miles or so to reach the nearest cache (not counting the ones high up on the hills). So, in order to reach the outlying caches, I sometimes will drive to a convenient spot with my bike then start riding from there. But there are some cautionary tales to tell. Sadly, several months ago I was caching on my mt bike and stopped to get something to eat. I watched the bike the entire time like a hawk, except for the 30 seconds to hit the restroom. That's all it took for some low-life to steal it, and this was at a busy place with lots of customers.

 

So now, I use my road bike for caching everywhere, including moderately steep dirt trail climbs. It's not a cross bike, so I still have skinny tires on it, but after shredding the ones I had, went out and got some nice, tough tires (still 700x23c sized) that can stand up to the gravel and dirt terrain. My next bike purchase won't be a mt bike to replace the one stolen, but instead a cross bike with stronger brakes, wider rims/tires, and lower gearing that can be used on all types of terrain, but not slow me down (too much) on the paved roads.

 

BTW -- my name "AllezAllez" is pronounced a-lay a-lay, and it is a common French phrase used at cycling races that means "faster! faster!" or, "let's go!" or "c'mon, you can do it!" Basically, it is shouted at the racing cyclists as words of hope and encouragement. I used to do a lot of amateur racing, but not much anymore.

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We ride bikes with the kids a lot and use the caches as a goal. It makes the bike riding interesting for the kids. When new caches come out locally, we just wait until we can get out on the bikes. On the local bike trails, we only do one or two caches at a time. This makes it easier to get the kids back out on the same old trail.

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but instead a cross bike with stronger brakes, wider rims/tires, and lower gearing that can be used on all types of terrain, but not slow me down (too much) on the paved roads.

 

 

the 'cross bike is, for those who are in the know, the perfect caching bike. it's also a very nice choice for commuting.

 

and it looks really hardcore.

 

almost completely off-topic: if you like racing, you may enjoy this young man's blog: http://anderzbikes.blogspot.com/

 

he is a very sharp up-and-comer, a very sweet young man, and he writes reasonably well about his adventures.

 

his 29 july entry is worth reading just for the description of the course.

Edited by flask
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I usually drive somewhere and spend a day (usually the night, but whatever) walking around for about 6 hours caching... I'd bike, but LA and bikes are like oil and water, and I only have a flatland BMX bike which is very hard to ride as a mode of transportation, not to mention uncomfortable.

 

That said, I would if I could.

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Just returned from riding up Mount Lemmon in Tucson, AZ. It was primarily a ride, but I took the coords of a few caches in order to use one as my end-of-ride marker. Made it to the fork in the road between Summerhaven and Ski Valley before deciding I'd had enough fun for the day.

 

Regarding the side discussion of cyclocross bikes, I may have to add one to my stable someday. I've been doing my road riding on my commuter (mountain bike with 42t chainring, eight speeds, gullwing bars, and slick 47x700 tires), but it's heavier than a crate of cannonballs.

 

cca1d3f9-a02b-4a0f-ade6-9c2fab3c426e.jpg

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Just returned from riding up Mount Lemmon in Tucson, AZ. It was primarily a ride, but I took the coords of a few caches in order to use one as my end-of-ride marker. Made it to the fork in the road between Summerhaven and Ski Valley before deciding I'd had enough fun for the day.

 

Regarding the side discussion of cyclocross bikes, I may have to add one to my stable someday. I've been doing my road riding on my commuter (mountain bike with 42t chainring, eight speeds, gullwing bars, and slick 47x700 tires), but it's heavier than a crate of cannonballs.

 

cca1d3f9-a02b-4a0f-ade6-9c2fab3c426e.jpg

 

is it just the camera angle, or does that thing have a REALLY long wheel base?

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this is the perfect thread to ask the question, I just got myself a bike as well and I am preparing an aid kit for the bike.

I expect to get flat tires, so what do I need for my bike aid kit?

 

Just a spare inner tube, patch kit and pump if you have the quick disconnect axles. If you don't have those, a decent Crescent wrench will be needed

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this is the perfect thread to ask the question, I just got myself a bike as well and I am preparing an aid kit for the bike.

I expect to get flat tires, so what do I need for my bike aid kit?

 

i'd go with CO2inflator instead of pump, but if you get multiple flats on an outing, you're sunk. i carry tubes instead of patches; i find it much more convenient. tire levers. if you're changing a tire one will be useful.

 

if i am carrying tools, i also carry a chainbreaker and a file along with assorted hex wrenches. i have a good multitool for this, but i have to carry the file separately.

 

mostly these days i go out with the bare minimum of stuff.

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Mostly I don't except when the terrain calls for it Just got a few caches on the top of Powell Butte in Portland Oregon, about 6 miles South of me, this is an area that is set up for no motor vehicles and offers some great views in most directions unfortunately it was cloudy when I was there but used my Mountain Bike to make it a little more interesting.

 

Then about a month or so ago there is a old abandon Military base called Camp Adair about 70+ miles South of me in Oregon, that the streets are all still there but very few buildings, all of the streets are blocked off, so again no motorized vehicles allowed and there are many caches within the camp I'm guessing about 30+ traditionals. Had a great time on my Mountain bike, stopping for the caches a little challenging holding the GPSer and riding at the same time. Caching by bike is great as it cuts down the walking time drastically, I think I was out of there by 2 pm where if I would have been of foot it would have been a full day proposition not including the 70 mile drive home.

 

ScubaSonic

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Mostly I don't except when the terrain calls for it Just got a few caches on the top of Powell Butte in Portland Oregon, about 6 miles South of me, this is an area that is set up for no motor vehicles and offers some great views in most directions unfortunately it was cloudy when I was there but used my Mountain Bike to make it a little more interesting.

 

Then about a month or so ago there is a old abandon Military base called Camp Adair about 70+ miles South of me in Oregon, that the streets are all still there but very few buildings, all of the streets are blocked off, so again no motorized vehicles allowed and there are many caches within the camp I'm guessing about 30+ traditionals. Had a great time on my Mountain bike, stopping for the caches a little challenging holding the GPSer and riding at the same time. Caching by bike is great as it cuts down the walking time drastically, I think I was out of there by 2 pm where if I would have been of foot it would have been a full day proposition not including the 70 mile drive home.

 

ScubaSonic

 

Did you get the Christmas Tree cache off of Powell Butte?

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this is the perfect thread to ask the question, I just got myself a bike as well and I am preparing an aid kit for the bike.

Here's all I carry for bicycle maintenance & repair stuff:

  • 1 or 2 spare inner tubes (if your tubes have Schrader valves, get some valve stem caps with built-in valve core tools).
  • Tire spoons (bead breakers).
  • A tire pump.
  • A CrankBrothers Multi-17 tool.

For TOTT I carry:

  • Leatherman Skeletool.
  • Long hemostat.
  • Pointed tweezers.
  • Telescoping magnet.
  • Telescoping inspection mirror.
  • Small (2-AA) LED flashlight.

And of course I carry a pen, pocket-sized notepad, and spare batteries for my GPSr.

 

Pete

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this is the perfect thread to ask the question, I just got myself a bike as well and I am preparing an aid kit for the bike.

Here's all I carry for bicycle maintenance & repair stuff:

  • 1 or 2 spare inner tubes (if your tubes have Schrader valves, get some valve stem caps with built-in valve core tools).
  • Tire spoons (bead breakers).
  • A tire pump.
  • A CrankBrothers Multi-17 tool.

For TOTT I carry:

  • Leatherman Skeletool.
  • Long hemostat.
  • Pointed tweezers.
  • Telescoping magnet.
  • Telescoping inspection mirror.
  • Small (2-AA) LED flashlight.

And of course I carry a pen, pocket-sized notepad, and spare batteries for my GPSr.

 

Pete

 

I just carry my Cell Phone and use the PAF option. :cool:

 

ScubaSonic

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I finally got a semi-good photo of my 2-wheeled caching steed, although shooting a matte-black bike is like trying to take a picture of a hole in the sky:

 

bike1.jpg

 

It's a Marin Muirwoods 29er 'steely' with all Shimano XT and XTR components except for the Avid bb7 brakes, TruVativ crankset, and Wellgo magnesium pedals. Next week it gets a Deore XT "Hollowtech II" crankset and Avid Juicy-7 brakes. Most of my riding is on roads and improved trails which is why I picked a steel frame with some spring in it instead of suspension. It's actually lighter than most alloy bikes with full suspension if I take all the accessories off of it, and it pedals great.

 

And before any of you give me grief for the kickstand, it's aluminum and one of the best things I ever put on the bike. I was scratching the hell out of it by laying it down and leaning it on stuff, and the kickstand put an end to that. 'Bout the only change I plan on making is get a black anodized one someday.

 

Pete

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