![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.northcountrypublicradio.org\/allin\/files\/2011\/06\/bobbike.jpg\" "\\"bobbike\\"")
<\/a>Bob's Bike<\/p><\/div>\n
Its a 27 speed… I know you might be pooh-poohing multiple gears as elitist!\u00a0 But they really make the difference between pain and mere discomfort.\u00a0 Riders really can pedal at a limited range of pedal speeds… too slow and it ruins your knees…. too fast and … its too fast!\u00a0 So you’re ALWAYS shifting.\u00a0 ifwqqqqqqqqqqqqqxxxxxx\u00a0 Oops, just dozed off…. sorry.<\/p>\n
Anyway, imagine you’re driving your car but you can’t push the gas pedal down more than about 10% of its travel.\u00a0 When you get to a hll, if you can do some quick shifting, the car will slow way down, but you’ll make it to the summit.\u00a0 Me, I’m often cruising along at 12-13 MPH, but slow down to as little as 3.9 mph for the really tough hills.\u00a0 You just have to keep saying to yourself “even though your going walking speed, if you keep going you’ll eventually get up the hill”\u00a0 This little mantra works wonders.<\/p>\n
I’ve got a pair of panniers over the back wheel, spare parts (tubes, tires, tools) and changes of clothes… and a notebook computer.\u00a0 All this stuff plus my two water bottles weigh about 25 pounds.\u00a0 This is pretty light for a touring bike (the bike itself is another 27 pounds)<\/p>\n
This is a fully-loaded touring bike.\u00a0 In fact, it is a “Surly Long Haul Trucker”\u00a0 panniers on the front too!\u00a0 This gear weighs 60 lbs plus!\u00a0 Amazing!<\/p>\n