backazimuth
Member
Wow, what a site and started by a brilliant young 22-year-old to boot! He has a bright future.
In the meantime, I and my wife, Kristina, are in our future. We each are 65-years-old and are dedicated adventurers. We spent many years sailing the world in a small sailboat and for the last 15 years, have spent as much time as possible doing self-contained bicycle touring and we've been fortunate enough to have cycled much of the world. Last year we rode from San Diego to Jacksonville, Florida. The year before it was down New Zealand's North Island and South Island, then across the Tasman sea to the land of Oz where we rode up the spine of Australia from Adelaide to Darwin. The year before, we rode from Singapore to Tibet and Kat Man Du via Yunnan Province, China. The list goes on and on and on because we are nutz for all-out adventure on two wheels. But we have a problem.
Age.
We are about to turn 66 and while my bride of nearly 48 years is a genetic freak and still is going like a wildcat, I, other the other hand, am sinking quickly. It catches us all sooner or later, the business of age, and I feel its little claws scratching at my backside more and more frequently. I thought about getting a motorcycle, but most motorcyclists have a serious weight problem. I already claim to have been called Santa Clause more than any person on earth and would just as soon not encourage that image by looking any more jolly than I have to (lol). All in all, I was getting depressed because I thought my little life of adventure was about to cease to exist and for me, nothing could be worse.
Then I discovered little tiny bicycle engines. Those wonderful little things that help one along. Most of you seem to want to go as fast as possible. Not me. I just want to go and at a speed that allows me to take in everything. I really don't want to use the engine at all, if I don't have to, but I no longer can get up the mountains with any efficiency. I have to stop every few hundred yards to catch my breath, at least at very high altitude, which in America can get to 10,000 or 12,000 feet. I can haul 60 to 80 pounds with ease on level ground or gentle climbs, but going up the Ozarks, or the Blue Ridge or the Rockies and I find myself getting in trouble. Gasping. Resting. Sometimes popping Nitro. I don't put myself in danger but I'm at the point now where that little 25 cc engine can make the difference between a fun late-life or sitting around waiting to . . . well just waiting.
The only problem is that I need to have my belongings with me. The tent, the cooking gear, the clothes, the tools, the medical supplies, the computer (gotta' have the computer). And did I mention my little dog? Amber. She has about 18,000 miles under her fuzzy little butt.
I can take the belongings with a trailer. I've been everywhere with trailers in America, Europe and Australia, but I'm tired of having the extra vehicle. In addition, they are very expensive to transport over seas. We want to be light and as independent as possible and that means panniers - saddlebags - but the questions is how? I've looked and looked and looked and I have yet to find a set-up for rear panniers and a bicycle with a motor.
Anybody with any advice will be most welcome! Also, I need advice as to which is the better set-up: friction drive or belt drive? They both have wonderful features.
Thanks and forgive this long-winded post.
In the meantime, I and my wife, Kristina, are in our future. We each are 65-years-old and are dedicated adventurers. We spent many years sailing the world in a small sailboat and for the last 15 years, have spent as much time as possible doing self-contained bicycle touring and we've been fortunate enough to have cycled much of the world. Last year we rode from San Diego to Jacksonville, Florida. The year before it was down New Zealand's North Island and South Island, then across the Tasman sea to the land of Oz where we rode up the spine of Australia from Adelaide to Darwin. The year before, we rode from Singapore to Tibet and Kat Man Du via Yunnan Province, China. The list goes on and on and on because we are nutz for all-out adventure on two wheels. But we have a problem.
Age.
We are about to turn 66 and while my bride of nearly 48 years is a genetic freak and still is going like a wildcat, I, other the other hand, am sinking quickly. It catches us all sooner or later, the business of age, and I feel its little claws scratching at my backside more and more frequently. I thought about getting a motorcycle, but most motorcyclists have a serious weight problem. I already claim to have been called Santa Clause more than any person on earth and would just as soon not encourage that image by looking any more jolly than I have to (lol). All in all, I was getting depressed because I thought my little life of adventure was about to cease to exist and for me, nothing could be worse.
Then I discovered little tiny bicycle engines. Those wonderful little things that help one along. Most of you seem to want to go as fast as possible. Not me. I just want to go and at a speed that allows me to take in everything. I really don't want to use the engine at all, if I don't have to, but I no longer can get up the mountains with any efficiency. I have to stop every few hundred yards to catch my breath, at least at very high altitude, which in America can get to 10,000 or 12,000 feet. I can haul 60 to 80 pounds with ease on level ground or gentle climbs, but going up the Ozarks, or the Blue Ridge or the Rockies and I find myself getting in trouble. Gasping. Resting. Sometimes popping Nitro. I don't put myself in danger but I'm at the point now where that little 25 cc engine can make the difference between a fun late-life or sitting around waiting to . . . well just waiting.
The only problem is that I need to have my belongings with me. The tent, the cooking gear, the clothes, the tools, the medical supplies, the computer (gotta' have the computer). And did I mention my little dog? Amber. She has about 18,000 miles under her fuzzy little butt.
I can take the belongings with a trailer. I've been everywhere with trailers in America, Europe and Australia, but I'm tired of having the extra vehicle. In addition, they are very expensive to transport over seas. We want to be light and as independent as possible and that means panniers - saddlebags - but the questions is how? I've looked and looked and looked and I have yet to find a set-up for rear panniers and a bicycle with a motor.
Anybody with any advice will be most welcome! Also, I need advice as to which is the better set-up: friction drive or belt drive? They both have wonderful features.
Thanks and forgive this long-winded post.
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