NCBC meeting notes - May '97
These are the notes from the May 5th, 1997 meeting of the NCBC.
The meeting was convened at Cycling Spoken Here in Cary.
Much thanks to Steve and Brian at CSH for the use of their facilities
(and for the pizza and drinks afterwards!).
About 25 people attended.
Business topics
Spring Rally
Other items
- We should consider how our club should invest its money (and time
and skills)
- For the summer... voted to continue meetings and not have rides.
Feature presentation
Smith Doss and Claude Monnier presented "Tandem cycling in France,"
and related their experiences of touring in France on their tandem.
Some notes from their presentation:
- On their trip they started in the North and headed toward the
Mediterranean
- They were living in France at the time, so they didn't have
to box up their tandem.
- However, when packing bikes, Smith suggests:
- You can get used boxes from bike shops
- Use your clothes for cushioning and put pipe insulation around the frame
- Use a wheel clamp to stabilize the front fork
- Single bikes ship for free on international flights
- Smith and Claude used Michelin maps - three chevrons means more
than 13% grade!
- Maps are available from Barnes and Noble (and probably other
places)
- Mailing maps and souvenirs home while en route saves weight and
space
- Touring guides give excellent details for touring off the bike.
- Michelin hotel book, while large to carry, give excellent advice for
hotels
- Offices of tourism are also good sources of info (but not during
lunch)
- Phone cards are used rather than cash for phone calls
- They toured in September - a good time
- Don't need energy foods - stop at any bakery!
- Able to save a little money at hotels by asking for shower rather
than tub
- Carry your own spoons so you can buy ice cream from grocery stores.
- Having brevet rides at fixed pace taught them how to paces themselves
- Tandems were popular in 40s and 50s in France - makes you
immediately popular with folks of that generation
- Smith and Claude will be glad to offer recommendations
Page maintained by
David L. Cole
and last revised on Monday, June 2, 1997.
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