Wyoming, Great Divide Basin
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Real Time GPS Tracking is Up!!!
The team is now using GPS SPOT. Just click on the link to the right that says "Track Us!" and you can track our GPS locations real time and see what kind of progress we're making. We'll be transmitting track points every 10 minutes along with check in messages and SOS distress calls (hopefully not needed). The SPOT is definitely a worthy tool for any adventure.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Test Pack and Some Moto Miles
I had a free weekend to head back home and spend some time with the fam for a late Father's Day and cousin's graduation party. My sister Nicole was also visiting with the the niece and nephew, which gave me another good reason to load up the bike with a test pack and put some much-needed miles on the Dakar. I filled up both Rotopax fuel tanks, weighted up both panniers, and also threw my tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad in the dry bag. I also got to try out my new Shoei Hornet DS helmet for the first time at highway speed. Below are some shots of the Dakar loaded up.
What would normally take about 1 hr 40 minutes to get home Conshy from Philly, ended up taking 3 hrs. An accident earlier that afternoon still had some lingering effects on the rush hour commuters. It took about 1 hr to go the first 10 miles and after that it was stop and go. Once I finally reached highway speeds I got to feel out the helmet. It seemed pretty comfortable up to about 60 mph. Once above 60 however it did seem noisier than what I was used to. My cheekpads also had some give in them, so whenever I turned my head sideways to check for blind spots, the helmet had a little extra jerk. It seemed to catch more of the wind than my normal road helmet do to a slightly more oblong shape and added visor. The hot spot on the crown of my head didn't bother me as much as previous rides. I'm still not 100% sold on this helmet and am gonna need some more testing to figure out how best to protect my noggin for the big trip. Everything else held up well. The Rotopax and dry bags were solid as a rock. I also tried my camelbak for the first time on a motorcycle which proved to be a lifesaver in the 90 deg humidity. I even got to try out my rescue tape to repair a broken bite valve on my camelbak nozzle. Once I got to my parents, the niece and nephew were super excited to sit on the bike and try out all my gear.
Rather than head straight home on Sunday, we all went to Knoebels for some good old fashion amusement park fun. My aunt works at the Polish Union and they had one of the pavilions reserved for the afternoon. Many thanks for their great hospitality. A log flume and tea cup ride later and I was off. This time I took some more enjoyable back roads to Philly. The sweltering heat didn't go anywhere, but it was still well worth the miles. Overall, the trip got me loads more stoked for the big adventure.
What would normally take about 1 hr 40 minutes to get home Conshy from Philly, ended up taking 3 hrs. An accident earlier that afternoon still had some lingering effects on the rush hour commuters. It took about 1 hr to go the first 10 miles and after that it was stop and go. Once I finally reached highway speeds I got to feel out the helmet. It seemed pretty comfortable up to about 60 mph. Once above 60 however it did seem noisier than what I was used to. My cheekpads also had some give in them, so whenever I turned my head sideways to check for blind spots, the helmet had a little extra jerk. It seemed to catch more of the wind than my normal road helmet do to a slightly more oblong shape and added visor. The hot spot on the crown of my head didn't bother me as much as previous rides. I'm still not 100% sold on this helmet and am gonna need some more testing to figure out how best to protect my noggin for the big trip. Everything else held up well. The Rotopax and dry bags were solid as a rock. I also tried my camelbak for the first time on a motorcycle which proved to be a lifesaver in the 90 deg humidity. I even got to try out my rescue tape to repair a broken bite valve on my camelbak nozzle. Once I got to my parents, the niece and nephew were super excited to sit on the bike and try out all my gear.
Rather than head straight home on Sunday, we all went to Knoebels for some good old fashion amusement park fun. My aunt works at the Polish Union and they had one of the pavilions reserved for the afternoon. Many thanks for their great hospitality. A log flume and tea cup ride later and I was off. This time I took some more enjoyable back roads to Philly. The sweltering heat didn't go anywhere, but it was still well worth the miles. Overall, the trip got me loads more stoked for the big adventure.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Progress Update:
We're booking hotels for the first and last legs of the trip this week. (the roadbound portions) Anyone know a great place to stay in Vegas?
We're also working out the kinks in the GPS route map, so expect an interactive map in the next week or two.
We set up a devoted twitter account, so hit the FOLLOW ME link in the right margin to get onboard with our twitter feed.
We're working out some hosting issues with the pics... Once that's squared away and sorted, we'll have the pics from our recent gear test weekend available, and possibly some vids as well.
Be sure to check us out again soon
word
yobo & goda
We're also working out the kinks in the GPS route map, so expect an interactive map in the next week or two.
We set up a devoted twitter account, so hit the FOLLOW ME link in the right margin to get onboard with our twitter feed.
We're working out some hosting issues with the pics... Once that's squared away and sorted, we'll have the pics from our recent gear test weekend available, and possibly some vids as well.
Be sure to check us out again soon
word
yobo & goda
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Gear Testing Weekend #1: Summary
Well, the weekend came and went, and it was all too fast. We bumped into a coupla good buds on Friday and opted out of equipment setup time and into some backyard beers, so we didn't get the helmet cams mounted in time for takeoff on Saturday. We DID have a great time hangin out, though, so all is well.
Our primary goal for this trip was to test the new Scala Rider G4 Helmet communication systems. We've read some mixed reviews about comms that use Bluetooth technology and this weekend was the proving ground for our decision to go with them. I'm happy to say they performed flawlessly and over impressive ranges as well. Setup and installation was downright simple. We never even had to consult the manual, so we're quite happy with the decision. Read the full review on the "GEAR LIST" page, or click here to jump to the review directly: G4 REVIEW
We also wanted to test our tent of choice for the trip, the NEMO Losi 3. This is a lightweight, full featured tent that sports the latest in materials and design. I've been an outdoorsman since I could stand and have camped in a myriad of tents on everything from icy alpine mountainsides and wind-blown meadows and have never had the pleasure of a tent so simple and intuitively designed. It goes up super fast, is packed with ergonomic features and laid out in a simple and effective way. It seems like the the perfect choice to serve as the temporary home for 2 big pollocks and a ton of gear over 2 weeks, and the full spectrum of weather conditions. All told, we were quite happy with it.
The helmet, GPS, GPS mount, and riding suit also hit the road with us and passed with flying colors. Its looking like we're nearly good to go for the big trip.
See the pics page for some updated shots.
Our primary goal for this trip was to test the new Scala Rider G4 Helmet communication systems. We've read some mixed reviews about comms that use Bluetooth technology and this weekend was the proving ground for our decision to go with them. I'm happy to say they performed flawlessly and over impressive ranges as well. Setup and installation was downright simple. We never even had to consult the manual, so we're quite happy with the decision. Read the full review on the "GEAR LIST" page, or click here to jump to the review directly: G4 REVIEW
We also wanted to test our tent of choice for the trip, the NEMO Losi 3. This is a lightweight, full featured tent that sports the latest in materials and design. I've been an outdoorsman since I could stand and have camped in a myriad of tents on everything from icy alpine mountainsides and wind-blown meadows and have never had the pleasure of a tent so simple and intuitively designed. It goes up super fast, is packed with ergonomic features and laid out in a simple and effective way. It seems like the the perfect choice to serve as the temporary home for 2 big pollocks and a ton of gear over 2 weeks, and the full spectrum of weather conditions. All told, we were quite happy with it.
The helmet, GPS, GPS mount, and riding suit also hit the road with us and passed with flying colors. Its looking like we're nearly good to go for the big trip.
See the pics page for some updated shots.
Cardo, Scala Rider G4 Helmet Communications System: Review
Here are our first impressions after picking up our Cardo, Scala Rider G4 helmet comms systems.
Transmission and VOX:
PASS+
We found transmission using vox sensitivity was effortless. The full duplex support meant our conversations flowed as naturally as they would if we were chatting in person. (you don't have to wait for one person to finish speaking, like on the old "walkie-talkies", you can both talk over each other and argue as much as you would in person ;) The mics were sensitive enough to pick up our voices from the quiet of a stop sign on a country road, to windy highways with revving engines at 80mph. All told - it was a no-brainer. We simply mounted the units and carried on as normal, speaking when we wanted to, and the G4 handled the rest.
Distance and Clarity:
PASS-
We first wanted to test the distance we could separate and still effectively communicate. Test number one found me standing in the middle of a freeway underpass while goda went in the other direction. He was around the corner and all the way to the end of the block, with about 100 ft of concrete and approx 400meters of distance between us and the reception was clear and loud. However, this was on the first night minutes after setup, while walking around wearing our helmets like a coupla dorks... The real test would be the next day on the road at speed.
Test #2 (the road test) proved successful as well. Goda paused to take a photo of the beautiful mountain road we were cruisin' on, while I sped forward on my bike. We separated by what had to be 1/4 mile or more with hills in the way. While there were intermittent bursts of static while were weren't speaking, the transmissions themselves were perfectly clear when we were. The static wasn't anything too persistent or enduring, so all told, we're totally happy with the clarity and distance we're getting from the system. Also, while he caught up to me on the road, we were still separated by a good distance and were also moving in and out of the hills and turns between us. Again, the comms were loud and clear even when there were only a few moments with a direct line of between us.
At no point did we experience a break in communication. While we were never separated by a HUGE distance, we definitely covered a good range of distance, from Side by side, to thousands of feet of separation in hilly, uneven terrain and the connection was strong and clear. The units claim up to 1 mile of coverage, but that's likely when there is direct line of sight. We'll have to see about further test that specifically push the outer limits of usability, but feel confident that the distances that we covered in the initial test are adequate for most riding. AND for when the "S" really hits the fan, you can always use the G4's Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity to dial up your partners and get them back on track.
Setup:
PASS+
The unit has a mounting base that clips directly into your helmet. You simply slide a think plastic arm between the outer shell of your helmet and the inner padding. Once in place, tighten a pair of allen bolts and you've got a sturdy, and adjustable mount that feels permanent, but can be removed with ease.
The electronic unit is thoughtfully designed for easy use with gloves on. The buttons are wide and protrude enough to be sensed through your gloves. Commands are cave-man simple; Press this big button for MP3, press the other one for Radio, press it again to go back to comms, hold this other big button down for 4 seconds to power up or down, etc. Neither of us had any issues using the unit, again, with no consultation of the manual.
Importantly, the electronic unit is separate from the base and can be taken easily off to be charged, connected to a PC for updates, or just stowed safely away. The whole unit is said to be weatherproof, and from the fit and finish it looks it, but we had no inclement weather this weekend so we thankfully didn't get to test this bit just yet.
Summary:
Cruising: The simplicity of setup, and downright ease of use puts these units into the high-marks category.
Bruising: The few bursts of static weren't enough to dislodge the psyches of these two particular adventurers, but we can see the accountant types getting really burned up by it. It only occurred when there was a sizeable distance between us, so 98% of the time you'll only hear the noise that's coming out of your partners mouth, and not the comm unit.
Final Grade: 9 out of 10.
*We'll update with pertinent forthcoming data if any should come.
Transmission and VOX:
PASS+
We found transmission using vox sensitivity was effortless. The full duplex support meant our conversations flowed as naturally as they would if we were chatting in person. (you don't have to wait for one person to finish speaking, like on the old "walkie-talkies", you can both talk over each other and argue as much as you would in person ;) The mics were sensitive enough to pick up our voices from the quiet of a stop sign on a country road, to windy highways with revving engines at 80mph. All told - it was a no-brainer. We simply mounted the units and carried on as normal, speaking when we wanted to, and the G4 handled the rest.
Distance and Clarity:
PASS-
We first wanted to test the distance we could separate and still effectively communicate. Test number one found me standing in the middle of a freeway underpass while goda went in the other direction. He was around the corner and all the way to the end of the block, with about 100 ft of concrete and approx 400meters of distance between us and the reception was clear and loud. However, this was on the first night minutes after setup, while walking around wearing our helmets like a coupla dorks... The real test would be the next day on the road at speed.
Test #2 (the road test) proved successful as well. Goda paused to take a photo of the beautiful mountain road we were cruisin' on, while I sped forward on my bike. We separated by what had to be 1/4 mile or more with hills in the way. While there were intermittent bursts of static while were weren't speaking, the transmissions themselves were perfectly clear when we were. The static wasn't anything too persistent or enduring, so all told, we're totally happy with the clarity and distance we're getting from the system. Also, while he caught up to me on the road, we were still separated by a good distance and were also moving in and out of the hills and turns between us. Again, the comms were loud and clear even when there were only a few moments with a direct line of between us.
At no point did we experience a break in communication. While we were never separated by a HUGE distance, we definitely covered a good range of distance, from Side by side, to thousands of feet of separation in hilly, uneven terrain and the connection was strong and clear. The units claim up to 1 mile of coverage, but that's likely when there is direct line of sight. We'll have to see about further test that specifically push the outer limits of usability, but feel confident that the distances that we covered in the initial test are adequate for most riding. AND for when the "S" really hits the fan, you can always use the G4's Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity to dial up your partners and get them back on track.
Setup:
PASS+
The unit has a mounting base that clips directly into your helmet. You simply slide a think plastic arm between the outer shell of your helmet and the inner padding. Once in place, tighten a pair of allen bolts and you've got a sturdy, and adjustable mount that feels permanent, but can be removed with ease.
The electronic unit is thoughtfully designed for easy use with gloves on. The buttons are wide and protrude enough to be sensed through your gloves. Commands are cave-man simple; Press this big button for MP3, press the other one for Radio, press it again to go back to comms, hold this other big button down for 4 seconds to power up or down, etc. Neither of us had any issues using the unit, again, with no consultation of the manual.
Importantly, the electronic unit is separate from the base and can be taken easily off to be charged, connected to a PC for updates, or just stowed safely away. The whole unit is said to be weatherproof, and from the fit and finish it looks it, but we had no inclement weather this weekend so we thankfully didn't get to test this bit just yet.
Summary:
Cruising: The simplicity of setup, and downright ease of use puts these units into the high-marks category.
Bruising: The few bursts of static weren't enough to dislodge the psyches of these two particular adventurers, but we can see the accountant types getting really burned up by it. It only occurred when there was a sizeable distance between us, so 98% of the time you'll only hear the noise that's coming out of your partners mouth, and not the comm unit.
Final Grade: 9 out of 10.
*We'll update with pertinent forthcoming data if any should come.
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