The Latest Bike Gear, Some Updates

[Cosmoline]

I've been lightening the load so I can get around easier on the bike this winter and bike more. This current load is about the most efficient in quite a few years of doing these crazy weekend trips to the range.

The handlebar bag holds four pmags and a few hundred rounds of 5.56 ball. It's extremely well made Swiss surplus. I found one on this link sold as a "bread bag," but I'm pretty sure it was designed to loop over handlebars of a bike or motorcycle. Unlike most modern handlebar bags it will easily cope with the weight of ammo and the spitzer points.

http://coolmaterial.com/gear/swiss-army-bread-bag/

The backpack is a 511, which I got to replace a cheapo student pack that finally wore out on me. Unfortunately it has more pockets than actual room so it won't hold as much as it ought to. It holds a collapsed lower, targets, extra ammo, and other odds and ends for the range. But there's little room to spare for additional handgun ammo, let alone another firearm.

The scabbard is an old Alaska Sportsman model I've been using on the trail for years. The seam was coming loose so I decided to go ahead and open up one corner of it to permit a scoped fixed carry handle upper to fit. That lets me keep my zero between trips. The hide scrap is sewn in on one end and laced over the scope with leather shoestring (invaluable stuff).

If I can keep all my stuff limited to the bags, I don't need to tow a bob trailer and deal with the drag of the third axle in the snow and ice.

So far, nothing beats the AR carbine for tote-ability. Even my .22 can't break down that small. It's the ultimate bicycle gun.

 

[Whacked]

Nice Kona
Gotta love those ergon grips
is that one of the older kryptonite type locks? that takes a circular type key?
If so, its time to upgrade. locks that take a circular type key can be opened with a cheap ballpoint pen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCxHD9_uEf8

I thought about doing something like that. The major problem is I'd have to ride my bike thru some rough hoods to get to the range.
rear rack with panniers and/or trunk bag would be the way i'd go.

 

[Mainsail]

Consider a Thudbuster. I have it and it's fantastic.

 

[Cosmoline]

The major problem is I'd have to ride my bike thru some rough hoods to get to the range.

That's why you don't shoot all your ammo, but save some aside.

rear rack with panniers and/or trunk bag would be the way i'd go.

I've tried that before, but I found the weight of ammo will snap most racks. I went through a couple before just abandoning them. There are some European utility bikes that have integral racks able to take the weight, but most domestic ones are made for light loads only. Ammo also causes problems in pannier bags because it's a dense weight that tends to ball up on one area. The light nylon will not cope with sharp metal.

Consider a Thudbuster. I have it and it's fantastic.

I use a Brooks bouncy saddle. It's old fashioned but works really well. I'd figure out a way to lose a finger on that thudbuster. And I'd probably break it.

 

[Ramone]

Sweet...

I am a motorcycle not bicycle type, and I use this rig:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004FXWI6W/ref=oh_o01_s00_i00_details

And- don't laugh- THIS actually helps a lot in compactness:

http://www.amazon.com/Defense-Black...CW/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1332111847&sr=8-14

 

[jeepnik]

Sir, you are a better man than I. I don't really like riding in the winter in SoCal. To do it in Alaska, well, you are from hearty stock, you have my respect.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Do you take the costal or Old Seward/frontage to RC range, and BTW, there's more than just bad hoods (and some of anchorages best too)
there an AWFUL lot of wildlife.

I would add at the bicycle shop should be able to have a decent utility rack or just some AL tube or angle from the rear wheel to a rack that is then connected to your frame in the regular way. Also I'd look in to the slim touring cases, frankly, you need something HARD, about the size of a briefcase, with a balanced load carried low, will help with the corners.

http://www.rei.com/product/784043/ortlieb-sport-packer-plus-bike-panniers-pair
something like this? but maybe not as expensive?

 

[Cosmoline]

I mostly use C from downtown to Klatt and then take the back roads. This time of year it's the only open route. The coastal trail goes way out around the airport and is too soft.

Those are nice panniers, but I find nobody makes a rear rack that's nearly tough enough for a hefty ammo load. I had one sheer off its screws and another couple just crack at the seams. I need one that's built like my Hoss (toughest mountain bike ever made).

Ramone--does that pivoting grip give you any trouble loosening up in shooting?

 

[Shadow 7D]

Ah, well, are you handy, there is a custom bike guy in anchorage, they did a write up on him for the whacha call it (local furniture store) anchorage to fairbanks handbike/accessibility bike challenge.

A way to deal with the weight is to to use two suspension spring/shock units to the rear axle, with a 3rd to your seat, that would remove the worse of the weld busting vibrations, use steel instead of AL, as AL is much more prone to fatigue. consider something based on something like thicker walled eletrical conduit, it would still be lighter without too much of a loss of strength.