[Yak] Back from the Blue Ridge Parkway

[Kevin Pfeiffer]

Dear Yakkers,

The Pocket Rocket Pro went with me to the Blue Ridge Parkway this 
weekend in the trunk of a large old Buick LeSabre. Some comments about 
the experience...

1. The trunk was full, as we also needed to take along a baby 
"Kinderwagen". If my wife had wanted to ride as well, we would have been 
better off with a bike rack on the rear, as two BFs and all the rest 
would not have fit, even in this trunk.

2. Walter's video (for the Seatmast version) and the printed 
instructions differ in their suggested positions for the pedals when 
folding, but the real note of importance is that you need to watch that 
the crank doesn't bind on the rear wheel.

3. In the future, I'll wipe the grease off the EasyPack seatmast and the 
stem riser (where the handlebars are attached) before packing, so as not 
to get grease on the little felt bags they give you (which then 
transfers itself to places on the bike where you don't want any grease).

4. I also found it useful to rotate the front wheel 180 degrees, 
something that you have to do _before_ folding the rear wheel. The bag 
was more than roomy, even without rotating the wheel, but doing so 
reduces the max. dimension somewhat.

5. The bike handled well on the descents (and climbing) and I'm quite 
pleased with the compact gearing setup. Granted the Blue Ridge Parkway 
is not that steep, but I feel that if I stay in shape, the gearing will 
suffice for most all of my climbing. The only drawback (if you will) is 
that your pedaling speed tops out at about 50 km/hr or so. On the 
Parkway where I was (Apple Orchard Mountain/Peaks of Otter), the road 
surface is rather rough in character; therefore, on the small wheels I 
might have liked to have had another gear or two on the high end. (But 
that is something I can live with for the ease of only two chain wheels.)

6. Note on the Parkway itself: long distances without any provisions for 
food or drink (other than the occasional mountain stream) -- especially 
before the 1st of May, as all visitor centers and many restaurants are 
still closed.


-- 
Kevin Pfeiffer <pfeiffer at tiros.net>
Kadiner Loft B&B in Berlin http://www.tiros.net/bed-in-berlin/