I've become more of a spinner but I still struggle to maintain above 80 cadence. It has gradually increased from sub 70 to 72 over the years (overall cumulative).

Sometimes you need a weekend off. Forcing yourself may be a sign of discipline but outdoor adventure should be fun. I usually use these weekends to find something local I wouldn't waste a weekend on normally (or just get some stuff done at home) . Enjoy the time off.

Bikes will keep you young for sure. I know a guy a few years older than you still riding and he is in phenomenal shape and looks 10 years younger. It's a bonus if they make you feel younger as well. Post a photo of your drop bar conversion when you get it done. Should be a fun bine to ride.

What's on the agenda for 2026? How about filling in the Adirondack bikepacking map? Hiking, backpacking, bikepacking, paddling and climbing in New York's Adirondacks, Catskills, Vermont, New Hampshire, the greater Northeast and beyond

With high accessibility from major upstate population centers this proposed route validates that there is almost entirely untapped potential for #bikepacking in the #Adirondacks. It also begs the question? Why isn't there more established bikepacking in the Adirondacks?

Mountain Visions: Cycling: Is the Saratoga Battlefield the best Cycling in the (recreationally) Cycling Rich Capital Region? Saratogra Battlefield National Historical Park is the best cycling in New York States Capital Region. History, scenery, closed loop, rolling terrain

Is this the best no-car/limited car cycling in New York?

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#ISpyNY #YesNY #photography #fotografia #biketooter #fedibikes #cycling #bicycle #bicycling #bici #bicicleta #ciclismo #cyclismo #velo

Cycling New York's Capital Region: Gravel on the Mohawk Towpath, and the Erie Canal Trail.

#biketooter #fedibikes #cycling #bicycle #bicycling #bici #bicicleta #ciclismo #cyclismo #velo #ISpyNY #YesNY #photography #landscape #fotografia

Beautiful bike. Those aero hoods are probably the most necessary upgrade. The old hoods from that era where awful ergonomically. I don't think many things on bikes have improved in a useful way, but that's one of the.

I'm suprised it has such a low granny gear on the 6 speed. That's a sweet bike though and with a low gear it's absolutely relevant today as it was when you bought it. To me gearing is one of the biggest upgrades in more modern bikes. Even my 90s MTBs had fairly high low gears. 28 or 32 big cogs

American transportation and power...

#biketooter #fedibikes #cycling #bicycle #bicycling #bici #bicicleta #ciclismo #cyclismo #velo #fahrrad #photography #landscape #fotografia #ISpyNY #YesNY

Mountain Visions: Cycling: Is the Saratoga Battlefield the best Cycling in the (recreationally) Cycling Rich Capital Region? Saratogra Battlefield National Historical Park is the best cycling in New York States Capital Region. History, scenery, closed loop, rolling terrain

Is Saratoga Battlefield the best pedaling in the recreational infrastructure rich Capital Region, New York?

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Two trek 7900 drop bar conversion gravel bikes with racks and panniers in front of an I Love New York sign on Seneca Lake in Geneva, NY

You can see the bar end on the red 7900 in this photo. The JTEK shiftmate pull adapter is on the seat tube of the green 7900.

Microshift or even LTWoo are great options. Only thing you might not consider is the front derailleur had a different pull ratio. You'll either need a friction shifter (bar end is great on the front) or a pull adapter. I have one of each on my two 7900s. both work perfectly.

Sounds like a fun ride. Those old steel frames are so awesome. I wouldn't bother with gearing changes if you aren't climbing the old 3x7 or 3x8 is more than enough to get up gently rolling terrain. And road and mountain (rear) derailluers are cross compatible thru 9spd. so not to expensive.

Pit Stops Matter: Why Weight and Aerodynamics Are (mostly) Irrelevant on Flattish Bike Touring (Bikepacking) Routes Hiking, backpacking, bikepacking, paddling and climbing in New York's Adirondacks, Catskills, Vermont, New Hampshire, the greater Northeast and beyond

Cycling is a sport built on perceptions and misconceptions. Marginal gains that mean marginally nothing. Does weight and aerodynamics matter for bikepacking and bike touring?

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#bikepacking #biketouring #biketooter #fedibikes #cycling #bici #bicicleta #ciclismo #fahrrad

Not that I care about weight, but it's 23lbs. Feels nice and light. And shifts perfectly considering it's out of spec. And the 16.7in low gear is great in the hills. All day climbing at 20% grades. I'll eventually upgrade to a Soma Jawbone or Wolverine for gravel/bikepack but not for a few more yrs

It's a good cheap option. Mine was mostly stock in those photos aside from the shifters/bars. Using the stock drivetrain I added a 9spd cassette and a wolf tooth road link to go to 9spd and 36t low gear. But otherwise it was stock. All in inc. Bike, quality tires, probably $600.

What's on the agenda for 2026? How about filling in the Adirondack bikepacking map? Hiking, backpacking, bikepacking, paddling and climbing in New York's Adirondacks, Catskills, Vermont, New Hampshire, the greater Northeast and beyond

With high accessibility from major upstate population centers this proposed route validates that there is almost entirely untapped potential for #bikepacking in the #Adirondacks. It also begs the question? Why isn't there more established bikepacking in the Adirondacks?

I heard/seen that before but had to look it up. Cool reference!

Yes. Fun area to ride. You can absolutely bikepack and gravel ride from northern Washington County down to Columbia County or further using state forest and parks. I love seeing what adventures I can put together locally that other folks are ignoring. Possible in fact to do it without a car.

Coming soon: A week on the Erie Canal Trail (Empire State Trail) Just a trailer to a week of bike touring the Erie Canal Trail section of New York's Empire State Trail. We started at the Amtrak Station in Syracuse via Albany, rode about 40 miles of the Erie Canal Trail to Mays Point. Then departed the Erie Canal Trail for the Cayuga Seneca Canal Trail. From th

Bikepacking the Erie Canal (Empire State Trail) and New York's Finger Lakes Region.

youtu.be/Hzj8K5ArYCw

#bikepacking #biketouring #biketooter #fedibikes #ErieCanalTrail #EmpireStateTrail #photography

The Erie Canal isn't the only bikepacking in the Capital Region. There are ample gravel roads, state forest and state parks to create a fun trip within shouting distance of the state capital.

#bikepacking #biketouring #biketooter #fedibikes #cycling #fahrrad #bici #velo #photography #ILoveNY

Evening bike ride to Lock 2 - Erie Canal



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Buskirk bridge. From here you can go in 3 directions (north, south or east) for endless high quality gravel and scenic riding thru rural NY and Vermont .
#biketooter #fedibikes #cycling #bicycle #bicycling #bici #bicicleta #ciclismo #cyclismo #velo #I_Love_NY

Just a few weeks away from bikepacking season in the Adirondacks Jonesing to get out and do some exploring as I continue to build more quality bikepacking routes in the Adirondacks. Spring is pretty nasty on the trails and I like to keep off them, but the seasonal roads are gated till mid-late May (but open to bikes and foot traffic) which makes them ideal. For

Just a few more weeks until another Adirondack bikepacking season begins and more moments like these

youtu.be/v4eSkIOdkUY

#bikepacking #biketouring #biketooter #fedibikes #adirondacks #adirondack #fedibikes #cycling #bici #bicicleta #ciclismo #cyclismo #velo #photography #landscape #fotografia

Gravel on the Old Champlain Canal - Empire State Trail, NY.

Some more great riding and history in New York's Capital Region.

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None of this stuff is a big thing. It's marketing to create FOMO. Sell people new shit because they weren't upgrading natively. It's not real hype.

Thanks, it's just an inexpensive moose treks (mesabi). their stuff is surprisingly good. I never fully derig from bikepacking mode. But I've found the frame bag to be pretty functional for day riding, especially with bottles on the fork. You can toss a layer in it, food, an extra bottle, pump, lock.

Mountain Visions: Bikepacking: Testing Out the K9Sportsack This was the initial day of the K9Sportsack trial. Dogpacking, bikepacking, adirondacks, bike touring.

Testing out the @K9Sportsack. This was the initial day of the #K9Sportsack back in Sept 2025. We've since used it to do bikepacking trips that wouldn't have been possible without it!


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It's probably a lot easier to get back into shuffle board after a long off-season. First ride of 2026 (indoors or out).
#biketooter #fedibikes #cycling #bicycle #bicycling #bici #bicicleta #ciclismo #cyclismo #velo #photography #fotografia #strobist

In my mind the route would he much flatter (it wasn't hilly, but the one 15% climb was anything but flat) for cycling day 1 of 2026.
#biketooter #fedibikes #cycling #bicycle #bicycling #bici #bicicleta #ciclismo #cyclismo #velo