I don't know if this is appropriate here, but...

I just wanted to recognize what a high quality group of people post here. Life handed me a big steaming pile a while back, and then it put some in a paper bag and lit it on my front porch. I won't go into details because it is irrelevant other than to set up the next bit. I was not able to spend much time on the internet for quite a while (that hurt more than I thought it would) when I started spending more time on line I was still limited and mainly checked Bladeforums because I jones when I can't keep up with new knife stuff. Bladeforums attracts a few trolls because of its size, but if you avoid certain sections it is a pretty decent place.

Recently things are getting back to normal, relatively speaking and I have been spending more time online. Checking out old haunts and a few new ones has made me realize how great this forum is. I am amazed at how many forums are full of keyboard tough guys, emotionally stunted people, and just plain jerks. I would call most of these people trolls but in some cases they are people that have been on these other forums for ages.

This forum moderates itself for the most part. People generally respect differing opinions and there is usually someone trying to help. I think a lot of it is because of the example Doug sets, much is due to the moderate moderators, but a lot of it has to do with the average "citizens" here. It took being gone for a long time, and then being exposed to a couple of new online forums for this to really sink in.

Sorry for getting sappy on everyone, but it had to be written.

Just to keep this survival related, I have been thinking about keeping a BOB that would work as well with a bicycle as a car or truck. I know it has been discussed here before but if you are in an area being evacuated for weather or some other emergency a bicycle or motorcycle may be the only way to keep moving.

Yeah, what he said.

Welcome back.

Welcome back. For bicycles and motorcycles just go with the gear that transfered over from the horse- soft saddlebags or hard shell panniers.

what is a hard shell pannier?

They look like rigid saddlebags that go over the back wheel in pairs. They're bolted on, and usually have hinged tops so you can stuff stuff into them.

In addition to panniers, you could wear a backpack. And don't forget the covered sidecar for the dog (who should have his own BOB!). <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Sue

I've got some panniers, but need bigger ones. I have been looking at these

http://www.cobbworks.com/

I should actually say I have been looking at those with the idea of making my own with some changes. $80 is a bit much for a couple of food service buckets and hardware. What I really need to do is come up with a list of needed items. I have a touring list but need to make sure I am as self sufficient as possible. This is all on the back burner actually, but good mental exercise.

Thanks for the welcome back. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I have a few backpacks that can be pressed into service. My current (and somewhat inadequate) BOB is a backpack. While I would never use one normally on a bike it would be fine in an emergency situation.

My dog is such an energetic beast that he would never sit still in a sidecar. If I could figure out a way to harness him to the bike then I may be on to something. As he gets older though a trailer or something might work. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Actually there is a great line of trailers sold under the BOB name. Maybe they are trying to tell me something.

Dog-bike attachment that's safe for dogs that pull: http://www.springerusa.com/

It says it fits 95% of bikes, but it doesn't fit my mountain bike. Probably needs a standard road bike frame.

Last time I tried to buy panniers for my push-bike, the shop recommended a backpack instead. I use a smallish one quite a lot. My BOB is a rucksack but somewhat heavier; I've not tried cycling with it yet.

A backpack would make life easier if you had to abandon the bike and proceed on foot.

Years ago .....
the only one time I tried to ride my bicycle with a heavy backpack strapped to my own back, I got the the fright of my life. I was then going quite fast down a slope and the high center of gravity greatly amplified a vibration in the steering. I hopefully succeeded to stop, removed the backpack and strapped it onto the bike's rear rack : with a lower center of gravity, everything went fine, then.

I know exactly how you feel about this place.

I wish I could've come here to plan my wedding instead of asking some of the "ladies" on the forums at TheKnot.com.

Of course, these guys probably would've just come up with several ways to turn my wedding dress into a survival shelter, or suggest my cake be made out of Mainstay rations, but at least they're good-natured about it!

Frenchy,
That's been my experience with bikes and backpacks too. It isn't bad if just wearing a daypack with a few items in it, but one time I tried riding a bike with my full sized backpack and nearly kissed pavement because my whole center of gravity was so high. Having loaded panniers too may make it easier by lowering the center of gravity. I suppose too that one could get used to anything with enough practice.

Fenton,
I've seen people using those before. I wish there was some way to try one without buying one. My dog is not even two yet and pulls like mad. He only weighs 75 lbs, but it is all muscle. He has pulled my wife off her feet before and almost got me one day when he saw a squirrel across the road and made a right angle course change in a split second. Maybe in another 6 months or so it may be safe to hook him to the bike.

Brandon,
I'm shocked that the bike store passed up on an opportunity to sell you accessories that you don't need. They must be honest business people.

Christina,

The folks on here would have just wanted to know where you carried your PSK. Luckily most of those wedding gowns have enough fabric to sew pockets all over the place on the inside. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I can remember my wife looking at the Knot. All it ever seemed to do was freak her out and make her feel as though she wasn't prepared enough for the wedding, or wasn't doing enough. I told her that if she was marrying me the ceremony was the least of her problems. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Paul,
Dogs pull because they think they're helping. It's a fairly straightforward procedure to teach them not to, but it takes some patience and effort. Start off with a short leash. Start walking, with a command like "let's go". As soon as they pull, you stop, and say "no". When the dog looks back he'll stop pulling, and you can start up again. Continuing the walk is his reward for not pulling.

Supposedly you can train a dog to pull on a harness but not a collar, like for skijorring. I haven't been able to do that with my dog, but I haven't put enough effort into it.

Anyways, the springer puts the pull from the dog low on the bike, so he will not pull the bike out of control no matter how hard he pulls.

That's the problem, I know the technique that you describe, but it has little effect on my dog. I have even tried a modified version of the technique where you turn around and go the opposite direction when they pull. After a year of attempts, including a leash class (which mainly taught the techniques we knew) we have been trying the Gentle Leader harness. He hates it with a passion, yet he still pulls. The only time he doesn't pull is when we are walking an area we have just been through. Therefore we try not to walk him on a loop route anymore, but instead walk to point B and back to point A the same route. After 2 hours at the dog park today where he played and wrestled with about a dozen other dogs he was still pulling on the way back to the vehicle. To say he is an enthusiastic dog would be the understatement of the year.

We got him from a rescue when he was about 5 mos. old. He lived with a pack of about 20 dogs and had very little to no individual training. He has learned almost eveything I would ask of a dog, but how to heel. I'm just hoping his energy level will diminish as he leaves the puppy stage.

Re: pulling on the bike. My dog is extremely muscular. I'm not boasting, he just is. The vets comment every time he goes in. They have a hard time examining his belly because they can't feel his innards through the abdominal muscles. I would definitely want to try a springer before I paid for one because I am not sure he wouldn't be able to pull bike and rider over to the side, even with a low center of gravity.

Thanks for the advice.