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Integrating Technology Into a Long Trip?
xsalmon asks: "I am about to undergo a long trip around the continental United States, via hiking/cycling/walking and other self-propelled means of transportation, to raise money toward AIDS/HIV research. What kind of utilities/devices would you bring to increase safety/security? I'll be hauling enough in my backpack as-is, so any suggestions would have to be lightweight and portable enough. Any ideas?"
The mugger of course might have already made off with those two.
I'd take a PocketPC or PalmOS PDA Phone and a Bluetooth GPS and a 4GB Microdrive, combined with some nice Hiking maps. And maybe some nice bright flashing toys from ThinkGeek. For Self-protection, I'd want a Taser. Oh yeah, and a Sidewinder so that I don't have to find a power supply for any of this stuff.
SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
http://www.springfield-armory.com/images/xd-pistol /XD9810Large.jpg
and
http://www.garmin.com/products/etrexVenturecx/#
and
Cell phone of your choice.
These should keep you safe and keep you from getting lost. Of course, you will have to manage to keep fresh batteries in the GPS, but if you turn it on occasionally, you should get several days out of one set. Also, a solar panel can help keep the phone topped off.
Of course, you also have the option of getting a higher-end cell phone with GPS built-in, and then subscribe to service which can provide directions. In that case, you may want to consider dropping the separate GPS.
"-1 Troll" is the apparently the same as "-1 I disagree with you."
I am one of those who beleives that personal safety starts with a 4 and ends with a 5. Of course this may not be the same sentiments of many here, and due to permit issues may not be practical for you.
Other items though that I would say are critical would be: some form of flashing (strobe?) beacon if you are in distress that will make it easy for others to find your locaation, portable radio (ham radio 146.52 if you have a license), cell phone, GPS, and a PDA with appropriate maps. (some of these items can easily be combined (phone, gps and pda) if you have the funds. And the other big one is water purification system.
PS dont forget something for power
30% Troll, 50% Underrated, 10% Interesting
Score:5, Troll
A good helmet and knee/elbow guards.
h tm
Also, check out this site:
http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/laptop.
It's entitled "Bicycle Touring with a Solar Laptop".
Not trying to be cruel, just helpful -- if you're planning on raising money through that web page, get someone to proofread the spelling first.
Plus make sure you also have these:
Tool: Victorinox Swisstool
Wristwatch Computer: Suunto x9i
Media Player: iRiver H10
Cell phone: Sony Ericsson K800/K790
Notebook...
Take acidwarp.exe, zonerings, deoxy.org ? Oh wait...
it's a blue bright blue Saturday hey hey
Last Summer we went east for a few days. Shortly before the trip I got an HP4700. Bluetooth, WiFi, email, web browser, well under a pound and can easily fit in a shirt pocket. 640x480 resolution, I stuck a 1GB SD and a 2 GB CF in it. Panera Bread, and Fudruckers offer free WiFi, to name a few. I also carry a Cingular 2125 with a 1 GB mini-sd. So I have a Bluetooth connect to Cingular's Edge network, a small browser for little things and their voice network. Personally I'd kill for a bike generator that had usb ports to supply power to all these portable devices.
"Can there be a Klein bottle that is an efficient and effective beer pitcher?"
I'm guessing you used that word get your submission accepted, this being slashdot and all. I recommend you bring an LED flashlight, swiss army knife or leatherman and cellphone at the least, as well as a good road atlas and some hiking maps. You don't need a Garmin or other GPS unit... I'm assuming you're sticking to most major roads and can usually ask someone for directions. If no one's around, then use your phone.
I don't recommend bringing much in the way of gadgets because on a trip like that your essential gear will weigh enough. A PDA is absolute excess. Cycling for the journey alone will require a few pounds of tools, several spare tubes and a pump. Add food, water, clothing, sleeping bag+pad, and medical gear and you'll be carrying a lot. Don't underestimate the dangers of nature either; all it takes is some slick pavement to end your trip with a sprained angle. Even on 2-hour hikes at midday, hikers usually bring a sleeping bag+pad, because shit happens and they end up spending the night in the forest. You've got enough on your hands already, cycling and hiking, focus on the essentials because those help you survive.
I bet some enterprising guy could make you an internet conctrol unit which in response to commands on the webpage could force you to go faster or slower (by electric shock or other means) ;)
:)
Speak to the xmas lights guy for technical hints
As an extra thing to take, you could mount several webcams and a robotic arm onto your bike, then when you rest for the evening we can investigate the surroundings.
It would be like a cheapo geekified NASA experiment.
All this will give more people reason to visit your webpage, and as we all know more eyes means more donations/clicks.
Lastly, take a gps tracker so we know you haven't sloped off to Mexico.
All the best with your journey
liqbase
"
24 hours * 7 days * 8 weeks = 1344 hours
5062.56 miles / 1344 hours = 3.77 miles/hour
You honestly think you're gonna average almost 4mph for a full 8 weeks?!"
You honestly think he's gonna ride his bike for an average of 24 hours a day??!?!?!?
"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
and your "HIV/AIDS" T-shirt should both help to scare off muggers.
Seriously, though, the handheld GPS > the PDA with GPS. My PDA with GPS could never handle the elements.
When I've done long hikes, I actually carried an old car inflatable tube tire and a mini CO2 canister. You can inflate the tube in an instant (about 12 inflations per 6 pack of CO2 cartridges) and float down the river. I'm lazy.
The CO2 cartridges also come in handy if you want to cool down, just remove the inflation adapter and am at your chest -- instant cool down.
I always bring along an extra few pairs of socks, too, they can get pretty grotty if you forget extra sets. And lots of protein and fat packed bacon is my friend on long hikes.
If you're even *considering* taking even something as puny as a PDA, you're in for a hell of a shock a few miles down the way. On the Appalachian Trail there's a sweet little racket going for the trailside equipment stores - the guys at the trailhead sell you all sorts of lightly used equipment that you absolutely can't be without at a great price. On discovering that the relatively trivial function of these gizmos isn't worth the immense pain your packweight is causing you, it gets sold for far less than it's worth to the guy in the store a couple of days down the trail (who doesn't have to go far to get a good price for it). I'm guessing this is your first long-distance trip, as the question from people who've done it before is always 'how can I carry less stuff?'. Once the blisters start to appear and your shoulders start chafing, you'll be throwing out anything isn't keeping you alive. Go read about Ray Jardine's methods, it'll save you a lot of time, money and pain.
For whatever other people suggest, I can heartily recommend the solio http://solio.com/html/index.html for powering them through thick and thin.
The problem with the rat race is, even if you win, you're still a rat!
90 miles per day for 56 days straight is very ambitious, if you haven't toured before. Taking the stops he's planning and the usual unplanned events into account, I'd shoot for perhaps 50 miles per day on average.
Travel light and don't underestimate the rigors of this journey, especially if you're going by foot part of the way. I'm hoping you'll drastically shorten your route, unless you're extremely well prepared.
Please keep in mind that that estimate is purely an approxmiation. If it takes 9-12 weeks, so be it. Anyhow, if you guys know of anyone who wants to contribute/donate/sponsor in any which way, shape or form - please have them visit my link - it's incredibly important to have the public behind something like this. Thanks, and much 3. Jeremy Noonan
NT = no text
. NT = no text
. . NT = no text
Especially if you're planning on also carrying a small Japanese woman. (Which I might also reccommend.)
Since the trip is for AIDS/HIV "research", I'd bring condoms. Lots and lots of condoms. Some lube too.
If you're going to induce a long trip, then maybe a HAL Suit can keep you from falling over while you're high.
The best protection against the HIV virus is those extra-thick condoms. Good luck in your travels.
I would be more concerned about the desert in the summer. As a friend of mine that has riden in race across america said - you measure milage in miles per gallon (of water) and the results are in the range of 4-5 miles/gallon.
I have mod points and I am not afraid to use them
I would recommend a Pocketmail device. You can compose email and upload it to a toll-free service from practically any phone with the built-in acoustical modem. (Just hold the device up to the handset.) Also, bring a good phone card; payphones can be a bitch, and collect calls are risky.
Last summer I hiked the Appalachian Trail and dealt with the same question in my planning. Know what I ended up taking? An LED headlamp (3xAAA).
Everything else I could've wanted would have been a pain to maintain. Camera? Cellphone? MP3 player? PDA? GPS? The problem comes down to one word: batteries.
Consider this: anything I take will get used enough that the batteries will lose charge. How will I replace or recharge them? Your cellphone -- and possibly your camera and mp3 player -- will require its own wall-wart charger, which means you need to find a place to plug it in and let it charge for a few hours, once or more each week (depending on how often you use it). Are you going to carry all these devices PLUS their wall-warts? That weight adds up fast.
The best workaround here is to find small, lightweight digital cameras and flash-based mp3 players that run on AA-sized batteries. And the Lithium AA's will get you that much more battery life. So if you go with one of those, you can carry spare batteries and pick up replacements at any convenience store -- no wall-warts necessary. This is a Good Thing(tm).
In fact, there are flash-based mp3 players (256/512meg or so) that run on a single AA battery AND provide an FM receiver -- very handy for getting storm warnings and such. THIS MAKES IT A VERY LIGHT, USEFUL SAFETY TOOL. It won't hold a lot of music (and you'll probably get bored with it before long), but it doesn't kill you with battery weight and frustrate you with needing a charge every 4 hours.
PDA? BlackBerry? GPS? Get versions that run on AA's or leave them at home. You don't need them. Every few days you can spend an hour or two in a public library to access the internet for email and such. Some towns you pass through will have internet cafes as well. Carry good maps and a compass (analog) instead of relying on GPS.
Here's a tip: with your digital camera, take pics of maps that you won't carry with you. Then you can view them on the LCD and zoom in at need. Just remember to look quickly and turn off the LCD when you don't need it to save battery power. Also, avoid using your flash -- take photos using natural light as often as you can to stretch your batteries that much further.
Next time, I will take a single-AA mp3-player+FM device. I'll probably take a AA-powered digital camera. But if I'm out for longer than a couple of nights, my cell stays at home.
Enjoy your trip!
(Oh, and I looked at your site. 8-9 weeks to travel 5000+ miles?? You're insane. Plan on 3-4 months at minimum, and recognize that if you're serious, this journey could take 8-9 MONTHS, not weeks.)
Let's see, you'll need a tricorder, of course. A personal communicator will be essential as well. A dermal regenerator will come in handy in case of any scrape-ups. Oh, and a hand phaser to deal with any trouble you might run into.
If you don't know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else.
I think you mean http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/.
I think there is a world market for maybe five personal web logs.
Good info there. As an AT veteran, I'll tell you right now: less is better. You'll be carrying enough as it is.
The original estimate was a very, very rough approximation. I have since updated it to upwards of 16 weeks. In the end, though? It'll take as long as it takes. If it takes 20 weeks, so be it. But I'm taking it all the way, from start to finish. This is an important cause to me, and it is to many others. Please show your support, if you are able to! Sincerely, Jeremy Noonan
This link is mostly for desert survival, though many interesting points
One tip is to wear calf high pantyhose under socks to prevent your feet from getting fatigued
http://www.survival.com/deployment.htm
Get you ham license,a Kenwood TH-D7 Dualband HT and a GPS puck. Then anyone can find out where you are at http://findu.com./
-- I have a private email server in my basement.
Cheap.
Light.
Scares away animals. Personally used by me to scare a bear in Alaska pre-bear spray, which by the way is completely ineffective on moose, who seem to be capsaicin resistant, again from personal experience. No, road flares do not cure prostate cancer. No goatse jokes please.
Can be used for signaling.
Can be used to start a fire even with wet wood.
Likely will scare away even a persistent attacker.
Police WILL stop when they see one.
Absolutely will not go out when lit, even underwater.
Will destroy evidence if you need to steal some twinkies at a gas station.
If voting were effective, it would be illegal by now.
Try putting some planning into your trip. Plan the best route that not only meets all the goals a bicycle trip should. i.e. distance, energy, etc, but also safety (various law enforcement can provide the data). After all the best way to prevent a problem is to not get into it in the first place (would any of you intentionally go into the worst part of town?)
Get an Ipaq and/or palmtreo 700w but if you want a good size 12 inch screen laptop get inspiron 700m also get one of those water back pack things so then you have a lot more water to drink rather than a bottle here and there and refill up less.
A: Bring an Ace Bandage. Ok, so it doesn't really count as technology, but you can fix everything from broken bike racks to ripping bags to actual (gasp!) cuts and bruises with an Ace bandage. More useful than Duct Tape, and easier to work with.
B: A cheap candybar cellphone. It should be relatively new, so that it has good battery life, but it should be cheap because these days cheap=durable in a phone. Be sure to switch to a nationwide plan before leaving.
C: Spare LED blinkers. Never run out of night-riding LED blinkers. However, forgo headlights on the bike. They just destroy your night vision while adding a ton of weight. Use more LED blinkers if necessary. Bring a spare set of AA's, and expect to replenish on the road.
D: Platapus bag. Don't leave home without a silly, expensive hydration system that happens to work really well. Bring purifying tablets if you can't find a reasonable water source, but don't be that guy who assumes anything less than bottled water is toxic. I recommend two additional water bottles for backup.
E: An old PDA, like a Sony Clie N360. Even though the batteries are wearing out, they should still get about 20 days to a charge. Plus they're dirt cheap.
F: Anything that charges will be the bane of your existence. I tend to lean against a lot of GPS systems for that reason. However, if you do carry a few charging things, try having a rest at every starbucks you see. The food is overpriced, but they've got outlets that anyone can use. College Campus food courts also tend to have outlets. Otherwise, expect to spend a lot on motels.
G: A bar of soap, a second set of clothes, the heaviest-duty sunblock you can find, a toothbrush / paste, a sleeping bag... and that's about it. Don't bring anything you can live without, and expect to get really dirty. I recommend a tent as a luxury. I always feel the need to find an enclosed space when I travel without a tent. Oh, and lots of Vitamins, Powdered Gatoraid, Tiger's Milk bars, and Ramen (bulky but light!), for those times when you just can't find food. Eat raw... no cooking. No pots / pans.
H: For your bike, take two saddle-bags and NOTHING MORE. No stove, no fire, no pads, nothing. If it can't be strapped to the back of the bike, it ain't coming. Use puncture-resistant tires with Puncture-resistant tubes and puncture-resistant tire liners. Stuff will get through that too, but at least it will be less stuff. Go with 25mm tires. Your bike will be laden with junk anyway, so the handling difference will be minimal for a lot more comfort. Bring about one to two spare tubes for every day between bike shops. You shouldn't need that many, but every now and then you get into a bad patch that eats through four tubes. These should be the normal, lighter kind, and buy more as you go. "Tire Slime" is useless and should be avoided at all costs. Beyond that, bring two patch kits, a slimline pump, a chain wrench, a spoke wrench for your size spokes, pliers, a set of torque wrenches, a good phillips head, a pocket knife, a spare brake cable, a spare shift cable, tin shears, a solid cable lock that can weave between your frame, both wheels, and the seat. Also, a split saddle. A comfortable saddle on a long trip is worth more than all of the rest of your gear combined. Take aerobars of some sort so that you can change to a few different random seating positions as you go.
I: Quick on / off should be a priority for your bags and packing, because you will be doing this A LOT.
J: A hidden Money Belt. I recommend a few hundred in emergency money, plus all of the contact / account info you can write down and stuff in there.
K: Pen, paper, your thoughts.
The ______ Agenda
In a tiny box of electronics, with removable front panel for the dash
(eg, ICOM IC-706 Mk.IIG, Kenwood TS-2000 or Yaesu FT-897D or similar) is:
- monitor various VHF/UHF stations (emerg. services, etc.)
- Shortwave receiver
- AM [ & FM ] broadcast receiver
- VHF/UHF comms with repeaters all over the country/world - US, Canada & beyond
(each provides a way to meet-the-Locals, as you pass through / by each place)
- Internet-link repeaters (if you'r within range of one, you can "dial-up" others
- eg, in places you're headed for (even in different states & countries -or-
maintain comms with folks back home, ie, if they have licenses & gear that can
access a nearby IRLP-repeater)
- "hunt" for satellites passing overhead (cf HeavensAbove.com's Amateur satellite
page for times & freq's to watch, no matter where you are) - a great time[sink
for the kids
If you find one, use it as a repeater (for voice) or digipeater (for eMail)
- with the right antenna & tuner, "hunt" on HF for other Hams around the world
(like an open-ended Skype search, & chat in voice-mode)
- even if you can't always talk with all the stations you'll hear, enjoy listening!
(eg, new/unfamiliar accents, languages, local ideas, "on-air" tips for radio &
lots of other issues)
- [Kenwood TS-2000 only] connect a notebook (or smaller) computer to use Packet-
Radio & possibly APRS (to get weathe or to locate other nearby stations - both
home or mobile); contact satellites passing overhead or use them to store-and-
forward your eMail, when there's no Internet cafe nearby
- lots more... too many to list... Google is your friend here.
Oh, it's gotten VERY EASY to get a first (Foundation Class) Amateur/Ham License
In USA: http://arrl.org/
In SE: http://www.ssa.se/
In AU: http://www.wia.org.au/
Enjoy the warmth of friendly, local voices... ready to offer travel tips...
generally without wanting to fleece you as you pass through their town/city
I should point out that on a mountain bike I could do about 15 mph. Someone on a 10-speed could do about 5-7 mph greater.
There's this new software called Ceedo which lets you install a whole bunch of apps on a disk-on-key or pocket hard drive. I can think of a lot of uses for this sort of thing on the road...
Check it out: http://www.ceedo.com/
A flint, steel, and a knife.
"Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past." -- George Orwell
Every gram matters when hiking, you will be able to spread the load better with three hikers. Plus should anything go wrong you will not be alone, not to mention how useful the company will be. The best measure of your hiking pace is to be able to walk and hold a conversation simultaneously, you'll look schitzo talking to yourself.
Also I hate to be blunt about it but your site is pretty poor if you plan to use it for fund raising. Look at this example for ideas (about the site and about the trip itself).
In the interest of not getting too complex, I suggest the following:
Other things you might consider:
If you do bring a GPS receiver, don't let it become a crutch. You should know how to read a map and how to dead-reckon, or you shouldn't be out wandering.
www.wavefront-av.com
Lots of kids play the latest video games while on long acid trips.
Same thing goes for 'shrooms.
What's wrong with some bike tools, a map and a compass?
You WILL be travelling ON the roads I hope?
Regarding safety, my best recommendation would be to bring a friend. Not only are you less likely to get mugged if there are two of you, but any medical situations that might arise are probably more easily taken care of if there are two of you.
It's not like you're going to be able to stave off a band of highway bandits with a 9mm anyway...
You do NOT need a laptop on a cross-country bike ride. The goal of which is to ride a bike, not to check your email. I'm sure you'll pass atleast oen internet café on the way somewhere.
The most high-tech thing I'd bring on such a journey is a cellphone and/or some kind of emergency radio.
I'm going to assume that you know something about cycling already, since you're attempting this, but if you don't, you need to know to keep everything LIGHT.
You do not want to pack any more weight on your bike, or yourself, than is absolutely necessary.
So stick to the low-tech stuff, and don't be affraid to stop and ask for assistance.
Ohh, and socks, don't forget extra socks.
Move sig!
If you're walking in Camden, New Jersey, bring a firearm and know how to use it. :-)
Screw the PDA's and high-tech gadgets.
How the HELL did this make it into a Slashdot story?
News for idiots, people who don't know how to travel? Stuff that doesn't matter, especially if you don't care where this guy goes "walkabout" to.
+++OK ATH
Inova Microlight LED flashlight or a similar device is a great accessory. Keep it small and lightweight. I highly recommend red LED's as they illuminate the best in pitch black conditions.