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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?"
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.
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".
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.
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.
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.
Since the trip is for AIDS/HIV "research", I'd bring condoms. Lots and lots of condoms. Some lube too.
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.
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
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).
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!