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About

For half a century, Tamia Nelson has been ranging far and wide by bike, boat, and on foot. A geologist by training, an artist since she could hold a pencil, a photographer since her uncle gave her a twin-lens reflex camera when she was 10, she's made her living as a writer and novelist for two decades. Avocationally her interests span natural history, social history, cooking, art, and self-powered outdoor pursuits, and she has broad experience in mountaineering, canoeing, kayaking, cycling, snowshoeing and skiing.

Fenders Good. Fenders Plus Mudflaps Better!

Winter’s lease is up. It’s spring — mud-lucious and puddle-wonderful spring. Do you have mudflaps on your fenders?
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by Tamia Nelson | April 25, 2015

To twist the words of a well-known scribbler, winter’s lease hath far too long a date. But the term of that lease is drawing to a close — at last — and spring showers are now washing away the winter’s snows. Does the rain dampen my spirits? Not a bit. That’s what fenders are for!

OK. Fenders are good. But a fender with a mudflap is better. Much better. In fact, if you often ride as part of a pack, you’ll want to add mudflaps to both fenders, out of consideration for whoever ends up on your wheel. Making mudflaps is easy, and the cost is negligible. All you need is a one-liter soft drink bottle for each fender, along with a few other household items and tools. Your bike won’t win any beauty contests, but it’ll be a cleaner machine forevermore. And you’ll stay cleaner, too.

Verloren Hoop Colophon - (c) and TM Tamia Nelson/Verloren Hoop Productions … Continue reading »

The Open Road Is Calling You… But Spring-Clean Your Bike First!

The call of the open road should never be ignored, but it pays to make sure your bike is ready.
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by Tamia Nelson | April 7, 2015

Summer sportsmen* and sunshine cyclists beware. The roads may be losing their winter garnish of snow and ice, but you don’t want to be in too much of a hurry to hop onto the saddle. If your bike has spent the last few months hanging around in your garage or cellar, it pays to take an hour or two to make sure it’s ready for the road.

In short, it’s time to spring-clean your bike. Now here’s a checklist to start you off:

Give your bike a complete going-over. Fix any mechanical problems you discover, and…
Pay special attention to the chain and drivetrain; clean it if necessary.
Give your bike a wash, or at least wipe it down.
Inspect the tires and bring their pressure up to the recommended PSI.
Lube all moving parts.
Take an inventory of the tools in your seat pack or saddle bag,

Bicycling the Rough Stuff: The Pre-Ride Check

Stop trouble before it starts. Look your bike over to be sure everything is in working order before you head out.
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by Tamia Nelson | April 4, 2015

A bike—especially one that’s hauling gear or pulling a trailer along a rough unpaved road—is a complex machine operating under extreme load in a hostile environment. If just one critical part fails, it means trouble. Luckily, most mechanical problems are easy to fix or cobble together, even in remote areas, and as long as you have the tools to cope. But who wants to begin (or end) a trip with an unscheduled stop for repairs? I’d rather fix what’s broke at home, instead of alongside a mosquito-infested dirt track on the other side of Aintry (remember Deliverance?). That’s why I do a pre-ride check before heading out for rough rides or long treks. The idea’s to stop trouble before it starts. So look your bike over to be sure everything is in working order before you head out. Here’s my list:

Tires Look for cuts, bulges, … Continue reading »

Gearing Up to Ride: The Big Picture by Tamia Nelson

There are those cyclists who travel light, and those who are prepared for anything that may come their way. Guess which I am.
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by Tamia Nelson | March 31, 2015

I always carry tools in my saddle pack, and I carry even more in my handlebar bag, along with a selection of spare parts. Here’s the complete rundown, beginning with the contents of my seat pack:

Spare tire tube
Self-adhesive patches
Tire levers
Hex wrenches (Allen keys)
Spoke wrench
Chain tool
Multi-tool (Leatherman knock-off)
Vinyl gloves
Cotton rags

And here’s what’s in my ‘bar bag:

Tire patch kit
Spare brake and derailleur cables
Combo Phillips & slotted screwdriver
8mm Allen key
8mm and 10mm combo open-ended wrench
Cone wrenchs (13-15mm and 17-18mm)
Combo wrench (31mm & 36mm headset spanner & 13-15mm cone/pedal wrench)
Lifu mini crank extractor
Bottom bracket tool
Stein cassette remover
Spare brake and derailleur cables
Inner tube sections (mostly for padding)
Vinyl gloves

And that’s not all. I bring other things as well:

Frame pump
Mini-pump (as a spare on long trips)