Stupid Newbie Questions [Archive] - WhiteBlaze

RAT

01-09-2007, 02:05

I store my foodless backpack outside with a garbage bag over it or my BP cover.

No way I would ever do that. What if you wake up and it is gone ? I have heard of such and have been with others that have had boots and other items taken, not sure if it was two legged or four legged critters that done it but I cant take that chance. One lady at Big Bald shelter woke up to find her boot laces completely chewed and gone by mice !!!!! Food goes inside with me, I aint skeerd of no bears, never hung my food bag ever cept of course in shelters which i try to avoid.

RAT

virtualfrog

01-09-2007, 02:09

This message has been edited due to deviation from stated intent of this topic. It's a judgement call.

Whiskyjo

01-09-2007, 02:11

45 years of backpacking and only two holes chewed in my backpacks so now I leave all my pockets open and if there is a low limb I will hang it on it or even a cable system if there isn't alot of people.

Whiskyjo

01-09-2007, 02:14

This message has been edited due to deviation from stated intent of this topic. It's a judgement call.

hammock engineer

01-09-2007, 02:51

a.) If you're tenting, what do you do with the pack at night?

b.) If you're tenting, and it rains overnight, should you dry it off at all in the morning before packing it up? What if it's still raining and you can't wait any longer?

a) I sleep in a hammock so the pack right now goes on the ground underneath the hammock. I am thinking about addind a gear hammock of some kind to hang my gear underneath me to get it off the ground.

b) Once again in a hammock here. My tarp is hung between the trees seperate from the hammock. The tarp is the first thing to go up in the rain and the last thing to come down. That way I can unpack and pack out of the rain. Everything stays nice and dry.

I know you asked for a tent (I hope this is not too off topic, if so sorry for the work deleting). But I wanted to present a different option that you may not have thought off. Could work or not work, just another option out there.

Mags

01-09-2007, 03:32

This message has been edited due to deviation from stated intent of this topic. It's a judgement call.

RAT

01-09-2007, 04:05

This message has been edited due to deviation from stated intent of this topic. It's a judgement call.

Mags

01-09-2007, 04:32

This message has been edited due to deviation from stated intent of this topic.

Lone Wolf

01-09-2007, 05:04

a.) If you're tenting, what do you do with the pack at night?

b.) If you're tenting, and it rains overnight, should you dry it off at all in the morning before packing it up? What if it's still raining and you can't wait any longer?

a.) most times I leave it just outside the tent, especially if i know it's not gonna rain. food stays in tent with me.
b.) in the morning if the rain has stopped, i'll shake the tent off best i can, pack it up and start walking then about noon i'll stop and hang it up to dry. if it's still raining i'll stay put until it stops even if it means a whole nother day. but if a town is within 20 miles i'll pack up in the rain and go for town.

stumpknocker

01-09-2007, 07:20

a.) If you're tenting, what do you do with the pack at night?

b.) If you're tenting, and it rains overnight, should you dry it off at all in the morning before packing it up? What if it's still raining and you can't wait any longer?

I bring everything inside the tent with me. My pack acts as the bottom part of my sleeping pad.

I always pack up inside the tent....the tent being the only thing that gets done after I get out in the morning. I pack it away wet. Sometimes I'll stop in the middle of the day and spread it out to dry, but mostly I just set it up again at night wet. If it's a dry, windy night, it dries quickly. If it's still wet, I just crawl in a wet tent. It sounds worse than it is because once you're in your dry sleeping bag on your dry sleeping pad, it's easy going to sleep. When my tent is wet when I go to sleep at night, it's usually mostly dry by morning....except in years like '03. Then you just get used to it. :)

khaynie

01-09-2007, 07:24

a.) If you're tenting, what do you do with the pack at night?

b.) If you're tenting, and it rains overnight, should you dry it off at all in the morning before packing it up? What if it's still raining and you can't wait any longer?

When I first started out my thru-hike, I slept with my pack in my tent. Mostly used it to prop my head on... After a few weeks, however, the smell of it became too much to bear. So, it mostly stays out now or I will stow it underneath my vestibule if rain is in the forecast.

I would always strap my tent on the outside of my backpack if it was wet while sliding the poles between my trashbag pack liner and the pack itself.

You'll quickly figure out what works for you once on the trail for a few days in the rain. Good luck.

stumpknocker

01-09-2007, 07:31

This message has been edited due to deviation from stated intent of this topic.

khaynie

01-09-2007, 07:38

This message has been edited due to deviation from stated intent of this topic.

Pokey2006

01-09-2007, 07:42

I agree, no question is stupid. If you don't know the answer to something, we need to ask someone, right? We weren't born with this knowledge....

I put my pack under my feet at night. By the time I made camp, the pack was empty. Food should be hanging from a tree or bear cable outside, extra clothes under your head for a pillow, mess kit outside by the fire ring, ready to go for b-fast and coffee in the a.m., etc. Keeping the pack in the tent did two things: 1) kept it safe from wildlife or theft overnight, and 2) kept my legs and feet off the cold ground, without having to haul a full-length sleeping pad.

As for rain, try carrying a shammie from Wal-Mart. Look in the automotive section, in the aisle where they sell car-washing stuff. The one I used was a purple cloth, I cut it in half and kept it in a ziplock to keep it from drying out. Wipes up water like a sponge.

Also try camping near a shelter when you have prolonged rain. It's a lot easier to dry out your tent and other gear if you can drag it all to a nearby shelter first.

TREE-HUGGER

01-09-2007, 07:45

Pack always comes inside the tent even if it is wet. Boots, water pump and bottle are the only thing in the vestibule except when in porcupine country. If the rain has stopped when you pack up do your best to dry it off, dont spend alot time. If it is raining when time to walk, pack everything in the tent and take down the tent last thing and pack it on top of your pack for the day. Hang it out to dry the first chance you get as you go through the day. If it rains all day, dont sweat it, your bag and pad are dry and that is all that matters. And above all, hang your food, most all animals, mostly skunks and mice, want your food. You will hear both sides of the fence on the food hanging issue and it is because there are a few people who have never hung their food and have never had a problem. This is strictly because of luck.

stumpknocker

01-09-2007, 07:49

This message has been edited due to deviation from stated intent of this topic.

bigcranky

01-09-2007, 08:00

Packs stay outside at night, wrapped in their rain covers. Never had anything walk off in 15 years of backpacking. (Here's my secret: I hide a Rottweiler in each pack.) When I'm solo hiking, the pack hangs out under my tarp, or I lean it against a tree and use it for a backrest if I'm cowboy camping.

Rain: if it's raining when you wake up, and it looks like it'll continue for a while, you just have to pack up with a wet tent. It'll get strapped to the outside of your pack -- if it goes inside, everything else will get wet, no matter how well you've secured it all in plastic bags. (Ask me how I know this....) If it's just wet from dew or rain, but the weather is otherwise fine, you can use a small pack towel to wipe it down before packing up. Better not to carry the extra water weight in your pack. (If it's still very wet, see above about where it goes.) If it's sunny and you will take your time with breakfast, leave the tent pitched and it'll dry out before you leave. Otherwise take advantage of the sun on breaks and try to dry things out during the day. (This includes your sleeping bag, which should get a little air every day.)

Pokey2006

01-09-2007, 08:39

Get that shammie from Wal-Mart and you'll be able to wipe most of the water off your tent, even if you do have to pack up while it's still raining. The thing is awesome! A MUST for anyone planning to mostly tent-camp (as opposed to sticking close to the shelters).

Though I still recommend waiting it out. Use the rain as an excuse to sleep in late.

terrapin_too

01-09-2007, 09:00

a.) If you're tenting, what do you do with the pack at night?

b.) If you're tenting, and it rains overnight, should you dry it off at all in the morning before packing it up? What if it's still raining and you can't wait any longer?

Answer to A: It depends. How big is the pack? How big is the tent? If the pack fits easily in the tent, that's the easiest place to put it, and you can use it as a rest for your ankles while sleeping. If not, the pack can live outdoors, with the pack cover on.

Answer to B: It depends. How much of a hurry are you in? Nobody wants to hike carrying a wet, heavy tent... but sometimes you just can't wait for the rain to quit. If you're carrying a wet tent: when the weather improves, take a break and give the tent a few minutes to air out.

fiddlehead

01-09-2007, 09:13

pack ALWays goes In the tent with me

Jaybird

01-09-2007, 09:16

a.) If you're tenting, what do you do with the pack at night?b.) If you're tenting, and it rains overnight, should you dry it off at all in the morning before packing it up? What if it's still raining and you can't wait any longer?

Yo dperry:

I bring my pack INSIDE my tent...makes a great pillow or foot rest!
& if its been raining...i shake the ol' tent off best i can...pack it up....then if the Sun decides to shine....i stop take a long break & let the tent dry out.

Good Luck w/ your hike:D

Peaks

01-09-2007, 09:27

Am I in the minority here? I've got a Zoid 1 man tent. So, there isn't room for a pack in the tent with me. When tenting, the pack stays outside, and covered by the rain pack cover. My food bag is hung. Haven't had a problem yet.

If it's raining in the morning, then pack up quickly, trying to keep things as dry as possible. Later, I'll spread things out to dry. Like many other inconviences along the trail, just deal with it.

terrapin_too

01-09-2007, 09:32

Am I in the minority here? I've got a Zoid 1 man tent. So, there isn't room for a pack in the tent with me. When tenting, the pack stays outside, and covered by the rain pack cover. My food bag is hung. Haven't had a problem yet.

No, you're not unusual. This was the case for me when I carried a Camp Trails external frame pack and slept in a Eureka Gossamer tent. No way the pack would fit in the tent!

But now the situation's reversed: it's a Granite Gear "Vapor Trail" pack and a TarpTent Rainbow... absolutely no problem getting the pack and all the gear in the tent. The pack goes under my feet while sleeping (and I only need a 3/4 length pad.)

SalParadise

01-09-2007, 11:26

I like to hang my pack from a nub branch on a tree, that way one side is protected by the tree and stays dry, plus it's a little higher up from porcupines or whatever. Plus if it's windy, I'll just hang the pack on the dry side of the tree and it's completely fine.

Other times I'll just put my whole pack in the garbage bag I keep with me and just put it outside my tent (no room in the tarp to sleep with the pack).

Both strategies have worked great for me, I'll never carry a pack cover again.

I always put up my food bag separately, just on another low branch. It's a waterproof bag, so it's no problem to get it wet.

TurkeyBacon

01-09-2007, 12:49

My answer has pretty much been said alreads, but it depends on the tent I'm using. Tarp and two man with vesibules, goes inside or vestibules (inside rain cover inisde vestibule). One man tent, goes in rain cover, stays outside tent. I either wait out the rain or pack the tent wet (ever wonder why manufactures make the tent bags out of coated fabric?). When I get a to camp at night I set the tent up again. What happens when it rains for four strait nights and the tent was used on night one and you shelter the last three nights... You carry a partially wet tent for three days. No one ever said the AT did not involve suffering. Things get wet and you will too, but it all dries out eventually.
TB

Boat Drinks

01-09-2007, 12:50

a.) most times I leave it just outside the tent, especially if i know it's not gonna rain. food stays in tent with me.
b.) in the morning if the rain has stopped, i'll shake the tent off best i can, pack it up and start walking then about noon i'll stop and hang it up to dry. if it's still raining i'll stay put until it stops even if it means a whole nother day. but if a town is within 20 miles i'll pack up in the rain and go for town.

So I'm clear; if it's raining when you wake up, you will stay put and chill in the tent until it stops, or if a town is within 20 miles, you will pack the tent and walk 20 miles to the town and check in somewhere? Is this correct? If so, why does having a town within 20 miles matter? why not just walk forward onthe trail? Also, what do you do in your tent all day? Read? Sudoku? Man, that would cause cabin fever I would think. Do many of you guys just walk in the rain?

Lone Wolf

01-09-2007, 12:58

So I'm clear; if it's raining when you wake up, you will stay put and chill in the tent until it stops, or if a town is within 20 miles, you will pack the tent and walk 20 miles to the town and check in somewhere? Is this correct? If so, why does having a town within 20 miles matter? why not just walk forward onthe trail? Also, what do you do in your tent all day? Read? Sudoku? Man, that would cause cabin fever I would think. Do many of you guys just walk in the rain?

Correct. I will not pack up in the rain, walk forward then set back up in the rain. Having a town in 20 miles means I can be there in 7 hours. What do I do all day in a tent? Read, do crosswords, drink coffee/tea, sleep and listen to news/music on headphones.

Lone Wolf

01-09-2007, 13:02

Sudoku? Man, that would cause cabin fever I would think. Do many of you guys just walk in the rain?[/COLOR]

what the heck is Sudoku? The ones that just walk in the rain have schedules, itineraries, are anal or whatever.

bigcranky

01-09-2007, 13:20

Hey, some of us like to walk in the rain. (Not major thunderstorms and hurricanes and whatnot, but a nice steady rain can be nice, especially in warm temps.)

I guess that puts me either in the 'anal' or the 'whatever' group.

saimyoji

01-09-2007, 13:24

Yep. No schedule, why not just stay put? I've been known to leave my tent as is, go for a walk in the rain, come back to camp. Only pack up a wet tent if my next stop is somewhere indoors. So far.....

Lone Wolf

01-09-2007, 13:25

Boat Drinks

01-09-2007, 13:36

what the heck is Sudoku? The ones that just walk in the rain have schedules, itineraries, are anal or whatever.

LOL, it's that numbers in columns/rows/boxes game. I gotcha on the itinerary thing. Thanks for the info!:D

Mags

01-09-2007, 14:04

This message has been edited due to deviation from stated intent of this topic.

vipahman

01-09-2007, 14:08

a.) If you're tenting, what do you do with the pack at night?
Pack stays in the tent.

b.) If you're tenting, and it rains overnight, should you dry it off at all in the morning before packing it up? What if it's still raining and you can't wait any longer?
If it's not raining, I start drying it first thing in the morning. This way by the time I've packed away most of the stuff, it's almost dry. If it's raining when I get up, I pack it wet. My dry 26oz tent weighed 48 oz wet.

Ewker

01-09-2007, 14:39

Jim, this is frickin' ridiculous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The guy asked what to do with his pack at night, I mentioned that you can use your pack and extra clothes to make your sleeping pad longer.

IF THAT'S NOT A STRAIGHT FORWARD SUGGESTION ON WHAT TO DO WITH THE PACK I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS!!!

Sheesh.

First you edit jokes. Fine. I can live with that. It is a little "off topic".

Now you are editng well known tips that most experienced backpackers suggest.

Don't see the logic of that!

To put it bluntly, maybe we need someone with more experience to moderate this forum? You are being a bit too quick on the trigger there chief.

I was wondering why no one mentioned putting the pack under your legs and using it as a pad. That way you can use a shorter pad which means less weight.

I see why now.

I always bring my pack in with me. There is room in the Hubba to bring it in.

terrapin_too

01-09-2007, 14:42

I was wondering why no one mentioned putting the pack under your legs and using it as a pad. That way you can use a shorter pad which means less weight.

Msg #28. :D

Ewker

01-09-2007, 14:51

Msg #28. :D

dang I missed it..way to go :banana :banana

Mags

01-09-2007, 17:53

dang I missed it..way to go :banana :banana

To put it straight, Msg #11 had it as well. Was put off into never-never land with similar comments from other people.

Anyway, here is more or less what I wrote before:

Most lightweight tents and/or shelters are limited in space. If you are shorter person, you can get away with a 3/4 length pad (or less in my case..I'm 5'6") and use your extra clothing as a pillow under your head and the pack to "extend" the pad.

Besides being a lighter overall system, it also saves space. Sometimes space is as important as weight in backpacking.

khaynie

01-09-2007, 21:14

I was wondering why no one mentioned putting the pack under your legs and using it as a pad. That way you can use a shorter pad which means less weight.

I see why now.

I always bring my pack in with me. There is room in the Hubba to bring it in.

I agree about this editing thing...Holy shiz nit. I replied back to Stumpknocker in post (I think post 17 at 06:30 today) that I kept my pack in my tent until the odor overwhelmed my wife, Samoa, and only then it made it to the vestibule when rain was present. Understandably this is a straight forward forum, but if that's off topic, then my name is Jim Sproul:D My reponse was REALLY the truth. Ospreys carry a sweet riding load but they also carry a foul stench after months of use.

EDITORS NOTE: The comment about your pack stink is STILL in the thread and was never removed.

hopefulhiker

01-09-2007, 21:28

a)Sometimes I took the pack in, sometimes left it in vestibule outside. If in shelter I would hang it from a hook..

b) I would wipe the wet leaves and stuff off the bottom, and then roll it up wet and pack it out.. A lot of times if I came to an open spot and it was sunny, I would stop and spread it out or partially set it up, take a twenty min break or so and it would dry it out some.. I didn't care about the wet tent so much as carrying the water weight...

Appalachian Tater

01-10-2007, 21:04

But now the situation's reversed: it's a Granite Gear "Vapor Trail" pack and a TarpTent Rainbow... absolutely no problem getting the pack and all the gear in the tent. The pack goes under my feet while sleeping (and I only need a 3/4 length pad.)

Ditto for me, except it was a GG Nimbus Ozone. Plenty of room inside the Rainbow. The tent goes vertically on the outside of the pack, so you can set it up in the rain without opening your pack and it doesn't get everything inside wet the next morning either. Shake the water off before putting it in the stuffsack. If the day turns sunny it will dry out during lunch if you flip it over once, or dries quickly after you set it up in the evening, especially with the flap open.

Everything weighs a lot more wet.

This message has been edited due to deviation from stated intent of this topic.

(not really but I wanted to be cool like all the other posts)

dperry

01-11-2007, 21:57

Thanks to all for all of the great comments so far.

To all those who suggested waiting the rain out: Unfortunately, we're planning on doing section hikes, which means there will always be at least some pressure to stay on schedule, and sometimes a lot of pressure (particularly when we fly to the section, which means we'll need to get picked up at the end of the hike as well as the beginning. I don't mind waiting an hour or two, but half the day (or the entire day, sometimes) is right out. And anyway, if it's a gentle, warm rain, I don't mind walking in it. :)

To Hammock Engineer: There are three barriers to my using a hammock:
1.) I am not good with detailed physical tasks. You know, like tying something around trees in such a way that it will support my weight. :(
2.) I have never found a hammock that I was comfortable in for long periods of time. Not to mention, with the way I toss and turn at night, I'd be afraid I would fall out of the thing.
3.) My AT hiking will be done with my fiancee, soon to be my wife. The odds approach certainty that at least once a trip, we will need. . .ahem. . .privacy. :banana

To Pokey 2006: Thanks for the tip on the super-absorbent thingy.

To Mags:
1.) Thanks for hanging in during all the editing.
2.) Unfortunately, I am not a shorter person (6'4"). On the other hand, my fiancee is 4'11". Perhaps this will work for her.

Our tent has fully zippable vestibules on both sides. Assuming we don't keep the pack completely in the tent, is this a good place to put it? How about for boots?

Regarding the food bag, I am planning on getting an Ursack. I don't think I would do well at the branch-hanging thing. (See point #1 to Hammock Engineer above.)

virtualfrog

01-12-2007, 03:26

Our tent has fully zippable vestibules on both sides. Assuming we don't keep the pack completely in the tent, is this a good place to put it? How about for boots?

My worry about this is usually porcupines here in Vt. They love salty boots/waist belts, etc,.... I'd need to feel pretty confident that they can't get to it.

Regarding the food bag, I am planning on getting an Ursack. I don't think I would do well at the branch-hanging thing.

It takes a few tries, but gets easy pretty quickly. Just don't start looking for a branch just as the sun is dipping below the horizon. That was fun trying to toss the rope over a branch that you can barely see, but need to find, since you're by heavy bear country.

hammock engineer

01-12-2007, 03:41

To Hammock Engineer: There are three barriers to my using a hammock:
1.) I am not good with detailed physical tasks. You know, like tying something around trees in such a way that it will support my weight. :(
2.) I have never found a hammock that I was comfortable in for long periods of time. Not to mention, with the way I toss and turn at night, I'd be afraid I would fall out of the thing.
3.) My AT hiking will be done with my fiancee, soon to be my wife. The odds approach certainty that at least once a trip, we will need. . .ahem. . .privacy. :banana

I weigh 225+ lbs and have slept with most of my gear and have been fine. I also only sleep 5-6 hours a night with 1 or 2 trips up at night.

As for the loving aspect I can not help you out with that one.;) But don't overlook hammocks for everything else. PM me if you need any help with it.

Pokey2006

01-12-2007, 03:58

dperry, I feel you on the section-hiker dilema. I'm a former attempting thru-hiker who is now a section hiker. As a thru-hiker, it's easy to blow off a day on the trail to hang in your tent (alone in a tent in the rain and you guys can't think of something fun to do with your time????). Can't take a day off in the woods as a section hiker, unless you have three weeks off from work to do your hike.

It might sound crazy, but why not test out your gear in the backyard some night when the weather is calling for rain? That way, you can see first hand what it's like to get out of a wet tent in the rain, and pack up your tent in the rain. It might give you some ideas for how you are most comfortable handling it.

And you WILL get better at all of it -- hiking in the rain, camping in the rain, hanging a food bag -- even on short section hikes. Give yourself time to learn and you'll be OK.

terrapin_too

01-12-2007, 09:17

To all those who suggested waiting the rain out: Unfortunately, we're planning on doing section hikes, which means there will always be at least some pressure to stay on schedule, and sometimes a lot of pressure...

There are a bunch of ways to respond to this. Use your noggin & your imagination.
You're a section hiker. Sections can be re-defined on the fly, according to circumstances. This is one of your great advantages you have over thru-hikers. Cell phones are useful here.
Shelters. Consider as an alternative to using your tent. Just sayin'.
Walking in rain: carry a layer of "reserve" dry camp/sleep clothes.
If you have to pack a wet tent, it's no tragedy. Nylon tents dry quickly with a bit of sun and warmth and dry air. Take a break at the next opportunity (ie., sun or dry spell) and unroll the tent. It will lose most of its water weight in ten or fifteen minutes.

dperry

01-13-2007, 03:30

My worry about this is usually porcupines here in Vt. They love salty boots/waist belts, etc,.... I'd need to feel pretty confident that they can't get to it.

It takes a few tries, but gets easy pretty quickly. Just don't start looking for a branch just as the sun is dipping below the horizon. That was fun trying to toss the rope over a branch that you can barely see, but need to find, since you're by heavy bear country.

Good point re: the porcupines, although it's also true that if they can get through the vestibules, they can probably get through the tent, too.

dperry

01-13-2007, 03:32

It might sound crazy, but why not test out your gear in the backyard some night when the weather is calling for rain? That way, you can see first hand what it's like to get out of a wet tent in the rain, and pack up your tent in the rain. It might give you some ideas for how you are most comfortable handling it.

It's not crazy at all. The fiancee and I are planning to practice under such conditions.

dperry

01-13-2007, 03:37

You're a section hiker. Sections can be re-defined on the fly, according to circumstances. This is one of your great advantages you have over thru-hikers. Cell phones are useful here.

That depends. In the Mid-Atlantic states, quite possibly. In northern Maine or the Smokies? Not so likely, even assuming you can get cell service.

Shelters. Consider as an alternative to using your tent. Just sayin'.

Not sure if I want to deal with all of the mice, snoring, etc. (except in those places where you have to stay at shelters, of course.) Also, see point #3 above. :D

magic_game03

01-13-2007, 04:09

Did anyone else here hike in '03? or the PCT? hell, I remember 55 of our first 60 days were rain in '03. And on the PCT just sitting around is a joke (oh yea, we PCT'rs sit around alot but not cause of weather, it's just that damm beautiful) . the "pack" question, I don't know, it just gets tossed somewhere unless I think it's going to rain. But the "rain" question? your just going to sit around? are you afraid of the rain? in '03 if we sat around on rainy days someone would have found our dead soaking wet bones cause it didn't stop raining. Now, I'm not saying that "sitting around" is not a great thing to do, but to be scared of the rain?

Anal to walk in the rain, LW? I came out here to be with nature. I may run down the trail with mother nature, sit on a rock with mother nature, but I ain't going to sit around in a man-made-tent while mother nature offers me a fresh shower and daylight too.

Pokey2006

01-13-2007, 05:21

It's not about being afraid of the rain. It's just that hiking in the rain is miserable, so why do it if you don't have to?

Obviously, you can't wait out the rain for 55 days. But for a few hours or for one day? Sure, why not?

Glad you enjoy hiking in the rain. Go for it. But don't call other people "afraid" just because they avoid rain when they can. Rain is miserable, period.

terrapin_too

01-13-2007, 08:50

To dperry (re: Msg. 54)

1. My cell phone usage on the trail has been limited to sections ranging from eastern PA to southern VT. Generally good coverage.
2. IMO, the problems with shelters are overstated here at WB. However, I do my sections nowadays in the off-season, so as to minimize these issues. No problems at all on my last (145 mile) section.
YMMV and all that.