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How many tours has Big Nellie been on? I can't find anywhere that you mention when/why you switched to The Mule. ??
I've been reading your Western Express tour. I'd love to be able to ride it - but I just don't think I have the legs. Good job!
The Mule actually pre-dates Big Nellie in my stable by about ten years. I bought Big Nellie after being unable to find a conventional touring bike to act as The Mule's backup.
2 years agoI fell in love with the ride quality of Big Nellie and rode it almost exclusively for five or six years. Then I started getting nerve problems in my feet when I rode it and had to switch back.
Now the nerve problems are all but gone and I can ride Big Nellie comfortably. Mostly I ride it in the summer months and dry weather. The front wheel has a disturbing tendency to slide out on slick pavement, wet leaves and such. Also, I had to replace the fork last summer (my fork broke! while riding). I learned that some of the parts (fork, handlebars, seat components) are very hard to find. Hopefully somebody will buy the company and solve this issue.
That said Big Nellie has well over 40,000 miles on its odometer.
There are a couple of drawbacks to touring with Big Nellie. The sheer size makes it a logistical headache. (How will I ship it home?) In order to climb big hills I have to be in super aerobic shape. As you know, it's all about spinning. I met a guy this summer who did the TransAm E to W on a Tour Easy. He walked a lot. When he got to McKenzie Pass he actually took an $300 Uber over Santiam instead of climbing to McKenzie. He missed the best thing on the TransAm and a very forgiving climb. I'd give good money to ride a faired Tour Easy down from up there. It was an absolute blast on The Mule. (Journal forthcoming, BTW).
The Western Express is very hard. I was very fortunate to not have to deal with extreme heat. I also did that ride with chronic pain in my left knee and hip. One good leg is not enough. I had never climbed above 6,000 feet before so I wasn't ready for all those big climbs. It doesn't much matter which direction you take. From the east you hit a 6,000 foot 9% grade near Wetmore CO followed by a brutal climb up to 9,000 feet on Hardscrabble Mountain. From the west you have to go from sea level to Carson Pass at over 8,000 feet. So right out of the gate you are put to the test.