This is Getting Real

T-18 Days

Yesterday and today were busy days.  We spent several hours practicing how to repair a flat tire.  We bought new tires called Gators (think very thick skin). We bought them because they are supposed to ward off flats and not just because we live in a community with alligators! But let me tell you, these things should be called Bears, because they are a bear to remove and put back on the wheel.  It took me nearly half an hour to get one off and just as long to put it back on again.  

I have decided that I will not get any flat tires on this trip, and, if I do, it can only be a front tire, because replacing the wheel back into the gears is no fun either.  But, we did it and I have pictures and notes to prove it.

Today, we took the measurements of our bikes and then Rob took them both to the Bike Store to be disassembled and shipped to San Diego.  They will arrive before we do and hopefully be reassembled and ready for us to take a few more practice rides before we start THE BIG ONE!

Tonight, we started finalizing the packing list, downloading the route cues and checking out the elevation.

On a more fun note, I bought a teensy-weensy camera and attached it to my handlebars.  It takes great pictures, even while moving!  Here are a few that I took yesterday on a 40-mile practice ride in Bluffton:

Equipment, Accessories and Clothing

One would think that for a bicycle ride across the country, all you need are a bike and a helmet.

Not so fast!

Let’s start with the fact that we bought new bicycles for this trip — with electric shifting and disc brakes.

Of course we also need clip in pedals and bike shoes.

And personally, I have been on a search for a comfortable women’s saddle— I have gone through five different saddles and finally landed on the Bi-Saddle (no pun intended) — it is literally two pieces that you can measure to your butt bones but open down the middle.  What a relief!

My husband ordered a custom fit saddle that was 3D printed by a company called Posedla, located somewhere in Czech Republic  - the company sent him a smiling butt kit - a piece of foam that he sat on, took pictures and emailed back to them, and he is very happy with the results.

You’d be amazed at all the accessories we can squeeze onto that skinny piece of equipment!

• Wahoo  - which tracks power, distance, elevation, speed, etc. (and which connects to Elment, Ride with GPS, Strava, and, for me, Map My Fitness)
• Lights (front and rear)
• Speaker - connected via Bluetooth to my phone
• Rear view mirror (though some are now using a radar sensor which also connects to Wahoo)
• Water Bottles (2) - though for longer rides, i like to wear a camelback
• Saddle bags (2) — top bar carries i-phone, skinny wallet, snacks, and tissues
• Under saddle bag carries tools, spare tubes and air cartridges for flats- we have ordered mini bike tire pumps too.

And then, in my separate accessory bag for travel:

• Extra bike gloves (long and short fingered)
• Head cap for cold days
• Separate arm sleeves
• Leg warmers
• Batteries and chargers
• Reflective belt (for busier roads)
• Noom and other goopie power aids
• Foot covers for cold days
• Bottle brushes/denture tablets (great for cleaning the bladder of a camelback)
• Single use hand wipes
• Toilet paper - for use of the green latrine

And, based on the experience I shared in my last blog, i am considering getting an air horn to ward off loose dogs.

The company told us that we need to buy heavier tires (they’re called gators — heavier and slightly wider), and to bring extra bike parts — tires, tubes, spokes and chains — so we are sending those ahead separately.  We are planning for several flats along the  way.

As to clothing - we have been told that we are limited to basically two soft carry-on bags, and warned not to over pack — laundry day is 1x week

That leaves us with — 

• 6 kits (bike shorts, socks and top)
• Bike jacket/vest/rain cover
• 7 pair undies and socks
• 2 Tee shirts
• Jeans
• Hoodie
• 2 shorts
• Pjs
• Sneakers, flip flops 
• Toiletry bag

This will be like being in college again!

Training

December 30 - 10 weeks to go!

This week we discovered that there is nothing more motivating for HIIT than to be chased by loose dogs on a back country road in Georgia.

I posted a question on Reddit about what other riders do when chased by dogs - and, as might be expected, got dozens of answers ranging from, ride as fast as you can, carry mace (no), carry a whistle (possibly), carry an ultrasonic whistle (I like this idea), spray pepper spray in the road, carry an air horn,  give the dog a kick (no), or even one person said they carry a pistol -- yikes!

In any event, we made it safely, and got in 67 miles for the day.  

My husband and I are taking different approaches to training.  He is much stronger than I, so I am focused on upper body strength, while he is focused on getting as many miles on the bike as he can.  He's already logged more than 1,000 since September!

I go to the gym 3x week (can't believe I am actually a gym rat!) and work with a trainer to get in my strength training.  

Of course I have been riding too.  Our friends loaned us a Peloton, so that has been really helpful, but the big issue for us is that we live near the coast -- there are NO hills.  We have travelled to western parts of the state a few times to get in miles and hills.

We are ahead of the training plan the company sent us, so I feel good.

Happy New Year!

Choosing Our Route and Tour Arranger

 

In my dreams, my cross-country bicycle trip would have been 50 miles a day for about 3 months.  Unfortunately, that meant that I would have to arrange my own logistics, SAG and travel companions.  As much as I wanted a leisurely cross country trip, I wanted a company to manage it for me even more.

We looked at a few companies.  First, we signed on with Trek Travel.  But, they travel the Northern Tier (Portland, WA, to Portland, NH), which is about 4,000 miles from coast to coast and they bike at 18-20 miles per hour, and average 85 miles a day. For me, that would be a race across the country!

So, after some serious conversations with my body as to my true capabilities, we decided to go with Cycle for Life.  Our ride will the Southern Tier, San Diego, CA, to St. Augustine, FL, (about 3,000 miles), at the much more leisurely pace of 12 - 16 mph, with an average 75 miles a day.  Still a helluva feat!

Next up.  Training!

Cross Country by Bicycle - Are We Crazy?

Bicycling is and has always been a huge part of my life.

My grandfather bought me my first 10 speed when I was 15.  Freedom!!! 

That ten-speed was my only personal mode of transportation for the next 8 years -- back and forth to high school, to my first high school job, and across my college campus.  I don't remember bringing the bicycle to law school, but I didn't have a car until my third year.

I rode everywhere.  Don't tell my parents, but in high school, my then boyfriend and his buddy would ride by my house at 1 AM and call me out to go riding with them -- I'd sneak out the window (you gotta love ranch houses) and we would ride for 2 hours through the back roads of NJ, then head home and get up in time for school the next day.  To this day I can't believe that I went racing down Long Hill Road in the dark with no helmet.

Meanwhile, my future husband was similarly dependent on his bicycle during his youth.  He rode back and forth to the Jersey Shore from Cherry Hill, and while in college in MA, rode from Boston to Long Island and back. After grad school, he went biking throughout Europe with a number of classmates.

We independently developed a love of two wheeled adventures and continued them throughout our marriage -- we regularly rode with the Morris Area Freewheelers in NJ and have been on several Backroads trips together, and I have done a few on my own. I've done the Five Boro bike tour a few times, and in 2013, I rode from England to Paris (taking the ferry, of course!); and together, we did the Ride Across Georgia in 2015.  We ride now with Kickin' Asphalt in and around the Bluffton area.

In 2011, we had the great fortune of riding tandem in the first Morristown Gran Fondo with two blind people (see video link here), which taught us more about working with others than you can imagine.  We repeated that adventure in 2012, too.

So, with this history, and both now retired, what better way to celebrate this love than with a grand adventure across the country.

This blog will share with you our planning, training, and ultimate adventure.  Ride along with us!