The Adventure Begins...
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on map for more details of the route
Last November Liz asked if I would ride across the country with her.
I said yes. And so we agreed on this huge adventure.
I had no idea that getting ready for the trip would be so much fun.
I have really enjoyed pondering gear options, training (believe it or
not),
and reading email from the many who responded to our Adventure Cycling
ad for travel companions.
The bicycle
I bought a Cannondale T2000--a magnificent charcoal gray steed that
would
give me every mechanical advantage possible to ride those 4,000 some
miles.
I added a suspension seat post, and gearing even lower than
Cannondale
provided, thanks to the sound advice of my experienced cross-country
friend,
Eddie. The bike came with 35mm tires, which were very sturdy and gave a
smooth ride but it was such an effort to make the wheels go round that
I have changed to 32mm tires. I used Blackburn front and rear racks
(low
riders on the front).
Training
I had the bike--now I needed the body. So training began in February,
with
spin class two nights a week, and a club ride Saturday and Sunday if it
didn't rain. And I was slow! I'm used to riding a titanium bike, so
what
with being out of shape, and having a heavier bike to propel, on huge
tires,
I usually ended up way at the back of the pack.
But I knew I would be able to do the TransAM because I would draft
behind
Liz for 4,000 miles. She is so strong that she is just as fast on her
Waterford
as on her regular bike.
I kept training, and plodded up every hill I could find, and pedaled
desperately to keep up on club rides. Gradually I have become strong.
In
fact, on a recent ride with friends who usually have to wait up for me,
I not only kept up but was occasionally in the lead. (They didn't
comment
on how strong I was. They were probably thinking they were out of
shape.)
The gear
After extensive research I chose Madden Cyclelite panniers as they were
well made with lots of pockets, and weighed less than most of the
others
on the market.
I purchased lightweight aluminum cooking pots that are
Teflon-coated,
2 quarts and 11/2 quarts, and a stove that runs off regular gasoline
which
can be purchased at the pump and carried in a metal bottle that fits
into
a water bottle cage
My tent weighs around three pounds.
Other items--a Pack Towel, which is light and dries very
quickly--one
for me and one to wipe the dew off the tent before packing; a headlamp;
a large plastic bowl (no plate) and an insulated mug with a coffee
plunger;
a small pillow; a silk and cotton liner and waterproof sack for the
sleeping
bag; bike tools; and a million other items that seem necessary but
which
I may discard before I finish packing.
The clothes
I plan to do laundry every four days, so I have four pairs of bike
shorts
and tops, etc. For après bike I have two Coolmax
t-shirts--nothing
cotton; nylon shorts and a pair of nylon pants. As no rainwear really
works,
for you get soaked eventually, I have a light rain jacket but no rain
pants.
I do have some windproof pants for wear around camp in the mountains
when
it may be cold, and a couple of lightweight thermal tops for layering,
and one pair of tights plus one pair of light thermal underwear.
Companions
We put an ad on the Adventure Cycling website, and the response has
been
very interesting. Some emailed just to wish us luck, others were just
exploring
options. It has been really fun. Two people who saw the ad will be
starting
with me from Astoria, and a third will meet us halfway.
Liz has to drop out
In April Liz had to drop out because of recurring health problems. I
had
put too much into the trip to give up the idea of going. So although
very
disappointed, and sad for Liz, I plan to do the trip anyway. At first I
thought I would be on my own, without the fun of sharing with a good
friend.
But now I look forward to meeting the three who have signed up to go
with
me.
The route
We plan to leave Astoria on June 10, and follow Adventure Cycling's
TransAm
route to Yorktown Virginia, which we hope to reach mid-September. This
route can be viewed at www.adventurecycling.org
.
Roller coaster
Psychologists should add preparing for on a cross-country trip to the
list
of the most stressful life situations, next to divorce, changing jobs
and
moving. I have looked forward to this trip with exhilaration and
terror,
sometimes feeling both at the same time. Many problems had to be worked
through, such as leaving my job, arranging for someone to take care of
my house, water the yard and cut the grass. It was a real shock when
Liz
announced that she could not go. But somehow each problem has worked
itself
out. Liz will take care of may house while I'm gone.
Now another problem has reared up--there is no way that my bike will
fit into the box provided by a local bike shop---or at least, it won't
if I want to bring both wheels as well. I have just one more day before
I leave, but I am optimistic that this problem will be solved, just as
all the others have been.
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