Subtitle: I knew better than to do that. Stats Distance 45.03 Average Speed 10.3mph; Max Speed Elevation Gain 3,322 Average Temp. 61 F; Temp Range 51-77 F My east-coast timed brain woke me up around 5, but I was…
Day 0: New Jersey to Astoria, Oregon
Today is the first day of my trip, and yet it isn’t. I woke up at 5:30 this morning to my father knocking on my door. We both had planes to catch: me to Portland, him to Atlanta. As is…
Gear List: Part 2: The Bike
Erebus, the personification of darkness, a primordial deity, born of Chaos itself. Also, the name of my trusty steed. Erebus is a Trek 520 disc. I didn’t change much, but I did get a professional fitting — $200 very well…
Gear List: Part 1: Everything but the Bike
It’s worth noting that I am aware of the likelihood that I am overpacking. I’ve been on several short tours (a few days) but nothing of this magnitude. I’m expecting to send some things, like the cold weather gear I’m…
Responses: Which One Are You
One of the most fun parts of preparing for a cross-country cycle tour was telling people about my plans. This garnered a wide variety of responses. I thought I’d share a few of them here. #1 The Logistic Junky Response:…
One Week Left
The last few weeks have been abuzz with activity. I finally got fed up with the persistent pain in my lower back and started seeing a chiropractor. It hasn’t been long, but I’ve noticed a difference and I’m hoping it’s…
Cycle2Charge Installation in 5 Easy Steps
A week ago, the headset-cap USB adapter for my dynamo hub arrived. It is a solid piece of equipment, definitely not for somebody counting fractions of an ounce on their build, but sturdy enough to give me some hope that…
Detours. T-minus 50 days.
I had planned to update once a week as I trained and prepared for the big ride. It’s been 63 days. Well, the best laid plans of mice and men, as they say. The tale of this detour begins with…
Progress Report: T -113 Days
You might expect a strong start to preparation for a long tour like the TransAmerica Trail. It would be entirely reasonable. It would also mostly fail to match my week. I suppose that’s not entirely true. I did fairly well…
The Countdown Has Begun
One Hundred and Twenty Days! -or- 2,880 Hours -or- 172,800 Minutes Yes, the countdown has begun. Although the plane ticket hasn’t been bought yet, I plan to begin my ride of the TransAmerica Bike Trail in 120 days in Astoria,…