Preparation: The Bike and the Riders

One week to go!

The header photo shows us with our Bike Friday tandem and trailer rig set up as we will be riding.

Bike Friday is an Oregon-based company making what are probably the best folding and take-apart bikes you can buy. We bought our tandem used several years ago to use while cruising on our boat; when the seats and handlebars are removed it fits nicely up forward. The surprise was that it is an excellent performing bike, so although we have only put it on the boat a few times, we have logged thousands of miles of enjoyable riding on it. The wheels are small, but it is set up so the points where our feet, hands, and seat contact it are the same dimensions as any tandem bike with larger wheels, and the bike handles very well. The wild card is that the bike disassembles and packs into two regular sized suitcases for travelling. The airlines charge an arm and a leg to carry a bike, but for us it's a matter of don't ask, don't tell. When the bike is reassembled, the suitcases bolt onto an aluminum frame with wheels, and become a trailer in which we will carry our clothes, spares, camping gear, and tools. Most people who tour by bike carry pannier bags on the front and back, and we have ridden that way before, but my experience is that the bike handles much better towing a bike than carrying bags.

Before setting out on this tour, we replaced all the cables, chainrings and chains, and had ABC Bicycles in St. Petersburg do a complete overhaul on the bike, checking and servicing all the bearings and adjustments. We're carrying spares and tools to fix any likely problem. In short, the bike is as ready as we can get it.

I wish I could say the same for our bodies. On the plus side, Sandy and I have ridden pretty much every day since 1986. We started extending our daily mileage to 30-35 miles early this year. That is much less than we plan to ride each day on our tour, but even that training went out the window over the last six weeks because of two trips which kept us off the bike, and because we both caught colds which left us, especially Sandy, with lingering coughs. The colds and coughs cost us more days of riding. So we are starting this trip in less than top shape. We tell each other we'll take it easy to start, and ride into condition over the first few weeks.

We're off tomorrow to Colorado for our second son's wedding. On June 4 we travel on to Astoria, Oregon. The next day will be a shakedown ride including a ceremonial dip of the wheel into the Pacific, and then we head East Ever Eastward.

Preparation: Our planned route

For many years we have been members of Adventure Cycling Association, which began in 1976 by providing support for groups of cyclists crossing the U.S. to celebrate the Bicentennial. They have continued to be a resource for touring cyclists, with a network of routes all over the U.S., with maps and reference to facilities available along the way, including lodging, food, bike repair shops, etc. Each year, hundreds of riders cross the country on Adventure Cycling routes, most of them in more of a hurry than we will be. We plan to follow a combination of two of the Adventure Cycling Routes. From the coast of Oregon near Astoria, we'll follow the Columbia River Valley, cross into Idaho, climb the "back range" of the Rockies, and turn southeast at Missoula, Montana, following the valleys and mountains southeast through Yellowstone N.P., Wyoming and central Colorado. We'll exit the Rocky Mountains at Pueblo, Colo. and make a beeline across the Great Plains through eastern Colorado and Kansas. We'll cross Missouri and southern Illinois, and the long and mountainous widths of Kentucky and Virginia. To the extent that we know what to expect at all, we expect each section of the 4100-mile trip to have its surprises, attractions and challenges, and of course if there's a reason to change the route, we will.

Packing Light

If you will be following our blog, let’s explain one thing you may notice: in pictures we post, we’ll always seem to be wearing the same clothes. For the benefit of those who still believe the Apollo 11 moon landing was a hoax, be assured we will not stay home and post fake photos. The thing is, since we’ll carry all our stuff across the country, and especially since we’ll  pull it all up and over mountains, the less stuff the better. In our planning, we have tried to be almost obsessive about packing light. Two jerseys and three pairs of cycling shorts apiece, one off-bike outfit, a few days of socks and underwear, rain jackets and pants, a few warm items, and that’s it for clothes. We’ll have to wash them often, but that’s better than carrying extra. Our total burden will be as light as we can manage it, but some things are unavoidable. Tools and spares for the bike will add some weight. The only paper we’ll carry will be Adventure Cycling route maps plus a few puzzles; no books at all. No camera; we’ll use the phone. We’ll carry a smartphone, with a bluetooth keyboard, a second cell phone (Verizon, to use especially in the West where ATT has less coverage), and a Kindle for reading. We plan to eat in restaurants or pick up supplies for picnics, and to stay in motels. But if we get stuck, or if lodging and food spots are more than a day’s ride apart, we’ll have bare minimum camping gear and a small supply of granola bars or such food.

We could have joined a group which would travel together, and have a support vehicle carry all our stuff from place to place. It would have made for easier and faster riding, and wouldn’t have cost any more. But we decided we’d rather go on our own, set our own pace and schedule, and stop to see what interests us. Our only deadline is to finish before it gets cold, so we aren't in a rush. We'll ride long or short distances, and take days off or not, as we choose. We’ll forego the support, and miss out on the camaraderie of a group. But we'll rely on ourselves and meet more local people along the way. Besides, we’re good company for each other.

I remember reading a remark from a WWII general that a battle plan lasts only until the first shot is fired. The same is probably true of our bike tour plan. Once we get on the road, no doubt our careful planning will be overtaken by unexpected challenges and surprises. I hope so; otherwise, why go?

One month to go

Sandy and I plan to start from Astoria OR about June 6, with a goal of reaching Yorktown, VA sometime in September. As we near our departure, I'll describe our planned route, our bike, preparation, etc., and put a photo of us and our rig on the header.