May 25, 2005

Getting Ready

This weekend is being spent doing the little things around the house that need to be done before I leave next Friday as well as dealing with the remaining logistical and gear items for the trip.  The bike with accessories was shipped out on Tuesday and should arrive in Forest Grove, OR at The Oak Tree Bed & Breakfast where we (Nick, the Tufts University student & I) are staying next Friday night.  Donna & Bob McIntosh have been very accommodating about us shipping our bikes and gear there.

A trip like this requires a lot of planning, training and other preparation. I started detail planning in December, and have been training through the winter as evidenced by the following picture.

Winter Training

It looks now like the planning and training is going to come in handy next week.  I can only hope is was enough.  The gear selection could be critical in the wilderness like areas in Idaho and Montana.  Weather is also a major factor.  Heat, cold, rain, wind, and sun:  I had to prepare for them all while balancing the amount of weight to carry.  Gradually over the winter I added gear and weight to the bike as I trained.  The last ten pounds made the Trek Carbon Fiber bike shown above ride like a wet noodle.  Since I couldn’t chance a frame failure in Northwest, Nowhere I purchased a bonafide Cannondale touring bike, which added a few pounds.  It is a more durable bike with better gearing for the mountains and a far better choice for a trip like this.  My rides this week will be with around 60% of loaded weight and will average around 25 miles each totaling around another 100 miles.  That will bring my total mileage since January 1, 2005 to around 1,200, which should be enough.

I am looking forward to getting started riding east.

Jim

Cycledog (Ride the extra mile!!)

© 2005 - JNS