The afternoon was pedaled through in pleasant contemplation. The new road was plentifully wide with sparse traffic and I enjoyed the warm sun and long vistas of rolling farm land. A curious thing I began noticing was small signs advertising various seed strains being used in the fields. Each sign would carry the crop(i.e. soybeans, corn etc.) and it’s ID number. It took me awhile to figure out the purpose of these signs. Having always lived in an urban area I’d never considered how farmers acquire the seeds for their crops.
Around four in the afternoon I rolled past the outskirts of Mildred, Kansas. I stopped at a general store just off the highway for a pick-me-up before the last hour's effort. The woman inside was very nice. She was impressed with my endeavor and also showed a good deal of concern for my safety. Apparently I wasn't the first bicycle tourist to come through her small town. She related a story of another young man who camped in the lot next to the store a year or so before. I purchased an apple, candy bar and Gatorade and enjoyed them on the curb in front of the store. As I ate I noticed clouds rolling in from the south west. I remember feeling a bit uneasy at this first sign of trouble to come. I climbed back on the saddle and rode on after a restful twenty-minutes.
The clouds gathered quickly over the next ten miles and the resulting darkness betrayed the relatively early evening. Upon reaching the next city, Moran, I decided to find a suitable place to camp in town, rather than risk making an extra ten miles in the worsening weather. I pedaled slowly down the main street keeping my eyes open for a park or friendly looking stranger. I found the library and chamber of commerce but they were both closed as it was already five-thirty.
As I was pondering my next move a man in a pick-up truck smiled broadly and waved as he passed. Something in his passing countenance struck me in a positive manner and I pulled up behind him and quickly flagged him down. He pulled over and even got out of his truck to chat, warmly shaking my hand in greeting as I explained my situation. I asked if he knew somewhere in town where I might camp for the evening. He thought for a moment, mentioned a few parks off-hand and then offered his own backyard. I politely asked if he was sure that that would be alright and he insisted on the idea. He got back in his truck and I followed him briefly around a few corners to his property.
His home was a small ranch style house on a half-acre lot backing up to a tall field of corn. I made sure to introduce myself when he began showing me around the backyard. He shook my hand and introduced himself as Lloyd. I immediately saw two suitable trees for my hammock near the corn field and he agreeably assented to my choice. He even offered to warm up some left-over stew he and his wife had in the fridge. I was determined not to put them out in anyway and kindly declined. I got busy setting up the hammock and he left me to my work.
I was securing a tarp over my bike against the coming rain when Lloyd returned. He told me that he'd informed his neighbors and the local lawman about my presence so that no one would be unduly alarmed. He showed repeated concern for my safety and comfort and I countered with ceaseless gratitude and assurances of my well being. He insisted that I shouldn't hesitate to ring the bell and take shelter in his home if the rain was too bad.
It was nearly eight o'clock by this time and with nothing better to do I decided to turn-in for the night. Lloyd said he'd be out to work early in the morning so we said our good-byes and I offered up more thanks. I climbed into the hammock and slipped my shoes into a plastic bag on the ground below me to keep them dry and near at hand.
The first rain drops fell moments after I laid back into my pillow. The splatter of the rain pattered rhythmically on the rain-fly above and the trees rustled with the cold wind. The new hat and gloves kept me plentifully warm against the elements
It was still early and I grew lonely being so far from home. I sent a text to my sister to let my family know where I'd stopped and that I was alright. The glowing screens of my i-pod and phone provided an odd sense of comfort, a calmly incandescent reminder of home. The hammock rocked softly in the wind as I lay listening to a Radiohead album and I drifted into sleep.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Day Two: October 7, 2009 - Part 1
I woke up at 6am after a lousy night's sleep. I was comfortable enough but the temperature dropped into the mid-thirties and made it difficult to sleep. One of the down-sides to my hammock-tent is the cooling effect of air blowing beneath you all night. I'd also, stupidly, neglected to pack a stocking-cap and knit gloves. I roused myself and dressed quickly in the cool morning air. The sun was just coming up and it's rays sparkled for miles in the morning dew. I was able to pack up and head out within twenty minutes, forgoing breakfast until I'd gotten a few more miles down the road.
The legs warmed quickly as I pedaled through the crisp morning air. Birds called and answered across farms and I breathed deep the earthy aroma of the fields. The warmth of the sun allowed me to stop briefly and strip away an under-layer of insulation, traveling on comfortably in my shorts and wind-breaker.
I pulled into the small town of Rantoul, Kansas just as it's citizens began their morning activity. I stopped along their main street, across from the post office and city hall. The civic buildings of the community were nothing more than pre-fabricated metal buildings at the main street's intersection with the highway. I settled in on the sidewalk with my small camp stove and went to work preparing an instant oatmeal breakfast in my mess-kit. A pair of shepherd dogs barked at me from across the street. A few of the towns-people went walked to the post office to retrieve their mail as I waited for my water to boil. A woman with a large walking stick hailed an older gentlemen as they approached their mutual destination. I overheard her telling him how the stick was for defense against an overly-aggressive canine of the town. On her way out of the post office the same woman asked if I was all right. I smiled and explained that I was fine and only stopping for a bit of breakfast. She inquired about my bike and I gave a brief explanation of my trip. She was very friendly and even invited me to her home to eat my breakfast. I thanked her but declined as I had already begun eating. She wished me luck and went on her way. I ate quickly, cleaned up, brushed my teeth, re-mounted my bike and left Rantoul behind me.
The next ten miles of road were some of the nicest of the trip. I donned my headphones and chose a lecture series on James Joyce's Ulysses for my entertainment. Rolling Kansas hills of wheat, corn and cattle reached out for miles from the smooth pavement of the highway. Easy climbs and smooth descents came and went under the steady spinning of my pedal-strokes and the recorded professor spoke excitedly about the classic book in my ears. I remember one descent in particular, a long, lazy curve to the south. Dropping into a low gear and following the center line I leaned into it's sloping banks and rolled effortlessly for two miles. I picked up speed as the road descended past the fields and into thick trees, signaling the creek I would soon cross. After crossing the low creek the road rose again out of the trees and back into the direct warmth of the sun. I was happy and calm.
I reached my next turn at ten-thirty that morning. The road I'd been on ended at it's intersection with US-169. Turning west I headed towards Garnett, Kansas. I pedaled the road away through the refreshing, late morning air.
I neared the outskirts of Garnett around noon with two goals, get a good lunch and aquire a stocking cap and gloves to avoid another shivering night. A nice thing of traveling on the back highways is that they almost all become the main civic streets of the small towns that they pass through. So that, when entering a city you don’t have to go out of your way to find food or information. Traveling on a such a rode into a Garnett I passed a large grain elevator followed by the small, old homes you often see associated with small town America. Tall old trees lined the streets and provided extra shade over the large front porches on early 20th century houses. I reached the town square and easily found a greasy spoon restaurant offering a fried chicken lunch buffet. The food was great; fried chicken, real mashed potatoes, gravy, cornbread and more. I ate two or three large platefuls while observing the goings-on in the square through a large picture window.
The large county courthouse filled the center of the square, surrounded by green grass and sidewalks. The streets squaring off the city center were lined with two story brick buildings, built with shared walls. All of the businesses appeared to be locally owned and very few of the store fronts appeared empty. Most of the other patrons in the restaurant seemed familiar, if not altogether friendly, with each other. I ate slowly and absorbed the scene.
I left the café feeling a little guilty for spending more time than necessary on my lunch. I decided to quickly find the warm gear I needed and make some good time over the afternoon. I promptly wasted an hour riding aimlessly around town. It’s unusually hard to find some things in a town without a wal-mart. I tried a grocery, a hardware store, pharmacy and two gas stations before I finally inquired with a local about my needs. She directed me to a store called Alco, a sort of small-town discount retailer that I’d passed three or four times in my wanderings. Once I knew where to go I easily found my stocking cap and warm knit gloves, kicking myself for not asking someone sooner.
Fortunately, the Alco was on the street I needed to take out of town. I followed it south where it merged highways 169 from the east and 59 from the north. The next four miles were the most harrowing of the entire trip. The combined traffic of the two highways and lack of a reasonable shoulder proved to be incredibly taxing on my nerves. Large tractor-trailers flew by at sixty miles-per-hour and heavy opposite direction traffic left them with little room for a safe passing distance. I kept my music off and one eye over my shoulder, frequently pulling over to allow groups of traffic to pass. I finally reached my next turn, following 59 highway to the east and thankfully left the nightmare road.
The legs warmed quickly as I pedaled through the crisp morning air. Birds called and answered across farms and I breathed deep the earthy aroma of the fields. The warmth of the sun allowed me to stop briefly and strip away an under-layer of insulation, traveling on comfortably in my shorts and wind-breaker.
I pulled into the small town of Rantoul, Kansas just as it's citizens began their morning activity. I stopped along their main street, across from the post office and city hall. The civic buildings of the community were nothing more than pre-fabricated metal buildings at the main street's intersection with the highway. I settled in on the sidewalk with my small camp stove and went to work preparing an instant oatmeal breakfast in my mess-kit. A pair of shepherd dogs barked at me from across the street. A few of the towns-people went walked to the post office to retrieve their mail as I waited for my water to boil. A woman with a large walking stick hailed an older gentlemen as they approached their mutual destination. I overheard her telling him how the stick was for defense against an overly-aggressive canine of the town. On her way out of the post office the same woman asked if I was all right. I smiled and explained that I was fine and only stopping for a bit of breakfast. She inquired about my bike and I gave a brief explanation of my trip. She was very friendly and even invited me to her home to eat my breakfast. I thanked her but declined as I had already begun eating. She wished me luck and went on her way. I ate quickly, cleaned up, brushed my teeth, re-mounted my bike and left Rantoul behind me.
The next ten miles of road were some of the nicest of the trip. I donned my headphones and chose a lecture series on James Joyce's Ulysses for my entertainment. Rolling Kansas hills of wheat, corn and cattle reached out for miles from the smooth pavement of the highway. Easy climbs and smooth descents came and went under the steady spinning of my pedal-strokes and the recorded professor spoke excitedly about the classic book in my ears. I remember one descent in particular, a long, lazy curve to the south. Dropping into a low gear and following the center line I leaned into it's sloping banks and rolled effortlessly for two miles. I picked up speed as the road descended past the fields and into thick trees, signaling the creek I would soon cross. After crossing the low creek the road rose again out of the trees and back into the direct warmth of the sun. I was happy and calm.
I reached my next turn at ten-thirty that morning. The road I'd been on ended at it's intersection with US-169. Turning west I headed towards Garnett, Kansas. I pedaled the road away through the refreshing, late morning air.
I neared the outskirts of Garnett around noon with two goals, get a good lunch and aquire a stocking cap and gloves to avoid another shivering night. A nice thing of traveling on the back highways is that they almost all become the main civic streets of the small towns that they pass through. So that, when entering a city you don’t have to go out of your way to find food or information. Traveling on a such a rode into a Garnett I passed a large grain elevator followed by the small, old homes you often see associated with small town America. Tall old trees lined the streets and provided extra shade over the large front porches on early 20th century houses. I reached the town square and easily found a greasy spoon restaurant offering a fried chicken lunch buffet. The food was great; fried chicken, real mashed potatoes, gravy, cornbread and more. I ate two or three large platefuls while observing the goings-on in the square through a large picture window.
The large county courthouse filled the center of the square, surrounded by green grass and sidewalks. The streets squaring off the city center were lined with two story brick buildings, built with shared walls. All of the businesses appeared to be locally owned and very few of the store fronts appeared empty. Most of the other patrons in the restaurant seemed familiar, if not altogether friendly, with each other. I ate slowly and absorbed the scene.
I left the café feeling a little guilty for spending more time than necessary on my lunch. I decided to quickly find the warm gear I needed and make some good time over the afternoon. I promptly wasted an hour riding aimlessly around town. It’s unusually hard to find some things in a town without a wal-mart. I tried a grocery, a hardware store, pharmacy and two gas stations before I finally inquired with a local about my needs. She directed me to a store called Alco, a sort of small-town discount retailer that I’d passed three or four times in my wanderings. Once I knew where to go I easily found my stocking cap and warm knit gloves, kicking myself for not asking someone sooner.
Fortunately, the Alco was on the street I needed to take out of town. I followed it south where it merged highways 169 from the east and 59 from the north. The next four miles were the most harrowing of the entire trip. The combined traffic of the two highways and lack of a reasonable shoulder proved to be incredibly taxing on my nerves. Large tractor-trailers flew by at sixty miles-per-hour and heavy opposite direction traffic left them with little room for a safe passing distance. I kept my music off and one eye over my shoulder, frequently pulling over to allow groups of traffic to pass. I finally reached my next turn, following 59 highway to the east and thankfully left the nightmare road.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Day One: October 6, 2009
I didn't leave until after one, much later than I'd hoped. I'd wasted my morning rushing around with my sister gathering last minute supplies and packing the panniers, tasks I should have accomplished in the days before I planned to depart. I cursed myself for my endless procrastination as I pushed through my first pedal-strokes down the drive-way and up the hill leading from my parent's house. The air was cool, mid-sixties, but the warmth of direct sun-light fought against the chill.
I rode without the headphones I'd packed, wanting to get through the busy suburbs with my ears fully alert. Also, to listen with paranoia for some early mechanical failure. The un-tested weight of the fully loaded bike caused considerable concern before I realized it was my weakness and not the bike's that made it so unsteady. The ungainly nature of the beast would fade from notice as my body tweaked it's muscle memory to compensate for the extra weight.
I left the Kansas City area through the southern suburbs of Johnson County Kansas. Heading south on the far reaches of Metcalf Avenue before making my first westward connection at 199th street. Metcalf was familiar to me, having used it in my training routes many times. The 199th street turn was the border into the unknown and it met me with a stiff-head wind, boldly foreshadowing the trials to come. I lowered my head and pedaled on, cynically subtracting miles from my days-end goal with each eastward gust.
I wasn't eight miles down 199th before I stopped for my first and unexpected map check. I thought I was going 20 miles straight down the road and was surprised when the road ended at T intersection just north of Spring Hill, Kansas. I stopped to check my map and had my first struggle to keep my hefty bike upright against a too-thin sign pole.
The weight of the front panniers would cause the fork to twist and turn dramatically without notice, often clamoring the bike to the ground. I found that the normal habit of balancing the bike while straddled over the top bar would often lead to a painful crash of bike and man. Eventually, I'd learn to carefully balance the right rear pannier against a post while holding fast to the bar-stem to keep it steady.
The map check proved un-helpful. My maps were broken into 20 mile increments, which made it difficult to see the nuances of the rural roads I travelled. I would always, eventually, be able to decipher the maps when I cross-referenced them with physical land marks that I encountered. Often saying to myself: "You haven't missed that turn because you haven't crossed that stream/passed that lake/ heard the traffic of that busy road". If there were no such landmarks I could gauge the general direction of the road against the sun and take the turn in the direction I should most likely be headed.
Getting back on the bike I soon crossed Hwy 169 and I-35 in turn, still dealing with the head-wind. Somewhere south of Gardner, around four in the afternoon, I made my first rest-stop. I pulled the bike up along a fence and sat on a round concrete well cover at the gate of a tree farm while I ate a snack. As I ate, a parade of cars pulled out the gates and onto 199th carrying the mostly Mexican laborers home for the evening. I was given a few friendly waves which improved my gloomy mood, still discouraged by my late and hectic start.
After eating and taking some water I rode on. I chased the sun westward feeling, for the first time, the worry of not knowing where I'd be sleeping. Shortly after passing through Edgerton, Kansas I turned south on Hwy 33. As I rode I became more and more anxious as the sun approached the horizon. You don't really appreciate electric lights until you realize how dark it actually is at five in the afternoon without them. I'd checked the sunset-times before I left and knew I had about two hours of light left as I rolled through the northern outskirts of Wellsville, four miles after turning on 33.
I started searching every group of trees with eagle eyes. Looking for a suitable place to camp for the evening. I stopped briefly at two locations before determining they were unacceptable. I didn't think it would be so difficult to find a place that a) was concealed enough from the road and b) had two suitable trees for my hammock. My nerves were nearly shot as I approached the intersection of Hwy's 33 and 68.
The sun glowed golden orange, thirty minutes above the horizon when I noticed a three acre parcel of unfenced land bordered by 33 on the east and 68 on the south. A dense-enough grove of trees sat fifty yards from the road with nothing in between but a muddy plot of ground without the high grass that made so many other spots unapproachable. I pulled off the road and looked about for a moment to let a few cars pass and scan for a "no trespassing" sign. None was found so I darted (or sludged) through the muddy plot to the cover of the trees.
I finished putting up my hammock just as the last glow of the sun sank to the west. I ate a bagel with peanut-butter by the light of my flash-light and grew very lonely without the light and warmth of the sun. I hadn't thought of how, without light or the company of someone else, there is really nothing to do at eight o' clock. I didn't bother to try and amuse myself. I called my mother to let her know where I was and assure her that I was ok and went to bed.
I rode without the headphones I'd packed, wanting to get through the busy suburbs with my ears fully alert. Also, to listen with paranoia for some early mechanical failure. The un-tested weight of the fully loaded bike caused considerable concern before I realized it was my weakness and not the bike's that made it so unsteady. The ungainly nature of the beast would fade from notice as my body tweaked it's muscle memory to compensate for the extra weight.
I left the Kansas City area through the southern suburbs of Johnson County Kansas. Heading south on the far reaches of Metcalf Avenue before making my first westward connection at 199th street. Metcalf was familiar to me, having used it in my training routes many times. The 199th street turn was the border into the unknown and it met me with a stiff-head wind, boldly foreshadowing the trials to come. I lowered my head and pedaled on, cynically subtracting miles from my days-end goal with each eastward gust.
I wasn't eight miles down 199th before I stopped for my first and unexpected map check. I thought I was going 20 miles straight down the road and was surprised when the road ended at T intersection just north of Spring Hill, Kansas. I stopped to check my map and had my first struggle to keep my hefty bike upright against a too-thin sign pole.
The weight of the front panniers would cause the fork to twist and turn dramatically without notice, often clamoring the bike to the ground. I found that the normal habit of balancing the bike while straddled over the top bar would often lead to a painful crash of bike and man. Eventually, I'd learn to carefully balance the right rear pannier against a post while holding fast to the bar-stem to keep it steady.
The map check proved un-helpful. My maps were broken into 20 mile increments, which made it difficult to see the nuances of the rural roads I travelled. I would always, eventually, be able to decipher the maps when I cross-referenced them with physical land marks that I encountered. Often saying to myself: "You haven't missed that turn because you haven't crossed that stream/passed that lake/ heard the traffic of that busy road". If there were no such landmarks I could gauge the general direction of the road against the sun and take the turn in the direction I should most likely be headed.
Getting back on the bike I soon crossed Hwy 169 and I-35 in turn, still dealing with the head-wind. Somewhere south of Gardner, around four in the afternoon, I made my first rest-stop. I pulled the bike up along a fence and sat on a round concrete well cover at the gate of a tree farm while I ate a snack. As I ate, a parade of cars pulled out the gates and onto 199th carrying the mostly Mexican laborers home for the evening. I was given a few friendly waves which improved my gloomy mood, still discouraged by my late and hectic start.
After eating and taking some water I rode on. I chased the sun westward feeling, for the first time, the worry of not knowing where I'd be sleeping. Shortly after passing through Edgerton, Kansas I turned south on Hwy 33. As I rode I became more and more anxious as the sun approached the horizon. You don't really appreciate electric lights until you realize how dark it actually is at five in the afternoon without them. I'd checked the sunset-times before I left and knew I had about two hours of light left as I rolled through the northern outskirts of Wellsville, four miles after turning on 33.
I started searching every group of trees with eagle eyes. Looking for a suitable place to camp for the evening. I stopped briefly at two locations before determining they were unacceptable. I didn't think it would be so difficult to find a place that a) was concealed enough from the road and b) had two suitable trees for my hammock. My nerves were nearly shot as I approached the intersection of Hwy's 33 and 68.
The sun glowed golden orange, thirty minutes above the horizon when I noticed a three acre parcel of unfenced land bordered by 33 on the east and 68 on the south. A dense-enough grove of trees sat fifty yards from the road with nothing in between but a muddy plot of ground without the high grass that made so many other spots unapproachable. I pulled off the road and looked about for a moment to let a few cars pass and scan for a "no trespassing" sign. None was found so I darted (or sludged) through the muddy plot to the cover of the trees.
I finished putting up my hammock just as the last glow of the sun sank to the west. I ate a bagel with peanut-butter by the light of my flash-light and grew very lonely without the light and warmth of the sun. I hadn't thought of how, without light or the company of someone else, there is really nothing to do at eight o' clock. I didn't bother to try and amuse myself. I called my mother to let her know where I was and assure her that I was ok and went to bed.
In Review....
Ok, So I failed to update this as much as I would have liked to before I left. I also did not have the time to update it to my satisfaction while I was on the road. So now, after being back for three weeks I've decided to write out a detailed day by day review of the trip. I'll post the first day today and the rest as I write them. They'll be long because it doesn't seem to make sense to break them down more than one entry for one day. I hope people'll still read them despite the length. Enjoy ... or not.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Three weeks...
I've gotten two extra days off for the beginning of my trip so I'll now be leaving on October 6th. Time is running short and I'm working overtime with the rest of my planning and material gathering. This afternoon I ordered a rack and another set of panniers for the front of my bike. Once they arrive I'll be able to finalize my gear list based on available space. I'll make sure and post some pictures of my gear layout and packing strategy.
I suffered a bit of setback in an injury-wreck I suffered on the way home from work this week. I tapped the curb with my front wheel at 30mph, lost control and went into a slide. My legs and arm got eaten up by the concrete and I walked away with some bad spots of road rash. It's painful as all heck but I suffered no internal damage. My bike bike was thankfully saved from the carnage. I'm hobbling a little and missed out on a couple days of training but should be back in full gear by the end of the week.
More to come as it develops.
Here's a couple of photos of the damage to my leg.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Routes!!!
After much disorder and dismay I have finally finished planning a route for my trip! I had to try three or four different online mapping programs before I found one that would actually allow me to correctly save my routes. I finally stumbled upon www.mapmyride.com which worked exceedingly well for my purposes.
One of the difficulties in planning these routes was finding roads and highways that were suitable for bicycling. The satellite photos found on most mapping programs were helpful to tell the size and expected traffic of possible routes. I also got lots of help from cyclists who are local to the areas that I'll be travelling through. They were able to give me alot of great advice on good biking roads. Regional online cycling forums were very useful for contacting these helpful individuals.
All in all it's a 785.5 mile trip. If you'd like to see more detailed interactive versions of these routes then I'd be happy to post links for such.
One of the difficulties in planning these routes was finding roads and highways that were suitable for bicycling. The satellite photos found on most mapping programs were helpful to tell the size and expected traffic of possible routes. I also got lots of help from cyclists who are local to the areas that I'll be travelling through. They were able to give me alot of great advice on good biking roads. Regional online cycling forums were very useful for contacting these helpful individuals.
All in all it's a 785.5 mile trip. If you'd like to see more detailed interactive versions of these routes then I'd be happy to post links for such.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Long time coming...
I've been slacking off on updates and I apologize. My computer went down and the back-up computer was so confoundedly out of date (Win.98) that it made me neglect my duties as a "blogger". However, the long break has provided me with all sorts of new things to write about so let's get on with it!
Bicycle Upgrades & Repairs
I brought my bike in to the local shop for a full overhaul a few weeks ago. It cost a pretty-penny but was well worth the cash. They deconstructed all the components, cleaned them, greased them and put it all back together again. I also had them replace the brake and shifter cables, something that should have been done a long time ago. This work smoothed out my rides a great deal and I wish I had done it sooner.
A couple of weeks later (after getting paid again) I picked up two new tires and a set of bar-ends. The tires are a mis-matched pair of 32cm's. Normally I run 26 or smaller but for the extra weight on the trip I thought it'd be wise to go with a wider tire. I didn't realize how badly my tires needed replacing until I got out on the new ones. I quickly noticed better handling and braking power. I decided to add bar-ends to my flat bar rather than replace it with a racing style drop bar. The price of replacing the handlebar and all the components that go along with it was just not something I was willing to pay. The bar-ends are working great and I'm very happy with them. I just hope it provides enough hand positions for 7+ days on the bike.
On my first long ride after replacing the tires I encountered a mechanical problem in the drive train! A terrible wrenching sound with lots of grating friction was coming from my bottom bracket (where the cranks meet the frame) Upon inspection I noticed a lot horizontal motion in the bracket. Back to the shop I went. They took it apart and diagnosed a broken segment inside the bracket. They ordered the part for me and did the install-labor for free. Another $30. I'm glad to spend the money now though, rather than have it break in the middle of nowhere Kansas.
There have been other developements that I'll be posting about soon. Including, equiptment gathering and route planing (as soon as I figure out how to post maps on here!)
Bicycle Upgrades & Repairs
I brought my bike in to the local shop for a full overhaul a few weeks ago. It cost a pretty-penny but was well worth the cash. They deconstructed all the components, cleaned them, greased them and put it all back together again. I also had them replace the brake and shifter cables, something that should have been done a long time ago. This work smoothed out my rides a great deal and I wish I had done it sooner.
A couple of weeks later (after getting paid again) I picked up two new tires and a set of bar-ends. The tires are a mis-matched pair of 32cm's. Normally I run 26 or smaller but for the extra weight on the trip I thought it'd be wise to go with a wider tire. I didn't realize how badly my tires needed replacing until I got out on the new ones. I quickly noticed better handling and braking power. I decided to add bar-ends to my flat bar rather than replace it with a racing style drop bar. The price of replacing the handlebar and all the components that go along with it was just not something I was willing to pay. The bar-ends are working great and I'm very happy with them. I just hope it provides enough hand positions for 7+ days on the bike.
On my first long ride after replacing the tires I encountered a mechanical problem in the drive train! A terrible wrenching sound with lots of grating friction was coming from my bottom bracket (where the cranks meet the frame) Upon inspection I noticed a lot horizontal motion in the bracket. Back to the shop I went. They took it apart and diagnosed a broken segment inside the bracket. They ordered the part for me and did the install-labor for free. Another $30. I'm glad to spend the money now though, rather than have it break in the middle of nowhere Kansas.
There have been other developements that I'll be posting about soon. Including, equiptment gathering and route planing (as soon as I figure out how to post maps on here!)
Monday, July 20, 2009
Update
I hit a new personal best in mileage today, a 60 mile round-trip to Leavenworth, Kansas. I expected my legs to feel like warmed over jello tonight but that's really not the case. I've been getting in two long rides a week and it's starting to pay off. I managed today's ride in 2 1/2 hours each way. I probably would have been slower coming back but I took a three hour break to visit with a friend in Leavenworth. The only hitch in today's ride was a map reading mistake that lead me three miles down a dead-end road. Rather than running parallel to a set of train tracks, as I thought, the road simply stopped. Instead of back-tracking I chose to follow the tracks on foot to a point where the road re-connected with my path. Stumbling down a rail-bed in bicycle shoes for 1/2 a mile is no easy task but I did find a stray rail-road spike for my troubles. If you'd like to see how I made the mistake look at the northern border of Wyandotte Lake Park in Kansas City, Kansas on any online map service. I was on 77th street headed north and thought it would veer west and merge with Wolcott Dr. on the other side of the park. This will be an important lesson when I get into the nitty-gritty of my route planning, details of which will come in a future blog.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
A new pair of shoes and a long ride...
My shoes came in the mail the other day. I did a few slow circles around the neighborhood to get used to the change. It's rather odd to be attached to the bike. I'm sure, with time, I'll get used to it. For now it gives me something else to focus on while I'm in the saddle.
I tried out the new foot-wear on a long ride today. I rode 52 miles through 4.5 hours with a half hour break at the folk's place. That's from Westport to 199th and Metcalf and back, if you're familiar with the K.C. area. Needless to say, I'm a bit tired this evening.
The shoes worked very well. I was able to engage and disengage the clipping mechanism with relative ease by the end of the ride. The actual sensation of powering through my upstroke will still take some getting used to but I'm sure it will come naturally by the end of the summer.
I tried out the new foot-wear on a long ride today. I rode 52 miles through 4.5 hours with a half hour break at the folk's place. That's from Westport to 199th and Metcalf and back, if you're familiar with the K.C. area. Needless to say, I'm a bit tired this evening.
The shoes worked very well. I was able to engage and disengage the clipping mechanism with relative ease by the end of the ride. The actual sensation of powering through my upstroke will still take some getting used to but I'm sure it will come naturally by the end of the summer.
Monday, June 22, 2009
A Brief Update...
I rode 45 miles last Friday and felt great afterwards and the next day. I made really good time in a meandering trek around eastern Johnson County.
I also ordered a pair of clipless cycling shoes. I've never used cycling shoes before and I'm looking forward to the extra efficiency they'll provide. I'm not looking forward to pain of training the other muscle group in my legs. I'm sure it will be worth it once I get my legs broken in.
I also ordered a pair of clipless cycling shoes. I've never used cycling shoes before and I'm looking forward to the extra efficiency they'll provide. I'm not looking forward to pain of training the other muscle group in my legs. I'm sure it will be worth it once I get my legs broken in.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
On Gear...
One of the more difficult things to approach when planning an extended bicycle trip is figuring out exactly how much stuff to bring. It's interesting to pare down your entire personal inventory of junk into a few dozen pounds of "essential items". I start with a long list of things I think I might need or like to have. Then run the list through a gauntlet of considerations and see which items make it through.
I've got my list broken down into five main categories. Camping gear, Hygienic gear, Bicycle Gear, General gear and Non-essential gear.
My list of camping gear encompasses the materials found in most primitive camping situations. Including essential items such as my hammock/tent, sleeping bag and mess-kit. There are also less obvious materials like dish soap and bug repellent.
Hygienic gear is your basic traveling kit of tooth-brush, hand sanitizer, soap/shampoo. One item of note in this group will be baby wipes. I'll be using them for general bathing purposes due to the lack of available shower facilities. I considered picking up a camp shower but decided I didn't want the added weight of the contraption and all the water it would take to use.
Bike gear includes basic spare parts (tubes, spokes chain) as well as the tools to make minor adjustments. I also include obvious items like my helmet and bike lock in this category.
General gear includes all clothing, maps and contact information. This will include exact numbers of shirts/shorts as well as things like a cell phone with extra batteries.
Non-essential items are usually the first to get cut. They include a couple paperbacks, some notebooks and other items of personal amusement. I may cut this group altogether. I didn't use any of these items on my last trip.
I've got my list in a MS-word file, broken down into groups and color coordinated into categories of things I have in my possession and those which I still need to aquire. If you're interested in see the Big List let me know and I'll post the whole thing or send it attached to an email.
I've got my list broken down into five main categories. Camping gear, Hygienic gear, Bicycle Gear, General gear and Non-essential gear.
My list of camping gear encompasses the materials found in most primitive camping situations. Including essential items such as my hammock/tent, sleeping bag and mess-kit. There are also less obvious materials like dish soap and bug repellent.
Hygienic gear is your basic traveling kit of tooth-brush, hand sanitizer, soap/shampoo. One item of note in this group will be baby wipes. I'll be using them for general bathing purposes due to the lack of available shower facilities. I considered picking up a camp shower but decided I didn't want the added weight of the contraption and all the water it would take to use.
Bike gear includes basic spare parts (tubes, spokes chain) as well as the tools to make minor adjustments. I also include obvious items like my helmet and bike lock in this category.
General gear includes all clothing, maps and contact information. This will include exact numbers of shirts/shorts as well as things like a cell phone with extra batteries.
Non-essential items are usually the first to get cut. They include a couple paperbacks, some notebooks and other items of personal amusement. I may cut this group altogether. I didn't use any of these items on my last trip.
I've got my list in a MS-word file, broken down into groups and color coordinated into categories of things I have in my possession and those which I still need to aquire. If you're interested in see the Big List let me know and I'll post the whole thing or send it attached to an email.
Friday, June 5, 2009
On Training
Austin, Texas is roughly 750 miles from Kansas City, Missouri. I've done a few calculations concerning estimates of daily mileage and found that I'll be on the bike for 9-12 days if I average 60-90miles per day. This is bound to take a toll on my endurance and therefore it's important that I build my stamina over the course of the summer.
I was in great shape during my trans-Missouri trip last fall but the cold K.C. winter didn't allow me to get out on any long rides. So now I'm starting over. I went out yesterday for a hard-paced 20 miles to get back in the training mindset. If I've got the time then I'll try to do another 30 today. I need to try to get in as many back-to-back training days as I can. The ability to be on the bike day after day is just as important as the ability to cover the high-mileage. I'd like to meet a personal goal by getting in at least one century ride (100miles) during the training period.
By the end of the summer I'd like to be able to take a couple of overnight practice runs to local campgrounds. I'll carry full gear and stay at a state park on the outside of town. This will give me a chance to train for the camping portion of my trip. I don't want to be ignorantly fumbling with a camp stove or knots when I should be relaxing after a long day's ride.
I was in great shape during my trans-Missouri trip last fall but the cold K.C. winter didn't allow me to get out on any long rides. So now I'm starting over. I went out yesterday for a hard-paced 20 miles to get back in the training mindset. If I've got the time then I'll try to do another 30 today. I need to try to get in as many back-to-back training days as I can. The ability to be on the bike day after day is just as important as the ability to cover the high-mileage. I'd like to meet a personal goal by getting in at least one century ride (100miles) during the training period.
By the end of the summer I'd like to be able to take a couple of overnight practice runs to local campgrounds. I'll carry full gear and stay at a state park on the outside of town. This will give me a chance to train for the camping portion of my trip. I don't want to be ignorantly fumbling with a camp stove or knots when I should be relaxing after a long day's ride.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
On Bicycle Upgrades....
My bike is a Trek 7500FX hybrid.
Currently, I'm outfitted with:
Currently, I'm outfitted with:
- flat, MTB-style handlebars
- shimanno trigger-shifters and brake levers
- 3spd crankset
- 8spd rear cassette
- 20 spoke front wheel
- 32 spoke rear wheel
- dual-purpose pedals (clips/no-clips)
- rear bike rack
Most of the bike is in great shape and ready to hit the road. However, there are some components that I'm looking at closely. I'd like to get a racing-style drop-bar instead of the flat bar. Drop-bars provide many more options for hand positions which prevents wrist fatigue. (a problem I've had just riding around town.) Unfortunately, adding drop bars for $40 would require me to replace my shifters and brake levers for $350. Granted, there are less expensive shifting options but I love my trigger shifters and the comparable system for drop-bars doesn't come cheap. I may just compromise with a bull-horn-style bar which provides less hand positions than the drops but would allow me to keep my control mechanisms intact (I think.)
Another system that I'm looking at is my wheel set. On my previous tour I had matching 20 spoke wheels on the front and back. I naively packed too much weight on the back wheel and caused one of the spokes to rip out of the side wall, throwing the entire wheel horribly off true. I replaced the busted 20 spk. with the current 32 spk. I need to find out if this wheel will be more capable of sustaining a load for an extended period of time. If not than I'll need to look into a stronger wheel set. I'll almost certainly switch my front wheel out for a higher spoke count. It was foolish to take 20 spks. on a tour and I've learned my lesson. I'll also replace one, if not both, of my current tires.
The drive train is in good shape. I replaced the rear-cassette and chain over the winter and the pedals and crank-set are still in good shape. I'll probably have a bike-shop grease all the bearings in the front part of the drive-train. Some maintanince tasks are too easy too screw up for me to feel comfortable doing myself.
A daunting view from the start...
When I first started planning my cross-Missouri trip last summer I was initially discouraged at my inability to focus on the nitty-gritty details. I'm finding the same to be true this time around. There are so many different aspects involved that it's hard to narrow down one bit of planning without having to take another bit into account. The larger scope of this trip doesn't make it any easier.
An example of the range of issues that I'm looking at:
An example of the range of issues that I'm looking at:
- What route should I take from D/F.W. to Austin?
- What if there are no trees for my hammock?
- How many and what spare bike parts should I bring?
- How will I get home?
- How long can I tolerate dehydrated food?
- How far can I expect to ride each day?
There are many, many other potential problems running through my head and I look at each one with alternating senses of daunting dread and excited ingenuity. For the most part I enjoy problem solving and look forward to building my confidence with each question mark that I erase.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Introductions and what-not.
My name is Tom and I live in Kansas City, Missouri. I've used a bicycle as my exclusive means of self-transport for nearly four years. I've come to believe if you can drive it, than you can bike it and if you can bike it, than you should do so. I completed my first bicycle tour last fall. I traveled most of the way across Missouri (Sedallia-St. Louis) in a four day trip. I traveled along Missouri's wonderful "Katy Trail State Park" and would recommend this trip to anyone.
I'm in the beginning stages of planning a trip from Kansas City down to Austin, Texas. Why Austin? Because it's a cool town and I might be able to get my brother to drive me back.
I take a rather haphazard approach to planning. I've got a mental list of goals that need to be achieved and I make incremental progress on each goal as my fancy suits me. I'll work on the route until I get bored, then switch my mind to the equipment for a few days. In the end I usually have a highly detailed plan including day by day itinerary, detailed lists of equipment, packing layouts and precautionary safe-guards. The Boy Scout's motto of "Be Prepared" is often in the forefront of my thoughts.
I plan to use this Blog to present the progress of my plans and training to those who might be interested.
I'm in the beginning stages of planning a trip from Kansas City down to Austin, Texas. Why Austin? Because it's a cool town and I might be able to get my brother to drive me back.
I take a rather haphazard approach to planning. I've got a mental list of goals that need to be achieved and I make incremental progress on each goal as my fancy suits me. I'll work on the route until I get bored, then switch my mind to the equipment for a few days. In the end I usually have a highly detailed plan including day by day itinerary, detailed lists of equipment, packing layouts and precautionary safe-guards. The Boy Scout's motto of "Be Prepared" is often in the forefront of my thoughts.
I plan to use this Blog to present the progress of my plans and training to those who might be interested.
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