When? How Far? Equiptment? Preparation? Eat/Sleep? Problems? Fun? Thank you!

When?

June 17'th, 1998 first day on the bikes. August 24'th, 1998 last day. 69 days on the road, including four rest days. You might want to also consider three days on busses getting to the west coast.

How far?

Three thousand seven hundred and ten point six miles, but who's counting? It works out to just under 60 miles a day on riding days.

Equiptment?

Patti road a Mongoose Crossways 625 hybrid cromoly frame. Her bike had road bars, SPD pedals, and STI shifting. Patti's gear range was approximately 40/14 through 22/28. Patti's brakes were cantilever type. Patti's wheels were Aluminum, 32 spoke, Schrader valved. She rode 700x32c for the first half of the ride, and 700x26c for the second. Her saddle had gel padding and a cutout. She had front and back racks and packs. She used fenders, reflectors, reflective tape, clip on front and flashing rear lights, and a handlebar mounted mirror. Max weight of Patti's bike was about 40lbs.

I rode a Peugot cromoly hybrid. I had MTB bars with extra long bullhorns, all covered with two inches of cotton foam to prevent nerve damage I had SPD pedals and indexed shifting. I used Answer touring shoes with triathlete lace locks. My front gear was 42/32/20 my rear was 13/15/17/20/23/25/30. My brakes were cantilever type. My components were old lower line Shimano's, 400CX. My wheels were aluminum, 36 spoke rear and 32 front, Presta valved. For the first half of the trip I rode 700x30c with thorn inserts, the second half 700x25c without inserts. My saddle was a Trico Sport, gell padded with a cutout. Very inexpensive but extremely comfortable. I had front and back blackburn racks and pulled a B.O.B. YAK trailer. My panniers were performance illuminight with rain covers. The large plastic bag that the trailer came in with one end cut open kept the trailer dry. I used fenders, reflectors, relective tape, clip on front and flashing rear lights and a handlebar mounted mirror. I used a cateye astrale cyclocomputer. Max weight of my bike and gear was about 170lbs.

I carried a full set of tools and spare parts. The tools I used most often were: freewheel removal tool, sprocket removal tool, spoke key, spokes, pump, tubes, tire irons, patch kits and tri flow lubricant.

We used a Kelty Zen tent, North Face Cornice 32 sleeping bags (about -10degrees), therma rest mattresses, Peak 1 stove with an extra fuel bottle, Pur water filter, camp cookware. We brought an assortment of fasteners, bags, and plastic tarps. One of which was essential in keeping the tent dry during rainy nights. We carried a first aid kit, complete enough to have even a snake bite venom removal tool.

Each of us had about three changes of clothing with us. I had cycling shoes, four pairs of socks, two touring cycling shorts with big pockets and padding, two cycling Jerseys, a tshirt or two, a bandana, cycling gloves, a helmet, sunglasses and clear cycling glasses.

Patti brought a camera, but it got lost on her first day on the greyhound. We used disposable camera's because they are light, and fairly rugged.

All told, our equiptment probably cost about $2000. We spent probably an additional $1500 on the trip for food, lodging, souvenirs and mail.

What didn't we use? We mailed back stuff the whole trip. First to go was my weather radio, because it only picks up broadcasts in towns. My binoculars went next, as well as most of the books we brought. Books are heavy.

What would I bring next time? An address book to hold peoples addresses and cards. A marker to mark up the maps with, rather than a pen. I considered a laptop, but decided against it because my laptop battery only lasts about ten minutes, it is heavy, and I didn't want to get it wet or drop it.

Preparation?

My training consisted of an early triathlon/marathon season. Patti's training consisted of a single 30 mile ride. I had vacation and leave of absence. Patti is a student. Mastercard and Visa sponsored the trip. Until august 24'th that is, then I owed them a lot of money.

I spent about three months prior to the ride studying american history, meteorology, wilderness survival, etiquette and navigation, camp cooking, first aid, geology, astronomy, and american wildlife. It definately added to my experience. Books about native america, the civil war, and the national parks system were especially helpful. They helped me decide on a route.

I marked up a map of the United States with interesting sites in the northern half of the country. Other than that we more or less winged our route, making it up as we went along. We got the best maps we could find, before and during the ride. We carried a compass, and had phone support from a concerned father who spotted out the best routes ahead of us. My cousin John's advice was crucial in Portland, pointing out a rail trail through the city to the Columbia river gorge. We looked for roads that were direct, flat, lightly travelled, with interesting sites along them.

Food and Lodging?

In the western states we camped and cooked out alot. We kept sugary treats, trail mix and about four days worth of food with us. In the east towns are only about 10 miles apart and few towns encourage camping in parks so we ditched our camp cookware, and most of our food. After the Mississippi we ate at restaurants and slept in hotels just about every day. I had credit at Marriot associated hotels and so we guided out route through cities that had them.

Problems?

Sun, lightning, bugs, headwinds, heat, mechanical failures, dogs, and inconsiderate drivers.

Sun exposure gave Patti major problems. She used SPF45 and wore a long sleeve undershirt as a jersey to combat the sun.

Lighting and storms chased us several times. Going west to east you can surf the storm front winds up to a point. Then have to duck into some kind strangers home to get safety.

Expect a few insect infestations when camping on the road. This time we got hit with earwhigs and daddy long legs. Bring clear shades to keep bugs out of your eyes when you are forced to ride at dusk. Of course bring lots of Deep Woods Off for mosquitos. We each got attacked by bees once.

We battled headwinds from the Rockies to the Appalachians. So much for prevailing westerlies.

Do not ride when it gets over 95 degrees. "It's just too cotton picking hot." Always have lots of water. On a few really hot days I carried 4 gallons with us.

My 36 spoke wheel began to fail in Nebraska. I replaced about 16 spokes on the way to New Jersey. Patti had two flats, I had about 14, mostly on my rear wheel, although even the B.O.B. wheel got two. My old pair of clipless pedals wore out quickly. Whenever they got muddy I'ld get one foot stuck in at an odd angle. The other mechanical problem I encountered was a weak rear wheel quick release. The dropout, angled forward, allowed the trailer to pull the wheel out of center for much of the second half.

Dogs and moving bicycles rarely mix. Especially when poor drivers do not give cyclists any room.

Poor drivers are everywhere, but it seems the dangerous ones are east of the Mississippi. If you choose to respond to provocation, I only suggest a huge shit eating grin along with a big wave. It is much more effective than giving the finger. Always, always, ride considerately, cautiously and obey all traffic rules. Give motorists all the help you can. Motorists hate cyclists because of a few poor cyclists. Cyclists hate motorists for the same reasons. Don't contribute to the never ending cycle.

The worst part of the trip? Definately the three day Greyhound trip to get to the start. Especially when Greyhound misplaced Patti's bike.

Fun?

It was incredible! I would definately do it again. I can still smell the scent of a mountainside full of yellow wildflowers- see the snow covered mountaintop back in the distance over which we had crossed. I can still taste the wild huckleberries, washed down with Pepsi shared by an interested stranger. I can still feel the exhilaration of surfing the storm front pushing us along. I can still remember crossing mountaintops, to see our nation's battlegrounds and monuments. I remember the feeling of being self sustaining, and in peak physical shape. I remember how good it was to see our parents, the first familiar faces seen in almost three months. I can still feel the waves of the Atlantic Ocean tossed into a fury by a far off Hurricane, welcoming me.

Thankyou to all the great people who helped us along the way!

To protect my friends' privacy I only use first names in my site. However, I would love to give proper recognition. So to those great people we met, if you want me to include your stories or full names, please email me and I will do so. Thanks especially to our parents, my cousin Patti and her family, and to Shawn and Robin Rene who looked after my junk while I was gone.

I think the one thing I regret most that I didn't take pictures of the people we met along the way.