Category: Uncategorized Page 3 of 4

Lee studies the map

This morning Lee studied his Adventure Cycling Association map of the Pacific coast cycling route at breakfast. I first met Lee and Shirley at Harris Beach State Park in Oregon. We have been at the same campgrounds several times. They are here from England.

California Highway 1

This photo is day 21, October 7 where California Highway one meets the coast. I had sunlight for a little while before the fog rolled in. I have been traveling with Mark Miller and Mark Kim. They are from Sacramento, riding from Crescent City back home.

Lunch by the road

I had lunch by the coast. In the morning I did one big climb with a long descent. I had taken my jacket off. I was shivering by the time I finally stopped and put it back on.

Rocky shore line Pacific coast

Since I have not spent much time near the Pacific Ocean in the past, every new view has been interesting. I have too many pictures to share in the short time I have to post. I can tell you that traveling by bicycle is a truly amazing way to see the Oregon coast. Vehicles move to quickly to see all the varying sights.

Alice Teisan’s new book Riding on Faith in Kindle format is available for free download at Amazon today and tomorrow. Alice is the Executive Director of His Wheels International, the organization that I raised money for on my bicycle ride across America last summer. I started reading the book. I think you will find it worthwhile.  Here is ythe link: http://www.amazon.com/Riding-Faith-Keeping-Balance-ebook/dp/B009YLG2TY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356745995&sr=8-1&keywords=teisan%2C+alice

Please consider a year end gift to His Wheels as well. Find out more at: http://www.HisWheels.org

Unused Items Carried Coast-to-Coast

I was asked if I carried anything coast-to-coast on my bicycle ride across America, that I did not use. Above the photo shows most of the items I did not use. The long sleve shirt was to have gone with a pair of khakis that I left at home during my rest days in July. I also left a pair of jeans, my rain coat, a long sleeve jersey and light weight cycling tights home at that time. Early on I mailed about 6 pounds of gear home from Columbia Falls, Montana, including a cotton polo shirt, a metal pot for cooking, a long sleeve jersey and a small duffle bag.

Out of curiosity, I weighed each item not used. Long sleeve cotton shirt: 240g; Kleenex: 20g; wrenches (for brakes) 180g; tube2: 120g each; patch kit: 20g; tube for B.O.B trailer: 110g. Not included in the list is a small box of Park self-adhesive patches and another tube carried in an under-seat bag. The total is 1040 grams or 2.3 pounds.

This was my first loaded bicycle tour. Next time I will be more selective about what I carry. Some of you may be thinking, what difference will a couple of pounds make. I was told there was more than 50,000 feet of climbing from Ticonderoga, New York to Bar Harbor, Maine. A rider has to lift all of that weight. That means an additional 115,000 foot-pounds of work for that portion of the ride.

I read a book early this year in which a mountain climber that had been to the summit of Mt. Everest cut the handle off his toothbrush, even on less challenging climbs. Later I read of a cycling tourist that does the same thing. I’m not sure I will go that far. On this bicycle tour the weight of my gear, trailer, bicycle and 3 full water bottles totaled 60% of my body weight. My goal for the next tour is to reduce that ratio substantially.

Dura-Ace Bar End Shifters

Riding up and down hills on the Northern Tier Route requires a lot of shifting. At times I shifted more in a day than I might in a month at home. The continual shifting caused the front derailleur cable to break on July 26 in Evans, New York. Fortunately, I had a spare cable. In a short time, I changed out the cable and started riding again.

front derailleur cable

My Bianchi Volpe was fitted with Shimano Dura-Ace bar end shifters. Before the cable broke, shifting became more difficult. After I installed the new cable, shifting was much easier. The next time I was near a bicycle shop, I picked up a spare derailleur cable. With a front derailleur, when the cable breaks, the chain moves to the smallest chain ring. This lets you ride, but limits your range of gears to adapt to the terrain. You are stuck in the low range. I knew if the rear cable broke, the chain would move to the smallest rear cog, leaving me in a relatively high gear regardless of which chain ring was used in the front.

Eventually, the rear derailleur became very difficult to shift. Rod, Denny and I spent Tuesday night,  before our last day of riding,  camping in Alex Allmayer-Beck’s back yard. Alex told us he had every tool in the Park Tool catalog and asked if he could help with any problems. I mentioned the shifting on my rear derailleur. He said there was a simple adjustment. The next morning it only took him moments to tell me it was a cable issue, not an adjustment. Alex helped me get the new cable installed and adjusted. The old cable had failed. Broken strands of wire were jamming at the end of the housing. The shifting improved dramatically after with the new cable. Maine is full of hills, all the way to Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island. I was really glad to have easier gear selection again.

For many people the ride across America might represent many years of riding and shifting, still it pays to check the condition of your shifting cables, before they break or become difficult to shift.

Shular at Blue Ridge Falls

Terry took a picture of me this morning with the Blue Ridge Falls in the background. We camped on this site last night. Today is day 67. I will be riding into Vermont today. It is great to finally have Internet access and phone access. I was with out phone service in much of upstate New New York t-mobile is not available in most of the Adirondacks.

I was caught in a rain storm yesterday afternoon. We camped at the Blue Ridge Campground. I recommend it for touring cyclists.

Tommorrow morning, I get back on the road. The route goes to Iroquois, Illinois before crossing into Indiana. My daughter Kate will ride with me in the morning. If you’ve seen the forecast, you know it will be hot.

I have to repack and put the bike in the van tonight to be ready. I am hoping I will have connectivity to keep everyone up to date on my progress. I really appreciate you thoughts, prayers and encouragement through you comments here and at my Facebook page: http://www.Facebook.com/BikeAcrossUSA.

I took this picture for my friend Bill Koss on my way out of Glagow, Montana.