A Little Over A Month To Go

You remember the list back a couple of posts ago. Well, I have most of that stuff in a pile on the floor of the basement. The racks are now on the bike and as soon as the #^#^**$ snow stops outside, yes readers, its snowing again, I'll be able to get outside to train with the panniers loaded with all the supplies I've got to take on the ride. The goal for training before I leave is to ride a 50 mile ride, camp, cook and the next day, ride another 50 mile segment. I should be able to pull that off without much difficulty and if so, then in my mind, I'm ready.

Of course, its my legs that have to cooperate with my mind, before I'm really ready.

I've got a route picked out all within the communities of Barrington Hills, Barrington, Lake and North Barrington. It includes both moderate and steep hill work as well as long rolling hills through the farm country which surrounds our home.


As will be the case on my river ride, most of these roads are two lane country roads with little traffic. I've ridden them lots of times with never once a surprise from a barn yard dog, but am now prepared for even that.

THE ROUTE

Below are two maps, one of the planned trip in its entirety and the other of the first leg of the trip, from Muscatine IA to Cape Girardeau, Missouri. (What infamous radio personality comes from Cape Girardeau??)





Indoor training now 4 hours a day, 5 days a week. Whew!

Not Today!

Its the first day of spring! Out the door with the bike after being cooped up all winter. Hit the streets. Head down, work those pedals. Spring means warm weather, trees getting leaves, lawns turning green. Buds on bushes and trees. Birds returning to the feeder out in the back yard. Moms and dads at the little league field. The sound of little leaguers in the air. Warm spring nights after a long cold winter.

Well, not so fast boys and girls.

Turn the heat back on. Turn around and bring those bikes back in the garage. Put away the baseball gloves, kids. Turn off the loudspeaker at the ball field and turn the fire off under the hot dogs. Take those winter clothes back out and cancel the family picnic.

This view from my front door just a few minutes ago.




Nature has played a mean trick, as only she can, on all of those of us who live in Chicagoland! 6"-8" of snow since this morning, and a little more to come. Sigh...

Maybe next week. Back to the trainer in the gym or in the basement. (For all of you who live in Southern California, the "Basement" is a room underneath, yes, I said underneath, the house where people in the rest of the country live during the long, cold winter). I can only hope that God, in her wisdom, allows the sun to shine and the temperature to rise once again. Soon!

Credit Given Where Credit Is Due

I should take a minute here before I go much longer and give credit to Wayne Boroughs, the owner of The Touring Store.com, http://www.thetouringstore.com.

Being new at this, I had no idea about some of the gear that is needed for a tour of this length. Racks and Panniers (saddlebags or packs) come in all varieties, shapes and sizes. I found The Touring Store by searching the web. Wayne asked me to describe my bike, then asked me to take photos and send them along to him. We had two telephone conversations about what he recommended. His interest gave me great comfort and the product was delivered as promised. I would suggest calling Wayne for any questions you have about this type of gear. You will not be disappointed.

A Stock Bike Changes Character

A year ago, I purchased this Trek Multitrack 7500 which until now, has been used for local day trips around the area, the longest of which was about 55 miles. Today, it is off to the bike shop to undergo a transformation. We will replace the front shock, replace a rear tire, attach a rear rack, replace the pedals and in a couple of weeks, attach a front rack and fenders, front and back. Before I leave, I will also attach a front and rear headlamp and a bicycle computer to keep track of distance covered. It is not my intention to travel at night, but rather these lights are to be available during those times I inevitably find myself caught outside in a thunderstorm with limited visibility, particularly on the part of automobile drivers.

Thanks to the folks up at the bike shop, I begin the transformation from casual to serious biker. This afternoon we will spend several hours taking this bike apart and putting it back together again. They have accepted my request to allow me to ask as many questions as I can think of regarding the mechanics and maintenance of the bike. Over the next couple of weeks, its appearance will change shape and begin to look like those bikes I've seen on adventure cycling and a crazy guy on a bike journals. My son Dave, an avid biker in his own right, strongly suggested I "practice change" a tire and repair a flat tire before I leave. I will do so today.

Just to make sure the bike does not get all the attention, I am now training, inside,as you can see from the snow still on the ground outside, 4 hours, 5 days a week. For a variety of reasons, all of us here in Chicagoland are praying for warm weather. We are tired of winter and I am anxious to get out on the road to train rather than having to spend hours on end on the trainer inside.

All appears to be going well and this afternoon, the bike begins to look like a serious road bike.