Around My World in 16 Days
Today is
T-Day plus 108 days. I have effectively
started my official training. I began by
running two miles last night, and I’m thinking about loosing some weight. Of course the weight loss will have to wait
until after the New Year, because there are still a lot of goodies left to eat,
and I sure as heck can’t throw them out.
As I’m whipping my body into shape (or a shape?), my bike is also well
on it’s way to becoming a full fledge tourer.
There is
little left of the original components that came on my bike, “Mean Green”. The bike being so named because it is green,
with the “Mean” being added to just make it sound better than plain “Green”. The first to go on ol
Mean Green was the rear cassette from a 32-11 to a 34-11. For the non-technical among us this makes the
bike easier to pedal uphill, and that is a good thing. The new cassette meant I needed a new chain
and a new derailleur to handle the larger gear.
Kiss a hundred bucks goodbye.
Next came a new 28 tooth granny gear chainwheel (the big gears attached to the pedals). This made it even easier to pedal uphill, and
that is a better thing, but still not quite there yet. I wanted it to be even easier so I went to a Sugino XD500 full-sized compact Triple
Crank with a 46-36-26. All you need to
know about this is it is the best thing!
(I’m a sucker for stuff that uses X’s in the
model numbers). My legs can now spin at
80-90 rpm with ease, while moving at a forward speed so slow I can barely keep
the bike upright. But if I could, it
would climb anything!! Of course with
those changes I needed a new RSX front derailleur for "compact" chainwheels and a new bottom bracket. With the Brooks Saddle, the touring fenders,
new handlebar tape, and new shift cables I now have more money in upgraded
components, and accessories than my bicycle cost! My bike is now approaching the price of a new
Hyundai. OK, granted that’s not much,
but I still have not gotten my new wheels yet, and they are a couple of
hundred, and I want to change the headset too.
All that is left of my 1999
OK. That’s where I am in the grand scheme of
things. I’ll keep adding to this journal
as new and pertinent stuff arises.
skip
This is just
a monthly update on thu
“trip”. Since my recent drive train
upgrades to Green (I have decided that I do like the name just “Green”) a new
problem has manifested itself. I have
developed a skipping in the rear cassette when shifting into or out of the
higher gears. Since it is true in all
things mechanical, ”nature loathes an upgrade”, my first thoughts were to
immediately suspected my new crank addition, and I indeed do think this is might be part of problem. I believed with the new compact crank the
chain may now have been too long, so I took 4 links out. I have only checked this with a quick ride
around the street, so the jury is still out.
My training routine has been going, well, OK. I had hoped to put between 150 miles minimum,
to 200 plus a month, walking, running, and riding. With the cold weather this month, (my water
froze one morning while riding), and being sick for a week, I only got a 116
miles in January. This month has started
better, but it’s a short month so I have to ride further. Oh well, my thoughts are if I’m not in the
shape I want to be when I start my trip, I sure as heck will be when I finish.
skip
The chain
length was indeed my problem, and with some fine adjusting of the rear
derailleur my shifting problem has disappeared. Mechanically the bike seems to be in great
shape. I have decided to use my old
wheels and tires. I hope I don’t regret
this later, but they seem to be fine.
The bike is in good shape, but I’m still a little smooth around the
edges.
I kept
working at my exercising last month and made 156.5 miles in February; 17 miles
running, 22 miles walking, and 117.5 riding.
This month so far I’ve gotten 5.5 miles running, 13.5 walking, and 76.5
riding. OK, I know it’s not an iron man
schedule, but I’ve been doing a lot of mental exercising and that should
help. Also, since I haven’t lost as much
weight as I wanted to, I’ve decide to just get taller, so I’ve got that going
for me. I have also been pulling the
BOB trailer on the last few rides.
I started pulling it with 30 lb.s ,
but have now increased it to 45 lb.s. It took a few miles to get my trailer skills
back, but the bike handled the trailer fine, and after a while you don’t even
know its there. Yeah, right. Except when going up those hills it feels
like the trailer tire is locked is all.
I’ve made
one other adjustment. I have moved my
trip up two weeks. I now plan on leaving
April 5th. Couple of
reasons. I want maneuver room if weather
is an issue, and this way I will be home Easter. Plus, I’m just ready to get
going! Now being on the road for my 33rd
wedding anniversary will be a bummer; what, with missing out on that last minute gift shopping
and those agonizing hours of searching for just the right card and all, but I’m
willing to sacrifice.
Well, that’s
it for now. 24 more days.
skip
The day has arrived
The day has
arrived. I’ve packed up, loaded up, and
psyched up, and I’m now ready. I have
sweated out a bout with sinuses, a tooth ache that sent me to the dentist, and
even a marginal weather forecast, but I leave in the morning. The forecast is light rain early. Maybe it will help cool me down on highway 11
while I go up and down the hills. My
trailer tips the scales at 52 lb.s and I will have
two panniers with about 8-10 more pounds.
I plan on going through my stuff one more time to try and cut some
weight. I would like to reduce it about
5 lb.s at least.
But with or without the cut I’m off in the morning. The next emails will be updates on where and
how far.
Now, I know that based on my past biking
experiences this trip has about as much chance as an Iraqi defense against the
US 3rd Infantry Division of going smooth, but I can always dream
until reality hits me. I’m just hoping
that reality is a few days down the road anyway. So long.
Skip
Weather forecast
|
Sat Table Rock TS possible 40% 66/46 |
Sun Hartwell Partly cldy 72/51 |
Mon Rain @ times 60% 58/52 |
Tue Light rain 60% 72/46 |
Wed Aiken Light rain 60% 74/47 |
Thru TS possible 60% 74/55 |
Fri Scattered TS 60% 71/51 |
|
Sat Partly cldy 75/53 |
Sun Givhens Ferry Partly cldy 76/53 |
Mon Buck Hall |
Tue |
Wed |
Thru Cheraw |
Fri Andrew Jackson |
|
Sat |
Sun Home |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thru |
Fri |