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Messages - whit517

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I am not a bike specs expert and will not pretend to be.  I will just say that I have tour on a Trek 520 and adore it.  I changed the stem to one slightly more upright and it is very comfortable.  Just my two cents.  Try a test ride if your LBS has one in stock.

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General Discussion / Re: Doin' it well
« on: May 25, 2013, 05:08:47 pm »
Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the input.  My training was lacking this spring due to snow on the ground until May 5 (what the heck, Minnesota?) and trainer rides just aren't the same.  And man, riding with a load is so totally different!  I'm already scoping out options for a trip maybe later on this summer or fall.  Thanks for the encouragement... I'm gonna get my butt in better shape, beat this cold, and go climb some mountains!  I'll still be in MN until July, at which point I'm moving to North Carolina, so if anyone has route suggestions for either area, I'd love to hear them.
Whit

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General Discussion / Doin' it well
« on: May 24, 2013, 09:22:36 pm »
Hey seasoned bike tourists-

I am 26 and today returned from my first trip (solo).  I live in St. Paul, MN and my route was planned to go from St. Cloud > Brainerd > Itasca > Bemidji > Chippewa Forest > Iron Range > Ely, and was just about 400 miles.  I've been a road cyclist for a long time and am in reasonably good early-season shape.  Unfortunately, my trip ended at 250 miles in Bemidji.  I had some pretty good rain the first 3 days (actually heard on the radio that the radio that the year-long Northern Minnesota drought is officially over - you're welcome!), as well as some strong headwinds.  I was rolling at about 10 mph most of the time, which was frustrating.  I got some seriously sore knees and major muscle fatigue on day 4.  I did have a rest day scheduled on day 3 but had to ride through it because weather shortened the day before.  By day 5, I had gotten a cold from somewhere.  The weather was scheduled to turn bad again and when I talked to Boyfriend on the phone, he said he could come get me today but otherwise he'd be out of town.  So, I jumped on the opportunity and quit.  I've never been a quitter before and I am agonizing over whether or not this was a smart move or the lazy girl's way out.  So I guess my real question is how to approach my next tour so it goes better.  I thought I had planned the crap out of this trip and thought I was in the shape to handle it, mentally and physically, but apparently not.  Is this normal?  Should I have pushed through it?  Should I tell all my friends it was supposed to be a 250 mile trip so they don't judge me?  Should I bring a nurse and a cheerleader along next time?

Thanks for the input, everyone

Whit

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