Messages

1

General Discussion / The Journey Begins!

« on: May 31, 2013, 05:51:13 pm »

Hey guys,

I'm starting the journey tomorrow! Awww yeahhh!

Thanks for all the help in my preparation. I'm sure I'll have many many questions along the way

Join the ride here:
www.twitter.com/mmasmp
 

2

General Discussion / Re: In low gear and can't ride up hill!

« on: May 26, 2013, 05:01:50 pm »

Sorry guys. It was the wrong gear. I can go up no problem. It's been really rainy here so I didn't get to play Round with it. So I quicky tested it out in the rain with all my gear and had a panic attach cause i couldnt move more than 2 feetuphill ha. But I testrd it out today and its going great!

3

General Discussion / In low gear and can't ride up hill!

« on: May 25, 2013, 08:03:06 am »

Hi, I weighed everything and I'm well under 40 lbs. But I tested my bike with everything and its really difficult to ride up hills. Is that normal? are my legs just out of shape? is this what I should expect? I don't even think I will be using any gear besides the first lol

The weight is distributed 40/60 on front and back

4

General Discussion / Re: HELP! Items Checklist. Need advice. (especially from John Nelson)

« on: May 17, 2013, 10:56:21 pm »

You know, I've been fooling around with it, and I think I actually like it. 

5

General Discussion / Re: HELP! Items Checklist. Need advice. (especially from John Nelson)

« on: May 17, 2013, 10:04:54 pm »

I bought a ProLite Plus Thermarest. It's 1.375 lbs. I really don't want to bring it, just because I don't like inflatable pads. They're uncomfrotable and I feel like I'm just adding unnecessary weight. But the foam pads (at least the ones I saw) looked way too thin and I don't think they'd even do anything as far as comfort goes.   

What do you think? Will I need it? Are there any good foam pads out there?

6

General Discussion / Re: Establishing a budget. Can you review my list? Suggestions??

« on: May 17, 2013, 09:57:59 pm »

Honestly, I havent even left for my trip yet and I've already spent around $2800... but I bought about 80% of my gear from REI.

7

General Discussion / Re: HELP! Items Checklist. Need advice. (especially from John Nelson)

« on: May 15, 2013, 12:40:51 am »

Wow thanks guys for all the great tips. I think you all pretty much covered it, I just wanted to have a second opinion. I've been doing a lot of research, but there's always a new question everyday ha.

Raybo thanks for those articles and tips! I favorited the 'locking your bike on your link'. Great stuff there, thank you!

@John: Thanks for the advice! I pretty much agreed with all of your suggestions. I think I'm going to buy back the air mattress that I returned. And as for my bike security, my panniers are bright, bright blue. Thats the only reason I'm a little weary of leaving them there. The panniers are so easy to unhook. They're worth 160 and the stuff inside (tent and sleepingbag) are another 300-400 easily. Uhh crap... I think I'm going to cable lock the bike to myself. 

indyfabz, I look forward to taking a lot of pictures too Thanks for the tips. You too staehpj1, patco, and bobby's beard. 

8

General Discussion / Cycling Pants...

« on: May 15, 2013, 12:22:07 am »

Hey another quick question,

I'm having trouble finding cycling pants that I'm comfortable (emotionally) wearing. I don't like the tight feeling of cycling pants and I just feel akward in them, like a go-go dancer or something.

I bought a really nice pair of Zoic pants, but I just learned they're for Mountain Biking and they're kind of heavy. Are these okay for long distance tours? Otherwise I'll return them.
http://www.zoic.com/mens-ether-shorts

Some pants have cushioning built inside of them. Are they necessary?
Is 3 pairs of cycling pants good for one trip?
Can I buy loose cycling pants somewhere?

Thanks for the quick help.

9

General Discussion / HELP! Items Checklist. Need advice. (especially from John Nelson)

« on: May 13, 2013, 11:16:26 pm »

Hey dudes.  Hows it going? Just wanted to say thanks for all the quick answers. This is very-very helpful. Just FYI, I'm starting my trip from Boston to Los Angeles on June 1st! Aww yeah! 

Edit:


• How many liters of water should I plan on carrying per day? (1 liter = 2.2 lbs)
• How do I lock my bike bags. And what type of lock should I get for my bike? I'm biking by myself and I'm really conserned about leaving it there. What should I do? What happens if I have to take a crap or something... I can't take my bike into the stall.

Sorry for it being long. Again, I really apperciate all the help. John Nelson if your reading this I really need your help!
-CP

10

General Discussion / Re: Training: Schedule Critique Needed

« on: April 01, 2013, 01:20:37 pm »

Got the bike guys. Will be training everyday this week. 

11

General Discussion / Re: Training: Schedule Critique Needed

« on: March 31, 2013, 09:54:45 am »

I'm 5'10''. It says I should be between 58-60''. Is that once inch a problem? 

12

General Discussion / Re: Training: Schedule Critique Needed

« on: March 30, 2013, 04:15:25 pm »

No gym. Got it. 

First I need a bike. How about this?



(used) 2008 Jamis Aurora.
Price: $595.00
Frame Size: 57cm
Wheel Size: 700c
Speeds: 27
Steel frame
Shop owner said its never been on a long tour.

Is this an adequate bike to use for a 30,000 mile tour? Even if yes, what concerns should I have?

Thanks guys! This is beyond helpful.

13

General Discussion / Training: Schedule Critique Needed

« on: March 29, 2013, 09:52:22 pm »

Hey guys,

I planned my depature date for June 2st! Woot! So, I offically have two months for training. Can you guys look it over and give some advice/critique?

1) I plan on riding at least 20 miles a day at the gym on the exercise bikes.
2) On weekends, I'm going to get actual BIKE experience, doing at minimum a 60-mile day short tour.
3) In May, I'm going to a series of 60 mile bike trips with my gear (at least three).

Is that enough physical training? I know everyones different. I'm 22, 150 lbs, somewhat althetic... I expect myself to really get in shape once I start riding. But I just want to make sure I'm not being stupid. Am I heading in the right direction? Do you advise that I do more?

Thanks for any advice! And please be honest/rude/and blunt. It helps. 

14

General Discussion / Re: Please help... I want to do it but its really hard.

« on: March 25, 2013, 10:28:54 am »

Hey guys, thanks for the help and support. I'm one step further to doing actually this. The parents and family know.

15

General Discussion / Please help... I want to do it but its really hard.

« on: March 20, 2013, 10:32:23 pm »

Guys, I'm very serious about touring from Boston to LA, for a lot of reasons, but I honestly don't think I'm strong enough or independent enough. I mean, that's the whole reason I wanted to do it. Become strong. Become dependent.  I wanted to actually become someone, and not just another name on a gravestone. I wanted to raise money for the Boys and Girls Club. I wanted to win back my girlfriend. But I bought a map of the US a few days ago, opened it up, and almost crapped my pants. The states are so big. It really made me feel small and it made me really realize how big of an idea it was. The more and more I think about it, the more and more I plan about it... the less real my ideas become. And I get angry because I know that I can't do it. 

Sadly, I realize I can't do this alone. I have a huge anxiety of the dark- ghosts, witches, aliens, murders- seriously all that stuff scares the shit out of me. (These are the things people don't know about.) On top of all of this, my parents would be extremely upset, because instead of getting intership experience, I would be riding alone across the country. I already know they wouldn't take me seriously at first, and once they did, they'd get very upset and angry, because they'd say "that's really stupid. You'll get hurt." They paid for my college and a lot of other things, so me doing this would be an real insult to them. So not only am I afraid of the dark and public bathrooms, I'm revolting against my family. Plus- I really don't know how comfortable I'll be when I'm on a tight shoulder. But I kind of expected that.

Did anyone else have these feelings before a long tour? God I want this so much. When I first thought of it ( and the idea randomly came into my life) it felt so right. I never was so clear about anything in my life.

If your still reading this. Please help me.

I'm 22 years old. I know if I did this- it would change me. Period. How the hell do I do it?