Hosted Travelogs and Stories from the Road - 42 Ride Begins:

Will Start June 25 th, 2009 New York City About 9:00 AM.

Columbus Circle NYC
Two days about 50 miles each.
Then the Split Will take place.

Northern and Southern Routes begin on the third day.
No need for panniers as each group will have three support vehicles.

BF Members:
Blaise f, PuntcualAlex, donotpanic, 10Wheels, Bats, jflow, MsHurricane, Davidad, and Dan The Man

Photo from an earlier tour:
10Wheels, Woof5, Davidad
We Three are on The Southern Route

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/42Ride/42crew.jpg

So, what you going to be hauling with you on this ride, gear wise?

I would like The Southern Route. 3800 miles with No rest days.

It will be Hot. I will be leaving at First Light and stop riding about 1 PM.
I will be carring 4 bottles (ice when I can get some) plus one spare tube, my mini pump and some bike food as I eat every 30 minutes while riding.
My bike should look the same as on The Indy Track Ride.
I will take my seat post rack, but might not use it.

We will also have a head wind most of the time.

They have a box truck for camping and personal gear, plus 2 @ 15 passenger vans as SAGS for each group of 21 riders.

Bike will look like this only now I have Polar Bottles.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/Bartape2.jpg

Just got the routes:
NJ
PA
OH
MI
IN
IL
MO
NE
CO
UT
NV
CA

Southern:
NJ
MD
DC
VA
NC
SC
GA
AL
MS
AR
OK
TX
NM
AZ
CA

I requested the northern route, but I will really be ecstatic to do either.

We will all be flying into Newark's airport with our bikes.

you guys are so lucky! best wishes to you and try to keep us updated. wait...I read that you are required to blog daily right? If thats true don't forget to give us the link so I know what I'm missing. haha

you guys are so lucky! best wishes to you and try to keep us updated. wait...I read that you are required to blog daily right? If thats true don't forget to give us the link so I know what I'm missing. haha

You will be missing a good sunburn and a sore butt.

The Blog is not up and running yet.

You will be missing a good sunburn and a sore butt.

The Blog is not up and running yet.

Haha...So there WILL be a blog. Now I'm excited...I'm going to be checking it religiously when its up.

This the company doing the promotion.
You might keep checking here.
http://www.javelin-inc.com/news

i requested the northern route. i grew up in the south, and am familiar with the heat. also looking to do more miles and hit up 3 mountain ranges.

i'm trying to find a nice light steel frame to throw parts on, but if not i'll be taking my race bike, a cannondale system six with some heavier duty wheels. thinking about tossing a handlebar bag on there, c02 or frame pump, seatpost bag with tubes, etc, some heavy duty lights to maybe wake up wicked early and go, etc. 4 bottles definitely.

as far as camping goes do you think it'd be a good idea to share some stuff? no point in bringing 42 tents, or 42 stoves. i'll be bringing a tent, but don't have a stove.

any advice on clothing for the different areas and terrain? just going to bring what i'd normally wear on a ride, but might bring some arm/leg warmers and a light shell for the mountains / night. raingear? screw it, i'll get wet no matter what if i'm riding 5 hours a day.

the really hard part will be subsisting off a vegan diet solely from gas stations.

Those are very good questions.
It can get cold on mountain rides even in the day time. Yes it even Snows up high.

You might want to consider rain gear.
No stove for me, I eat about anything.
Would love to loose 15 lbs on this ride.
No sleeping bag just wearing warm clothes for me.
I bought a new tent suitable for hot nights,
I am using panniers on some days.
They will also be my carry on for the airplane ride.

You will need lights as we ride to promotions twice each week.

Sharing might not work, such as your partner would have to leave the ride for some reason.

i'll just use this thread as a running list of stuff that'd be good to carry. i've toured before, but nothing this significant (just two weeks). i'm also banking on not carrying anything on my bike (aside from H20 and a handlebar bag).

BIKE:
2 spare folding tires
tubes
mini pump + cO2 kit (for seatpost bag)
lights
tools (tire levers, multi tool w/ spoke wrench, cassette tool, adjustable wrench, knife, duct tape+?)
extra spokes
extra cleats for pedals

CAMPING:
tent
sleeping bag
sleeping pad
camping pillow
stove / pots / utensils
matches

Clothing:
3 or so pairs of shorts / bibs
1 pair of mtb shorts
a **** ton of socks
arm / knee warmers
light jacket
rain jacket (no pants, good / bad idea?)
regular shorts + shirts + a pair of jeans + shoes to wear when not riding

ETC:
CHAMOIS BUTTER
phone / phone charger / ipod / ipod charger
book / headlamp
camera / chargers

that's all i can think of for now. anything to add? anything i shouldn't worry about?
i've been trying to get a hold of Nick to see if they are providing tools / parts but with little success. It'd be really nice to try to get a few shops to let us use their stuff to clean off our bikes every two weeks or whatever too. but we'll see.

Here is The 42RIDE Blog Site:

http://welikebike42.com:80/

This is where we meet.

Newark Training Hotel:
Holiday Inn
Newark International Airport
160 Frontage Road
Newark, NJ 07114
973-589-1000

awesome.

I found this really great DIY stove idea! Check it out here: http://www.bicycletouring101.com/StovePASS.htm and just page through by using the previous and next buttons at the top of the page.

Any vegans going?!
Jen aka Hurricane
From Denver, wanting to take the northern route

i'm vegan, trying to do the northern route.

i'm vegan, trying to do the northern route.

Awesome! I hope we get on the same route. I've already been brainstorming cheap high protein, high carb snacks to eat that you can find anywhere.

From what it sounds like, a lot of people are trying to go north.

10 Wheels aside, I'm sure not too many of us are chomping at the bit to ride through the south in the dead of summer. Though it's going to be hot pretty much everywhere.

Also, I am not vegan but am vegetarian. Most of the foods we are going to want to be eating are non-meat, non-egg, non-cheese anyway. Beans, rice, apricots, pasta, rice, quinoa, bananas, raisins, etc. etc.

when i went on a two week tour I pretty much ate cous cous, rice, and bananas. We could roll up to an intersection and know exactly what each gas station had to offer us based on what gas station it was.

The rider list is out and the routes choosen.

Here is the site to read whats up:
http://welikebike42.freeforums.org/index.php?sid=cb5b62d1b95448dba7fe2e853e176291

10 Wheels - Do you have any route specific data yet? Are you stopping anywhere near Atlanta? I'd like to stop out to see you and the gang.

10 Wheels - Do you have any route specific data yet? Are you stopping anywhere near Atlanta? I'd like to stop out to see you and the gang.

Just got the route and dates.

7/8 from Winder GA to Atlanta ,46 miles

7/9 Atlanta to Heflin 85 miles.

This is Where and When we All start riding from:

June 25th, 2009

Columbus Circle in NYC.

Meet at 8 AM
Depart at 9 AM

I live about 15 mins from Winder.
I'll see y'all there.

I'll even invite y'all back to the farm and fire up the grill if y'all want.

I live about 15 mins from Winder.
I'll see y'all there.

I'll even invite y'all back to the farm and fire up the grill if y'all want.

Looking at the mileage chart, we might have time for a visit.

Packed up and Ready to Ride.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/42Ride/ReadyNow.jpg

I will be riding New Touring Bike loaned by a friend.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/42Ride/CannondaleTouring1.jpg

so awesome!

hey 10wheels i can seem to find your blog what are you under?

Look Under Southern Route Riders
I will not have a blog, but will hook up with one that does.
The Eat, Sleep, 42Ride is a Blog.

2:00 PM Monday June 22,09
Just got the Word that 20 of The Southern Route Stops (towns)
Have been Changed for Lack of Reservation.


DATE ORIGIN–DESTINATION

June 25 New York City–Somerset, NJ
June 26 Somerset, NJ–Philadelphia, PA
June 27 Philadelphia, PA–Baltimore, MD
June 28 Baltimore, MD–Washington, D.C.
June 29 Washington, D.C.–Bowling Green, VA
June 30 Bowling Green, VA–Richmond, VA
July 1 Richmond, VA–South Hill, VA
July 2 South Hill, VA–Raleigh, NC
July 3 Raleigh, NC–Asheboro, NC
July 4 Asheboro, NC–Charlotte, NC
July 5 Charlotte, NC–Greer, SC
July 6 Greer, SC–Royston, GA
July 7 Royston, GA–Winder, GA
July 8 Winder, GA–Atlanta, GA
July 9 Atlanta, GA–Heflin, GA
July 10 Heflin, GA–Birmingham, AL
July 11 Birmingham, AL–Guin, AL
July 12 Guin, AL–Dennis, MS
July 13 Dennis, MS–Holly Springs, MS
July 14 Holly Springs, MS–Marks, MS
July 15 Marks, MS–Clarendon, AR
July 16 Clarendon, AR–Little Rock, AR
July 17 Little Rock, AR–Dardanelle, AR
July 18 Dardanelle, AR–Barling, AR
July 19 Barling, AR–Stigler, OK
July 20 Stigler, OK–Seminole, OK
July 21 Seminole, OK–Oklahoma City, OK
July 22 Oklahoma City, OK–Davis, OK
July 23 Davis, OK–Whitesboro/Gordon, TX
July 24 Whitesboro/Gordon, TX–Dallas, TX
July 25 Dallas, TX–Whitney, TX
July 26 Whitney, TX–Belton, TX
July 27 Belton, TX–Austin, TX
July 28 Austin, TX–San Antonio, TX
July 29 San Antonio, TX–Uvalde, TX
July 30 Uvalde, TX–Bracketville, TX
July 31 Bracketville, TX–Comstock, TX
August 1 Comstock, TX–Sanderson, TX
August 2 Sanderson, TX–Marathon, TX
August 3 Marathon, TX–Marfa, TX
August 4 Marfa, TX–Van Horn, TX
August 5 Van Horn, TX–Fort Hancock, TX
August 6 Fort Hancock, TX–El Paso, TX
August 7 El Paso, TX–Las Cruces, NM
August 8 Las Cruces, NM–Deming, NM
August 9 Deming, NM–Lordsburg, NM
August 10 Lordsburg, NM–Willcox, AZ
August 11 Willcox, AZ–Tucson, AZ
August 12 Tucson, AZ–Florence, AZ
August 13 Florence, AZ–Phoenix, AZ
August 14 Phoenix, AZ–Aguila, AZ
August 15 Aguila, AZ–Quartzsite, AZ
August 16 Quartszite, AZ–Blythe, CA
August 17 Blythe, CA–Brawley, CA
August 18 Brawley, CA–Julian, CA
August 19 Julian, CA–San Diego, CA
August 20 San Diego, CA–Dana Point, CA
August 21 Dana Point, CA–Los Angeles, CA

I ride through Columbus Circle on my way to work, so this morning I stopped to see what was happening. It looked about like this:http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2446/3659266087_325f0631e7_b.jpg

Then I went to my office until 8:30 or so, before heading back to Columbus Circle to see if I could see the ride depart. I asked around and learned that the Southern Route team was over at 5th & 59th, so I went over there and, by a little asking around, found the gentleman who calls himself 10 Wheels. Here's a picture of him and me, just so you know I'm not making this up!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3315/3659268893_38d4af96df_b.jpg

This ride is going to be a rolling party, I guess-- everyone on it is ready to have a blast. I was surprised to see very few touring bikes; mostly road bikes, some with fenders, hardly any with luggage racks. Not that I'm scoffing-- I saw a lot of well used, well loved bikes, including a lot of old lugged steel ones.

I decided not to hang around; no telling how long they were going to be there still. I wished Fred luck and went back to my office!

We finished the first century plus change today from Philly to Baltimore. Everyone finished or were a few miles out before they had to be sagged to the party. Things are going well. Tomorrow will be easier I think.

Northern route is going great. My knee is starting to hurt a bit. We're off to Detroit today - 90 miles today after 90 yesterday. I think we've been averaging about 70 a day. I'm having a grand time. Everyone on the ride s great.

Day Ten on the Southern Route:
93 miles Today
Riding everyday with an average of 77.4 miles
This ride is a Total Blast.
Camped Twice, Hotels 8 nights.
Charlotte NC This Night
Not anytime for the internet.
All the riders are awesome.

I visited with the ride last nigh while they were in Winder.
Damn good bunch of folks. I'm jealous. I would have loved to go on this trip with this group.

They even have a couple of real union roadies too.

Good group of people.

I visited with the ride last nigh while they were in Winder.
Damn good bunch of folks. I'm jealous. I would have loved to go on this trip with this group.

They even have a couple of real union roadies too.

Good group of people.

Allen, you're amazing. Thanks for showing up.

Oh snap you guys are hitting up Tucson, and exactly a week before I start MY cross country tour! If ya'll want I'll show you some good places to hang out that night :)

How's it going guys?

How was Atlanta and Alabama?

7/19/09
Day 24
Stayed last night at Mt Nebo AR.
About ten of our riders made it up the 4 mile 18 % grade to the campsite.

Today we rode to Fort Smith AR 76 miles.
I am still hanging in with 1676 miles, an average of 76 miles per day.

Some in the group have passed 1950 miles.

I have been ridding in the SAG wagon for the last 10 days or so, so I finally have some time to check in on the internet. I ate the pavement pretty hard back in Alabama and broke my clavicle. The fracture is pretty clean and it should heal on its own time. I am planning to get back on the bicycle soon. Arkansas was great. The south was really really hot and sweaty, but the people were nice, and I learned what hush puppies are.

Hopefully these photos work. I am having a bit of trouble with Picasa:

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/5816/xray2.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kdU2c6VPcJ8/SmMtwatZzlI/AAAAAAAABi4/uDv1Ajblc-0/s800/Silhouette.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kdU2c6VPcJ8/SmMtz6FjBxI/AAAAAAAABi8/DVEj_80WW78/s576/TGTBATU.JPG

Ouch! Heal up fast!

Awesome ride and coverage. Wish I could find the time to do something like this

Denver today...Rockies tomorrow.

Just arrived in Austin TX today.
Party tonight at Lance's Bike Shop 5 PM
Then moving to his bar till 8 PM.
Rode 74 miles yesterday in 100* HEAT FOR 4 HOURS.
The Southern Route has 5 riders that have pedaled every mile.

Rode 75 miles to Wilcox AZ. Headwinds the last three days.
I ran out of energy at 55 miles today. Ate a Shot Block, one bottle of Gadorade, 2 bottles of water
and finished the ride.
Will be using energy drinks for tommorrows ride.
2700 miles to date for me.
Sagged 6 times.
Two flats yesterday bring the total to 12.
Put on new tires for the last 1000 miles of the ride.
We now leave early around 5 or 5:30 AM to beat the heat on long rides.
Have used Highway 10 for the past 3 rides.

Wild Horse Ride:
http://www.vimeo.com/5432274

Day 58:
The last ride to LA.
65 miles along the beach.

WOW' a Great Adventure for me.

looking for 42rider Jessica!
yo what up! met you and drew up in brewster this past weekend with my buddy joe but I never caught your info; holler at me!