My first long miles trip
06-13-05, 03:29 PM
#1
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My first long miles trip
Hi all,
I just finished the first leg of my first big mile trip. 495 miles
total. From New Orleans, Louisiana to Ft. Payne, Alabama in the US. I
haven't done a tour journal anywhere but I may at some point. I
learned a couple of important things though. Don't carry more than
you absolutely need as the weight will quickly tell on your body.
Nutrition is key, without the calories to pump out the body and even
the mental edge quickly shuts down. I rode the interstate 95% of the
trip because I found secondary roads to dangerous. It's illegal but I
was run off the interstate only once and only stopped by State
Troopers all other law enforcement simply ignored me. I will have to
plan way more carefully for the return. Before this trip the longest
I had riden was 20 miles. I didn't enjoy the trip as much as I was
hopeing possibly due to my not having planned it out to well. I don't
really know what I was expecting perhaps some cathartic, spiritual
experience. What it was was me with my head down most of the time
pumping out the miles repeating like a litany to myself THE JOY OF
THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH or THANK YOU LORD. There were many hills
where that was the only thing that got me over them. I lost about
20lbs, mostly water weight I think and my blood pressure lowered
which is a good thing as it has been quite high for some time. I was
on a $166.00 Schwinn Ridge MTB with panniers and a 14" canvas duffel
strapped to the top of a rear rack. It held up well mechanically
except that the factory tires began to give out after about 250 miles
and I had to replace both tubes and one tire. Then at about 390 miles
I broke a spoke and had to travel on a warped rear wheel for the last
100 miles of the journey. I dumped about $40 worth of gear and food
at a reststop to lighten the load. You don't need to bring more than
a couple of high carb powerbars for backup food to get you to the
nearest food joint. I consumed large amounts of energy drink. I now
know that I will dump a considerable amount of weight before I begin
the return journey. Well that's about it for now
Sincerely
Saltheart
I just finished the first leg of my first big mile trip. 495 miles
total. From New Orleans, Louisiana to Ft. Payne, Alabama in the US. I
haven't done a tour journal anywhere but I may at some point. I
learned a couple of important things though. Don't carry more than
you absolutely need as the weight will quickly tell on your body.
Nutrition is key, without the calories to pump out the body and even
the mental edge quickly shuts down. I rode the interstate 95% of the
trip because I found secondary roads to dangerous. It's illegal but I
was run off the interstate only once and only stopped by State
Troopers all other law enforcement simply ignored me. I will have to
plan way more carefully for the return. Before this trip the longest
I had riden was 20 miles. I didn't enjoy the trip as much as I was
hopeing possibly due to my not having planned it out to well. I don't
really know what I was expecting perhaps some cathartic, spiritual
experience. What it was was me with my head down most of the time
pumping out the miles repeating like a litany to myself THE JOY OF
THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH or THANK YOU LORD. There were many hills
where that was the only thing that got me over them. I lost about
20lbs, mostly water weight I think and my blood pressure lowered
which is a good thing as it has been quite high for some time. I was
on a $166.00 Schwinn Ridge MTB with panniers and a 14" canvas duffel
strapped to the top of a rear rack. It held up well mechanically
except that the factory tires began to give out after about 250 miles
and I had to replace both tubes and one tire. Then at about 390 miles
I broke a spoke and had to travel on a warped rear wheel for the last
100 miles of the journey. I dumped about $40 worth of gear and food
at a reststop to lighten the load. You don't need to bring more than
a couple of high carb powerbars for backup food to get you to the
nearest food joint. I consumed large amounts of energy drink. I now
know that I will dump a considerable amount of weight before I begin
the return journey. Well that's about it for now
Sincerely
Saltheart
06-13-05, 05:17 PM
#3
Fuji Shill
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Gilmanton Iron Works, NH
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Keep it coming! I don't have the nards for something like that yet, but hope to before the summer is over!
