My TransAm trip so far.
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My TransAm trip so far.
Well I'm on my 9th day of my first trans american tour. I'm at the Vol. fire dept in Mineral VA right now. I started in Fayettville NC and went east to Jacksonville NC, the North to Yorktown VA, where I started the ACA route west. I've run into 105 degree weather, torando's, and pouring rain. I've had one actual flat tires from a puncture on my mondails, and a flat from when the bike store in Mechanicsville changed my broken spoke and pinched my valve stem. Got my first taste of some steep grades outside of Ashland VA. And I've meet alot of really nice people. So in short it hasn't been easy but its been well worth it. Glad I trained for this as well! I should get to afton tomorrow, then the blue ridge parkway! I'm having the time of my life!
I have every confidence I will make it to Oregon! Can't wait to see the Pacific!
I have every confidence I will make it to Oregon! Can't wait to see the Pacific!
#2
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Sounds like you are having a blast. Please keep us posted
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"Whenever I see an adult riding a bicycle, I know there is hope for mankind." (H. G. Wells)
"Whenever I see an adult riding a bicycle, I know there is hope for mankind." (H. G. Wells)
#4
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Hopefully your 'allotment' of flats is filled and done with, Joe. Have a good trip and please keep us updated.
Brad
Brad
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Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
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He's arleady cyber begging in another thread.
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Just figured of ask ill make it regardless. Rode 70 miles of hills from mineral va to Whitehall. Tons of climbing still averaged 11 mph!
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Are you going to do some in person begging then?
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I wouldn't give you twenty cents to fund your vacation. You want to pay for part of my Cycle Oregon trip in September? The registration fee and bus tickets to the start was over $1000. Then there is airfare. Hotel before and after the tour. Bike shipping. Etc.
Cyclists who beg in towns and/or want things for free to save money give other cyclists a bad name. How do I know? Because I have discussed the matter with locals. We don't need any more negative sentiment to deal with when we are out on the road.
Cyclists who beg in towns and/or want things for free to save money give other cyclists a bad name. How do I know? Because I have discussed the matter with locals. We don't need any more negative sentiment to deal with when we are out on the road.
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Be on the blue ridge parkway today! Oh and sorry that all the cyclists out there aren't as well off as you. Shame on us. It doesn't matter though your just some random anon on the internet. You would think cycling would make you a happier person but it seems not! Romney 2012! I've never asked the locals for crap. People usually offer me a place to stay, or set up my tent. They like to hear my story generally. In 11 days I've had 4 random folks offer me dinner and a place to stay. I guess hanging out on the internet all day makes some of us quite cynical, and a bit pompous!
Last edited by Joe Padilla; 06-28-12 at 07:07 AM.
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Be on the blue ridge parkway today! Oh and sorry that all the cyclists out there aren't as well off as you. Shame on us. It doesn't matter though your just some random anon on the internet. You would think cycling would make you a happier person but it seems not! Romney 2012! I've never asked the locals for crap. People usually offer me a place to stay, or set up my tent. They like to hear my story generally. In 11 days I've had 4 random folks offer me dinner and a place to stay. I guess hanging out on the internet all day makes some of us quite cynical, and a bit pompous!
And there is a HUGE difference between accepting hospitality and asking for handouts, which you have done in another thread. I have taken three multi-month tours (the longest being nearly 4 months) and have had plenty of nice people offer things out of the goodness of their hearts. If you are willing to cyber beg it's not out of the realm of possibility that you would beg "in person."
I found it interesting that you found the funds for a new camera but began cyber begging not two weeks into the trip. I also find it interesting that you are asking for food money yet revealing that you have already gotten more than 1/3 of your dinners and one third of your overnight accomodations for free. Makes me wonder whether you really need the money.
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And, BTW, when I was taking those long trips I was unemployed during the entire time and for months after my travels ended. Nearly two years in all. You see, for years I sacrificed many material comforts and saved money leading up to that time so I would have enough to fund my own adventures. And I am doing that right now with the hope that I can retire (or at least semi-retire) early so I can take longer trips again instead of short ones.
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Omg 32 miles on the blue ridge parkway today, the hardest tiding I've ever done. Still averaged 8 mph though! Great scenery! I'm camping out in love va right now!
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If you sell off 80% of your gear, you'd be left with food, the ultralight essentials, and a light enough bike that you'd get 0 flat tires and average 15mph.
#21
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FWIW, I found the general area you are riding through to be the hardest part of the TA. I was going the opposite direction though.
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1) Yes you should lighten your load. If your packing list is online, I could look at it for you and point out things to get rid of. The first things to start with are electronics and all the supporting stuff (chargers, cords), then heavy clothes, redundant clothes, then things you brought "just in case" that you haven't used yet, and things you "might need" later. Every little bit counts, so don't keep something just because it's light.
2) There is a fine line between "kindness of strangers" and "mooching" - and it's really easy to hint to people that you are talking to that you need help. A little of this might be OK if you really need help, but (as others have pounded you over on that other thread) - it's not cool to ask others to fund/support/feed your vacation.
3) It's "through" not "threw" - "I threw a ball yesterday" "I am riding through a tunnel"
2) There is a fine line between "kindness of strangers" and "mooching" - and it's really easy to hint to people that you are talking to that you need help. A little of this might be OK if you really need help, but (as others have pounded you over on that other thread) - it's not cool to ask others to fund/support/feed your vacation.
3) It's "through" not "threw" - "I threw a ball yesterday" "I am riding through a tunnel"
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Bah, with all the comments on overpacking, I was expecting to go to his blog and see him hauling a u-haul with his bike! Ultralight is nice for some, but I know I prefer to have several days of clothing, a tent I can spend a rainy day in without going bonkers, a very warm sleeping bag, spare blanket, laptop, kindle, a few book I can't get on the kindle, heavy duty raingear, a pair of hiking boots, and room to stock up on food before areas without much service.
8mph was on the high end of my daily average on a good day and I walked up a lot of hills, but I enjoyed myself.
8mph was on the high end of my daily average on a good day and I walked up a lot of hills, but I enjoyed myself.
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Bah, with all the comments on overpacking, I was expecting to go to his blog and see him hauling a u-haul with his bike! Ultralight is nice for some, but I know I prefer to have several days of clothing, a tent I can spend a rainy day in without going bonkers, a very warm sleeping bag, spare blanket, laptop, kindle, a few book I can't get on the kindle, heavy duty raingear, a pair of hiking boots, and room to stock up on food before areas without much service.
#25
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Bah, with all the comments on overpacking, I was expecting to go to his blog and see him hauling a u-haul with his bike! Ultralight is nice for some, but I know I prefer to have several days of clothing, a tent I can spend a rainy day in without going bonkers, a very warm sleeping bag, spare blanket, laptop, kindle, a few book I can't get on the kindle, heavy duty raingear, a pair of hiking boots, and room to stock up on food before areas without much service.
8mph was on the high end of my daily average on a good day and I walked up a lot of hills, but I enjoyed myself.
8mph was on the high end of my daily average on a good day and I walked up a lot of hills, but I enjoyed myself.
I have met quite a few that have probably had well over 100 pounds of stuff on their bikes. Some of them seemed happy and were having a good time. I have also met a few who were miserable with the load. I often recommend folks try packing lighter and especially advise new tourists to cull their list aggressively. That said packing 10-15 pounds of less of stuff for a multi-month tour isn't for everyone.