Over the years I've been doing these summer rides, I've had one lesson take hold hard: the less stuff I need to strap to the bike, the easier the ride is. On my first big tour, I rode a hybrid bike with front shocks, kitted out with front and rear pannier. Back then, I carried a meal or two worth of food, front and rear panniers, a spare tire (along with the spare tubes), a tent rated down to 30*F, a three-person tent...


This time around, I was riding a titanium touring bike. The front panniers disappeared; the new tent was small and light enough it disappeared into one of the bags; and the sleeping bag was replaced with a fleece blanket. No more stuff on the front fork, no more stuff piled on the rear rack.


Which is not to say that a "touring" bike is necessary. I had two good tours on the Cannondale hybrid, and I still use it as my daily commuter bike. But the touring bike is just a little more comfortable, a little more scratch-resistant, a little bit lighter.

I got the bike ready by adding fenders and changing the gearing, making sure I had a low gear (26 front, 34 back) that could handle hills. I got myself ready by riding what hills I could find in the neighborhood, seeking out the 7% and 8% grades -- and riding those with weight in my bags. I even spent some time on the 12% grades, but those I did unloaded.

I tried to plan out the route. How would I get to Maine to start? A train ride would bring me to Boston, and from there a bus could get me to Augusta, Bangor, or Belfast -- which would be better for me? How would I route myself so that I had a place to stay every night? Should I follow the Adventure Cycling Association (ACA) east coast route as much as possible, dropping south into Massachusetts from Nashua NH -- or should I swing west in New Hampshire and delay dropping south until Keene? I had Rides with GPS, ACA maps, websites for the "Berkshires to Boston" ride, and email with folks on these forums. I obsessed with the roads through Massachusetts, looking at what I could on Google Maps and hoping for the ideal 2-3% grade on a road with a wide shoulder, trees overhead, low traffic, and frequent convenience stores. Eventually I just got myself tied into a knot. I tossed all the printed maps and went with whatever RidesWithGPS had recommended.

Things I brought that helped: printed cue sheets; maps; granola bars and other anti-bonk food.

Things I brought that weren't worth the weight: my ABUS folding bike lock (most of the time, I could only lock wheel to frame; there was nothing nearby to lock the frame to).