Originally Posted by
balto charlie
I live in Catonsville(western 'burb of Bmore) but have also lived in Charles Village and Cedarcroft. We have thought about retiring to NC(mountain area Ashville/Brevard). I like the idea more than my wife.
When I ride looong distances(300K) my neck is my biggest problem, my saddle is an old Brooks Pro well broken in so no problems there. I can't believe you broke in a new Brooks on a long tour.
I've been meaning to ride the BRP but on a self supported camping trip. I know I can't do 120 mile days fully loaded. I think I might be able to do 80 but still in the planning stages. 80 might be biting off more than I can chew with those hills.
I used to work as a security guard at the mall in Catonsville, back when I was about 19 or 20 y/o. I grew up very near Cedarcroft - just off the Alameda (on Glenhaven Rd). Why is your wife not keen on retiring to the NC mtns? Actually, I had the very same idea, to retire to the NC mtns. I like the Boone & Blowing Rock area, but they're way too pricey. I wound up buying a second home on 23 wooded acres just outside Wilkesboro, in the Brushy Mtns. I've had it for 3-1/2 yrs now, and I LOVE IT! I go there EVERY weekend. (see attached pic of the view from my mtn house)
As for breaking in a brand new Brooks on my trip, the way I figured it, my other two saddles (a Fizik Airone, and a Forte Pro) hurt my butt after just 40 miles, and they each have over a thousand miles on them. I've read countless testimonials on the comfort of Brooks saddles - so I figured I'd give it a try. I did just one training ride on it, 43 miles, before I left for my trip last week. It felt great for that whole ride, so I figured it couldn't be any worse than my other two "already broken in", saddles. And besides, the honey colored leather looks way cool with the celeste green Bianchi, dontcha think?
I had planned on traveling even lighter than I did. That trunk bag has zip out sides that become panniers. I hadn't planned on employing them, but I had so much crap that I couldn't quite decide how to pare down before my trip, so I just said screw it, take everything..."better to have it and not need it, than to need it an not have it", so I did.
I hadn't realized just how heavy the rig was, til I went to sneak through the only closed section (that I couldn't go around the barriers and pedal through - there were 2 of those spots) of the parkway (the Goshen Bridge near Boone, just before hwy 421). I hoisted the bike up and put it on my shoulder so I could shinny across the bridge (which was undergoing major renovation, and had rebar and metal sticking out everywhere, but no road surface), and damn that thing was heavy; about 50lbs total I'd guess. I wouldn't have wanted to carry any further than I did.