lostear

I guess I'm basically redoing everything in my life all over again at age 31.

I'm a deaf para-educator at a deaf school in Montana. I'm completely new to the entire north-west section of USA and have already fallen in love hard for the area Made a few new friends and have been going camping with them a couple times in this past summer. Best camping experience I have had in a long time.

As for why I'm redoing everything in my life all over again, I'm getting divorced. We are trying to remain friendly throughout the whole process so it have not been too bad. But it does make me reflect a lot on the values of my life and quite frankly, I'm finding these values to be extremely opposite to my wife. I'm going minimal possessions, car-free, would love to go vegetarian as soon as I learn how to do that, giving up a lot of wasteful habits, want to live in a tiny home or out of a van, hike the major trails like the Appalachian Trail, Bike across country, etc...

Currently 'car-free'. Soon-to-be-ex-wife is using our car. I plan to be essentially car free in the next few years until I save up enough for a decent van to live out of or a Tiny Home on wheel with which I would need an occasionally used vehicle to tow.

At least I've been going on a minimalist kick and reducing most of my possessions. About half of my stuff can go on the bike. Most of the other half can be rid of rather easily. Currently I'm now living about ten miles away from work (new apartment) so I'm glad for the kick-start to my training for the tour in Summer of 2017. 20 miles every workdays plus a century a weekend is my hope.

Speaking of that tour I'm planning on, I'm hoping to go from Seattle, Washington to Gloucester Point, VA with an emphasis on camping at national parks and forests. So I'll be training myself a lot in the next few months! That should help me get rid of about 60 pounds of fat I have on me.

I'm currently 240 pounds and the healthiest weight range for me is between 175-185. My brother have the exact same physical characteristic as me without actually being a twin and he is in the military so he told me what his doctor told him about the best physical state we can be. I'm actually aiming for less than what he is aiming for (165-170).

My bike is a Cannondale Warrior 400r. I'm hoping to save up for a better bike before the tour. I would LOVE to get something like a Trek 920 Disc but that's fairly expensive so I'll be asking around for input on a better bike for touring. In the meantime, I've been outfitting the bike with a rack and trying to find a few kitty litter bucket to make panniers out of.

Anyway, I'm up for answering any questions you may have of me so just ask away!

10 Wheels

Welcome to Bike Forums.

Hope you can drop the weight before touring.

1nterceptor

Howdy and welcome aboard!
That's some story and I can relate to some parts. My wife loves to collect more stuff;
while I try to get rid of them. We still have an old Honda Civic. But if something happens
to it; stolen, engine goes bust, totaled in a crash. We probably won't replace it. Also
trying to lose a few pounds.

obed7

welcome to the forums...I did the weight loss thing you speak of, but none of the other... good luck with your new endeavor.

1 old fart

Your bike has 32 spokes good, better strong 36 spoke 700c x 35 wheels.

adamhenry

Welcome to the forum. Good luck on the weight loss goal. I just lost 20lbs. by watching the diet and pedaling. It can be done.

RonH

Welcome to Bike Forums. Glad you joined us. You'll find lots of folks to help with any questions you have.