Paddle Across Florida

 

 

Dave’s Bike Ride

Across the US

 

Lessons Learned while preparing

for the trip

 

 

 

I’m hoping this list of “Lessons Learned” will help

others who aspire to do their own trips.  I know I announced

my intention to ride a bicycle across the US without much

knowledge of what it would entail.

 

Resources:

 

There are a lot of resources on the web.  You can get advice on gear lists, bike selection, routes and for me the best is the motivation I get from reading and contacting others who have done bicycle tours.  The ones I use most are:

 

http://adventurecycling.org/  Adventure Cycling Association.    This is the main source for bike tourers.  I became a member to support them and out of gratitude for all the information and contacts I’ve made due to their site.  They have everything from detailed route maps, How To, to Forums, Classifieds, and people looking for Companions to join them on trips.  A must use resource.

 

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com   crazyguyonabike  This is great for Journals of people who have done various routes/trips.  You can look up journals by Categories and even break it down to United States, Coast to Coast, East to West – which is the direction I’m going.  It also has Classifieds and discussion

 

http://bikeacrossamerica.net/ and http://bikeacrossamerica.org/ by Steve Garufi  This was the first site I read that inspired me to persue my dream of a bicycle ride across America

 

http://bikeacrossus.chipeta.net/  This is where I got my route.  I even emailed the guy and he said the route was good and that that modeled it after Steve Garufi’s route from 2008 with modifications he suggested like not going on 82 from GA through MS.

 

Use Google to research.  I read lots and lots of articles and contacted several cyclists to get information and inspiration.

 

Lessons Learned:

 

The first thing I learned is “the mind is the weakest link.”  This is true.  If you are someone who enjoys endurance activities like marathons, hiking all day, triathlons, extreme sports, then you may already have the right mindset.  When the day is long or conditions stink and your body is asking you to stop, you have to have the will to go on.  That is why there are very few people I would invite to go with me.   My paddle across Florida kayak buddies I invited (they couldn’t make it due to time) without second thought because we have suffered together but all have that “quitting is not an option” attitude and the “we will persevere” mindset.

 

If you want to do an epic trip like peddle a bicycle across the United States, there will be a lot of people who think you are nuts, they’ll say “you won’t make it”, and many other negative comments.  You DO need to absolutely want to do this trip.  You DO need to be self-motivated to do it no matter what.  That is why my best adventure buddy said he can’t join me – he just isn’t into it.  I absolutely understand.  I get motivated when people think I’m nuts or say “You won’t make it.”  I really don’t think this is nuts – it is completely doable for most people.  They just need to get out of their comfort zone and experience life.  That said, this isn’t for everyone, but do not sell yourself short.  If you even think you may want to do something like this, do some smaller trips and see if the spark is still there.  If so, go for it!

 

 

Pace yourself:   Make sure your cadence is high enough so you don’t over stress your legs which could lead to cramps or injury.  Better to have it in a lower gear, go slower, and peddle faster.  You may need to experiment.  I always have to remind myself to do this.

 

Cooking.  I don’t think so.  I have changed my mind and for long days I know I would rather get to camp and open a can of beans, etc and eat it cold than to have to cook and then clean up.  I don’t plan on bringing cooking equipment on my trek across America – at least not this time when I will be going for long days.

 

Meeting People.  I believe in the good in people and I seem to always meet good people.  Be good, honest, generous, and expect good things and they will come.

 

Navigation:  DO NOT rely on Google Maps Bicycle routing.  It will put you on closed roads, dirt roads, mountain bike trails, etc.  If I can’t get a street view of a road, I don’t put it in my route unless I have local knowledge.

 

 

Training

 

October 2013:  I have started to get serious about training.  Some days I say “Yeah!  I can do this!” while other days I am wondering what I am getting myself into.  I know I can do 60 mile days and most people agree that is a good target.  I need to do 90 plus days and the negativity from people sometimes gets me down.  My mantra is now from the Phillip Phillips song “Home”:  “Don't pay no mind to the demons they fill you with fear.”  I say that to myself when the doubt starts creeping in.  Not that friends, family, well-meaning people are demons but that the negative thoughts fill you with fear.  Go back to the first point made in Lessons Learned.  The mind is the weakest link.  Be mentally strong.  Train well and know you can do it.

 

February 2014:  In December 2013, I burned out training too hard for the upcoming bike ride.  So I dialed it back a bit and then picked up my training in January 2014 since the ride was closer at two and a half months away.  I have been riding fully loaded with what I am actually bringing less just a few things.  This is advice I took from others and I know it is really preparing me for the ride.  I worked up from doing 35 miles a day on 3-day weekends (I am off work every other Friday) and this last weekend I did 70, 80, then 55 miles fully loaded.  I took routes where I go over one of the highest bridges in my area.  It has been a warm winter in south Florida so I did most of my rides in mid 80’s which I feel also strengthened me.  I will meet my companion this weekend for the first time and we will do 3 days of riding fully loaded together in central Florida.  Plan is to do 60 to 100 mile days.

 

I AM PSYCHED.  I know I am fit enough now and just want the trip to begin.

 

 

Epilogue: What went wrong

Friday March 28, 2014

I'm typing this the morning after I got home. I lay awake last night analyzing the trip and all the details/work I put into it. Here are my conclusions and lessons learned:

1)  I was determined to do this trip no matter what and I should have postponed or found a group with SAG to go with instead of going solo. Don't be too stubborn to change your plans!
A)  I lost my SAG.  Would be nice (to carry stuff and food) but more important for me to have a companion(s).
B)  I lost/did not have a companion – If I do this again, it will be with others
C)  I ignored the fact that I had too much weight.  Be a weight weenie!  Especially if you need to do over 60 miles/day.
D)  I did not have a nutrition plan except wing it as I go
E)  I still had a bad cold and was having severe coughing attacks during my ride but I did not want to postpone. I did see my doctor before the trip and he said I looked ok...

2)  Going without a SAG would be ok if in a group and if the route hit more places with supplies and accommodations.

3)  Consider the daily mileage - I had a time constraint - thus the 90 mile per day goal. This is very aggressive even with being fully supported.  I know I could have done it if supported (I would not have had to carry all that weight) and with others to share in the adventure.

4)  I have a heavy bicycle (Surly LHT) that weighs in at 42 lbs with racks, fenders, water bottles filled, seat pack, and ignored the weight consequences.
A)  I should have spent the extra money for ultra-light equipment for camping as well as clothes/jackets. The last day, I was chilled and really worried about me getting too cold while camping. The weight may have been the biggest factor for my not being able to continue.
B)  I weighed my equipment after I got back home. This is embarrassing: It weighed 63.4 lbs. This is AFTER I mailed 9 lbs home while on my trip so I started with over 72 lbs! I didn't want to weigh my stuff beforehand because I had it down to the minimum already and what it is, it is. Had I weighed it and knew how bad the extra weight affects me on hills (I learned this for the first time while climbing the hills), I may have either postponed, cancelled, or bought the good touring supplies for the trip.

4)  I am happy I tried and I learned a lot about myself and my limits. I also know I could do this trip if I do it right next time.