Update: I began the trip but stopped after 5
days. I am very glad I tried and also
very glad I stopped before getting into trouble. Please read through my journal and other
information I posted. If you want to
do a trip like this, by all means, plan it and do it. Learn from what I did and what others have
done but do not be discouraged by those who say you can’t do it or that you
are crazy. I will do this again but
with friends and probably a vehicle (SAG) support. I will also plan it so I am not away from
my wife so long – whether she rides with us or meets us at several points
during the ride. I absolutely believe that if my Paddle Across Florida kayak buddies could have joined me on this trip, we would have made it – as a team. We just work so well together, get along great, and help each other to get through anything. I found that although I like to challenge myself and endure pain and struggle, I don’t like to do it alone. I will start working on talking them into joining me when I do this again : ) This Page was created to track Dave’s planning, training, and exploits on his quest to bicycle across the US in March/April 2014. The plan was to start the last week of March and finish by the end of April – 5 weeks. It will be just over 2,600 miles across the Southern United States. Like the rest of the kayak website, I hope this will also enthuse and encourage others to do things that they and/or their friends/family didn’t think they could do. I was looking at our website and reading “get out of your comfort zone” and “just do it.” I got to thinking that these kayak trips are becoming part of my comfort zone. I remembered something that I’ve always wanted to do – ride a bicycle across the US. A friend of mine did this when I was 18 and I’ve always regretted not joining him. It was something I couldn’t see myself doing or being able to do. Things have changed now that I’ve been doing these kayak trips, triathlons, and marathons. I know that with proper training but more important, with proper attitude, I can do this (so can you!) So here we go.
I am very fortunate that my wife said to go for it and my work will give me time off (non-paid) if I don’t have enough vacation time saved up by the time of my trip. I figure if I wait until I retire I may not… well, I just may not get the chance. You never know what the future holds so when you get a chance to do something you’ve dreamed of, you just gotta go for it.
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Oct 2012 Picking up my new Surly Long Haul Trucker at Stuart’s Wild Ride in Boca Raton.
My bike before additions. To be added: racks, bottle cages, bottles, panniers, handlebar bag, fenders, bike computer.
Racks, fenders, panniers, handlebar bag, water bottles & cages, toe clips added. Now we’re ready to roll !!
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Update 01/18/13 I’ve done some practice rides ranging from 25 to 55 miles. The bike rides smooth and I love the seat and feel. One thing that concerns me is that it feels like a tank/Cadillac compared to my nice Cannondale road bike. I guess the real test will come when I start hitting the hills and then the mountains. Hard to train in Florida but I know of some tall bridges I may spend a few hours riding over just for practice. My route from east to west will allow my legs to get stronger so by the time I hit the mountains in New Mexico, I will be in better shape to tackle them (I hope).
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