Cross-country road trip

Harrison · Post by **Harrison** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 12:12 pm

That's why we're going up to New Hampshire first.

Tikker · Post by **Tikker** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 2:02 pm

Harrison wrote:P.S. That trailer doesn't WEIGH 100lbs, it has a capacity to hold that much.

well, you're not going to pull it while it's empty are you?

if you really want to know what it's like, fill it up, then tow it up a hill

araby · Post by **araby** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 5:47 pm

My friend Thomas is on a cross-country biking trip as we speak (in a van behind the bikers hehe) filming it for a documentary-type project. I'll talk to him soon and ask him for some advice for you.

Post by **Mop** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 6:52 pm

Harri if you need a place to crash in Baltimore / MD let me know I can hook ya up here.

Minrott · Post by **Minrott** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:01 pm

Harri - If the only reason you won't pack some protection is worrying about laws state to state, I'd be happy to research them for you when you have your route planned. On top of that, there is a law designed to protect you from that kind of harassment, the firearms owner protection act. You can't be prosecuted for simply being in posession of a firearm that is legal in the state you left, while traveling through one that it isn't, as long as it's legal in your destination state.

Aside from that, do some research on vapor lock sleeping systems. You can save a lot of weight on the coldest nights with that. Otherwise spend some money on a good bag that will give you the best R value for the least weight.

Markarado · Post by **Markarado** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:09 pm

I'd love to do something like this. My father is really into biking, but usually through the streets of Shanghai (pretty cool place to bike!).

Post by **Mop** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 11:30 pm

I can also get you some bike routes through the east coast this weekend. Just fully expect MD to suck ass, its the worst place ive ever biked. Shitty roads and shitty drivers, but you can crash here for a day or two np. and if you want a ride to DC - the ride there sucks, trust me people try and ride you off the road. After that Virgina is great and has some great routes through to NC.

anyways shoot me a pm if you want. I have no problem being a place to crash for ya for a couple days

DESX · Post by **DESX** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 11:49 pm

I would try to rack up at least a good 80 miles a day, one of my friends that was doing this (across the state only that is) got 40 miles a day walking so you should easily get 80 miles a day.

leah · Post by **leah** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 7:42 am

i'm serious, you best be stopping in lincoln.

Harrison · Post by **Harrison** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 12:10 pm

I did 16 miles yesterday as part of my training. I don't feel all that sore today. It's even colder and raining harder than yesterday so I'm not sure if I should do another day this early on in my conditioning.

Yesterday definitely proved to me that my roommate is going to have to man-up and quit smoking and start conditioning himself.

P.S. I fully intend to hit up as many of you as possible to say hi on the way.

Post by **Tossica** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 12:12 pm

It will take you 2.5 months if you ride at least 50 miles a day, every day. Haha. Good luck.

Tikker · Post by **Tikker** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 12:48 pm

Harrison wrote:I did 16 miles yesterday as part of my training. I don't feel all that sore today. It's even colder and raining harder than yesterday so I'm not sure if I should do another day this early on in my conditioning.

Yesterday definitely proved to me that my roommate is going to have to man-up and quit smoking and start conditioning himself.

P.S. I fully intend to hit up as many of you as possible to say hi on the way.

unless you can get to the point where you can do 200+ km a day, you're wasting your time

leah · Post by **leah** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 1:49 pm

it's a good point--how much time are you going to be able to set aside for this trip? can you throw in some hitchhiking?

Harrison · Post by **Harrison** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 2:19 pm

I have all the time in the world.

leah · Post by **leah** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 2:25 pm

oh okay. well, carry on then.

Zanchief · Post by **Zanchief** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 2:28 pm

Iâ€™ll take "Doesn't get his fat ass as far as the state line" in the NT pool.

The Kizzy · Post by **The Kizzy** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 2:44 pm

I hope you have some money saved up.

Jay · Post by **Jay** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 2:57 pm

Tikker wrote:
Harrison wrote:I did 16 miles yesterday as part of my training. I don't feel all that sore today. It's even colder and raining harder than yesterday so I'm not sure if I should do another day this early on in my conditioning.

Yesterday definitely proved to me that my roommate is going to have to man-up and quit smoking and start conditioning himself.

P.S. I fully intend to hit up as many of you as possible to say hi on the way.

unless you can get to the point where you can do 200+ km a day, you're wasting your time

That's 125 miles a day fyi.

Harrison · Post by **Harrison** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 3:14 pm

Zanchief wrote:Iâ€™ll take "Doesn't get his fat ass as far as the state line" in the NT pool.

Take your faggot shit out of my thread little boy.

Post by **Mop** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 3:31 pm

You dont have to do 200km a day.

Imo you should first work up to the 100 mile once a week series + 4 rides from 20 - 60 miles a day.

A century is a long ass ride. its hard your hips will become allianged incorrectly and it becomes painful at times.

Tikker · Post by **Tikker** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 5:10 pm

Mop wrote:You dont have to do 200km a day.

Imo you should first work up to the 100 mile once a week series + 4 rides from 20 - 60 miles a day.

A century is a long ass ride. its hard your hips will become allianged incorrectly and it becomes painful at times.

well, i am going off my own experiences here, and i'm not super super familiar with the route you're planning, but theres lots of places where it's a couple hundred km between civilizations and it increases the amount of shit you have to carry if you CAN'T do that much distance per day

araby · Post by **araby** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 5:14 pm

Harrison good luck I am jealous- I wish I could do this. Brinstar's friend Mat is taking a trip out west and I am jealous of that, too. I am just a gypsy. If you go through SC holla and I'll hook a brother up.

10sun · Post by **10sun** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 6:22 pm

Tikker wrote:
Mop wrote:You dont have to do 200km a day.

Imo you should first work up to the 100 mile once a week series + 4 rides from 20 - 60 miles a day.

A century is a long ass ride. its hard your hips will become allianged incorrectly and it becomes painful at times.

well, i am going off my own experiences here, and i'm not super super familiar with the route you're planning, but theres lots of places where it's a couple hundred km between civilizations and it increases the amount of shit you have to carry if you CAN'T do that much distance per day

quoted for truth.

This is a serious concern for getting across the southern California desert as passing the Rockies on bike is lunacy.

Harrison · Post by **Harrison** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 6:50 pm

I'm most afraid of that leg of the trip most.

Post by **Mop** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 6:52 pm

Sorry I should have elaborated. 200k *a day* is hardcore... its competitive training in terms of distance, it is tour style training. a 150k on a bike is incredibly difficult... especialy if you havent trained for it. The reason I stated what I did was because first goal should be to get up too 100 miles on a bike and being able to do a recovery ride ( 20 miles ) the next day with out the serious discomfort that follows. 200 k is a reasonable expectation a month before the ride, but as it stands now - 100 miles + a recovery ride should be goal # 1

Given the time frame ( as alot of people train for years on this as I have thought about it before )

20 miles on a bike really isnt too hard im sure most able bodied people could do it.
40 miles on a bike is when your nuts begin to go numb
60 - 70 miles on a bike is when your balls feel like they have been kicked numerouse times
90 to 100 miles is about when your back begins to throw your hips and knees out of line causing some serious discomfort. and when you get off the bike it feels like you are about 100 lbs heavier.

The next day more than likely your neck and shoulders will hurt like a motherfucker if there are hills involved...well lets just say I would suggest wall squats so you can sit out of the saddle for more than 30 seconds at a time.

pertty much til you get to the rockies you should be fine - from there i would suggest northern route back up as to avoid deserts for 300 miles but that leaves you in the middle of rockies + sierra's which are excellent views but some serious climbs.