Introduction
A cross-country, self-supported bicycle trip is something I’ve long dreamed of from the time I was little. I can remember dreams of traveling across the country, pulling a camper along behind my bike. Of course, teenage years came along. Girls and cars completely got in the way of bicycling and any thoughts of a cross-country trip.
Marriage, age and an ever-enlarging midsection brought cycling back into my life in my thirties. As my ability to do miles increased again, fascination with a cross-country camping trip crept back into my mind. I set a goal to do a tour ride before I was forty. I was fortunate enough to do the Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska in 2000, the year of my fortieth birthday. Goal met, though not self-supported, I thought that would have to suffice. Three kids, a full time job, which became more full-time with added responsibilities, left no time for a multi-week self-supported tour ride.
Life is funny. It takes twists and turns and leaves you scratching your head wondering, “How in the world did that happen?” I’ve learned not to question anymore, take what comes your way and make the best of it. My job of nineteen years went away and suddenly, I had a lot of time on my hands. Recognizing an ideal opportunity to realize a longtime dream, I discussed the idea with my wife, Roxanne. She agreed there would probably never be another opportunity like this. It would also serve a dual purpose, giving me time to think and plan for what is next. The preparations began.
Equipment
I decided my seldom-used mountain bike would make the perfect foundation for an inexpensive touring bike. First, I bought a pair of eight speed wheels, then put drop bars with bar-end shifters on it. Next, I rigged it up with racks and panniers to carry gear. I then realized that Matthew was going into a traditional school schedule and would easily have time to ride and experience the road with me. This changed things dramatically. Now, the panniers I intended to use would not suffice to carry all our gear and clothes. We decided to get a trailer when we discovered I was getting too much heel strike to comfortably carry the panniers, so a trailer was the obvious answer. I settled on a Burley Nomad, which ended up being a nice unit. We managed to adapt the rack to Matt’s road bike and found he could easily carry the panniers with no heel interference. Matt will carry clothes and light things in the panniers while I handle the heavier loads in the trailer. I put a triple on Matt’s bike to handle the steeper grades and things really began to take shape with bicycles.
Camping gear became our next concern. I bought a nice three man Eureka tent that was very compact, lightweight and just the right size for Matt and I. It is freestanding with plenty of ventilation and a good rainfly/vestibule. Matt already had a department store sleeping bag and I bought a backpacking mummy bag on sale because it was a left-hand zipper. A Coleman multi-fuel stove that we borrowed from a fellow club member handled the cooking chores. While the stove carries a supply of white gas in it’s own tank, we took along another leak-proof container full as back-up. A stainless mess kit was also borrowed, but we bought our own aluminum coffee percolator.
Staying in communication with home was a concern. We decided that phone calls would probably become expensive over the course of the trip. Missed calls would no doubt add to the misery and the cost. We decided on a product called Pocketmail.
Pocketmail device with its standard QWERTY keyboard
Backside of pocketmail device showing speaker and earpiece for acoustic modem
It is a self-contained organizer and mail composer with a built-in acoustic modem that allows one to dial a toll free number and send/receive e-mail. The bonus to this plan is it will allow us to e-mail trip updates to all our family and friends with one simple, toll-free phone call!
Researching routes became a trial. Initially, I wanted to ride from our home in Redlands to Nebraska. Unfortunately, this would mean crossing the desert, which would be extremely hot. It also would mean crossing Colorado, which is literally burning. I settled on Adventure Cycling’s Trans-America route, from Astoria, Oregon and following it as far as Rawlins, Wyoming. Then began the trouble of figuring out how to get from Redlands to Astoria. Finding it impossible to get a one-way car rental to Astoria, we ended up starting our trip in Eugene, Oregon, where we could catch the second leg of the Trans-Am trail. This will still allow us to see the best of the Cascades, tour Yellowstone Park and the Grand Tetons before cutting across Wyoming to our destination of Oshkosh, Nebraska.
That’s the plan, anyway. You have been afforded the opportunity to follow our adventures in the pages that follow. Matt and I would like to thank all those who helped with the planning and preparations, not to mention the moral support. Thanks to all!