April 23 — less than two months to the start of my trip.
Photo: Peggy Johnson
The Second Mile will be my "official" charity. As I said in my introduction, I'd like to make this trip more than just a mid-life dream and I hope to raise some money for this worthwhile cause. The Second Mile was founded by former PSU Football Defensive Coordinator Jerry Sandusky, and is a nonprofit organization serving the youth of Pennsylvania. They are committed to helping young people achieve their potential as individuals and as community members, and providing support for parents and youth service professionals.
I'm taking "per mile" contributions, or any amount one can offer. All donations will go directly to The Second Mile and are not being used to fund this trip. You can pledge online here. You can also donate directly to The Second Mile on their website here.
Last weekend, I loaded up the trailer with 35 lbs and took off on my first intercity trip. I went to Altoona, stayed overnight, and returned the next morning, a total of 92 miles and one good climb over Kettle Rd. to Sinking Valley on the way home. I had tired legs for sure, but this inaguaral long distance ride went pretty well as far as I'm concerned. Still some training to do, but it made me more comfortable that I'll be able to do this trip.
Training: In addition to trainer nights at B&E Cycles (thanks, Eric!) and Mt. Nittany Wheelworks, I worked the weights at Body Works in State College for the past three months, following a plan from Bicycling Magazine’s Personal Trainer, That, along with their diet program has helped me lose 15 lbs on the way to my goal of 20 by the time I leave in June. I figure that any weight I can lose off of me is just less weight I need to haul up the mountains, and 20 lbs will be a considerable lightening of the load. Now that the weather has turned better, I'm out of the gym and on the bike as much as I can be.
Mt. Nittany Wheel Works did a great job on my bike (a.k.a. "Jake"), swapping out the stock cyclocross double for a hill-climbing triple crankset. The low end 22T gear made climbs on my early trips, well, I can't say they were "easy," but they were certainly tolerable. I also swapped the cyclocross tires for some Bontrager HardCase 700x28c tires. Those tires are much more "road" oriented and are reputed to wear well — a good thing with 4000 miles in front of them. I'm wondering how many tires I'll go through. I'm also going to try a suspension seat post, and will be adding a lightweight rear rack with a "trunk" for small items, and things that I'll need quickly, like rain gear. I did find on my early excursions with the BOB that getting into and refastening the dry sak is a bit of a process. I want to have things like my camera, weather radio & lights more easily accessible. We'll see how that all works out.
Stay tuned. Much more to come.
