Gear for the Bike Ride - The Bike Bag

I needed a new bike bag.

I had to admit the old one was worn out.

We had gone too many miles together.

This bag had loyally carried my books and my clothes, food and drink in all kinds of weather.

But it was time to retire.

So, as always, I went to Frank.

What do you want in a bag? he asked.

I mentioned the two phones I had drowned so far this year.

Waterproof would be nice.

So Frank found this awesome Axiom bag.

Made of nylon - the water beads up and the innards stay dry.

Sounds like a good option for a cross country biker.

But after a week I went back to Frank.

It's too small, I said.

When we cross into Idaho we'll have a day starting out in the 40s and ending in the 90s.

I'll be shedding clothes right and left.

This little bag will only carry my favorite red jacket.

What about my long pants, my under armour, my many layers?

And what about my Kindle?

Well, you Goof! said Frank. It has panniers!

And, lo and behold, those little side pockets open up and stretch down adding storage space for my layers of clothes and all.

How cool!

And in case you're worried about the Droid - I bought this cool dry case.

Waterproof - and after you suck out the air, you can use the Droid in its waterproof cover.

We are ready now for rain, cold and heat.

America, here we come!

Which Bike to Ride across America?

I love my bicycle...

...I don't want to hurt her feelings.

But while she was off at the shop getting gussied up for our ride across America...

...something happened.

I spent a lot of time with Phoenix, the bike I share with TJ.

We biked many miles - just the two of us.

We biked beautiful centuries and miserable ones.

We faced the wind together...

...and the rain.

We talked for hours on those long rides...

We chatted with garden gnomes on occasion.

Phoenix even wrote a blog for me.

And now that Ripley is back all pretty and white, how can I tell her I prefer another?





It's not his looks.

Nor his charming personality.

Honestly, he's kinder to my anatomy....

both posterior...

...and anterior.

and if we're going to spend 3,630 miles together I need all the kindness I can get!

But Frank says to go with Ripley.

She's been checked out from stem to stern.

New brakes, chains and cassettes.

She's ready for the cross-America challenge!

And she is so pretty in pictures!




How can I choose?

Gear for the bike ride - gloves

Why - when I'm late for work - can I only find four left hand gloves?

The heck with statistics - shouldn't 1/2 the gloves I find be right-handed?

Is there a right hand thief in my house?

Can I catch him right-red-handed?

I can't bike without gloves...

...even if I have to wear a lefty on my righty like I did this morning.

On frosty days I need them to keep my fingertips warm.





If I crash - which I haven't done since Al tried to hand me the water bottle after biking 70+ miles and our two wheels interlocked and we went down - if I crash, the gloves protect the delicate skin over my knuckles..

..and the sensitive skin on the palm of my hands.

Most often, though, I need my gloves to protect me from tingling.

Being a doctor I know about those nerve bundles that course through the center of your wrist then spray out to serve your fingers.

Being a biker I know what it feels like when that nerve bundle gets pinched for a 17 hour bike ride.
Ooow!

Oh, I move my hands a lot.

The advantage of these really cool curvacious handlebars is lots of hand positions.
Up, down, sideways, every which way.

But about mile 150 or so, nothing can take away that stinging sensation in your fingertips.

I can't imagine what would happen if I didn't have my padded gloves!

Besides that lovely biker glove tan line tells the world who I am...

...even those rare times you find me not on a bicycle.

Preparing for the Ride across America

Rain today...

...all day long.

Mama duck rests on our lawn enjoying the shower.

My unplanted Mother's Day flowers are enjoying a drink on the porch.

Good day to stay off-bike and relax...


....but no!



In only 5 weeks I'll be biking across America for 50 days and 3,630 miles!

I've got so much to do!


Scouring through the lists sent by ABB I mentally sort through my belongings.

What can I take?
What must I leave behind?

Doesn't work.

I need to sort physically...

So I lay out all my favorite biking clothes...

Which jacket do I take?

The fancy green rain jacket is warmer and has a hood and zip pockets...

But my favorite has always been the basic yellow cape-in-the-rain look.

And how could I bike across America without My Red Jacket?

I find many of my favorite bike clothes have worn out....

My favorite long pants have a hole worn in the seat.

How did that happen?

And my favorite biking shoes have already seen 30,000 miles...










And to carry them all...

I need a duffel bag.

I bought a cool Eddie Bauer rolling duffel for this trip a few weeks ago.

It rolls fine.

It just doesn't stand up.

So time today on the internet researching duffels.

After all, I'll be living out of this bag for 50 days - 50 days of sweat, handwash and a tired body.

A good duffel bag should be worth the effort.

"High Sierra" said all the reviews -

but which one?

They make dozens of models...

I jotted down specifics - cubic inches, weight and dimensions - till my head was spinning.

I needed Katie to put it in a spreadsheet for me.

Finally I made the crucial step -

I did something I absolutely hate...

I went shopping.

Something about the American shopping mall depresses me.

I avoid it as much as I can.

But today I girded my loins - so to speak - and faced Macy's.

I'd rather bike 100 miles in the rain...with a headwind.









But the venture was worthwhile - this duffel is roomy...

...separate storage for the clothes that are clean vs the not-so-clean.

Light weight...

Blue...

And it stands up!

Now KC will have to find a name for it.

To clear my head I stopped by Allisonville Nursery -

This kind of shopping I like.

Flowers and plants drinking in the spring rain....

I found companions for my Mother's Day flowers since annuals don't like to be planted alone.



Then home - to my lists and my preparations.

Is there any way I'll be ready to leave for Oregon in less than 5 weeks?