Fuck yeah!!!
No joke. Either this spring/summer or next year. But it's happening.
Who wants to join me?
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Fuck yeah!!!
No joke. Either this spring/summer or next year. But it's happening.
Who wants to join me?
Do I *want* to join? Hrrm, yesh. Can I join? Dunno so much. In the general questions category, have you done any long distance cycling? You'll need to train up both physically and in terms of cycle maintenance.
How much thought have you given to this idea?
I would caution you against taking up such a task without the proper training and conditioning.
I used to jog everyday and do stuff like that. So I thought I could do "anything" too. However, one day a friend came over and said "Hey wanna go on a biking trip...." The village that we were going to bike to was about 10 miles one way and 10 miles back. So all together the trip was going to be around 20 miles. In addition to that the back road we took had some huge hills as it was near some mountains.
So, I did it. I biked the 20 miles but when I got back I could barely stand and became pretty sick for the next couple days. Yeah 20 miles may not be a lot but when you are not in the right shape for it it can be a bitch. Even Lance Armstrong never tried doing the tour de france without any conditioning and training.
What is the moral of the story? Know your limits and plan ahead (condition yourself) first.
Sounds like an excellent idea. I would do it if not for my job :(
I'd love to if I was in the proper shape and new anything about repairing bicycles.
Though I'd really like to unicycle across the country, but I don't know if that's possible.
Get in proper shape lol. You're NEVER going to survive that trip if you're not in shape. I road 25 miles on a bike before in the rain. I thought I was dying when I got home.
I would love to be involved with something like this.
Cool, what kind of route are you taking?
Are you going east-west, or west-east? East-west is much more difficult than the other way, due to prevailing winds. Do you have any experience with long distance biking? I would suggest taking a shorter trip, at least 100 miles before you try to go all the way across country if you don't have the experience. If you can, I'd suggest making it even longer. You should be confident in your ability to ride 50-80 miles a day at least 5 days a week if you want to make it across the country in under 3 months (including the inevitable week or so that you will either choose to stop or have to because you broke something you aren't carrying). Be sure that you have the proper tools, spare parts and know how to replace almost every part on your bike. This means at least 4 spare inner tubes, at least two replacements for every screw on the bike, spare axles, and a spare chain.
If you don't think you will need all the spares, think again. During a 160 mile trip from my home in Burlington, Vt to Montreal and back, I went through 2 inner tubes 4 rack screws and a snapped an axle, and this was a 5 day trip (2 spent in the city).
When I'm riding daily, which I'm about to start next week when I get my bike out of storage, I can hit 30-40 miles a day comfortably just riding functionally around the city. I won't need to ride more than that a day.
However, I just talked to my MD yesterday and she said she won't sign off on me doing this yet cause she doesn't think I'm fit enough, so if anything happens to me and I have to go to the hospital my insurance won't cover anything at all.
So I'm postponing the trip to next summer 2011, but this whole next year will be devoted to training for it.
And Xaq, I'll be going from Buffalo, NY, southwest to LA, then north up Pacific Highway 1 to Washington and then east, probably through the southern edge of Canada up to Wisconsin, and then loop around the Great lakes back home. Sort of a sideways triangle.
But honestly I don't care about time. The 20s are the best time in ones life to take off and just live. So even if it takes me 5 months to just get to Vancouver, I'll be happy.
Here's a (really shitty, not to scale or exact location) map of the desired route.
http://i42.tinypic.com/1zcjt6o.jpg
The cities listed (and poorly located) are, in order of arrival...
Denver
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
Portland
Seattle
Vancouver
Chicago
Those are the cities that I have to go through. There's other ones that would be nice to go through, but those 7 are must-sees. I might try and get to Calgary, Saskatoon and Winnipeg too, if they don't add too many miles to the trip. But what's another 500 on top of 4,000?
I'm thinking maybe bike down to the "Official" DV meet up as a sort of practice run. That could be good.
Hahaha why?Quote:
Originally Posted by Bearsy
I want to take in as much culture as I can, also big cities are good places to do my internetting, photo uploading, all that good stuff.
what kind of bicycle are you using?
I wish you luck in this endeavour. I can't do it because of my bike's condition, college, money. Otherwise I'd really consider this as an awesome life experience.
I have a mountain bike hybrid with a hardtail, but I am going to be using a road bike for the trip.Quote:
Originally Posted by AirRick101
LOL! That made me laughed out loud IRL. xDQuote:
Originally Posted by Flashdance
Elis bro, how much money do you reckon you'd need for something like this and what spurred you on to complete such a feat?
I was gonna say...using a mountain bike for this endeavor would be one helluva challenge, lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bearsy
Epic idea, Elis. Remember: Don't make a plan unless you're prepared to carry it through. A lot of people like to talk about doing epic things, but they pussy out when the time comes to step up to the plate. That said, I'll keep in mind the dream of coming with you. Who knows, maybe it will become a reality.
If you do this, you are my hero.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bearsy
I don't really know what spurred it on. I was just sitting around one day and it popped into my head. I want to do it as a way to raise awareness for HAES. I'm a big guy but I'm as healthy as anyone else my age because I eat right and I'm more active than other people that are the same size as me. So I want to show people that you don't have to be skin and bones to be healthy as long as you live right.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff777
As for money, I'm gonna be saving up until next year and also I'll get some credit cards to pay for the rest of my way and worry about repaying it when I'm home. My mother said she'll back me financially as much as possible and I'm also going to try and get some sponsors from my area.
Oh I'm definitely gonna do this. I plan on it happening next year, but I may have to wait to 2012, but it will happen. By this November I hope to be taking a ride down the I-95 along the East coast to visit family in Georgia/Florida as a prequel to this trip.Quote:
Originally Posted by Black_Eagle
well IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIMEQuote:
Originally Posted by wikipedia
I'd love to do this, but even though I could be ready to go physically by then, I wouldn't be in the position to do something like that. Eventually, I'd really like to, but not that soon.
Have you done any practice at all yet though, Bearsy?
Also, credit cards = terrible idea.
Surely you can get enough money now, before the trip? You only need to pay for food and drink and repairs, with accommodation being optional. Just doing a basic job for a few months and you'll have enough.
American culture lol :lQuote:
I want to take in as much culture as I can
http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?47-Touring
Bike forum about long-distance touring.
There's plenty of culture in America.Quote:
Originally Posted by Xei
Man! This sounds like a very fun idea. Would be very adventurous, probably pretty stressful too. But think of all the memories you'll be able to reflect on later.
This is a candidate for my list of things to do before I die.
omfg lolQuote:
There's plenty of culture in America.
Xei, do you have a problem with the states?Quote:
Originally Posted by Xei
You never seem to have a good word for them.
If you're trying to make me feel stupid, it's not working. America is well known for being a melting pot of cultures from around the world. There are German, Russian, Asian, Spanish, Roman, Greek, and others that prominently effect different areas.
Roman??Quote:
Originally Posted by Noogah
AVE CAESAR
Etiam, exigo.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wikipedia
Not to side with Noogah in his general thickheadedness (perhaps connected to regular infusions of parafin), but the North American continent has considerable culture to offer, in terms of Old World artifacts we've kept safe through and beyond those continents' upheavals, and archaeological records we continue to unearth, crafts natively, ancestrally, and hybridally derived, musical traditions, foods, and not least of all sexy persons of every derivation.
We rival the UK as any continent rivals a string of islands.
Lol coming from the guy whos country is responsible for this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jgrCKhxE1sQuote:
Originally Posted by Xei
Hardy har.Quote:
Originally Posted by Taosaur
If liking DragonForce is wrong, I don't wanna be right.Quote:
Originally Posted by A Roxxor
If nothing else, America has dat American culture. You know what I mean. :P
Xei, you should go to NYC. Be shocked with culture.
GL, Bears.
You definitely need to try and get funding through a fundraiser, which credit cards aren't a good idea. Outside the DV forum, have you tried finding any local meet-ups in your general area for people that may be interested in the same thing? If you look around in your area or at online meet-up groups for cities near your area, you might be able to find some people. A buddy system would be good.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bearsy
I volunteered for the "MS Awareness" bike ride and was at the Mount Rushmore rest stop. Basically, every thirty miles or so, there was a make-shift rest stop that had about four volunteers with food, water, etc. One biker finally arrived and his tire immediately blew out. He didn't have a spare, which he may have already used it. Was kind of sad because he only had about five miles left to go to cross the finish line. He decided to not despair and just walk the rest of the way. Anyways, one thing you could see about doing is get the exact route you plan on taking. Find out where friends, family, or people from DV are staying along the way and if they would be willing to let you crash a night when you pass through. It would help mitigate costs. Considering this isn't a big event like "MS Awareness", it is more difficult to get assistance.
Go for it man! Be careful passing through the Midwest though
Yay! culture war! ¬¬
I personally think this is an awesome idea!
Ive always liked biking and liked the idea of cross country biking.
I got the chance this summer to do a very small tour with a friend of mine. We went from Mineapolis MN to Menomonie WI where i go to school. It was 118 miles total over two days (55 the first 65 the second)
I consider myself a strong biker. I don't own a car and bike to work everyday and pretty much everywhere else i need to go...and this trip was hard.
Some advise is that you can never plan too much.
what routes are you going to take(going through cities can take a lot of time)
Where are you going to stay(maybe you'll camp between major cities?)
how far are you going to go each day
what is the terrain like(dude going up hills with 30-40 pounds of stuff on your bike sucks)
where are you going to get food and water
how will you communicate with people in case of emergency (where will you recharge your cell phone)
Appropriate clothing
Hopefully this helped or at least sparked some questions for yourself.
This is a great idea! but too bad i dont live in NY...Im defintely up for it! And damn you'd better be in good physical shape.
£5 says he never does this.
This is a form of sponsorship Elis!
You're hitting up Denver? I doubt I will be able to bike across the country but if you want to spend a day in Denver I could buy you a dinner and show you the cool places, (not just touristy ones.) Just a thought, anyways. It's neat to meet up with DVers in RL.
I knew another guy who planned a super long trip partially on bike, bus, and foot, but ended up quitting. I knew yet another guy who wanted to walk to LA from Kansas or some shit, but never did. This happens all the time and it's not limited to long trips. People get it in their heads that they're going to do something epic like write a novel or become President or get super good at lucid dreaming, but then they don't put in the effort actually needed to gain the skills to make it happen, or they start and then quit because they don't have the spunk.Quote:
Originally Posted by Xei
Elis, if you're still thinking of doing this, you've absolutely, positively got to commit. Don't say you're gonna do something then not do it.
So I'm still planning this. My time frame was wayyyyy off, but this is still in the works. I've been getting myself in better shape and if I judge myself honestly I'm still a solid 2 years away from this, but like I said, it's still a goal of mine and I'm not giving up.
In the funding aspect that's been an issue, I've got a friend who is down with me 100% to come and has been pushing me to continue my journey to get healthier.
His uncle who lives in Las Vegas and is willing to actually pay for much of our trip in return for working at his lumber yard for a month or two when we get to Vegas.