Week before last (November 14th 2016) , Mike Lukk and I completed our first trial run - cycle / camp trip from The Woodlands to Huntsville State park and back. Our goal was simply one of learning and exploration. Total distance was about 70 miles up on day one and about 50 back on day two. We purposefully rode extra miles to simulate a typical 60_70 mile set of touring days.We carried most of the gear we would carry on a real tour: sleeping bag, tent, stove, cooking items, change of clothes, bike repair stuff, toiletries, air mattress, tools, and canned and freeze dried food and more.
Mike pulled his Burley trailer behind his mountain bike. I loaded my Randonee REI touring bike using a set of Topek panniers and rack. I originally planned to also pull a trailer but found out the night before we departed that the Burley attachment system would not fit my bike. I would need a $12 adapter if I intended to use it in the future. I'm guessing we both were pulling close to 40 Lbs. of gear each.
Temperature's were in the upper 80sf during the day and in the mid 50sf that night. We arrived there mid afternoon. We rode at tour pace, 12 - 15 mph. Both bikes performed well. Same for the trailer. And yes we learned a great deal. Some of those lessons learned are as follows:
- We are not going to be able to drink a couple of beers every day after the days ride is over. In fact it is detrimental as it gives you a nice lift and then your energy levels spiral downward.
- The better choice is going to be to drink some form of recovery drink like simple chocolate milk. And we should do this within an hour or so of arriving at camp. And if we do drink a beer or two we better buy it before we go into the park. We had to ride 10 miles round trip to find a store with beer. Not a wise use of our energy.
- We brought food with us. Stuff like A can of Campbell's Soup, Sardines, Oatmeal and freeze dried soup and noodles. Yet we were still hungry and pulled into a Burger King to eat something more substantial on both the up and the return trips. This going to take some getting used to out in the deserts and plains of America as there won't be a McDonalds or even a convenience store out in many of the rural areas we will be cycling thru.
- It's one thing to ride 70 miles. Quite another to ride that distance and then pitch your tent, and fix food, and take a shower and then go to sleep. It was dark at 6:00pm and we only used flashlights and head lamps but it seemed like time to sleep. Which resulted in waking up in the early morning hours and being unable to go back to sleep.
- My touring bike is not going to work for me. I hated the fact that my butt was killing me after only two days of riding. And not only that. My left shoulder ached. My wrists both ached. I'm guessing because of two broken wrists in High School. My feet were also hurting or should I say burning. And we didn't even climb a mountain pass.
- The stove I brought along worked great. The coffee brewing didn't work as well. I've since bought a French Press attachment for the stove pot that will work wonders to make two cups of coffee.
- The tent I purchased from REI in the spring of this year was not going to be strong enough for the winds we expect to encounter in the desert and plains of the US. So it was returned and replaced with a Quarter Dome 2 REI tent.
I cannot say enough about REI. Even though I had the bike hanging most of the time for about 9 months, REI did not hesitate to honor their one year full satisfaction guarantee. No questions were asked other then my reason which they documented and refunded the full amount.
On Friday November 25th while on our way back from having Thanksgiving in Kerrville, Gay and I stopped at Planetary Cycles on the SW side of Houston to look at a consignment Recumbent. A Bacchetta Corsa. Aluminum speed bike that I would reconfigure for touring. The bike was less than a year old and in perfect shape. New it would have cost $2400. We paid $1,000. About $300 less than the touring bike.
A new mountain bike crank set is on order. $150. And I will change out the rear cog and wheels. Saving all the parts for future use.
I took a 60 mile test ride on the Corsa on Saturday. While it was very different than my R84 Lighting, it didn't take long to get used to it.
So the plan now is for me to ride the Corsa pulling a Burley Treking trailer purchased from a friend in our bike group for $125. Both are in virtually perfect condition.
More soon
T10
