More training still
Apr 05,2024 13:38
My training continues. I can begin to tell the difference: My rides are longer, I'm not as sore the next day, and (drum roll) I actually passed some riders on the last trip! I don't have an explicit goal except to add miles each week if possible, and more hills. Tomorrow I'll add a second pannier to gradually add weight. I have 2 rear flashers, a forward throbbing white light and am beginning to get the hang of the Garmin Edge 1040 Solar. The hill climbing feature with its attempt to forecast steepness and encourage you while climbing isn't effective: It is off on when climbs start and end, and gets in the way of other displays while you are gradually climbing. I turned it off for minor climbs.
On Saturday April 6 I rode to Edmonds, took the ferry to Kingston, then biked to Bainbridge for the ferry to Seattle and then biked home. I rode with panniers weight about what I'll use on the trip. This is a very scenic trip, with 2 ferry rides connected by the Interurban Trail in Seattle and busy Kitsap County roads. Don't miss the chocolate chip cookies at Sauce Nouvelle in Winslow!
My hope is that the North Cascades Highway will be open in mid-April so that I can try riding up to Washington Pass with full pannier loads, and perhaps even ride down below Rainy Pass then back to Mazama. *If* I can pull this off, it will be a good sign that I''ll be ready for that big day early in the trip. Of course, on the real journey I'll have been biking 50 miles a day for 4 days, and will continue biking for months so I'm counting on conditioning as I go.
Our youngest daughter Molly is planning to join me for the Washington state part of the trip and perhaps Jenny too, but this means using precious vacation days. Amy will join up with me intermittently through the ride.
I sold my Salsa Vaya on Craigslist to someone who will enjoy it as I did. If it had a granny gear I would have used it, but in 2011 they didn't include one. So now I'm down to the Surly Disk Trekker, my 34 y.o. Harborview commuter bike, and 2 Bromptons which seems like will do for the foreseeable future!
On Saturday April 6 I rode to Edmonds, took the ferry to Kingston, then biked to Bainbridge for the ferry to Seattle and then biked home. I rode with panniers weight about what I'll use on the trip. This is a very scenic trip, with 2 ferry rides connected by the Interurban Trail in Seattle and busy Kitsap County roads. Don't miss the chocolate chip cookies at Sauce Nouvelle in Winslow!
My hope is that the North Cascades Highway will be open in mid-April so that I can try riding up to Washington Pass with full pannier loads, and perhaps even ride down below Rainy Pass then back to Mazama. *If* I can pull this off, it will be a good sign that I''ll be ready for that big day early in the trip. Of course, on the real journey I'll have been biking 50 miles a day for 4 days, and will continue biking for months so I'm counting on conditioning as I go.
Our youngest daughter Molly is planning to join me for the Washington state part of the trip and perhaps Jenny too, but this means using precious vacation days. Amy will join up with me intermittently through the ride.
I sold my Salsa Vaya on Craigslist to someone who will enjoy it as I did. If it had a granny gear I would have used it, but in 2011 they didn't include one. So now I'm down to the Surly Disk Trekker, my 34 y.o. Harborview commuter bike, and 2 Bromptons which seems like will do for the foreseeable future!
