Many of you have asked for more details about my upcoming ride/adventure/folly. So in the spirit of sharing with you, this post focuses on some route specifics, a little advice from prior riders and an overview of what I should expect per Adventure Cycling, the map service we will use.
Ok, first up is my detailed route by day which I have posted below. At each destination we will be staying at a hotel/motel. None of them are the Bates Motel, thankfully. (For those that are confused by this, google “Hitchcock’s Psycho”.) I will definitely be needing a peaceful shower.
Most hotels will have laundry which will be essential since we are limited by luggage weight. And clean riding gear is a must to prevent saddle sores, infections and the like, not to mention not offending fellow riders. At least not by smelling bad.
Looking at the schedule and the ascent and descent we will be taking on , I made the decision today to change my cassette from a 11-32 to an 11-34. (For you non-riders this has nothing to do with a music device. The cassette is the little set of teeth on the back wheel hub that allows you to change gears.)
The numbers 11-32 reference smallest gear to the largest in terms of the number of teeth on the cog. The more teeth the easier the gear is to turn. My front rings are 50-34. So that means when I climb in low gear 34-34 each time I turn the pedal the back gear turns once. Think of it like a “Granny” gear. Very easy to turn but very slow speed. But my bike shop guy said a “full figured” rider (Clydesdale)like me would appreciate the easier climbing gear. I’m sure I will.
The Necessity of a Place- 30 years at the Water’s Edge 