My first tour starts tomorrow, Help me make it through the first stroke

[thecorradokid24]

One down Wilson. More to come.

Wilson bikes to Brazil ?

[woodrowstar]

I have been trying to write a wonderful closing speech and decided to heck with that. Simply-

"Thank You"


I have to share this email, as I receive many like this from cyclist I have met on adventure, too. I find it wonderful, despite, being the guy using what he has and just "going that way" .... (i lost my thought)

"Wilson, It is so good to hear from you. I Don't know if I told you before but I learned so much from you. When I traveled N. Dakota, Minnesota, and part of Wisconsin by myself I decided to go off route many times and just follow my curiosity and interests. It made the adventure even better. You inspired me to listen to my gut. It made me confident even when at times it didn't work out, something unexpected happened and it was great. I would say to myself 'What would Wilson do' and then go with my instincts. I loved traveling with just a regular road map. Take care and we look forward to seeing Polo and you somewhere down the road.

Regards,
Pete and Mona"



I still have yet to shave or cut my hair. We will be riding back out to OC this weekend for H2O. See those of you who are going there.


POlo and some of his old friends


This wrestling went on for a long time.


We will be going back out West in Spring to ride the Great Divide Trail, South to North. Which ought to put us in the Northwest for Summer 2013. Until then, back to building and getting some club racing in.

/END....

responsibility is not an excuse

[Lwize]

Now that you're home, do you still feel compelled to camp out by the library?

[woodrowstar]

Now that you're home, do you still feel compelled to camp out by the library?

Haha, no- but I did notice all the sweet camping spots along the roadside.

This is the official FInish Line

[Lwize]

Since your new bike doesn't have the desired gearing for another trip, maybe have it bronzed.

[woodrowstar]

Nope. Already have HG61 with 36t purchased and still looking for a 18 or 22 tooth in 64 for the front. Only other thing is finding down tube shifters.

[Holden McNeil]

Nope. Already have HG61 with 36t purchased and still looking for a 18 or 22 tooth in 64 for the front. Only other thing is finding down tube shifters.

Sunrace makes 9spd indexed (rear) downtube shifters (Model SLR90, QBP Part# LD1248 - $30). Not bad but not exactly shimano quality. TruVativ makes a 22t inner ring for 9spd (QBP Part# CR2408 - $15) Any decent local bike shop should be able to order those parts using those numbers.

Nick

[Arsigi]

It's like you're talking a different language.

[VR6ix]

I bet your couch feels really weird after all that time in the saddle! cheers!

[woodrowstar]

Sunrace makes 9spd indexed (rear) downtube shifters (Model SLR90, QBP Part# LD1248 - $30). Not bad but not exactly shimano quality. TruVativ makes a 22t inner ring for 9spd (QBP Part# CR2408 - $15) Any decent local bike shop should be able to order those parts using those numbers.

Nick

Thanks.

I bet your couch feels really weird after all that time in the saddle! cheers!

So does riding in a car. Yesterday, I did nothing and my body is aching so bad because of it.


**For those who do not have FB, We are going to be taking the C&O canal trail on Thanksgiving morning to Pitts, then NY again. For the spring we will be doing the Divide Trail from Mexico to Canada.

[Serpent7]

Wilson sighting!!!

[woodrowstar]

HAHA

[yelloa3gti]

Black Jesus!!!!

[woodrowstar]

Black Jesus!!!!

haha. Wondered how long it would take for you guys to find me.

[synthsis]

Have you considered riding a completely different bike on one of your adventures? Something like an adult trike or one of those cool "utility bikes" that I see around these days.

[woodrowstar]

Yes I have. Kona makes a one. The only real issue is I already have a more then capable bike. I would still be at square one with gearing and personal preference in comfort. I am considering a Surly trailer as I still want to remove gear and blast around when we are in an area for extended time. Those bikes would be nightmare in an emergency, off road, narrow passages, and lead to picking up pointless items to carry.

[woodrowstar]

Getting ready to head out again. This time some changes (these bags are junk - do not buy them). I moved the weight up front for 2 reasons: Polo is getting a trailer and playing with balance.



A few days ago Polo dislocated his hip, and I could not get it to pop back in. This made me realize this time around I would not let him ride in the milk crate. Trailer it is. I had not realized how many trailers lack suspension or ground clearance. There are so many crap trailers with plastic/composite rim sets.

[synthsis]

Do you have a trailer already picked out? a budget? I'm more than happy to do some internet sleuthing for you to see what I can turn up.

[woodrowstar]

Looking at the BOB with suspension, it seems narrow and clears the ground well. Other then that I have search CL and found some animal specific ones but they are tall and wide for larger animals. The kid ones offer little support in the bottoms. If you have any ideas let me know. I wish Qdubs was here so we could just make one.

[synthsis]

cool cool. just a thought, what if you put a little solar panel on the top of the trailer so you could soak up some juice while you're out and keep your phone/camera charged up. It would add a little weight but might be nice to have.

[woodrowstar]

Keeping those items charged are not important to me.

[synthsis]

Keeping those items charged are not important to me.

that's a true man right there folks.

[leaftye]

I was about to ask if this was still on. I'm glad it is, but sorry to hear Polo isn't 100%.

[woodrowstar]

This is not, I am doing a second one.

[leaftye]

This is not, I am doing a second one.

C&O Canal? I'm jealous of the bike routes available on the east coast.

[woodrowstar]

Are you serious? Maybe on road, but definitely not off road adventure. This place is far from bicycle friendly in my opinion.

[leaftye]

Keep in mind that I'm new to this, and very unfamiliar with the east coast. I keep reading about rail to trail out there. Even if we wanted to adopt that fully out here, I can't see it gaining much traction since we never had as much rail. Of course you're right about off road routes. With all the open space out here, we're going to have a lot of dirt roads and bike trails, but connecting them into a long contiguous route with resources nearby would be difficult. That's off topic though. I just want to hear more about your next tour.

[woodrowstar]

I have already started and stopped and restarted my second adventure. I am having some connection issues to get pictures up. I am going to open a new thread when find a more solid source of Wi-Fi. The cold is screwing with my battery life run time in everything. A guy just hipped me to wrap the batteries first with tape or plastic to save the state. Lithium batteries suck in the cold for the record- My opinion.

[the brit]

I have already started and stopped and restarted my second adventure. I am having some connection issues to get pictures up. I am going to open a new thread when find a more solid source of Wi-Fi. The cold is screwing with my battery life run time in everything. A guy just hipped me to wrap the batteries first with tape or plastic to save the state. Lithium batteries suck in the cold for the record- My opinion.

I don't think you made a new thread? How's things going? Happy NY

[woodrowstar]

You are right, but I thought I did make a new thread. We never made it to New York again. Long story short .... Procrastination. I have been on other smaller adventures, as I ride 6-8 hours daily. It has been interesting to find the DMV area has connected numerous routes and made it possible to venture safer. Not only that, I now identify places that appeared just to be as more then so. We are to be leaving the 11th for Florida again (eff this snow that is up north), but some odd things have been happening since Christmas.

One major one which is being handled- I cracked "Ours". Polo and I went chasing that weak snow storm from a few days ago. During the return trip, I became cautious for one single bridge; despite, them all being iced over, and lost control of the bike DOWN GOES FRAISER!!!. Polo was tied in and covered, but I was sent sliding the opposite direction. The bike slammed on the ground. Had it not been for the crate, my rear derailluer would have been destroyed. The bottom bracket cracked across.

Before that happened, My front Lowboy Rack decided to snap and fall onto the front tire. Luckily, I was coming to a stop from going downhill. My bags were mounted, too. Funny thing, they no longer sale it.

After Florida the plan is to wait for melt up North to do New England. Really explore the New England States. I figure starting in May through PA for Vermont, NH, ME, CT, RI and MA. Hoping to get to Maine in July or so.

**The other odd item: I got a job. Not just one, but 3. A week ago I was just bsing around walking into places to make a few million for supplies, and I found out yesterday I got hired. I was only trying to show to a relative the excuse "No one is hiring" is just foolishness. Dilemma

[fiatjeepdriver]

I'm not sure if you are interested but I saw this job and thought it would be right up your alley.

http://www.trektravel.com/employment.php

Personally I'd love to do it but I don't think my life would let me.

[woodrowstar]

Alright here is the new mini adventure link Get SoWo or Swollen While Trying Leaving Polo behind, he gets to rode on luxury down with my SoMD family. DC to Helen, GA. Starts tomorrow. For anyone with Google, Latitude is working as well ... Email still "teamdarb"

[haenszel]

Alright here is the new mini adventure link Get SoWo or Swollen While Trying Leaving Polo behind, he gets to rode on luxury down with my SoMD family. DC to Helen, GA. Starts tomorrow. For anyone with Google, Latitude is working as well ... Email still "teamdarb"

See you next week!

[Quintin@USRT]

See you next week!

Quintin Callahan Likes This.

[woodrowstar]

Teamdarb official Pics and Vids Updated Sowo 2013 included.