StageHand
07-27-2005, 06:25 PM
Settle in folks, I hope you want to read.
One year ago, I knew that at the end of July I'd have a chance to ride to Sandusky with few logistical problems. With a 4 day family reunion, I'd have 6 days at my disposal to get there (and catch a ride home to DC with the family). With a year to plan, what can go wrong?
Six months ago, a local framebuilder was given a Bob Jackson frame, lugged 535 with pretty tight racing geometry, similar to--if not identical to--the geometry on the Jackson I already own. Not an ideal frame, but in capable hands, a little luck and a modest, but healthy budget, it can be converted to a touring frame. Canti-mounts, rack and fender mounts, brand new horizontal dropouts and a new head tube will make this a perfectly capable, if wobbly, touring bike. (Yeah, short wheelbase, and a high bottom bracket)
Three months ago, as it came time to prepare for the ride, my computer died, leaving me without the desired mapping software and internet access I would need to select appropriate roads, hills, motels, campsites, restaurants, bike shops, and whatever else I might need to find along the way. Also, since I hadn't had a job with internet access since Christmas, I had no way to purchase my desired parts (none of which had been really determined).
Problem solved! A month before the planned departure, a new computer arrives, and a bunch of cash departs. Now I can get really serious, yeah? Framebuilder has begun work in earnest, and should be done in a few weeks, just enough time to build the bike (sans paint), and shake it down before setting off for the North Coast.
Two weeks to go. No routes. Resources on the web are drying up. No parts. No frame. Do I ride 6 days, or 5? No problem. A combination of DeLorme Topo, with verification of street names provided by Mapquest, I start working backwards from Sandusky. Getting over rivers (Ohio, Monongahela, and Potomac are the biggest problems, with getting through Pennsylvania, where all useful roads run SW to NE, a close second. Progress on the route is good. Start picking parts, Cane Creek levers, 105 triple drivetrain with Silver down tube shifters, trusty Time ATAC pedals, familiar Flite saddle, might have to borrow wheels off the other bike, but that's fine. Everything's ready to be ordered, just need to check the progress of the frame.
Sorry, I won't be able to get it done. No frame. No loss. Nothing's been ordered. I'll just go superlight. Hotels only, toss a trunk bag on a clip on rack on the Jackson. It'll be fine. Adjust the route to make sure there are hotels. New tires, because Michelin Carbon 23's just aren't all that comfortable (but they don't suck). I've still got a week to get it together.
Ummmm, this isn't working. Every time I make progress with the map, a new problem with this turn comes up. I still haven't bought the three things I said I would buy (Really, should this be a problem?). I've got three days to go, and nothing's coming together, except that taking the W & OD gets me over a third of the way to Hancock, the first day's goal.
As if this isn't bad enough, with the stress of trip planning, the excitement of 5 solid days of riding, the lack of any real preparation (besides equipment, I haven't done a century in over a year, and I've never done 'em back to back, let alone 3-5 of them), all comes together with the side panel of a sedan and a nice patch of asphalt, and my vacation is extended by a day. With 8 stitches in my chin, a bruised knee, a sore wrist and a jaw that pops 3 times instead of 2, maybe I shouldn't go on this trip. It's too much. Too painful, too far, too high. 36 hours from my ETD, and I've got no maps, no gear and no clue.
Next episode: Sketchmaster Kev and the Supersquirrel
One year ago, I knew that at the end of July I'd have a chance to ride to Sandusky with few logistical problems. With a 4 day family reunion, I'd have 6 days at my disposal to get there (and catch a ride home to DC with the family). With a year to plan, what can go wrong?
Six months ago, a local framebuilder was given a Bob Jackson frame, lugged 535 with pretty tight racing geometry, similar to--if not identical to--the geometry on the Jackson I already own. Not an ideal frame, but in capable hands, a little luck and a modest, but healthy budget, it can be converted to a touring frame. Canti-mounts, rack and fender mounts, brand new horizontal dropouts and a new head tube will make this a perfectly capable, if wobbly, touring bike. (Yeah, short wheelbase, and a high bottom bracket)
Three months ago, as it came time to prepare for the ride, my computer died, leaving me without the desired mapping software and internet access I would need to select appropriate roads, hills, motels, campsites, restaurants, bike shops, and whatever else I might need to find along the way. Also, since I hadn't had a job with internet access since Christmas, I had no way to purchase my desired parts (none of which had been really determined).
Problem solved! A month before the planned departure, a new computer arrives, and a bunch of cash departs. Now I can get really serious, yeah? Framebuilder has begun work in earnest, and should be done in a few weeks, just enough time to build the bike (sans paint), and shake it down before setting off for the North Coast.
Two weeks to go. No routes. Resources on the web are drying up. No parts. No frame. Do I ride 6 days, or 5? No problem. A combination of DeLorme Topo, with verification of street names provided by Mapquest, I start working backwards from Sandusky. Getting over rivers (Ohio, Monongahela, and Potomac are the biggest problems, with getting through Pennsylvania, where all useful roads run SW to NE, a close second. Progress on the route is good. Start picking parts, Cane Creek levers, 105 triple drivetrain with Silver down tube shifters, trusty Time ATAC pedals, familiar Flite saddle, might have to borrow wheels off the other bike, but that's fine. Everything's ready to be ordered, just need to check the progress of the frame.
Sorry, I won't be able to get it done. No frame. No loss. Nothing's been ordered. I'll just go superlight. Hotels only, toss a trunk bag on a clip on rack on the Jackson. It'll be fine. Adjust the route to make sure there are hotels. New tires, because Michelin Carbon 23's just aren't all that comfortable (but they don't suck). I've still got a week to get it together.
Ummmm, this isn't working. Every time I make progress with the map, a new problem with this turn comes up. I still haven't bought the three things I said I would buy (Really, should this be a problem?). I've got three days to go, and nothing's coming together, except that taking the W & OD gets me over a third of the way to Hancock, the first day's goal.
As if this isn't bad enough, with the stress of trip planning, the excitement of 5 solid days of riding, the lack of any real preparation (besides equipment, I haven't done a century in over a year, and I've never done 'em back to back, let alone 3-5 of them), all comes together with the side panel of a sedan and a nice patch of asphalt, and my vacation is extended by a day. With 8 stitches in my chin, a bruised knee, a sore wrist and a jaw that pops 3 times instead of 2, maybe I shouldn't go on this trip. It's too much. Too painful, too far, too high. 36 hours from my ETD, and I've got no maps, no gear and no clue.
Next episode: Sketchmaster Kev and the Supersquirrel