Shakedown Bicycle Ride

Reader Contribution by Rick Stiles
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Tom and I just completed a 3 day 192 mile shakedown ride designed to test our bicycles, our equipment, our bodies, and our resolve. Well, it certainly accomplished all three. If we’re not ready for our cross country ride at this point we never will be.

Day 1: rain, sleet, 41 degrees, and 2,715 feet of climbing in 42 miles. Day 2: more rain, 40 degree temperatures, and 2,079 feet of climbing in 58 miles. Day 3: fabulous blue sky, 70 degree sunny weather, and 2,362 feet of climbing in 92 miles. Note to self: when the sun is out remember to put on suntan lotion before I turn beet red.

We were fortunate to have so much adverse weather and strenuous road conditions. You learn the most when things are difficult: will something break, did we forget something, are we mentally prepared. Yes, nothing could be finer . . . than pedaling 104 pounds of bike and gear up a 17 mile, 2% grade at 5 mph . . .  in the morning.

Dwight Eisenhower once said, ‘Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.’ I can certainly attest to the ‘planning is everything’ part. The internet is a wonderful research tool; we received many helpful ideas from other bicycle riders. Everyone has their own opinions and experiences, and you have to sift through them to see what fits you.

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