D-day minus one

Less than twenty-four hours to go before we depart for Boston!

Deborah dropped me off at the hotel this morning, with my bike and two crossroads bags. I checked into my room and took my bike to the meeting room for inspection. No problems encountered with the bike - they installed a flag with my name on it. The flag will take some getting used to - I can't just throw my leg over the bar without getting the flag's pole stuck between my legs! It does make everyone easy to spot and identify on the road.

Yesterday, I rode to the hotel and met Jack, Bob, Tom, and Nancy for a ride up the coast to Santa Monica. Everyone wanted to see the infamous Venice Beach strand, with its street people. Before cell phones, this was a great place to hear people talking to themselves...common now. Southern California delived a beautiful sunny day for the out-of-towners. Normally, gloomy in May and June, yesterday was cloudless and warm.

This afternoon, we all gather for our initial briefing and tonight we dine together. Breakfast is at 5:30 am tomorrow morning before a scheduled 7:00 am departure for the Manhattan Beach Pier. Once there, some people will ceremoniously dip their rear wheels in the ocean (NOT MY WHEEL!). Lots of photo ops and then we are off, up a short hill and over the horizon...

Cousin Harry (aka three degrees of separation)

A couple of years ago, one of my bike buddies asked me if I was willing to sell one of my old bikes. His neighbor's English cousin was thinking about riding across the U.S. and wanted to buy a back-up bike. Cousin Harry was in town and came by the house to look at the bike, ultimately buying it. He asked me to keep it in my garage until he needed it. The following year, Harry had a knee operation and did not come to the States. Another year goes by and I still have Harry's bike in my rafters...

When the CrossRoads' roster for this year's ride was sent out, I saw Harry's name! Cousin Harry was coming on the same trip I was taking! It's a small world.

Harry got into town last weekend and today joined me for a short ride up the coast.

"It's about the bike"

Lance Armstrong wrote a best seller called, "It's Not About the Bike." If you read his book, you'll discover Lance's title is deceiving; mine is not.

My bicycle for this upcoming adventure called "XC09" is a 2008 Cannondale SuperSix 1. For those of you who don't spend weekends, holidays, and the odd evening in bike shops, the SuperSix has a carbon fiber frame. Without water bottles, seat pack, pump, spare spokes, bike computers, extention arms...the bike weighs in under fifteen pounds, very light. I'm afraid to weigh the bike fully loaded for the trip. Previously, I rode Aluminum Cannondale bikes; I much prefer the carbon fiber - it's stiff and responsive, without being a harsh ride.

Only four more days to departure.

Short time

Where has the time gone? It's only a week from tomorrow that the intrepid riders gather for bike inspections and orientation! I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Last Sunday, I met the other SoCal rider, Ira, for a training ride around Palos Verdes. It was good to put at least one face to a name. Since this was a training ride, we pushed ourselves. Ira's a young, strong rider and we had a great time. We stopped at the Manhattan Beach pier for a picture; this is where the fun begins. Where is everyone? Ira and I are ready to go. This week was the last hard week of training; I've started tapering off to my "normal" mileage in preparation for the "big ride."

Cast of Characters

There are twenty-six riders this year; not all of them are going all the way across the country. Median age is 58. The oldest rider is 73 and the youngest is 19. They are coming from all over the United States, one from Israel, and another from the U.K. States represented are: CA(5), FL(3), NJ(2), TX(2), VA(2), NV, MO, MI, NY, IL, LA, IN, TN, and OR.

The slump in the economy may have affected the size of the group. Past numbers of riders have been in the 34-40 range; with a large group of 60 in the year 2000. Having said that, there are a couple of riders who have said they can go because they were laid off from their jobs!

The route from LA to Boston

Only seventeen days until we leave on our adventure!

The map above shows our route, from L.A. to Boston. The ride will take seven weeks, including five rest days. We will average about eighty miles a day. The total distance is 3,415 miles.

Bike fitting

I’ve ridden a bicycle for years without getting a professional “fitting.” Big mistake!

It’s pretty typical to buy a bike at the local bike store, where the salesman nominally sets the seat height and makes a few adjustments before releasing you out the door.

Since I’m going to be spending long hours in the saddle, day after day, on our trek across the country, I made arrangements to have a fitting at one of our largest, local bike dealers. I’m glad I did.

Steve, the owner of the store and a trained professional fitter, took a variety of measurements of both the bicycle and me before putting me on the bike and video-taping my pedal motion. It seems I’ve got high arches and have been throwing my left knee outward on each rotation of the crank. Steve put some gel pads inside my bike shoes to correct the problem. He adjusted the position of my cleats, saddle and handlebars. All in all, it took more than an hour and I feel much better about my positioning on the bike.

My conditioning in preparation for the ride continues. I’ll be off the bike for a week when we go to Key West for a wedding. Only five weeks from this w/e. Our departure is getting close. Almost time to take the bike in for an overhaul.