Mette and Stephen and the route across AmericaIn January Stephen purchased a Tacx cycle trainer. It has helped us prepare for the physical onslaught that cycling the TransAm will be. Mette has spent 20 mins. 5 mornings a week on the Tacx. Stephen has spent less time on the Tacx after twice puncturing the back tyre - which doesn't even touch the ground! Is it an omen??? Pretty much every weekend has been spent cycling either longer trips (Cambridge and back: 75 miles) or shorter trips of around 35 miles. The question remains whether the preparation has been good enough. We will find out when we are battling the hills of the Blue Ridge and the dreaded Ozarks.
Mette's first ride on the Tacx Kristy kindly sent us the US map which we have used to mark out the TransAm route. We are using Adventure Cycling's recommended TransAm route. It is 4,287 miles long and most cyclists take from 50 to 80 days to complete it. Our intention is to average 75 miles per day and complete it in 60 days. That may be ambitious. Much will hinge on our fitness and the weather and also if we are enjoying it! After all, this trip is meant to be fun. The other limiting factor is the 90 days that our US visa will allow us to stay. We have no intentions of outstaying our welcome!
Jon has recommended that we check out the Farmer's Almanac for long term US weather forecasts. We think we have picked a good summer for the TransAm. It is meant to be cool and dry. Although we suspect that British cool and Kansas cool may be quite different. According to the BBC weather forecast temperatures are set to reach 30c in Richmond next week. Not sure that classifies as cool in our books.
5 comments:
Bon Voyage
Mette,
Awesome! I'm so excited that you are finally embarking on the voyage. Best of luck and I can't wait to hear about it....
-Jill (formerly of InfoTrends)
Lets hope that the farmer's almanac is right - today there is rain storm across the East coast.
But should be ok until you plan to hit the road ;-)
Have a great trip
Mette, I suppose today is the wishful day when the journey begins... It's very quiet and empty what you left behind at the office but since we all agree this is for a very good reason - all we are left to do is pass by your desk, smile and imagine you either sweating from the cycling effort or shouting from happiness of freedom.
Enjoy, watch the passing cars/tracks and send us some seeds of joy and adventure stories when you can (-; Efrat
Great to see the first pictures. Hope the weather improves. If "The T Shirt" made the journey with you it would be good to see a photo (before it gets too sweaty). Let's hope that dog on the first day was the only one you encounter.
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