On Skunks and Other Stinkers

Perhaps it was the skunk that I almost hit about a half mile from the house that got me moving a little faster than “Half Fast,” but my morning commute pace was a little quicker today. I barely saw him walking on the sidewalk at Osuna Park. It is a pitch dark section of the road. Maybe they should require skunks to wear blinkies or reflective vests? Fortunately, I was in the bike lane, which is about 8-10 feet out from the curb. Sometimes I ride closer to the curb, because much too often vehicles cross into the brightly striped bike lane. In any case, my pace was definitely faster; even with my commuter load.

So, at about 9 miles into my morning ride when I turned from the Passeo Del Norte trail onto the Bosque Trail, and saw the bike headlight in my helmet mirror, I was ready for the chase. Normally I plod along at 14-15 mph. Today I decided to make my pursuer work a little. I know 17 mph does not sound very impressive, but with a 20 pound load on a 35 pound bike it is respectable. I have cruised at 19-20 mph under similar conditions, but I am personally up a few pounds from being on the winter feed lot too long.

He chased me for about 5 miles, but then I had to slow down to make an almost 180 degree turn to get off the trail at the Montano bridge. I could see him in my helmet mirror furiously closing the gap as I decelerated. I signaled vigorously to indicate that I was peeling off the main route. Nevertheless, I was nearly mowed down. With just two people on the trail you might think that it would be easy to get along. So, to summarize my morning commute: I almost hit a skunk at the beginning of my ride, and almost got hit by a stinker near the end.

Many people complain about bicyclists. My hypothesis is that they learn to drive first, and then they start riding a bike. The justification for my hypothesis is that many cyclists ride the way most people drive! We have become obsessed with speed and focused on ourselves. That is the sorry state of our civilization. It is too easy to get drawn into that state of mind, because that is what we call “normal.” Trying to change other people’s attitudes is like spitting into the wind. At the same time consciously changing my own frame of mind appears to be my life’s project.

It was nice to push my aerobic limits this morning. It is starting to be warm enough that sweating is okay. There is still a risk of hypothermia even at 50 degrees, but as long as I do not have an improbable major mechanical failure, then I can be out of the elements in less than 10 minutes. Besides, I can always doff my wet-with-sweat Superman outfit, and don my Clark Kent work clothes.

Today I rode about “Half Fast.”

What's Your "Trail Name?"

On the Appalachian Trail (AT) most hikers are either given or somehow adopt a trail name that says something about their style. Usually they use this moniker to sign in and leave comments in the various logbooks at huts, shelters, and at some post offices. In this way trail lore is passed from one hiker to the other along the AT. I am unaware as to whether this same phenomenon occurs along other long distance trails such as the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) or the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). For sure, it does not happen along the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR), except at the Pie Town, New Mexico post office. There may be other places along the GDMBR where logbooks of sojouners are kept, but I am unaware of where they are located.

I am proposing to try to start a new GDMBR tradition. Earlier this year Chuck Clark, who rode the GDMBR with Willy Vancrey in 2007, suggested by email that he might try to set up a WIKI for GDMBR riders to keep current with conditions. A WIKI is an Internet version of an open logbook (think of Wikipedia). I basically like the idea, but I am also a little concerned with the safety issues for solo riders. Chris Turner mentions his concern for safety as a solo rider on the GDMBR in his blog .

Along these same lines, I have thought about a trail name for my GDMBR tour for some time. I do not remember when I adopted the moniker "BikerBob." I think it was when I was writing a review on some expensive, but poorly made gloves. BikerBob was the first nickname that was not already taken, and it was just for a product review. The product review must have been somehow Google related, because when I signed up to start a blog, Google fed me this nickname as my login ID. It has worked fine for my purpose. As I think about a trail name for the GDMBR BikerBob would still be fine, but it does not really capture my style. In fact, the quintessence of a good trail name is that people who have never met you would recognize you from a distance without a word being spoken. It is kind of like a Native American name.

I typically ride with a good load on my bike. My base miles are from commuting and I do not change my riding style much when I go on club rides. When I do century rides I do pull a lighter bike out of the rafters, but given my druthers I would ride my old lugged chromoly steel bike everywhere. I have ridden it for 34 years, including touring so it is basically an extension of my body. Unfortunately, in part based on Ron Faul's experience I think the GDMBR would do me and my "bluebird" in. So, I have purchased a full suspension Trek specifically for this tour. It is also a heavy duty bike.

Also, another of my characteristics is that I shudder when I read blogs of younger and older riders who have ridden the GDMBR without a stove. I have never eaten much fast food in my life. By appearance most people think that I am at least 10 years younger than my actual age. In fact, health and lifestyle surveys (i.e., RealAge) rate me as 11 years younger than my actually age. I will write a lot more on my GDMBR nutrition plan in other posts. I especially remain concerned about the 250 miles from Silver City to Grants (nobo) or Grants to Silver City (sobo), because there is no place to resupply in between.

So, either you ride like an Apache warrior for 2 to 3 days, or you slow down and pack more food on board like a teamster. If you cut it close in order to increase your speed, and you have an issue, then you could end up in a desperate condition. Hopefully someone will come along and help you, but I would hate to count on it. Extra gear and supplies buy you time if you get sick, injured, weather/fire road conditions, or breakdown. It also slows you down.

So, on this basis, I am thinking that the trail name I might adopt is: "Half Fast." I am not fast, and I am not really slow. I am just “Half Fast!” I am still thinking about this for a trail name even though the tradition does not even exist yet.

The Lobster Mitt Saga

Riding home on the Bosque Trail

The early morning temperatures are finally staying consistently in the upper twenties and lower thirties after about six weeks of teens to lower twenties. I have figured out how to dress for the upper twenties and lower thirties, but I have not succeeded with the teens and lower twenties. I expected it to mellow out a lot sooner than it did this winter. I think everyone here has had the same struggle, because the trails and paths have been relatively deserted. The early morning walking, jogging, running, and biking population on the Bosque Trail along the Rio Grande is just starting to increase.

Yesterday on my way home I got a picture of a red tail hawk. This morning I had two separate flocks of geese pass right overhead on my commute. By way of contrast, I could not help, but stop to take a couple of pictures of the motor vehicle commuters. When I bicycle I arrive at work totally refreshed and ready to dive into my day. When I drive, I never have that sense of calm, peace, and energy first thing in the morning.

Geese feeding in a field along the Bosque Trail

Part of my morning bike commute costume is a pair of lobster mitts. Combined with a pair of thin silk liners my hands stay functionally warm. In other words, I can use my brakes! At o'dark thirty in the morning I do not shift very much, but if I want to I can with my lobster mitts. In the afternoon on my rebound commute I pack my lobster mitts and use regular biking gloves. Typically, I unpack and stow my gear as soon as I get home. I am very organized that way. At five-thirty in the morning you do not want anything to be out of place. So, I set myself up as soon as I get home each day. For some strange reason I took my lobster mitts into the house. Usually I store them on a shelf near my helmet. Somewhere between the front door and the bedroom I dropped one of my lobster mitts. I realized it immediately and retraced my steps within seconds. However, there was no lobster mitt to be found.

Can you see the posted bike route sign?

Notice how far back the cross walk is from the intersection. How often do you think vehicles stop in the cross walk?

Right hook, left hook, red light; the cross walk signal means nothing at this intersection. I have almost been killed here more than once.

Although I was fairly certain that I brought two lobster mitts into the house, only one was to be found. These are the only gloves that have ever kept my hands semi-warm in the wee hours of the morning. I felt a little panicky as I retraced my steps again, but the other glove was clearly gone. It seemed like it vanished. Totally perplexed, I thought that I must have dropped it about four and a half miles back where I was taking some photos of the commuter traffic. I have three particularly dangerous intersections that I have to cross on my afternoon commute. I have nearly been killed several times and I have gotten no help or sympathy from either the police or the city traffic engineers.

There is an underlying assumption that if you commute on a bicycle then you are either poor and/or stupid. Another assumption is that all cyclists disobey the traffic signals anyway. I have been called some amazing things as I have tried to legally cross these intersections using the crosswalk signals and crosswalks as a pedestrian.

I had a guy roll down his window right here one day and tell me that I was a "Worthless piece of s__t." I was crossing as a pedestrian with the signal and he totally blocked my path with his car. Since our relationship was already bad I told him to move his f____ car back out of the crosswalk. After a brief stare down he backed up out of my way. I called the police, but the response was that "there is always two sides to every story and an officier didn't see it." They never do, and plenty go through this intersection too.



My latest strategy has been to document with photos the aggressive behaviors and terribly unsafe conditions. So it was there, four and a half miles from home, that I thought that perhaps I dropped one of my lobster mitts when I was photographing the traffic. I hopped on my mountain bike and pedaled on down there. Unfortunately the only thing I found was an exponential increase in the volume of the commuter traffic. The lobster mitt was not there. Somewhat despondent, I pushed hard to get back up the hill to home before sunset.

Bosque Trail or Montano. Choose your poison!

Even more despondent, despite the extra endorphin release, I parked my bike in the garage and went back in the house. There on the kitchen counter was a pair of lobster mitts! Apparently, I dropped one in the hall on my way in. Roscoe, our Boston Terrier/Terrorist, snatched the prize and very quickly hid it. After I left he jumped on our bed to claim the other one, but my wife caught him in the act. She put it on the bureau and went on with what she was doing. A few minutes later he showed up with the lobster mitt again? Perplexed as to how he could get it off the bureau, she investigated. However, the one she had put on the bureau was still there, and this was the missing one! Thus the mystery was solved, and the bonus was the extra "quality miles" on my mountain bike. What more could I want? Life is good again.

I have complained to the city many times. Finally a traffic engineer called me regarding one situation and told me that my estate could sue. That pretty much sums up the real attitude towards cyclists.

Vayan con Dios

Mind over Matter

If you don't mind, then it doesn't matter!

Conspicuously missing from these posts is much mention of the progress of my training. I discussed it briefly a couple of times and then dropped the subject. Although time on the bike is very important to condition the body to the physical rigors of the trail, time spent conditioning the mind is at least as important. Regardless of the pace, in any endurance activity the mind is often the first thing to give way. When that happens it does not hardly matter whether your body is trained up for the task.

That is not to say that I am ignoring my physical training. I am an endorphin junkie. My body demands a vigorous workout. I typically ride about 150 miles per week on an old steel chromoly bike with heavy wheels, 35 mm tires, heavy tubes with lots of sealant, and carrying a moderate load of about 20 pounds. There are people who ride a lot more miles than I do, but that will not necessarily prepare them for the rigors of the GDMBR, because they ride lightweight bikes, with lightweight wheels and tires, and no loads. You do not train for a Clydesdale event like race horse. I am doing a tour, not a race. My priorities are very different than those of a racer.


I know that the New Mexico section is particularly challenging from a logistics perspective. If your mindset is geared toward traveling at a race pace, then that is exactly what you must do. However, if you have given yourself permission to go slower, then that is the type of training you must do to succeed. Most people have a difficult time giving themselves permission to slow down and travel less distance each day. They interpret that as "failure" or "inadequate." Also, if you slow down, then you have to carry more food in New Mexico. That means your training has to include carrying heavier loads. Heavier loads in turn mean spinning in higher gears, which means a slower pace. There are only so many hours in a day, and if you are sniffing out water as you go, then that is going to take significant amounts of time too.

What does this all look like for the New Mexico section northbound in early summer? I am figuring 2 1/2 to 3 days from Antelope Wells to Silver City. Then if the roads are not muddy it will take another 5 to 6 days to ride to Grants on the main route. Using the main route from Grants to Cuba will be another 2 1/2 to 3 days. From Cuba to Abiquiu is at least 2 days and from Abiquiu to Horca, Colorado is at least 3 days of hard riding. So, with at least one full rest day in Silver City and another one in Grants we are looking at about 2 1/2 weeks to do the New Mexico section. Only counting actual riding days, that calculates to about 45 miles per day. Under the conditions, that may be a little ambitious for the start of the trip.

There is little point in pushing northward too fast, too soon. First, the risk of injury goes up exponentially; especially early in the trip. Second, why not take time to meet some people, take some pictures, and enjoy the ride? Third, if we get to the San Juans Mountains in southern Colorado too soon, the passes will still be snow packed and impassible.

Is It Still Winter?

Another beautiful New Mexico winter sunset!

When I visit places without a Big Sky I always feel like my style has been cramped. Even with the Sandia Mountains rising another 5000 feet at my front door I never feel closed in. That closed in feeling is something I might not tolerate so well on the Appalachian Trail, but for now it is not a concern. Partly as a distraction to keep my mind from feeling closed in by the wintry weather, and partly as genuine plan, I am already starting to organize myself for riding Adventure Cycling Association's (ACA) Underground Railroad Route within a year or two. I am sure that after the GDMBR, road bike touring will seem less daunting.

Psychologically, I think that this can be the toughest time of the year to be preparing for bike touring. It seems to me and others who have lived in New Mexico for a while that this winter has been particularly cold in central New Mexico. Usually during this time of the year we get a week or two of cold weather in the high teens and low 20's followed by plenty of pleasant warmer days in the 40's and 50's. It is tough to get motivated to get out of the winter feed lot. Even my bike commuting has suffered this winter.

On the other hand, it is best not to be obsessive-compulsive about physical training, because a few extra pounds at the beginning of a long tour are actually a good thing, as long as the aerobic fitness has not suffered. It is much better to be tapping into body fat for energy, than to be cannibalizing lean muscle or body organs. For me the big losses this winter are the endorphin highs. I just do not get my endorphin "fix" exercising inside. Fortunately, the Arica Psychocalisthenics makes me feel terrific and very positive, but it is still not quite the same as the endorphin high to which I am accustomed and probably addicted.

The really good news is that when the back roads and trails firm up enough to ride again, my mountain bike is ready to roll. Today I broke in the brake pads on my new Avid BB7s with the Texas-sized rotors. I think I gained more than 20-30% braking power, because I was skidding on the pavement. I am going to have to be very careful to not tear up the trails or do any endo's. The new mechanical disc brakes have good modulation, but to keep them from glazing up I was intentionally locking them up a bunch of times in order to break them in. This seasons the brake pads. It is an essential procedure on organic pads and probably not necessary on sinstered pads. I did not pull them out to see what came with the calipers. In either case I wanted to see how they handled, and I was impressed.

Other ways that I have kept up my GDMBR touring attitude this winter has been by surfing other blogs. In particular, I have been following endurance bicycle racers. The Iditarod Invitational started this afternoon. Believe it or not, the Iditarod races include some extreme winter endurance cyclists! They use mammoth tires to float on the snow. It is with much excitement, mixed with a heaping helping of fear for their safety, that wish them all well.

Before we know it the Great Divide Race and the Tour Divide will be in progress. I have been listening to the pounding of the war drums, the incessant chest thumping, and Tarzan-like calls that has kept the forums and blogs alive this winter. I cannot wait to briefly meet some of the racers as I mosey along the GDMBR northbound and they come screaming by southbound.

These are some of the thoughts and activities that keep me motivated to stay focused on riding the Great Divide even on the most dreary winter's day.

Bits and Pieces

I am just recovering from the flu, so my physical training suffered a set back this week. I did muster enough energy to work on my bike so here is the update on my GDMBR equipment preparations for this past week. I received an offer for some free suspension bearings so I disassembled the rear suspension again in order to get the part numbers on the bearings. On another front, an order for some Phil Wood bottom bracket bearings came from another company. Unfortunately, to my surprise, I only received one Phil Wood bottom bracket bearing and one dust cover came in the order. I called the company to complain that their advertising seemed somewhat unclear, because they showed a pair of bottom bracket bearings in the advertisement, and the description for the dust covers clearly stated “pr,” which most people would interpret to mean “pair.” They honored my complaint. So, the other bearing and dust cover will be arriving in a couple of weeks. That means I will have to pull the crank and outboard cups to press out the old bearings and install the Phil Wood bearings.

Now all the suspension bearings have been inspected and lubed twice. The bolts were replaced and new backup bolts ordered. I have not received a reply from Trek about the red loctite smothered on the threads, but at $6 per little bolt I am not pleased. My LBS denied that they built that part of the bike, and they were happy to order more. I consider it just compensation for all the good tips and advice I have received from them. On that basis, I really do not want to complain too much.

This week I also removed the Hayes hydraulic brakes and replaced them with Avid BB7s: 203mm on the front and 185mm on the rear. I liked the hydraulics, but if I have a problem on the trip, then it might be very difficult to service them. Plus, hydraulic brakes have been known to fade on long descents with a full load. That is not a pleasant thought! The downhill size rotors may be overkill, but time will tell. I should gain about a 25-30% braking advantage. Of course there is a slight weight penalty to be paid for that advantage.

I disassembled, cleaned, inspected, lubed, and reassembled my front wheel hub. It looked good, but it was time to service it. I still need to get after the rear wheel hub and the freehub, but I have plenty of time to get that done before the trip. The only real “black box” I have bugging me is the front suspension. I really wish I understood it better. I have a rough idea about how it works and how it is put together, but I would love to learn how to service it myself. Officially the trip is about 2700 miles, but it will probably be closer to 3000 miles by the time all is said and done. I suspect a little service (in addition to the daily maintenance) on the bike at least every 1000 miles would be smart.

I have decided to experiment with the Stan’s No-Tube system. I have an extra set of Sun Rhino Lite wheels I can play with to see what kind of reliability I get from the tubeless system. I have a pair of Schwalbe Marathon XR tires (26 x 2.25) that I am anxious to try with the Stan’s No-Tube system. I heard that the Stan’s sealant does not work well in the hot weather (i.e., desert). I do not know if that is completely true. I consider my source reliable, but I do not know all the facts behind the statement. If the weather is favorable, then I am planning one more shakedown during the last week of March. Hopefully, I can get down south and do some desert riding with this setup. It is definitely time to get off the winter fed lot and get some serious hours in the saddle. The bike commuting gives me good base miles, but there is nothing like hours on the bike to train for touring.

I am also seriously considering using some gear bags by Eric Parsons of Epic Design (http://epicdesigns-ak.blogspot.com/) in Alaska. He is a highly experienced bike adventurer, and has outfitted many including Jill Homer (http://arcticglass.blogspot.com/) with some pretty sharp looking bags that hang in the bike frame triangle, off the seat post, and on the handlebars. I would like to dump the BOB trailer by the time I get to Colorado, because the resupply and water logistics become significantly easier once we finish the New Mexico section. Eric is super busy with the Iditarod events right now, which Jill Homer is participating in. So, I do not expect to hear back from him for at least a couple of weeks.

I have not received the rims or the hub to build another wheel for the BOB trailer yet. I have the spokes, and I expect the other parts by the end of next week. The BOB trailer people responded to my emailed and told me I could order any piece to the BOB, but I would have to do through a dealer. The only local dealer is REI, and they did not do a great job putting the trailer together originally. So, I am moderately disinclined to go back for more bad service. Josh Lipton from Flagstaff sells whole wheels on the Internet. I guess the bottom line is that I am not too impressed with the design of the wheel to begin with. Let see if I can build a better one myself. The clearance between the Phil Wood front KISS-Off hub flanges and the stays on the BOB is tight. Hopefully, my custom wheel will fit. If it does not fit, then I will use the KISS-Off hub to build a front wheel for my old cromoly lugged steel commuter bike. Nothing will go to waste.

Know Thy Bike

Yesterday was the first really nice day on a weekend in a couple of months. I should have been riding, but I could tell I was starting to fight a sinus infection. So, I sat out on the driveway in the sun, and continued to tear down my bike to clean, inspect and lube it. I have come a long way from my first “Frankenbike,” which my dad helped me build from junkyard parts about 50 years ago. For one thing, one silly part on my Trek Fuel EX7 probably costs as much as my whole Frankenbike did back then. On the other hand, the jumps and dirt courses we use to ride back then on those old steel bombers would not even make a modern mountain bike flinch.

What has not changed is the same pain staking attention to detail that I give to my modern mountain goat bike compared with my first Frankenbike. It is like painting the walls inside your house; it makes you feel like really own it. Tearing down and rebuilding a bike is empowering. Of course, it is slightly unfortunate, but no longer surprising to me, when I inevitably find all the issues that were included in the original build up.

Yesterday I discovered that whoever put the suspension bolts in, dipped them in red Loctite (or red epoxy)! The fear I had that the suspension bolts could work themselves loose was completely eliminated. My first hint of pending trouble was the deep gouge the 5 mm Allen wrench was making in the palm of my hand as it flexed and as I grunted to loosen and remove them. Of the four bolts, I only got one out without resorting to using Vicegrips tightly clamped on the heads. I never could have removed them on the trail. I suppose in the day of disposable bikes, the liability of them coming loose out weighs the practicality of being able to service the bearings.

Even though I had already purchased replacement suspension bolts, I was very worried that the old ones would break off before I could remove them. It was unbelievable how hard it was to remove them. The good news is that they are exceptionally stout, and eventually I got them all out without any bruised, broken, or bloody knuckles. My dad taught me well. Back then rust would have been the culprit. We would have drenched the rusty parts with Liquid Wrench, waited a half hour and tried again. If that did not work, then we would use an impact driver and eventually we might burn the rust out with a propane torch. As a last resort we would have gone back the bike shop junk pile to rummage for something with a little less “down on the farm” quality.

None of those old fashion, “down on the farm” options are available with the new equipment. I was concerned that the steel bolts had seized up in the threads, but it turned out to be totally a function of the red epoxy-like stuff that completely covered the threads. (Hey guys, one or two drops would have been sufficient!) Three out of the four bearings were okay, but definitely in need of some Slick Honey. The fourth one felt slightly gritty. I massaged some Phil Wood Tenacious Oil into it and it responded well. I put it all back together without the “epoxy,” and took it for a spin. I rode off an 8 inch curb several times and got it dialed in.

I was thinking of going scouting and camping this weekend, but a late week storm dumped rain and snow exactly where I wanted to explore. In preparation for when I do actually get out again, I decided to pull the wheel off my BOB trailer. The good news is that the bearings are sealed. The bad news is that they felt a little gritty and there was no way to replace them without an arbor press. My son-in-law has an arbor press, but I asked myself whether I really want to take a piece of equipment out on the GDMBR that is unserviceable? You already know my answer; let me tell you about my solution. On eBay I found a 16 inch Velocity Aeroheat 305 rim, a Phil Wood FSA Kiss front hub, and some DT Swiss 2.0 Champion spokes. Instead of a radial spoke pattern I am hoping to lace it with a two cross pattern. I say “hoping” because it is already a challenge to get the tire pump head on the value stem with a 30 spoke radial pattern. I do not know for sure whether a 32 spoke two cross pattern will work because of this potential issue. Theoretically it should not be any more difficult than the radial pattern.

As the parts come in, and I get the wheel built, I will keep you posted. Basically I want a wheel back there that I do not have to babysit. I do not want to have to think about it, or hear from it. Just roll along little wheel, that is all that I ask you to do - just roll baby roll. When the trailer arrived the spokes were quite loose. It should have been built better than that from the get-go, and the bearing cartridges need to be serviceable or replaceable on the trail. As I recall from Scott Morris’s blog (7/26/04), his BOB trailer wheel bearing cartridges were so seized up that the wheel was turning on the axle instead of on the bearings! Fortunately, he was near the end of his trip (only 300 miles to go), and even more fortunately he found someone who could help him restore a little life back into the bearings.

In my opinion, there should be an upgrade option available for the wheel right from the company. Josh Lipton suggests carrying an extra wheel if you are traveling in a group. However, if you are crazy enough to do the GDMBR, then you had better be capable of dealing with the issues. I prefer to deal with issues before they come up, rather that waiting to see if I will be one of the lucky ones who do not have any mechanical problems. If it wasn’t for bad luck you might not have any at all, so plan ahead. Sometimes you get away with taking short-cuts, but eventually you will get caught unprepared. Be prepared! Know Thy Bike.

Getting My Bearings

I am torn between two worlds, but I am definitely a "retro-grouch" at heart. Except for spokes, the old stuff was made a lot better than this new light weight gear. I have old cranks, derailleurs, and freewheels that still work fine. It was difficult to wear out a chain. Bearings and cones went the distance and beyond. I pulled a bottom bracket apart after 33 years of hard use and the bearings and cups were fine. It is true that I pulled that bike apart when I first bought it and repacked every bearing and adjusted every cone to perfection. I guess I have gotten lazy, because I did not do that with my last couple of bikes. Now I wish I had because even with good maintenance parts are wearing out left and right.

The retro-grouch side of me prefers semi-regular clothes and sandals on my chromoly lugged steel "Bluebird." Once a nice bike club member said, "It is good that you are true to yourself." That comment can be taken in more than one way, but I took it as a compliment. Less kind remarks include: "Where did you get the boat anchor?" So when I sometimes show up for a club ride dressed like a tropical bird on a modern lightweight bike without fenders and lights, people wonder whether I am a new rider.

I like light weight equipment, but in touring and commuting reliability is far more important. It would get expensive quickly to always be late to work because of mechanical issues on my bike commute. It is also significantly more dangerous to have equipment breakdown at o'dark thirty in the morning. My life depends on being able to dodge vehicles at critical intersections early in the morning. Some of the drivers are not awake, and some would just a soon run you over as look at you. So, I gladly take the weight penalty if it means I can ride reliably and safely. Furthermore, on the GDMBR it is literally hundreds of miles between bike shops. On that basis, reliability has to be the main consideration (unless you are racing).

I lamented in my last blog post that to be able to use a reliable bottom bracket like a Phil Wood, then I would have to go to a square taper crank. Most square taper cranks are optimized for 8 speed freewheels or freehubs. However, on my Trek Fuel EX7 I want to be able to take advantage of the technology of the rapid-fire shifters and a 9 speed cassette. So, I was not completely thrilled about going "retro" on the crank. Fortunately, more research has revealed that I can keep the modern compact crank and get some reliable bearings for the bottom bracket.

Both Phil Wood and Enduro have recently come out with tools for pressing bearings in and out of external bottom bracket cups. So, I could use Phil Wood bearings in the external cups! However, Enduro has a temping option of stepping up to ceramic bearings with chromium steel races. The Enduro bearing press kit is more versatile and does not require an arbor press or a vise. I am definitely tempted. Ceramic bearings are at least twice as hard as stainless steel bearing. The theory is that they could pulverize crap that gets in past the seals; although I think I would rather have better seals. Nevertheless, I am still tempted to try them.

I have heard rare second-hand reports of people who have had poor reliability with Phil Wood sealed bearings. It is always possible to get a bad anything. I do not intentionally abuse my equipment, and perhaps they did not either. On Peter White's website he commented on his theory of why sealed bearings get compromised. If you scroll down to "Reliability" on the above link, then he explains that if your sealed bearings are warm and you take them out into a cold rain, then the temperature differential between inside the sealed bearings and the outside air causes the pressure inside the sealed bearings to drop (relative to the ambient air pressure) and that is what causes water to be drawn (sucked) into the bearings. This seems like a reasonable explanation for one possible cause of premature sealed bearing failure.

So, proud retro-grouch or not, I am going to stick with my fancy modern crank and just upgrade the bearings. At least I am hoping it is an upgrade, because to me "upgrade" includes reliability, not just weight savings.

Bike Prep - An Ounce of Prevention

Before I leave on my GDMBR adventure I will know as much about my bike as I can. Lately I have spent quite a bit of time studying the suspension system, and today I took the plunge of disassembling/reassembling the rear shock. The inner oil damper is not serviceable, but the air chamber and seals are relatively easy to service. I had a rebuild kit at hand, but nothing really needed to be replaced. I mostly wanted to see if I needed to do service in the field, whether it could be done. As long as I keep the bike dialed in, I am not expecting any problems, but just in case I want to know ahead of time what to expect.

I wiped out the old grease and replaced it with some Slick Honey. I massaged Slick Honey into all the rubber O-rings and inspected all the attachment bolts, bushings, washers and nuts. It really was no big deal at all. I have been told to keep the rear suspension bolts tightened up to prevent side-to-side slop, which can lead to the bolts breaking. The BOB trailer exaggerates those forces, but I suspect any load on the rear wheel could accelerate the wear in that part of the bike.

I detected some very slight side-to-side play so I tried to tighten a bolt on a big bushing. Of course the crankarm was in the way, so I removed it. That took a couple of tries because the self-extractor extracted itself instead of the crank arm. Fortunately Lennard Zinn's book, "The Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance," assured me that this happens sometimes and that it was not a problem. I reinstalled the self-extractor and I was a little more careful about my process.

I never did get to the bushing on the rear suspension, because the external bearings on the non-drive side of the TruVativ GPX crank system felt moderately crappy. I started reading reviews and discovered that although a few people have praises for them, overall this system does not have the reliability that I want for the GDMBR. It is often hundreds of miles between bike shops on the GDMBR. If you cannot fix it yourself right there on the route, then you may have to scratch the trip. Although I will do all the preventative maintenance I can before and during the trip, I still cannot completely eliminate all the possible problems.

Having reliable equipment is the best ounce of prevention I can take. On that note, I have never found anything to compete with a Phil Wood bottom bracket for reliability. The bearings feel like silk from the beginning, and then get better! They seem to make my pedaling effort feel easier compared with other systems. Also, the ratio of good reviews to bad ones was the opposite for the Phil Wood bottom brackets compared with the TruVativ GPX system. The downside is that it appears I will have to go with a lesser quality crankarm setup to accommodate the square taper shaft on Phil Wood bottom brackets. I wish I could find a totally reliable crank and bottom bracket, but if push comes to shove I will always go with the Phil Wood components when reliability is my primary concern.

Slowly, but surely I will work my way through the whole bike. The front suspension is the only part that I still do not know enough about to suit my fancy. For sure I will have it serviced about a month before I leave.

I am considering trying a tubeless system, but I do not know enough about that yet. I will be servicing all the bearings prior to departure. I will also be changing out the hydralic brakes for some Avid BB7 mechanicals with bigger rotors. So much to do, and I would also like to do at least one more shakedown.

Ride Your Own Ride, but ...

Let me immediately acknowledge that I borrowed the idea for this title from Francis Tapon's book: "Hike Your Own Hike." If you have not read it, then I highly recommend it. Although Francis is describing the seven life lessons that he learned from hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT), the lessons are equally applicable to riding the GDMBR … and to life in general.

The first lesson he learned fairly early in his southbound (sobo) AT hike. He met a northbound (nobo) hiker who was heavily loaded and approaching the last ascent of the whole trail. In other words, this fellow had almost completed his AT hike as Francis was just beginning. The last big climb (and the end of the AT for a nobo) is Mount Katahdin in Maine. Actually, it is not quite the end of the hike, because after nobos climb Mt Katahdin they then have to turn around and hike back down again to the trailhead. Anyway, Francis suggested to this heavily burdened nobo that he stow his pack at the ranger station instead of hauling it up the mountain. The determined hiker's response was something to the effect of: "Hike your own hike!" I should explain that Francis is an ultralite hiker, so to this more traditional hiker he probably looked like a freak of nature.

Well as I read other blogs, web sites, and forums, I fall prey to the temptation to add my two cents worth to other people's ideas. Sometimes that contribution is worthwhile (in my opinion). Yet, if I am really honest with myself, then I have to admit that at other times I am just trying to tell someone else how to live. I justify my pontifications whenever there is a significant element of risk to the other person(s). Having survived my own poor judgment more than once, I have a difficult time being quiet when the situation is potentially dangerous.

About thirty years ago I was working in a steel fabrication factory. We use to build large beams, long columns, huge plate girders, giant steel boxes, etc. Early in my "training" I put the grabs on a huge steel column the wrong way. In fact, I did not even know that there was a right way and a wrong way. What difference does it make? If you put the grabs on the right way, then you could turn the piece of steel over without dropping it. On the other hand, if you turned the grabs around, then halfway through the flip they would fall off. At that point in the maneuver whatever you were lifting and turning over would fall and make a spectacular crash. Of course, if someone were in the way, then they would probably be killed.

Needless to say, when I put the grabs on backwards nobody said anything. In order to stay out of harm’s way however, everyone had one eyeball on the rookie. You already know the rest of the story. The piece of steel I was flipping with the crane fell out of the grabs and thunderously crashed on the cement floor. Fortunately, no one, including me, was injured. I asked my partner why he did not warn me about my mistake. He said, "I figured that if you survived, then you won't do it again." It has been at least thirty years, and I have not repeated that mistake! I guess that was how he learned best, but I believe that I would have followed his advice if it was offered.

Probably my real mistake back then was that I did not have enough experience to even know that I should have asked for advice. At the same time, I was a college graduate working in a steel plant at night to pay the bills on the "good life" farm that my wife and I were trying desperately to make a go at. The experienced steel workers wanted to see if I had enough smarts to figure out the grabs on my own. Obviously I did not. It seems that not only do you have to be willing to ask for advice, but you have to ask from people who care about you. You have to be able to trust their advice, which is hard to do from non-credentialed strangers.

So, this leaves me in somewhat of a dilemma in at least two ways. First, should I ask for advice? Second, should I offer advice? Well, for me, the answer is definitely yes to the first and maybe for the second. In the end we all have to “hike our own hike” or ride our own ride. Nevertheless, it is important for me to be humble enough to listen to advice, and to be caring enough to state my opinion when solicited. Generally speaking, most blogs and forums welcome feedback. I hope this one is perceived that way too. I thank those who have left comments and suggestions. I look forward to hearing from others. Thanks!

Incidentally, the seven life lessons that Francis learned from his AT hike were:
1. Hike Your Own Hike.
2. Beware of Summit Fever.
3. Hike with Passion.
4. Learn from Trail Lore.
5. Eat Well, Walk Hard, and Sleep Soundly.
6. Perform Trail Magic.
7. The Journey is Too Important to Take Seriously.

When we listen to others’ advice we are applying lesson number four: learn from the trail lore. When we give advice we could be making our contribution to the “trail lore,” or we may be applying lesson number six: perform trail magic. For example, I think of Ron Faul www.trek4fun.com praying for some place safe to sleep in grizzly bear country. Shortly thereafter he serendipitously meets Matthew Lee coming the other way. Matthew tells him about a couple who is only a ¼ mile further down the route who regularly lets GDMBR riders camp outside their home.

There is a lot of trail magic going on here, because a couple of days before Ron bumped into Matthew Lee and Aaron Teasdale. At the time Ron was bonking and they gave him a cinnamon roll. This time Ron gave Matthew something to eat when he was bonking, and then Matthew told Ron about the couple that would let him camp in their yard when he desperately needed a place to stay. More trail magic is going on with the couple who provide the free place to stay. Everyone gives, yet everyone gains. That is real magic!

I will undoubtedly refer to the other life lessons from Francis’s book in other blog posts, but I hope you offer me some advice. I also hope that I have an opportunity to help you in some way too. The world just works better that way. Thanks again!

Update 2/6/08: I did not know about the NPR essay "The Universe Is Conspiring to Help Us" by Kevin Kelly when I wrote this post, but a link in Adventure Cycling Association's BikeBits today took me to it. Check it out.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18463814
Indeed, the universe is conspiring to help us!

Arica Psycho-calisthenics

Of all the exercise programs I have ever done my all time favorite is the "Arica Psycho-calisthenics" by Oscar Ichazo. I was introduced to it in 1975, when I was a member of the first Santa Fe National Forest Hot Shot Forest Fire Crew. Instead of the usual push up, sit up, and jumping jack routine, we were led through these 25 exercise every morning as part of our physical training program. After that experience I did them intermittently until about 1983. I lent the book out and it was never returned. Eventually I forgot the routine.

As I prepare for my Great Divide ride I wanted to incorporate a set of exercises and stretches that I could make part of my daily routine to help undo some of the negative effects of riding long hours as well as to help prevent injuries. However, since I am going to be traveling with a small group I wanted a routine that I could easily teach them if they are so inclined. I think the Pilates routines are fantastic, but I am not a trained Pilates instructor. The Arica Psycho-calisthenics came to mind, because I have successfully led others through the routine. Plus, my body still remembers how wonderful it felt after the Arica Psycho-calisthenics.

I searched for the book at Amazon and found several copies. My practically unused (since 1976) copy arrived two days ago. This morning I did about half of it and it felt as fantastic as ever. My body is already thanking me. I took a break to answer a telephone call from one of the members of my Great Divide group.

Too often we take our bodies for granted, and do not give them the care and feeding they need. We need regular exercise, but not the type that just strengthens the strong muscles. Integrating the breathe with stretching and strengthening is not usually what we find at the gym, but that is exactly what the Arica Psycho-calisthenics does. If you are looking for a fabulous routine that you can do in about a half-hour and makes you feel great, then check it out.

As for me, I am going to go finish up the other half of the routine right now. Then a good bike ride will be in order.

Update 2/06/8: In the comments for this post someone let me know about an improved version of the Arica Psychocalisthenics program, and without hesitation I ordered the book, DVD, CD, and wall chart. It arrived today. Speaking as a physical therapist, the "Master Level Exercise: Psychocalisthenics" book has the most interesting exposition on the real value of exercise that I have ever read. I am not seeking sponsors, and I do not profit from anything that I discuss in this blog or have on my sidebar. If I like something, then I will tell you about it. If I own it, then I paid for it myself. I really, really like the Arica Psychocalisthenics!

Riding the GDMBR in a Group or Solo?

Besides this blog/web site I also have a private Google Group with the other people who are planning to ride the GDMBR with me this summer. This blog/web site is the tip of the iceberg compared with the discussions we have there. The reason that it is private is so that we can safely and comfortably learn about each other and discuss our expectations for the trip without interference. It also allows the others to maintain their confidentiality.

Not everyone who rides the GDMBR shares their experiences publicly; especially prior to succeeding. I probably should play my cards closer to my vest too, because it is very possible for something to go wrong and for the trip to get scraped even before we start. It is also very possible that with as many potential problems that we could have along the way, that we do not make the whole trip this year. There could be issues with weather, fire, injuries, illness, mechanical problems, family emergencies … and on and on.

Another layer of complexity is the fact that we do not know each other. We are making plans and arrangements long distance hoping that the others will do as they say. The fact is that even with the best laid plans and good intentions I may be riding this route solo. I sincerely doubt that, but it is always a possibility for which I need to plan. We have never met, and we will gather from all parts of the country. Some plan to rendezvous at my home in Albuquerque a few days before we head off to the Mexican border. The others I will meet for the first time at or near the border on the appointed day. The amount of planning and logistics to do the trip solo is staggering, but to coordinate it with a group of people you do not even know multiplies the effort. At the same time, I believe the benefits of traveling with others more than compensates for the increased complexity.

Chris Turner (http://boundaryzero.net/index.php/Strategies/Solo-Travel-Strategy.html) clearly elucidates some of the safety issues to consider when riding alone. Ron Faul (http://www.trek4fun.com/) recommends having companions to share the joys and challenges of the GDMBR. Bjorn Zoetemelk (http://lustfordust.com/ontheroad/index.html ) suggests that you only travel the GDMBR with either someone you know really well, or someone whom you really want to know well. In other words, the isolation and the trials of the trail will hopefully bring out the best in us and in others.

Although I have joked in the prologue about having an obsession with the GDMBR there are many reasons why I want to ride the GDMBR, but the main reason is to have an adventure. I don't believe this is (another) mid-life crisis issue. First, I am getting a little old for more mid-life type issues. Second, after years of struggling and soul-searching I am basically pretty happy with my life. I mostly enjoy each day. I work hard and I have a lot of fun.

Sometimes as I reflect, I remember that my mother died of cancer when she was just barely 56 years old. I will be 56 this year. Perhaps at some deep (at least deeper than my superficial brain can fathom) level I am making a statement that I will be very much alive at 56 years old. I don't feel desperate about making this affirmation of health and life, because I have mostly taken good care of my health and enjoyed my life.

Riding in a group requires a lot of social skills. I have been married 32 years and my wife has been "civilizing" me for about that long. It certainly has not been a rose garden. In fact, I don't know how she has put up with me. We have shared joy and tragedy. However, the most important thing that we have shared is a strong commitment to each other through thick and thin. Anyway, riding in a group will give us countless opportunities to practice our social skills and to demonstrate our commitment to the group.

In the distant past I may have preferred to ride the GDMBR solo. However, in the past 15-20 years I have developed a preference to work in small groups. Most of the time groups of mature individuals working toward similar goals are a lot more fun and efficient. Usually there is more safety in groups. There is more wisdom in groups of mature individuals.

What about my fears? I am not aware of having much fear except of a bear attack. However, even that fear is a little irrational. Even though we sometimes joke about cyclists being “meals on wheels” for bears, on the average only three people die each year in all of North America of bear attacks. Unfortunately, many more get seriously injured. I just got through viewing a DVD: “Staying Safe in Bear Country - A Behavioral-Based Approach to Reducing Risk.” Fortunately, there are definite things to do and not do to reduce this risk.

Even though the risk of being attacked by a bear can never be eliminated it can certainly be greatly reduced. One of the most important factors is to travel in a group of three or more. The number and severity of incidences with bears significantly decreases with groups of three or more. Thus, another reason to travel the GDMBR in a group – to give the bears a choice!