Monthly Archives: November 2018

A little about Richard

What is your age?

I was 69 when I rode the Northern Tier in 2014.

What made you want to ride your bike across the country?   

Was on my bucket list to ride across the the United States for several years.

Where do you live?  

Albuquerque, NM

What is your profession?  

I’m retired after serving in the Air Force for 20 years and working for the Department of Defense for another 23 years.

What route(s)/year(s) did you ride with Bike the US for MS?  

Northern Tier in 2014 and I did a segment of the Southern Tier 2014.

Pre-trip

How many miles did you clock in before the trip?  

I had just bought a new bike in March so I did about 550-600 miles getting used to the bike.

What was your cycling experience before signing up?  

Numerous century rides, a lot of riding around New Mexico and I had ridden the week-long Iowa ride 9 times.

Where did you find the most success fundraising?  

Family and friends.

What was your biggest worry before the trip, and how did you handle it?  

Getting my bike to Bar Harbor.  I used Bike Flight to ship my bike and it work very well.

How many fundraising letters/emails do you think you sent?  

Most of mine was personal contact with family and friends.

What surprised you most about the fundraising process?  

How everyone supported me.

Gear

What type of bike did you ride? Where did you get it?  

I rode a Motobecane that I bought online from Bikes Direct.  I had a professional bike mechanic put it together and check it over.

What is something you wish you had brought which you didn’t?  

My cold weather riding clothes and my 0 degree sleeping bag.  Even in June the nights were cold!!!

Is there anything you spent a bit more money on that you were glad you did?  

Breakfast.

How much casual clothes (t-shirts, shorts, etc) did you bring?  

3 shorts and t-shirts.

How many pairs of cycling shorts/bibs did you bring?  

2 shorts

What type of sleeping pad did you use?  

I had a Big Agnes inflatable pad which was great.

Food

What was your favorite trailer snack?  

Power and Cliff bars

How often would you go out to eat? 

Once or twice a day.

Would you cook at camp often? If so, what was your favorite recipe?  

Yes, and would do rice or pasta box mixes.

On-the-bike

Did you prefer to ride alone or in a group?  

I did both.  Some days you would feel like a group ride and others going it alone.

What would you keep in your bike jersey pockets?  

Snacks, map, and a small pouch with money and credit card in it. Money kept in a zip lock bag to keep it dry.

Did you use a rack/saddle bag/handlebar bag?  

I had an Arkel trunk that mounted on my seat post with a quick disconnect.

What type of tires did you ride? 

Specialized Armadillo 700×23

Did you use a cyclocomputer? 

What was your normal pace?  Everywhere from 4 or 5 MPH to 35+.

How long did it take to learn to read the maps?  

With the training given before the ride it was easy.

Riding on a flat terrain with a headwind, or climbing a mountain pass for miles. Which do you prefer?

Much prefer climbing a mountain pass.

What was the most difficult part/aspect/state of the ride?  

One day in North Dakota with a steady headwind.

Routine

Were you an early riser? Did you sleep in?  

Up and at it early!!!

When you got to camp, the first thing you did was….

setup my tent.

How often would you do laundry? 

When available or three to four days.

It’s the evening and you’re out of your bike clothes, fed, and your tent is pitched. What are you doing to pass the time until you fell asleep?

Write in a journal and visit with the others.

How many sink/hose showers did you take? 

2 or 3.

How many loads of sink/hose laundry did you do?  

None.

On rest days, did you prefer to go out and see what the town has to offer, or did you hang out, rest up, and relax?

Go out and see the town.

Post-trip

Has the trip changed you as a person or the way you see life?

Absolutely. I met so many interesting people who have influenced my choices for the better. Life is too short not to follow your passion and enjoy a balanced life-style. I quit my job during the ride (Eureka, MT) and decided to move out west to be close to family, to find a job I love and become much more active.

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A little about Michelle

What is your age?  

41

What made you want to ride your bike across the country?  

I have done shorter events like Cycle Oregon and a Backroads trip…and I really enjoyed them. Bike the US allowed me to check an amazing item off my bucket list, while supporting a cause that I believe in.

Where do you live?

I lived in Raleigh at the ride, but now live in Louisville, CO

What is your profession?

I am a tech product manager for a company that builds mobile apps and websites for NCAA sports programs.

What route did you ride for Bike the US for MS?

Northern Tier

Pre-Trip

How many miles did you clock before the trip?

I rode about 120-150 miles a week before the trip.  I wish I had ridden more hills before starting the ride.  I paid the price during the first two weeks.

What was your cycling experience before signing up?

I had done some week long trips with friends.  Other than that, I would commute to work on my bike and ride for fun on weekends

Where did you find the most success in fundraising?

I found that company matching played a big part – lots of companies do this!  Also, family and friends were more than happy to donate when they learned I was riding for MS.

What was your biggest worry before the trip and how did you handle it?

I was worried about not seeing my husband for long periods of time.  We worked it out so that he would meet up with us every 2-3 weeks and he even helped with service projects.

How many fundraising letters/emails do you think you sent?

I posted on Facebook and sent an email to work colleges – the rest took care of itself.

What surprised you most about the fundraising process?

How many people wanted to contribute…without my even asking.  I was surprised by this before the trip and even on the trip.  It was overwhelming and humbling to receive such generosity from complete strangers.

Gear

What type of bike did you ride?

It would have been a Specialized Ruby Elite…but our car got rear-ended on the way to the ride…so a Specialized Ruby Soprt (last minute purchase on Memorial Day weekend).  I got it at Goodales Bike Shop in NH.

What was something you wish you brought which you did not?

My sister…for the whole trip.  She was able to join for the 1st week and the last day, but it would have been fun to have her around the whole time.

What was one thing you could not have lived without while on the road?

My smartwool black skirt – great for comfort, going out and for privacy for roadside pitt-stops….also Chamois butter…definitely chamois butter…

What is one thing you brought that you wish you hadn’t?

Extra clothes – you really do not need much

Is there anything that you spent a bit more money on that you were glad you did?

Bike Maintenance in Minneapolis – had to trade out tires, repair my chain and such – bike felt like new after that!

How much casual clothes did you bring?

After getting rid of extra stuff…here is where I settled:

3 T-shirts

Black smartwool skirt

Long Pants

Fleece

How many pairs of cycling shorts?

3…but ended up buying 1 more because laundry was not always predictable and sometimes, shorts would not dry when hung out at night…(especially in the beginning of the trip)

What type of sleeping pad did you use?

A Basic coleman pad – nothing fancy (I like a firm mattress, so makes sense)

Food

What food was your favorite trailer snack?

Chocolate milk – amazing when cold, but stores sell milk boxes that don’t need to be refrigerated…they were good too

How often would you go out to eat?

I would say about half the time – mostly for breakfast…I probably spent more than some on food overall, but for me it was about convenience. I was not a really fast rider, so I didn’t have a ton of extra time for food prep.

Would you cook at camp often?

Sometimes…there was a group of us that would share responsibilities – some bought ingredients and some cooked.

Favorite recipe?

Any dish with beans and rice.

On-the-bike

Did you prefer to ride alone or in a group?

I did both – depended on the day.  It was good to mix things up and have group time and alone time.

Would you rather be riding through steady rain or extreme heat?

Steady rain – as long as the roads are relatively flat…. I prefer the cooler weather and hiding in barns in the midwest was entertaining.

What would you keep in your bike jersey pockets?

Cliff Bars, Gels, Smart Phone, maps

Did you use a rack / saddle / bike bag?

I used a small bike bag under my seat for tools…and a handlebar bag for snacks and maps.

Did you use a cycle computer?

No – lots of people around me had one, which came in handy in New England where there were lots of turns.

What was your normal pace?

I averaged around 13 mph….no racing for me

How long did it take to learn to read maps?

It took me a couple of weeks.  New England was challenging because there were so many turns, so I often depended on others. Once I had the hang of it, we were in the midwest – not many turns at all

Riding a flat terrain in a headwind or climbing a mountain pass for miles?

Climbing a mountain pass – especially in the west – they know about switchbacks…(the east does not know about switchbacks, but I would prefer to a headwind).  I can remember riding for 98 miles in a headwind to Kathryn, ND – felt like riding under water – one of my toughest days.

What was the most difficult aspect / state of the ride?

I would have to say NH…lots of turns, some tough climbs and it was early enough that my body wasn’t conditioned yet.

Routine

Were you an early riser?

We were all early risers – usually around 6am, once people started packing up it was hard to sleep in.  Towards the end of the trip, things were a bit more relaxed – maybe sleeping in til 7am…

When you got to camp, the first thing you did was….

Chocolate milk and then a shower or swim in a lake…

How often would you do laundry?

In the beginning, it was about every 3 days.  You learn to do it when you can.  Toward the end, we sometimes went 5-6 days between laundry.

What did you do to pass the time until sleep?

Played hearts, drank wine, explored, talked, blogged.

How may sink / hose showers did you take?

I took a few…by the end of the ride, I could go 2-3 days without a shower if needed.  I think we all smelled pretty bad…but amazingly, I don’t think we noticed..

What did you do on rest days?

Since there was usually lots to do, exploring, finding good places to grab a bite…or a massage….

Post trip

What is favorite memory?

So many to chose from…but would probably say the day we dipped our tires in the Pacific – it was the perfect day and emotions were high, champagne was flowing. I still get a little choked up when I think about the day we capped off such an amazing adventure….

Do you keep in touch with many of your teammates?

Yes…on Facebook…and in person when people travel.  It is nice to have such a lovely and diverse group to connect with from time to time.

What’s your favorite memory from your trip?  

The great feeling when, at a rest stop, people come up and thank you for riding for them.  Some are MS survivors and others have relatives, friends and coworkers with MS.  It is an amazing feeling.   Secondly, riding through the Avenue of the Giants in the redwoods of Northern California is an unforgettable experience.

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A little about Larry

What is your age?  

77 but when I did the first ride, I was only 75.

What made you want to ride your bike across the country?  

The challenge and also to see the USA uniquely from the seat of a bicycle.

Where do you live?

Florida

What is your profession?

Retired pilot and home builder.

What routes/years did you ride with Bike the US for MS?  

Northern Tier 2014 and Pacific Coast 2015.

Currently signed up for the Southern Tier for 2016.

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Has the trip changed you as a person, or the way you see life?

There is no way it cannot have a positive impact.  To pedal across the country gives one a sense of accomplishment and also a feeling that you can do anything you set your mind to.

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Pre-trip

How many miles did you clock in before the trip?

I ride 6000 to 7000 miles per year but that is not necessary to do the rides.

What was your cycling experience before signing up?

Mostly Centuries but a few week long rides across southern states.

Where did you find the most success fundraising?

From family and friends.  When I mention how much money has been raised for the MS cause, people quite often volunteer to contribute.

What was your biggest worry before the trip, and how did you handle it?

Everyone has the same concerns.  We are excited about the ride but worried that we won’t be able to do it.  Of course, everyone does it and their apprehensions were useless.

How many fundraising letters/emails do you think you sent?

About 50 emails.

What surprised you most about the fundraising process?

It is quite easy.  Ask and you will receive.

Gear

What type of bike did you ride? Where did you get it?

A Trek road bike purchased from a local bike shop.

What is something you wish you had brought which you didn’t?

A motor home (only kidding).

What’s one ancillary thing you couldn’t have lived without on the road?

The small seat pack with extra tube, pump and CO2 cartridges.

What’s one thing you brought that you wish you hadn’t?

Too many clothes. I sent them home at the first mail stop.

Is there anything you spent a bit more money on that you were glad you did?

I ordered an extra Bike the US for MS jersey which came in handy.

How much casual clothes (t-shirts, shorts, etc) did you bring?

Your list of clothing and equipment is sufficient.

How many pairs of cycling shorts/bibs did you bring?

4 shorts and 4 jerseys.   Could have made it with half that number but it allowed to go longer without laundry

What type of sleeping pad did you use?

Inflatable.

Food

What was your favorite trailer snack?

Bananas.

How often would you go out to eat?

I’m an old guy so I found a way to eat out every meal.  If there was not a restaurant in the area, I would purchase a sandwich at lunch and put it in the trailer.

On-the-bike

Did you prefer to ride alone or in a group?

Some of each.  At times it is nice to ride with the group but at others, it I may want solitude to soak in the scenery.

Would you rather be riding through steady rain or extreme heat?

Neither bother me but, being from Florida, I am accustomed to the heat.

What would you keep in your bike jersey pockets?

Cellphone, handkerchief and, for me, a pair of glasses.

Did you use a rack/saddle bag/handlebar bag?

Small saddle bag, plus a little bag for Power bars and Kleenex.  One more thing–a case to hold the route map.  It fastened to the handlebar so I could read it while moving.

What type of tires did you ride?

Light 23 mm road tires.  On the PacCoast ride, had only 1 flat.

Did you use a cyclocomputer? What was your normal pace?

Garmin.  Keeps track of mileage, speed, cadence, heart rate, percentage of climb and other things.  Wouldn’t leave home without it.

How long did it take to learn to read the maps?

Essentially no time at all.  They are very simple and user friendly.

Riding on a flat terrain with a headwind, or climbing a mountain pass for miles. Which do you prefer?

The mountain–because you get to fly down the other side.  A headwind is relentless.

What was the most difficult part/aspect/state of the ride?

The first day or two.  After that, you realize that you can do this!

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Do you have any pieces of general advice for new cyclists?

Everyone questions if they can finish such a ride but you can do it!  Go for it!

Routine

Were you an early riser? Did you sleep in?

I tried for an early start to enjoy the cooler morning temps.   If it had been cold, however, a later start would have worked.

When you got to camp, the first thing you did was….

Pitch the tent.  Once the things are unpacked, you can enjoy a cold drink.

How often would you do laundry?

Tried to do it every 4 days.  Possibly on 2 occasions that didn’t work out.  Had to wear used shorts and jerseys but everyone was in the same boat.

It’s the evening and you’re out of your bike clothes, fed, and your tent is pitched. What are you doing to pass the time until you fell asleep?

Read email, catch up on the blog and sit around and discuss the ride with your new friends.

How many sink/hose showers did you take?

Only a few on each ride.  Most often, there were regular showers available.

How many loads of sink/hose laundry did you do?

None.  That was not necessary.

On rest days, did you prefer to go out and see what the town has to offer, or did you hang out, rest up, and relax?

In many cases, it was the first time we had been to a particular town so I had to check it out. You can get plenty of rest when you die.

Do you keep in touch with many of your teammates?

A strong bond was formed and we are friends for life.

What’s your favorite memory from your trip?

So many memories. One of the best, was when the entire TransAm 2014 team was at dinner with the Charlottesville, Virginia MS Society. Don (BTUSFMS Founder) surprised us all by presenting a family with a much needed handicapped van. The tears were a’plenty, emotions were high, and not a doubt was to be found as to why we rode for MS.

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A little about Claire

What is your age?

I am 24 now, although in a sense I am merely 5 years old since my first BTUSFMS trip (when life truly began) was when I was 19.

What made you want to ride your bike across the country?

America is such a massive, diverse, wicked-awesome country. I wanted to see what my own Motherland had to offer and biking across her seemed like the best way to accomplish that.

Where do you live?

I live in a small community in the Dominican Republic.

What is your profession?

My current profession is Peace Corps Volunteer.

What route(s)/year(s) did you ride with Bike the US for MS?

I did the Northern Tier in 2012 and the TransAm in 2014. To be continued in 2017…

Pre-trip

How many miles did you clock in before the trip?

For my first trip, let’s be honest, not many. The first two weeks, to put it lightly, were brutal. But, I was all the wiser the second time around and did lots of mountain biking and a mini-tour to prepare.

What was your cycling experience before signing up?

I had little experience in cycling besides biking to school in grade school.

Where did you find the most success fundraising?

From my experience, personalized emails have high efficacy as a fundraising method.

What was your biggest worry before the trip, and how did you handle it?

My biggest worry was not finishing. I handled it upon meeting the Bike the US for MS team. They’ll get you across the world if need be.

How many fundraising letters/emails do you think you sent?

Yikes. An inordinate amount. I sent about 50 emails the first day and tried to send at least a few everyday up until the tour. I signed up lat minute so it was pedal to the metal fundraising until the tour commenced.

What surprised you most about the fundraising process?

Through fundraising, I realized how close to home MS was. I never knew how many friends of mine were affected by MS. Many of those who went on to donate told me about their family members or connections with MS that were unbeknownst to me previously.

Gear

What type of bike did you ride? Where did you get it?

Listen, my first year I rode a too small, too fragile, fancy little road bike. I learned my lesson the hard way. A few million broken spokes later I am now the proud owner of a Surly. Steel is real. I highly recommend finding a sturdy steed to get you across the county without any snags. I found my ride on Craigslist and it happened to be owned by a professor of mine.

What is something you wish you had brought which you didn’t?

More than one chamois my first year. Need I explain more?

What’s one ancillary thing you couldn’t have lived without on the road?

The legendary bike rear-view mirror.

What’s one thing you brought that you wish you hadn’t?

I didn’t bring my DSLR for my first rodeo. To this day, I wish that it had been there with me.

Is there anything you spent a bit more money on that you were glad you did?

Food splurging in cities. No regrets. Nor, on the many pairs of quirky socks purchased along the route.

How much casual clothes (t-shirts, shorts, etc) did you bring?

Three shirts, two hiking pants, one shorts. Disclaimer: Many of my cycling tops doubled as normal shirts.

How many pairs of cycling shorts/bibs did you bring?

First year: one.

Second year: four.

Second year > First year

What type of sleeping pad did you use?

The therm-a-rest foam folded pad. Solid, minus the fact that it is soft… *ba dum chhh*

Food

What was your favorite trailer snack?

I loved the all natural bars. Larabar and ProBar are two fool-proof options.

How often would you go out to eat?

Every lunch that there was the opportunity to go out I took it. Breakfast and dinner were generally culinary experiments at the campsite.

Would you cook at camp often? If so, what was your favorite recipe?

Hearty oatmeal with bananas and apples. I also highly recommend carb-loading with Velveeta mac and cheese.

On-the-bike

Did you prefer to ride alone or in a group?

Depends on the day. But, if the wind blows hard, I can guarantee, 100% of the time, you’ll find me right in the back of a pace line. Bet your bottom dollar.

Would you rather be riding through steady rain or extreme heat?

Steady rain was always so majestic. Some of the most magical days were in the cathartic rains, ergo I am very partial to the rain.

What would you keep in your bike jersey pockets?

I liked to travel comfortably. I didn’t usually have pockets so refer to the following questions for what I carried.

Did you use a rack/saddle bag/handlebar bag?

Yes. As well as a Salsa Anything rack. I always carried my DSLR, map, a folding chair, air horn, phone, patch kit, bike tool, sandals, and Swiss Army knife.

What type of tires did you ride?

35’s in the back and 28’s in the front. Both tires always had some traction on there. Never bald. There are fewer feelings more satisfying than pulling shards of glass out of your tires while the tube remains in pristine condition.

Did you use a cyclocomputer? What was your normal pace?

No computer. Nonetheless, I fit in the 15 mph cruise category.

How long did it take to learn to read the maps?

I would guesstimate that 2 weeks into my first trip I had an adequate handle on the maps.

Riding on a flat terrain with a headwind, or climbing a mountain pass for miles. Which do you prefer?

Without a doubt, I’ll tackle a mountain pass over headwinds. With a pass, one is rewarded with a killer view from the top and a killer descent afterwards, not to mention the glory that comes with slaying a pass (eg: A photograph with the elevation sign). There is no reward, that I know of, for headwinds.

What was the most difficult part/aspect/state of the ride?

Headwinds.

Routine

Were you an early riser? Did you sleep in?

I am an early riser. But, somehow the male riders who woke up 30 minutes after me were always ready to hit the road at the exact same time. One of the greatest mysteries of life.

When you got to camp, the first thing you did was….

Sit in the grass. Just sit and think about how amazing showering will be. But, first, sit.

How often would you do laundry? 

A post-ride ritual became a quick rinse of the bike clothes each day.

It’s the evening and you’re out of your bike clothes, fed, and your tent is pitched. What are you doing to pass the time until you fell asleep?

Easy question, sit around with the team and tell tales, or get back on the bicycle and cruise around town to see who there is to meet and what there is to see.

How many sink/hose showers did you take? 

Quite a few. Anytime there was a line for the real shower I would bypass to the hose.

How many loads of sink/hose laundry did you do?

As stated in a previous answer, it became my daily ritual to at least rinse out my bike clothing post-ride.

On rest days, did you prefer to go out and see what the town has to offer, or did you hang out, rest up, and relax?

I always did a spin or two around town to get a feel for the environment.

Do you keep in touch with many of your teammates?

Yes. This trip helps you make many great friends with such amazing people. I still talk to them and even have mini reunions with some of them.

Post-trip

Do you have any pieces of general advice for new cyclists?

This trip is hard to prepare for and a major accomplishment to complete, but the toughest part by far is saying goodbye. Saying goodbye to the friends who live in various places across the country and goodbye to the lifestyle you grew accustomed to will make you emotional. Enjoy every moment of this trip while you have it and those last few nights of the trip, you’ll know what I mean when I say that your life will never be the same again.

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A little about Zach

What is your age?

21

What made you want to ride your bike across the country?

I wanted to see the sights from the US and I was looking for a way to give back to others at the same time.

Where do you live?

I live in Princeton, NJ.

What is your profession?

I am a financial data analyst

What route(s)/year(s) did you ride with Bike the US for MS?

I rode the Northern Tier in 2015.

Pre-trip

How many miles did you clock in before the trip?

I think I rode 600 miles before the trip, but most were on flat terrain.

What was your cycling experience before signing up?

I biked as my main form of transportation for four years in college, so i rode it a few miles a day to my classes and friend’s houses.

Where did you find the most success fundraising?

I had a bake sale with members of my community that raised the most money for me. As a tactic, I didn’t put prices on goods. I, instead, had people pay what they thought it deserved while knowing that all the money was going to charity.

What was your biggest worry before the trip, and how did you handle it?

I was worried about being away from family and friends for an entire summer. It was easy once the trip started because your teammates become your closest friends.

What surprised you most about the fundraising process?

It’s exhausting to raise money. It takes a lot of work, so be prepared.

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What’s your favorite memory from your trip?

My favorite memory from the trip was from Minneapolis. We spent time as a team bonding, riding around the city, and meeting people at the MS Achievement Center.

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Gear

What type of bike did you ride? Where did you get it?

It’s actually a funny story. On my drive up to the starting location, I got into a car accident and the bike that I trained on was totaled. The day of orientation, I needed to also go find a bike that I could take across the country. I ended up with a Fuji cyclocross bike.

What is something you wish you had brought which you didn’t?

Having a portable phone charger would have been something nice to have, but I think it is more important spending time with your teammates than being on your phone.

What’s one ancillary thing you couldn’t have lived without on the road?

I could not have lived without headphones. One of the reasons my phone died so much was because we listened to podcasts or music all the time. This is something that helps you take some of the boredom out of riding through corn fields for the 2nd week in a row. There are many times where you need something to occupy your attention while riding and headphones help you do just that. Look into investing in books on tape to listen to. Some of my teammates made it through several Harry Potter books during the last half of the trip.

What’s one thing you brought that you wish you hadn’t?

It’s tough to bring something you wish you hadn’t, because your cubby isn’t that large. Anything that takes up a lot of room which you don’t use often is something you should consider leaving at home unless it’s vital to your safety or comfort.

Is there anything you spent a bit more money on that you were glad you did?

I spent more money on food, which was by far the best thing I could imagine spending my money on.

How much casual clothes (t-shirts, shorts, etc) did you bring?

I wore a lot of casual shirts and shorts while riding, but I brought 2 pairs of nicer clothes for times where I had a chance to look presentable in public.

How many pairs of cycling shorts/bibs did you bring?

I believe I brought 4 pairs of chami shorts and 3 jerseys.

What type of sleeping pad did you use?

I didnt bring a sleeping pad. Instead I just had a comfortable sleeping bag that I didn’t need the additional padding.

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Has the trip changed you as a person, or the way you see life?

In many ways, this trip has changed me. I am even going to ride again this summer because this organization has changed my life and made me into a better person.

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Food

What was your favorite trailer snack?

Beef Jerky or trail mix is the move.

How often would you go out to eat?

I went out to eat quite often. I did not have the camp cooking skills or patience to eat a good meal at camp.

Would you cook at camp often? If so, what was your favorite recipe?

When I made food at camp, it was never food that needed to be cooked. Canned chef boyardee, peanut butter sandwiches, or cold oatmeal was the meal of choice.

On-the-bike

Did you prefer to ride alone or in a group?

I would say it was 50/50 alone and with a group for me. Everyone finds someone who rides at their pace, but I liked not needing to worry about other people while riding from time to time.

Would you rather be riding through steady rain or extreme heat?

Steady rain isn’t so bad if you’re not verging on hypothermic conditions.

What would you keep in your bike jersey pockets?

Pockets are for food. A pocket banana and some pocket

Did you use a rack/saddle bag/handlebar bag?

I had a waterproof handlebar bag. It was great to store a wadded up rain jacket and some additional items for emergency.

What type of tires did you ride? 

I had the tires that came with my bike, but many people rode gatorskin tires. Mine luckily only had a flat once because it was a thick, big tire.

Did you use a cyclocomputer? What was your normal pace?

I did not use one, but my normally pace was close to 12-13mph. Enjoy the trip and don’t worry about rushing unless it’s going to be a long mile day.

How long did it take to learn to read the maps?

I would say that it took a week to get adjusted to reading the maps if you don’t just follow others all the time.

Riding on a flat terrain with a headwind, or climbing a mountain pass for miles. Which do you prefer?

The first week when you’re climbing that first mountain, you wouldn’t think biking can get harder, but 25mph headwinds are a bikers nightmare. Pedaling as hard as you can just to go 10 miles per hour is worse than climbing a hill.

What was the most difficult part/aspect/state of the ride?

Eastern Montana with the heavy headwinds was hardest part of the trip.

Routine

Were you an early riser? Did you sleep in?

I am an early riser, but I would say most of my team left camp by about 8am.

When you got to camp, the first thing you did was….

Set up my tent and showered if that was available.

How often would you do laundry? 

Laundry is a luxury. It was something I think we did once a week if we were lucky enough to find a laundromat.

It’s the evening and you’re out of your bike clothes, fed, and your tent is pitched. What are you doing to pass the time until you fell asleep?

Reading a book, talking to family (assuring you’re still alive), or hanging out with teammates.

How many sink/hose showers did you take? 

I don’t think I can count them on my fingers, but you definitely need to get used to makeshift showers or just not showering at all.

How many loads of sink/hose laundry did you do?

I didn’t do any laundry in the sink or under a hose. I used a laundromat anytime I could.

On rest days, did you prefer to go out and see what the town has to offer, or did you hang out, rest up, and relax?

I liked going out and spending time in the town.

Do you keep in touch with many of your teammates?

Yes. This trip helps you make many great friends with such amazing people. I still talk to them and even have mini reunions with some of them.

A little about Octavia

What is your age?

20, but I was 19 when I did the trip.

What made you want to ride your bike across the country?

I love riding my bike, I love travelling and exploring new places, and when I found out that I could do it for a good cause, then I saw no reason for me not to do it.

Where do you live?

New York City

What is your profession?

Student

What route(s)/year(s) did you ride with Bike the US for MS?

Transam 2015

Pre­trip

How many miles did you clock in before the trip?

About 1500

What was your cycling experience before signing up?

I was on my university’s cycling team, and I commuted around the city by bike, so when I wasn’t in class or studying, I was on my bike.

Where did you find the most success fundraising?

I found the most success in contacting family friends.

What was your biggest worry before the trip, and how did you handle it?

I was worried that I would give up after two weeks. I think I overcame this fear pretty easily because I was with a group of such amazing people, that no matter how difficult the riding was, I never wanted to leave.

How many fundraising letters/emails do you think you sent?

Over 30

What surprised you most about the fundraising process?

It wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be.

Gear

What type of bike did you ride? Where did you get it?
Trek Lexa. I got it from my local bike shop, Bicycle Habitat

What is something you wish you had brought which you didn’t?

an external battery for my phone, because my battery runs out very quickly and there were sometimes no outlets at camp. I also wish I had brought more pairs of socks. They’re very easy too loose in the trailer and/or into other people’s cubbies.

What’s one ancillary thing you couldn’t have lived without on the road?

My Birkenstocks. There’s nothing like the feeling of kicking off your stiff cycling shoes and slipping your aching feet into comfortable, airy sandals. My day always became exponentially better when I put them on.

What’s one thing you brought that you wish you hadn’t?

Nothing that I can think of.

Is there anything you spent a bit more money on that you were glad you did?

There are three things that I will never regret having spent too much money on:

– food: When you’re riding your bike for five hours every day, you want food all the time. 

– stickers: I collected stickers from every town/national park we went to. They’re not cheap 
but they look awesome and they’re a great souvenir. 

– cycling jerseys: When I started the trip, I had three jerseys. Now I have too many. But it 
was nice to have more things to wear, because I didn’t have to do laundry or wear a stinky jersey too often. And, like the stickers, they’re great souvenirs. 

How much casual clothes (t­shirts, shorts, etc) did you bring?

I brought one sweater and one sweatshirts, two pairs of shorts, six t­shirts/ tank tops, and one pair of leggings. I wish I had brought a pair of jeans and another sweater.

How many pairs of cycling shorts/bibs did you bring?

Three.

What type of sleeping pad did you use?

REI Air Rail. It’s the best sleeping pad out there.

Food

What was your favorite trailer snack?
Oatmeal or a banana wrapped in a tortilla with peanut butter. 

How often would you go out to eat?

At least once a day. At first it was mostly for lunch, but then I transitioned to breakfast. There was always a diner or restaurant close to camp that would serve enormous breakfasts that prepared us for the day ahead.

Would you cook at camp often? If so, what was your favorite recipe?

I would always make oatmeal at some point during the day because it probably takes a total of 1.5 minutes to make and it’s delicious. However, most people don’t like oatmeal as much as I do, so the other thing I liked to make was quesadillas. All it took was took was two tortillas, cheese, and any other filling you liked. When we were in our quesadilla phase, a group of us would set up a little cooking station and we would all make quesadillas for each other. It was always a blast.

On ­the­ bike

Did you prefer to ride alone or in a group?

It really depends. Sometimes, when I was up and ready to go but that nobody else was, I would just leave and wait for the others at rest stops. There were also days when some feel tired and other feel energized, and in those cases, it’s good to be able to just do what you feel like doing. However, riding alone can get pretty boring unless you’re listening to an awesome podcast or audiobook. In a group, even if no one is speaking (which didn’t happen very often), it just feels

nice to be in other people’s company. Also, because we rode through so many gorgeous places, we would stop a lot on the way to camp to visit a town we were riding through, to swim in rivers, or just to hang out on a nice patch of grass. When you ride with a group of people, it’s also much harder to get lost.

So I think prefer to ride in a group. But for me, being able to ride by myself sometimes was absolutely necessary because those rides were the only times when I was truly alone, and it was always very relaxing.

Would you rather be riding through steady rain or extreme heat?

This is a very hard question. The rain can be horrible because it’s cold and soaks you to the bone, and it makes the roads slippery. But the heat it so draining that if you don’t drink a liter of water every ten minutes, you will feel like you’re going to die. So I think I would rather ride through extreme heat because it’s just a little bit less worse than riding in the rain.

What would you keep in your bike jersey pockets?

Map, sunglasses, phone and earphones, sunscreen, snack

Did you use a rack/saddle bag/handlebar bag?

Yes, but I removed it halfway through the trip because I could just put all the things that I was carrying in it into jersey pockets.

What type of tires did you ride?

Bontrager, the ones that my bike came with.

Did you use a cyclocomputer? What was your normal pace?

I did, but it stopped working about halfway through the trip. I don’t remember exactly what my normal pace was, but I do know that, along with everyone else’s, it was getting faster by the day.

How long did it take to learn to read the maps?

A week at most.

Riding on a flat terrain with a headwind, or climbing a mountain pass for miles. Which do you prefer?

Climbing a mountain pass for miles. I love climbing and I hate headwinds. Once you find your rhythm, climbing is very enjoyable. Headwinds, on the other hand, are always a struggle.

What was the most difficult part/aspect/state of the ride?

The most difficult state of the ride was Nevada, because we had the mountain passes and the wind. The hardest moment of the trip was an afternoon in Kansas, when it took me and four other people two hours to do the last twenty miles of the day because the headwinds were so strong. I had never felt so exhausted, dehydrated, and frustrated. But then we went and had some pizza and it was all worth it.

Routine

Were you an early riser? Did you sleep in?

In normal life, I’m an early riser. But in Bike the US for MS terms, I slept in. I would usually wake up between 7:30 and 8am, by which time the early risers had already left.

When you got to camp, the first thing you did was….

Take off my choose and set up my tent. It’s very frustrating trying to set up a tent in the dark, when all you want to do is go to bed.

How often would you do laundry?

I washed my bibs/shorts every day, but I would do a full load of laundry twice a week (on average).

It’s the evening and you’re out of your bike clothes, fed, and your tent is pitched. What are you doing to pass the time until you fell asleep?

Hang out with everyone in the camping chairs or around our tents. We would talk/joke about our day, tell stories, listen to music, and laugh a lot.

How many sink/hose showers did you take?

I took two sink showers and countless hose showers. Whenever it was a hot day, all we wanted was a hose shower!

How many loads of sink/hose laundry did you do?

I washed my cycling clothes in the sink nearly everyday. I wouldn’t do it if I knew that they wouldn’t have time to dry overnight.

On rest days, did you prefer to go out and see what the town has to offer, or did you hang out, rest up, and relax?

The night before a rest day, we alway said that we would do nothing, but we always ended up running around. I love being active on my rest days, and I actually found it hard to not do anything. In Telluride we spent the afternoon mountain biking, and in Cedar city we rode through the rain to go bowling. Even though our rest days were quite active, they were always relaxing because they didn’t involve wearing spandex and cycling for five hours.

Post-­trip

What’s your favorite memory from your trip?

I have so many memories of the trip and they are all so special that I can’t choose a favorite. I loved laying in my tent when we camped by lake powell and staring at the stars, laughing so hard that I couldn’t even ride my bike, swimming in community pools every night in Kansas, meeting people who hosted and fed us and who made the trip even more amazing….the list goes on.

Do you keep in touch with many of your teammates?

I talk to five of them on a regular basis, but I wish I had kep in touch with more teammates. It’s hard to do though because we all live so far away from each other and it’s hard to keep talking to people that you never see.

Has the trip changed you as a person, or the way you see life?

The trip has definitely changed me. I think that I am more patient with people, that I am not as shy as I used to be, and that I can live very comfortably out of my hiking backpack.

Do you have any pieces of general advice for new cyclists?

Check the tweets!