In 28 days I will begin the bike journey from the west to east coast! Everything is coming together perfectly and with a busy schedule in the next month it is time to start thinking about packing! So how do you pack for a nearly 2 month, 3,700 mile journey and keep it under 45lbs? If you have the answer please let me know! That weight is the recommended amount for each rider (not including bike) to haul in our support cargo vans during the ride. Before I get started a quick shout out to Schlegels Bicycles! They have been very helpful getting my bike into tip top shape for this ride. I've gotten a bike fit, a new saddle that made a little bit more for comfort without sacrificing too much performance, gator skin tires, new chain, and an upcoming full tune-up.
So lets get started on the packing. Of course the most important piece of equipment is the bike, my Giant TCR Advance 1 that I've had for almost 3 years now. I love the bike but I don't usually recommend a specific bike to everyone. Your best bet is to go to a knowledgeable store and have them fit you to the bike. Too often people haul over a large chunk of money for the "elite" bike but if it doesn't fit your riding style, body make-up, or goals then it could be a horrible investment. Also packing 2 pairs of R4WH biking kits (Shorts and jersey) and I'll sneak another kit in to hopefully keep on clean clothes most days. I'm not sure how often laundry will be done so I'm sure I'll pack quite a few wipes as well. I prefer bibs when talking about biking shorts, these have the built in suspenders and makes for a much more comfortable ride without revealing your backside to everyone on the road. Also needing biking gloves, shoes, helmet, socks, and sunglasses. Also I'll bring along 2 water bottles, my Garmin gear for tracking my stats, earphones and my iphone to keep up with my podcasts, and plenty of sunscreen. The weather the 1st couple weeks can be very challenging as well with is being late winter/early spring and spending some time in the desert. In regards to the weather I'll pack a top and bottom base layer, knee and arm warmers, full finger gloves, shoe covers, skull cap, a heave cycling jacket, and rain jacket. Am I to the 45 lbs yet!? How am I going to do this!
So now into the non-cycling gear. The biggest thing is the sleeping bag and pad. If anyone has a recommendation on these I would appreciate any help picking out a quality pad and bag that will ensure me the best night sleep. I'll also need a dressier outfit (khakis and polo) for giving presentations along with a couple casual outfits for after riding. All of you know I'm also into running and swimming so my running gear and jammers and goggles for swimming will have to sneak away with me as well. I definitely can't forget hygiene either! I use Every Man Jack products, these are free of a lot of the harmful chemicals and dyes in general products such as aluminum in deodorant. I will also need my compression gear and might even squeeze in my small electrical stimulation unit to help with recovery after the long days. Most of our meals will be provided and we are sponsored by PowerBar for our food while riding but I'll need a couple of my go to supplements to come along with me. I will bring along my Vibrant Health green drink mix that I use as my daily mutli-vitamin plus so much more and my ultra-filtrated low temperature processed amino acid/protein powder that is hormone and antibiotic free without any additional sweeteners. I'm still considering bringing my own bike nutrition, UCAN superstartch and energy 28 mixes, to keep my blood sugar levels in check and not wreck my body nutritionally on the ride but the cost is troublesome especially when PowerBar will be supplying products to us but with almost certain havoc on the body.
I'm sure there are a few smaller items I'm missing here... but hopefully they all get into my bag before leaving. If you have any tips on the 45 lbs limit, sleeping bag/pad, or any other packing advice let me know! Thank you everyone so far for all of the moral and financial support! I'm amazed at my generous friends and support group around me. There is still time to donate. I am less than $700 away from reaching the amount all national riders are expect to raise. If you can help please visit my personal page by clicking here to pay through Paypal or ask me how you could send a check. Thanks again for all the support and only 4 weeks away from this blog getting real with stories and pictures from my actual adventure!
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Update This Week
I am just 5 weeks away from starting the cycling portion of my journey! Wow how time flies! Here's a summary of everything so far for people who have been following the blog. I missed a week of blogging I believe, sorry, time has really been flying!
1)Oklahoma's route and logistics are pretty much set in stone now! Here is the current nation-wide route again if you want to take a look and see if you can meet up with us anywhere. we have places to stay, people who are generously feeding us, and groups to talk with pretty much in each city. If you would like to add to anything we are doing in the communities on the route (visit a school, store, community event) let me know and I will try to arrange our schedule to visit as many places as possible
2) Fundraising- I'm still in need here. It's looking better but only a little over halfway to my $2700 goal each rider is expected to raise. Please check out my Personal Page if you are considering donating. Any amount would be helpful, it's tax free, and I'm even willing to exchange a donation for almost any type of reimbursement, labor, activity, etc you may think of. I also have a mailing address if you'd rather donate that way: Ride For World Health, PO Box 8234, Columbus, OH 43210 and place my name in the memo portion of the check. I am so thankful and appreciate everyone who has given so far. This upcoming journey with the opportunity to promote health and wellness while advocating for non-profit health organizations around the world would be impossible without your aid.
3) Event days- the Tulsa community ride and world health day on April 13th is coming along great! We have a location, OSU Medical School, are finishing details up on the 20 and 40 mile bike route, have some vendors, and am just about a week away from opening up registration! We are also organizing a "Global Health day" at the school following the ride which will feature local non-profit health organizations and booths on how any normal individual can become involved in changing the health of themselves their family, community, state, nation, and world. The Norman community ride on April 10th is going to be a smaller since on a Wednesday evening but will have a great impact as well. We have a couple local riders from the Norman area helping us organize organizing everything to make the event a success. I'll let you know once the events are finalized and you can register to participate. Also, if you would like to volunteer with either of these events, let me know and I'll get you plugged in. We can use plenty of people from helping us set up the days before to actually helping at the event.
4) Research/Presentation- I have finished a group of modules now concerning international health and have just submitted the outline of my research paper and presentation which will be used along the route to talk with groups and organizations. I still have an 8-10 paper and hour presentation but with the outline done and references already obtained, it shouldn't take too much more work. I'll definitely be sharing the final pieces with you.
5) Training- oh yeah I almost forgot I am training for the ride. This is going great and I am enjoying it a lot! The problem in Oklahoma is that it is either cold or windy or recently both! I've been logging well over 100 miles a week the past few weeks and will be stepping this up even more in the next month. You can follow most of my training on Daily Mile website. I've started riding with Schlegels Bicycle, a OKC bike shop, on Sundays and they are really forcing me to turn into a man on my bike. Most of my other rides are solo during the week since I'm in Okmulgee and have a unpredictable schedule being on a surgery rotation.
So that's the "scoop" on the ride. I have a special request to add this week outside of the ride. Tomorrow February 11th is my Match day for medical school. This is when I will find out where I will be completing my residency after graduation and so where Katie and I will be spending the next 4 years of our lives. It could be OKC or it could be Michigan, New Jersey, or anywhere else in the US. With that said, there are some nerves, anxiety, and so forth affecting us so prayers from yourself would be very much appreciated and would matter more than anything else. I got my packing list for the ride this past week so might be going over my equipment and some interesting logistics of the ride in that regard next week. thanks for reading everyone!
1)Oklahoma's route and logistics are pretty much set in stone now! Here is the current nation-wide route again if you want to take a look and see if you can meet up with us anywhere. we have places to stay, people who are generously feeding us, and groups to talk with pretty much in each city. If you would like to add to anything we are doing in the communities on the route (visit a school, store, community event) let me know and I will try to arrange our schedule to visit as many places as possible
2) Fundraising- I'm still in need here. It's looking better but only a little over halfway to my $2700 goal each rider is expected to raise. Please check out my Personal Page if you are considering donating. Any amount would be helpful, it's tax free, and I'm even willing to exchange a donation for almost any type of reimbursement, labor, activity, etc you may think of. I also have a mailing address if you'd rather donate that way: Ride For World Health, PO Box 8234, Columbus, OH 43210 and place my name in the memo portion of the check. I am so thankful and appreciate everyone who has given so far. This upcoming journey with the opportunity to promote health and wellness while advocating for non-profit health organizations around the world would be impossible without your aid.
3) Event days- the Tulsa community ride and world health day on April 13th is coming along great! We have a location, OSU Medical School, are finishing details up on the 20 and 40 mile bike route, have some vendors, and am just about a week away from opening up registration! We are also organizing a "Global Health day" at the school following the ride which will feature local non-profit health organizations and booths on how any normal individual can become involved in changing the health of themselves their family, community, state, nation, and world. The Norman community ride on April 10th is going to be a smaller since on a Wednesday evening but will have a great impact as well. We have a couple local riders from the Norman area helping us organize organizing everything to make the event a success. I'll let you know once the events are finalized and you can register to participate. Also, if you would like to volunteer with either of these events, let me know and I'll get you plugged in. We can use plenty of people from helping us set up the days before to actually helping at the event.
4) Research/Presentation- I have finished a group of modules now concerning international health and have just submitted the outline of my research paper and presentation which will be used along the route to talk with groups and organizations. I still have an 8-10 paper and hour presentation but with the outline done and references already obtained, it shouldn't take too much more work. I'll definitely be sharing the final pieces with you.
5) Training- oh yeah I almost forgot I am training for the ride. This is going great and I am enjoying it a lot! The problem in Oklahoma is that it is either cold or windy or recently both! I've been logging well over 100 miles a week the past few weeks and will be stepping this up even more in the next month. You can follow most of my training on Daily Mile website. I've started riding with Schlegels Bicycle, a OKC bike shop, on Sundays and they are really forcing me to turn into a man on my bike. Most of my other rides are solo during the week since I'm in Okmulgee and have a unpredictable schedule being on a surgery rotation.
So that's the "scoop" on the ride. I have a special request to add this week outside of the ride. Tomorrow February 11th is my Match day for medical school. This is when I will find out where I will be completing my residency after graduation and so where Katie and I will be spending the next 4 years of our lives. It could be OKC or it could be Michigan, New Jersey, or anywhere else in the US. With that said, there are some nerves, anxiety, and so forth affecting us so prayers from yourself would be very much appreciated and would matter more than anything else. I got my packing list for the ride this past week so might be going over my equipment and some interesting logistics of the ride in that regard next week. thanks for reading everyone!
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