Preparations Take Shape: 2. Equipment and Bicycle choices

2. Logistics and Equipment resolved.

With the house sale completed in early February, we could both focus on this essential part of the tour. By that time Christine already thought through the difference between 6-day tours and a three-four month tour and I had to catch up on many critical elements. I am privileged to have such a great partner, wife and friend.

Logistics Support

We hope and pray that nothing serious would happen. However, we asked both Marius and Hilda Koen, our friends in Northern Virginia, and Lizl and Steve Lasky, our children in Northern Idaho, to help with logistical support. We are so happy that both families accepted this responsibility without reservation. 

Bicycles

I decided to use my 29"-mountain bike with some upgrades/changes for the trip. I added a front axle dynamo to charge our cell phones and lights along the way and narrower tires to reduce the road resistance and ease up on the cycling effort. Christine decided on a new bicycle and went through a measuring exercise to ensure that her bike would be just perfect. Her bicycle is a tourer with 27.5"-wheels.

Both bikes will be equipped with Jones-handlebars to provide more riding flexibility. These handlebars also provide additional carrying options for handle bar bags for those small items we need to keep close by. We shall take delivery of both bikes in early April and would also use the first 200 miles to DC as a test ride. We could then easily stop at Conte's, Arlington VA, who are doing the work on both bikes, if any adjustments need to be made.

Trailer 

We used paniers with side bags on our earlier trips. Those trips were relaxed with hotel/B&B-stops every night. For the cross-country trip we decided to camp most of the way with hotels planned for the difficult days. This meant carrying a tent with sleeping bags and air mattresses. In addition, we shall also carry a small Jet-boil to ensure hot drinks and hearty camp food along the way. We already bought a Burley trailer to carry the additional gear. We tried it out on a 40 mile trip along the C&O-canal and, while it would slow us down a bit, the extra carrying space will be great. Please note: Since we are living in the age of equality, both our bikes have hitches. 😀😀

Tent

There are so many options available and I left this research for Christine. Luckily, she is also an avid outdoors person who already hiked the 500-mile long Colorado Trail with our youngest daughter. Her experience is highly valued. We have two tents that could be used;

• A lightweight two-person tent, or
• A larger three-person tent with more space for those rest days and very windy days when we would prefer to just stay in. 

We shall start with the larger tent and, if this proves to be too large (or heavy), we shall put in a call to our support team for the smaller tent. 

Food: What to carry and what not? 

Here we still do not know what would be best, as you could carry much too much with you as well. We do not have firm opinions and we would probably start out with some camping food, tea/coffee and leave ample space to stock up along the way as and when the next couple of days would take us through areas with reduced/minimum/no services.