Bygone Bicyclist

… in many ways.

As the trip nears, I continue my regiment of tour journals, cycling forums and reminiscing over past trips. Last night I decided it was time to clean and grease the machine, so I tore it apart to do so. After getting it apart, I came to a conclusion that something needed to be for it. Much paint has chipped off over the years, and it is clearly showing now. Luckily, as the family runs a Corvette restoration shop, I happen to know a plater! Today I glass-beaded (much like sand-blasting, but with glass sand) every piece of the disassembled bike and took it to our platers. Much to my surprise, the ‘head’ of the cycle is stamped for Kennedy – who wants that covered up anyway! He tells me Saturday I will see my friend once more, in a new, shinier nickel finish. I’m terrifically excited.

The constant downpour has tried to put a hamper on my planning, but I won’t allow such a thing. As each day closes, the desire to get back out there grows more. I want once more to be the bird that can fly anywhere, and decides to do so.

Actually, at this point it’s mostly less than two months.

My original plan was to leave the Continental US around the first week of May. However, I might have to leave a week or two sooner – time will tell. The most important thing part of when I leave is allowing myself enough time to reach as far north as I wish for by June. If I don’t allow for enough time, I’ll risk potential snowy/cold times as I venture back south.

Hectic is the best word to explain my status. Not a moment of my current life isn’t busy with something. Being the person that I am, and valuing quality over speed, cost and quantity, I’ve spent incredible amounts of time researching gear for this trip. I wanted to purchase one, and have it last, and I think I’ve done a superb job thus far. Because of this, I’m going to start a sort of ‘gear review’ section of this site. When I say I’ve spent ample amounts of time doing this research, I mean countless hours across multiple weeks have gone into deciding each and every item. Of what has arrived, I’m overly pleased with, and I have no doubts about their further pleasure and strength. There’s something to be said for quality. [Thomas] Stevens rode ~13,000 miles on the same ordinary cycle he left home on, and only had mechanical issues *ONCE* on his whole trip around the world (that took nearly three years). The one time he did have that mechanical problem is most likely due to the abuse / lack of care by some foreign officials. With the technology we have today, don’t you think we deserve things that could last us a lifetime. I know I’m sick and tired of material objects with a half life (which happens to be often months, rather than years or decades).

The bulk of my purchasing is done, although I do need to find a few more things to finish up my fashions. Just this week I came to the idea of how to modernize my saddle, allowing a modern saddle be easily installed or removed if necessary. I’ve had to go against my initial plan for baggage and resort to a more modern approach; panniers are on their way (and will be attached at the spine). I still would love to have a ‘large’ MIP bag (Multum in Parvo – much in little), but with time constraints and lack of venues for getting one, I’ll have to wait on that. After the baggage and saddle work, I have to reinvent the wheel with the help of some local Wheelmen, and then I believe I am mechanically sound for the trip. One of my final tasks is to finalize a mapped plan, including rations for the “end-goal” (including the purchase of said rations). The one part of the trip that worries me is that ‘last’ (I quote it because it’s more like the middle, as I have to head back afterward). Food and travel will be tight, but I have no doubts about being able to pull it off.

Today with the help of the brilliant father of mine, I fashioned a new seat post, of sorts, for the ordinary. This allows me to mount a modern day saddle to the wheel (something I slightly worried over considering the possible extent of such a trip). One forgets what happens to leather over 40 years, but is quickly reminded when using a brand new leather saddle – one’s posterior reminds you have such things though. After finishing the mount and getting it dialed in (and riding it a nice 5 mile jaunt), I disassembled the machine. I’ve been worried for some time about the missing paint and wears, and I’m taking it to our plater tomorrow to see if it can get a new jacket of nickel within a 2-3 week window. After that, the pannier brackets and rebuilding the wheels are all that remain.

It is not just in novels or the movies
It is not just in long distance commercials
Or something that you thought you felt back in high school
It is not just in poetry and stories
It is truth, and it will follow you
Everywhere you go from now on; it is like a song
Now, you can feel all the knots in your stomach start to untie
Oh what a sweet discovery

Love could be a mystical beast, and it would still draw people. Think of something between Bigfoot and a brownie. Just the idea of it is enough, even if your life is void of it. If it didn’t exist, it wouldn’t matter to anyone. The hoax of it is plenty. Are you afraid of being eaten alive by Nessie, or do you get excited at first note of a possible sighting? I’ll take my chances swimming in the Loch Ness.

When did it become taboo to follow your dreams and do the things you love? Somewhere down the road people fall into a predisposed rhythm of life. Sure, some people get away with following their heart, but the majority search and search while the answer is right there. Haven’t you ever wondered why some birds stay in the same place, when they could fly anywhere they want? Maybe you should ask yourself the same question.

—–

i miss …
the way you looked at me as i held you
your piano talent
making you smile
wonderful eyes
dreaming of travels with you
falling asleep on the sandy beach, only warm thanks to you
that you lied to our friends about who kissed who first
your incessant texts and calls while im lost somewhere on the globe
singing you to sleep
being the last voice you heard
being the first voice you heard
how your family asked about me, and you were too embarrassed to answer
how you refuse to be photogenic, even if you are the most picture perfect thing to me
how you kissed me, thinking i was too drunk to recall after that night
arguing, just to hear your voice
sleep deprivation, to stay up to talk to you
sleeping awkward on the couch, so i could hold you
being rained on in the desert
… on the beach
… in the forest
dreaming of you
thinking of you
waiting to hear your voice
missing you

For a while I’ve tried to find a clever way to note on a post I came across two or three weeks ago. Katie, a fantasmic person from my summer wrote so perfectly an excerpt of my life (and she didn’t even know it). Strangely enough, until I read it, I hadn’t actually thought about it. Now that I have, it rings so true to my life though. Who said it was okay (and possible) to have a crush on EVERYONE!? Cut it out, me. Seriously.

On a side note, I’m finally a little more pleased with life’s direction as of late. I’m spending more time with my studies, and that is a huge miss of mine from the last few months. More riding, singing, cooking and joy fill my days, and…well, who can complain about that, right?

I love crepes, and cannot stop making them.

I finally finished (re)painting one of my bikes. It turned out so surprisingly gorgeous, and I love riding it (even more so now), even if it is a crappy Nishiki conversion. On the note of bicycles: My damage claim for my damn-near-new Bianchi from this summer is finally turning a positive face. I’m being told my check is on the way, which means five months of waiting, complaining and hoping has finally paid off.

Some random pictures of a recent Faber car

Things were a bit wild while in Texas and right as I got back. I hadn’t had the time I liked to do much of anything I had wished to do. On that list was many things, but more web updates were a high point on that list. So, looking back, here are some missing photos from the winter in Texas. The weather while I was there was a brilliant change. Returning to PHX, I was greeted by countless days of 70+ degree weather (in January!?!??!!); much rain followed, which was more than appreciated, though.