The New Camera Mount

Last minute things are always there but I am feeling pretty good about leaving.  Today was a big day for bike mount testing.  My friend Scott built what I like to call the Lance.  It is a camera mount for the 7d. take a look.  It is a aluminum square rod the is attached to the front rack of my bike.  then there is a tripod head that holds the camera.  It is extremely sturdy and would only be used for short amounts of time on smooth roads but it will add alot of dynamic shots to the documentary.
It was a little scary riding with it but I got used to it pretty quickly.

So I set off on my adventure tomorrow at 10:30am EST.  Expect to hear from me on twitter and facebook.  and then when ever I get wireless I will be updating the Journal.  

And stealing from my friend David Lawson,  there will always be MORE TO COME!!!!

Why Biking Rocks

So I am definitely an advocate for biking. I will by no means yell at anybody for driving a car. I understand the importance of a car and well Lara has a car and I drive it quite often. So call me a fake but I still love bikes for several reasons. The exorcise I get when I ride compared to going to a gym is a million times better because I workout AND get places I need to get. Also the exciting sites that I get to see when I am on my bike is different from when I drive or walk. But best of all is something that I just discovered today. If you bike to Build a Green Bakery on 223 first ave in NYC you will get 25% off your purchases. The cookies are amazing and the place is entirely made out of recycled material (including the wall paint). This thought that since I am one to bike that I deserve a discount on goods is an interesting thought. what if bikers were to get a bigger tax cut if they road to work (all ready might be happening) or if I bike to a restaurant I would get a bit of a discount. This is an amazing Idea.

Bike Track: David Lawson's Floundering about in an Age of Terror

30 Days and Counting

Ladies and gents 30 Days till my trip! I need your help getting the word out about this trip and documentary. When people put comments and post videos on Facebook, Youtube, Vimeo or on Bikeagainstthewind.com they are participating in the final creation of the documentary. Your posts about places you have always wanted to go or things that you have always wanted to do could possibly be used in the final cut of the film. Plus I get to talk and meet with more people all across the country and world. So please make comments, post videos and participate with me in this project.

Watch the video update at www.bikeagainstthewind.com if you can't see it here.

BIKE TRACKS: Dave Mathews Band

TOTAL DISTANCE FOR DAY (TDD) : 30 miles

TOTAL TIME FOR THE DAY (TTD) : 2 hr

TOTAL TIME TRAINING: 1 yr 5 wks

TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELED: 2309.84 + Miles

Starting to Say Goodbye

Tomorrow I am going up to New Hampshire so I can see my Grandparents before they leave to go to Florida. I was talking to my grandmother over the phone today and it was during that conversation that I realized that I am not going to be seeing her before my trip, so I convinced her that it would be a good idea for me to come up and see her and Grandpa even if it is for only 4 hours.

This is the start of the goodbye for now's.

One thing that I have learned growing up is how to leave a place with out much emotional trouble. Saying goodbye to people is not hard for me because I feel as though I am just a phone call or a text or facebook post away. I have moved from Garden Valley Idaho to Penang, Malaysia back to Idaho and to Boston with out much trouble (other than packing and unpacking). Some people I know have trouble even leaving their home for a day let alone 3 months. This interests me because it is different from how I feel.

What keeps people from leaving places that they have lived? What makes people so strongly attached to a person or a place that they never venture past the city limits? Is that OK? Is it the smart thing to do? Is it the Right thing to do?

Do you have trouble leaving friends and family for extended periods of time? What do you think it is that keeps you from leaving certain places?

Is it easy for you to leave people and places? What do you think about when you make that transition time after time?

Make a post on this blog. I would like to hear your stories.

BIKE TRACKS: Tea and Scrumpets

TOTAL DISTANCE FOR DAY (TDD) : 18 miles

TOTAL TIME FOR THE DAY (TTD) : 45 min

TOTAL TIME TRAINING: 1 yr 5 wks

TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELED: 2279.84 + Miles

What a Wonderfuly Squishy World We Live In

I got a box in the mail from Guyot Design. They were sending me their product "the Squishy Bowls" and "the Utensils" I am very excited to use these things on my trip. They are light weight bowls that can be easily cleaned and packed away. AND THEY ARE BRIGHT BLUE!!!

BIKE TRACKS: Andrew Anderson

TOTAL DISTANCE FOR DAY (TDD) : 0 miles

TOTAL TIME FOR THE DAY (TTD) : 0 min

TOTAL TIME TRAINING: 1 yr 4 wks

TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELED: 2261.84 + Miles

Training while doing research (watching Movies)

So one of the things that I have had to make sure to do is train on my bike more than I usually do. Because of the bad weather I decided to get a bike trainer. (yes its kind of like training wheels but not) This little kickstand allows me to peddle to my hearts content indoors. This gets my milage up. I am getting up to 250 miles per week because I am going to push my speed at the beginning of the trip so I dont stay in the North east to get hit by storms.

With this new trainer it allows me to double task to in the picture I am watching documentaries while I'm biking. Makes sense doesn't it?

ANY recommendations on documentaries for me to watch?

BIKE TRACKS: Barnaked Ladies: Its All Been Done

TOTAL DISTANCE FOR DAY (TDD) : 5 miles

TOTAL TIME FOR THE DAY (TTD) : 30 min

TOTAL TIME TRAINING: 1 yr 4 wks

TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELED: 2190.84 + Miles

The Adventurer in All of Us

Imagine playing guitar hero with that guitar.

Alright so I have known that other people have biked across country. I have known that others have biked down the Americas, I have known that people have biked around the world. And each story amazes me.

I am currently trying to get in contact with anybody and everybody that has done any of these amazing trips in order to swap stories and promote each others projects. So below are a few people that have amazed me. There are plenty more but these are a few of my favorites.

Darren Alff (Bicycle Touring Pro) - www.bicycletouringpro.com (I have gathered so much information from this guy. he tours and tells you everything. he has a book also.

Mike Beauchamp (the Cross Canada Project) - www.mikebeauchamp.com/crosscanada/index.php (Mike biked across Canada and made a documentary)

Lee Hughes (The Adventure of a Life Time) - www.leehughes.co.uk (Lee is doing "The Adventure of a life time" biking, climbing, walking and paddling, check it out)

Mark Cooper - www.runwithmark.com (This guy is running from Amsterdam to Barcelona, just look at is)

BIKE TRACKS: NPR

TOTAL DISTANCE FOR DAY (TDD) : Rest Day

TOTAL TIME FOR THE DAY (TTD) : ~ hr

TOTAL TIME TRAINING: 1 yr 4 wks

TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELED: 2185.84 + Miles