“You’re meshuga!” Stan proclaimed the other morning as I was describing my upcoming bike tour to Minneapolis. I had just explained to him that I, a 64 year old retiree who only started biking seriously two years ago, am truly planning to ride my bicycle from Saint Peters, MO to Minneapolis… solo… unsupported… camping much of the time. His pronouncement concisely summarizes the judgements of many of my other friends.
Thanks, buddies! 😀
I may be meshuga but I’m not stupid. I do realize that my friends are seriously concerned about my safety and, since they do not live in my head, they do not know the steps that I am taking to keep myself safe. I do not want any more people living in my head, thank you. It is quite properly populated in here. Instead of inviting y’all into my head, I figure that I can write about what I am doing to stay safe. And that ought to keep all of us a little saner.
Mind the Big Stuff
- Priorities: Have fun. Enjoy the scenery. Get some good pictures.
- Non-priorities: No pressure to meet any timelines. No pressure to even complete the trip if it is not meeting my priorities.
- Plan the route leveraging other cyclists’ experiences and routes.
Take Care of My Body
- Pedal only four to five hours most days, which leaves lots of time for breaks, photo stops, a decent lunch stop, and even a nap if I am so inclined.
- Take rest days, too, with no cycling. Be willing to take additional rest days if I hit a spell of bad weather or if I am just tired.
- Wear a helmet, of course.
- Take my training seriously. For example, today I did a three hour, 34 mile ride. The weather was sunny and in the 60s. I had to stop for a Ragin’ Cajun sandwich for lunch and later an apple fritter for dessert. It was an arduous ride but my dedication to this strict regimen knows few bounds.
Leverage Technology
- I have a rear-facing bike radar with tail light, integrated with the bike computer on my handlebars. It warns me both audibly and visually when a car is approaching. Even at highway speeds, I get plenty of warning. When a car is approaching, my tail light switches to a highly noticeable blinking pattern.
- I have a nutty bright headlight (1100 lumens).
- I have a GPS-based bike computer for route guidance. As backup, I can use my fitness watch for route guidance. As another backup, I can use my phone for route guidance.
- If all of the GPS satellites fall out of the sky, I will ride west until I find the Mississippi River and then turn right. That ought to get me to Minneapolis.
- I have confirmed that I will have cell phone coverage, with data, for the whole route.
- My watch and bike computer both have “incident detection” and can send emergency SMS messages with GPS location through my phone to my emergency contacts.
- I have plenty of cords and chargers to keep all of my electronic gadgets running. I will stop every night somewhere with electricity.
Miscellaneous
- I already know all of the campgrounds that I will stay at. In the towns where there are no convenient campgrounds, having a cell phone and a computer will make it easy for me to make a reservation in the morning for the place where I will spend the night.
- I will be carrying some basic safety gear, too, including a whistle and first aid kit.
- I know that my bike is well maintained. I know how to fix the common stuff that might go wrong. I will have tools and materials for simple repairs. I also know how to locate a bike shop and ask for help.
It might seem like I am just hopping onto my bike and heading north. Far from it.
I had wondered about powering your devices. Are you staying in campgrounds in which each site has a power connection?
A memory from long ago: campgrounds in Oregon and Washington relegated cyclists to a “primitive” area. This was usually a large, open patch of grass, shielded by trees from campers in RVs, who apparently didn’t want to see cyclists. No power outlets nearby (not that we needed them for anything), and a long way to the restrooms.
P.S. Be sure you’ve crossed the Mississippi before you start checking for GPS satellite failures. If you start seeing rocky mountains ahead of you, turn around.
Good question, Steve. I am prepared to stay in campgrounds where I have to use power in the bathroom. I have a USB charger with six ports so I can charge the relatively inexpensive devices on my bike all at once, and also charge a powerpack battery. Then I can use the powerpack battery to charge my phone overnight.
I’ll keep that in mind about the mountains. Thanks for the reminder. It’s so hard to remember where the Mississippi River is.
What a cool idea for a trip! I’m sure you’ll meet all kinds of interesting people along the way. Actually, you’ll be one of the interesting people someone else meets along the way. Take lots of pictures!