I'll be following the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route along the way. Starting on the Canadian border, it attempts to follow the Continental Divide down the spine of the Rockies into Mexico. The 2,500 mile route includes mainly fireroads, some pavement and singletrack, and more elevation gain than I care to think about.
I'll be traveling solo for most of the ride so everything I'll need (I hope) will either be packed on the bike or the BOB trailer I'll be pulling. Total gear weight should be around 50lbs. plus or minus water and food. BOB's been with me in the past as I've done a bit of road bike touring, but nothing even approaching 3 months in the saddle. My longest trip lasted all of 3 days! That should probably concern me, but I'm already planning on days of pain before I find my rhythm.
Before this trip my bicycle stable had been sorely missing something with knobby tires, so this was a great excuse to get one! Months back I purchased a Salsa 29er from East Coasters here in Blacksburg. It is a steel frame hardtail which should be ideal for long distance comfort and durability. So far it has exceeded all of my expectations. The hydraulic disc brakes are amazing (the last time I had a mountain bike, mechanical disc brakes were just starting to appear). Check her out!
Recently my adventures have been more along the lines of car camping and overnighters, so this trip is also forcing me to update my now ancient collection of equipment as weight and durability are going to be significant factors. Mom's down sleeping bag from the 70's and blue foam pad might work fine for drinking beer down by The River, but probably not so much for three months in the Rockies. Besides the things I'm buying, many friends have also graciously lent me supplies. Thanks friends!
This is my first blog and I hope to keep up with it when I can and internet access allows. I'll definitely have enough time for observation and reflection, but it remains to be seen if any of that will amount to a hill of beans or not. Regardless, some of it will make it here I'm sure and hopefully if nothing else will provide some entertainment. So if you want to keep up with my travels, check back here from time to time. And remember "careful is a naked man crossin' a bob' wire fence."
