Last year I decided I wanted to go home for Christmas, but I previously stated that I would only leave Orlando if it was under my own power.
I spent seven days covering the 660 miles between Orlando Florida and Birmingham Alabama on a stock Motobecane Vent Noir road bike I purchased from bikes direct .
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The page tells some of the highlights and realizations I encountered along the way as well as a map showing some of the places I stayed, I think this trip was a great warm up to my eventual goal of riding across country one day
Home For the Holidays
Well this is it. I take off soon on my bicycle tour later on today. I can’t believe how excited I am right now.
Last night I recorded my first voice cast for Stupidhurts.org. It is a little short, but I think it serves as a decent introduction. Plus it may be amusing for those who have never had the chance to hear my accent.
[audio:home.mp3]
You are Going How far?
[tag]Orlando[/tag]-Hernando
I decided to go ahead and make my first day a high mileage day, probably not the best idea on earth. But then again neither is riding a [tag]bicycle[/tag] 600 miles.
My original route was going to take carry me up state road 441 until I reached Georgia. Unfortunately much of that road is under construction and lacks a shoulder. After an hour of worried if I was going to get mirror checked by a passing car I stopped and spoke with the awesome people of Sun Cycle Center. One of the clerks there had made the same [tag]ride[/tag] in the past and had a slightly more pleasant but little longer route in mind. So instead of shooting for Ocala for the evening. I will Instead be heading through Inverness and picking up a converted bicycle trail that runs to Dunnellon with should be nice since it is glass smooth and has no car traffic at all. Due to the change in plans it does mean I will be camping out tonight instead of staying with some, but after already bending my rear rim to the crappy roads of the 441 I think smooth [tag]trails[/tag] should be worth it.
I had decided sometime after 2 that I was going to stop for lunch at the next place I saw. Sometime after 3 when I finally came to a place I decided I couldn’t really afford to be picky and I should take what I could get. So I figured I could do worse and then cycled into the Colonial Fairways [tag]Country[/tag] [tag]Club[/tag]. Surprisingly enough they actually served me. The food wasn’t half bad either. But I have to admit the best part of lunch was hearing an old lay say “hard penis“ talking about her husband and then realizing I was sitting across from her chuckling to myself.
From there I continued westward until I got a little bit past highway 75 were I found a rarely used dirt road. Here I stopped for a bit and caught a nap, what can I say The miles caught up with me. It was also important I set up my tent once in the daylight first before attempting it at night. A few hours later I was back in the saddle and eventually reached Inverness where after stopping to get one of my favorite performance enhancers [tag]CAFFEINE[/tag]. I picked up the bicycle trail that runs north The trail is perfect: scenic well groomed and really smooth. I was able to turn my headlight off and ride by the moonlight while listening to the sounds around me for a few miles. Once I passed [tag]Hernando[/tag] on the bike trail I pitched my [tag]tent[/tag] and called in a night.
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Daily numbers
Miles:101
Average Speed: 13.6
Top speed: 27.4
Anti Drug ?
[audio:anti.mp3]
Sometimes simple Works To
Hernando-Archer.
The morning started off brutally cold. Which is odd because the previous night was bordering on hot. Sometime in the middle of the night the temperature had dropped down to the mid 40’s and the high was not expected to be any high than 50. Well no point sitting in my tent all day freezing.
The next town I made it to I decided to try to find the library so I could check in. I should have expected to be let down after it took asking eight different people to find someone who knew where the library was. After a bit of hunting I eventually made it to the library.
Leaving there and returning to the bike trail I had spent most of the morning on I came across one of the most impressive people I have met in a bit. When I caught up to jerry he had been out riding for four days on a huge loop up to the Georgia-Florida State line. He was really encouraging to speak with. Before leaving he gave me lots of advice including a few roads to think about while I was out. The words he said that will stick with me are, “it does not matter when you get there, five minutes isn’t” going to make a difference, just get out there have fun and eventually get where you are going.
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I got kinda discouraged fairly early on in the day because i had been battling a 9 mph headwind since I started. I wasn’t able to get above 10 miles an hour for most of the morning. There was a spot on my route where Jerry told me I was going to get lost. Needless to say when the road I was on turned to dirt, I couldn’t help but think to myself. â€Man Jerry is good.“
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Unfortunately a full day of battling headwinds took its toll on me, everything hurt at the end of the day.
Dinner was the definite high note of the day. While passing through Archer I started to make note of food places. Nixing the ones I didn’t like. When I found a gas station I stopped and asked the clerk what my options where for food in town. She listed 3 places, 2 of which I had passed already. Since the only place left was right across the street it won by default. I got close enough to read the sign. It was a Mexican restaurant named â€A Mexican Restaurant“ proof it pays to keep things simple
The day by the numbers
Miles: 63
Average Speed: 11.8 mph
Top Speed:21.8
Total:164.7
DOOOOOWWWNNN On The Suwanee River
Archer-Mayo
Fortunately today the temperature was up a few degrees over yesterday. After a slow start I managed to make my way Newberry, Florida. Where even though their library was closed I was able to get online and fool around a bit since they have wireless access. From there I left and headed up to HighSprings. Which was the original stopping point I had in mind since yesterday had taken such a chunk out of me. After a short visit to Santa Fe Bicycle Outfitters where I finally got to throw a leg over the KHS Flyte 320 which aside from slightly lower spec components than my bike is still a pretty nice piece of machinery. At this point it had taken me about 3 some odd hours to cover twenty miles. Leaving Highspings it was really warm for the first time since I left and I was able to change down to my shorts. My pace was a lot closer to my normal riding speed. Soon I was tearing along for the next two hours at 17-20 miles an hour. So I ended up knocking out 40 miles in 2 and a half hours. Passing along several miles of the historic Suwannee river. Suwanne county is pretty awesome, there was a paved and separate bike path that runs the entire length of the county.
In my haste I almost missed what had to be the high point of my day. Some random woman riding a cruiser in the direction, standing up on the pedals making pelvic thrust towards the handle bars.
Some how or another I also manage to warp my largest gear on the front. I managed to waste an hour of daylight adjusting my shifters so I wouldn’t have to listen to it rub, but I still haven’t decided if I am going to replace it or not yet.
In Mayo, Fla. I was also reminded why I like small towns. I walked into the gas station and before I even said anything. “You aren’t from around here are you?†And before I left i managed to hear two life stories and all about someone’s brother in Jasper, Al.
Before leaving Mayo I hung around and watched the annual Christmas parade. pics will be up when i get to it
The Tale Of The Tape
Miles:67.4 miles
Time to Complete: 4:45
Avg: 14.5
Max Speed: 22mph
Total:232.2
And The Saints Go Marching To All Saints Cafe
Mayo-Talahassee
“I can’t find the road,†was my first thought of the day as I stuck my head out of my tent and looked around. last night I had snuck onto a Tree farm to find a place to pitch my tent. After a little wandering around I did eventually find the road, and once again my adventure was under way.
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The first place I stopped had a display case full of fried chicken prepped. As i was stepping to the counter to get a few pieces, the clerk chose that exact moment to practice her Jedi skills on a large number of huge flies. I quickly changed my mind and just got a soda. That proved to be a huge mistake. I wasn’t going to pass a store for another 20 some odd miles.
When I did finally reach a gas station somewhere outside of Eridu. (don’t worry it isn’t on my map either) I stepped up to the counter with a can of beefaroni. Where I asked the clerk “is there a food place nearby?†His response was less than encouraging, “Well Tallahassee is only 30 miles away.†hmmmmm I guess I will need two cans then,
This was the first stretch of my trip where there was literally nothing for long stretches at a time. This road seemed desolate compared to some of the other roads i had traveled previously. State road 27 was an alternate route proposed by the person who helped me with my map at Sun City Cycles. Most A.C.A riders go up through Monticello which adds about 5-6 mlles to the trip into Tallahassee. She told me she couldn’t remember why everyone went through Monticello, and that I should be fine running straight in on 27. Looking at my map I guessed it was just for the sake of a supply stop due to the lack of places between Mayo And Monticello.
Regrettably I was wrong. The reason the ACA says avoid 27 is that there are no shoulders on the road from Jefferson county until you get into Tallahassee city limits. I actually found myself off my bike an walking in the dirt for several miles to avoid getting hit.
Even with that bit of excitement I did eventually make it into Tallahassee, Once in town I quickly called a Warmshowers.org member in an effort to line up a place to stay. I was given directions to All Saint’s Cafe near the FSU campus. this place was awesome. it was elbow to asshole crowded inside. With bikes hanging from the front and a full bike rack and on the side. My host for the evening was Danny. He rides a awesome looking fixed gear bike, and was full of great information about the city, he promised tomorrow will start off with a tour of the town before I leave
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After a shower I felt like am entirely new person. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds.
Reading back over this it sounds like the journey has been really easy. All in all it really has been, Riding long distances isn’t as much of a physical stretch as I thought it would be. The first few miles of the day seem to be against your body as you warm up and work out the previous days kinks. But once you are warm and stretched the rest of the battle is almost entirely mental. Maintaining the focus needed to keep riding, and to will to make it over the next hill and the one after that, and the hill after that has been tricky at time. Luckily for me encouraging words and mental crutches have just been a cell phone call away.
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While riding in Jefferson county my right knee went and I didn’t get off to take care of it right away like I should have. I kept going and told myself “this hill is mine it will not win.†In the end that hill was mine, along with the few dozen others that came after it. Now I am walking with a severe limp in my right leg, It doesn’t really want to support weight right now. Since I refused to stop to tend to it earlier odds are I will pay for it later, But right now I doesn’t matter I am still extremely happy. And most importantly I beat the hills.
The tale of the tape
Miles today: 85.77
Average speed:14.4
Top Speed: 31.3
Total Mileage: 318
Anyone See That Hour I Lost
[tag]Tallahassee[/tag]-[tag]Cypress[/tag]
I almost didn’t write about today. I really don’t want to think about it again. The combination of little sleep the previous night and high mileage combined with my first real day of hill climbing. Made for a morning that was less than stellar. In less than five miles every muscle was screaming for me to quit. My knees trembled and I wondered if I really was going to be able to continue.
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Somewhere during the course of the day one of my [tag]chain[/tag] [tag]ring[/tag] bolts broke. So eventually I have to find a bicycle shop and pick up a new set. If for no other reason than to get rid of the groaning from my bike every time I turn the pedals.
Chattohoochie Florida was my favorite place of the day city limits starts with a 600 some odd foot climb over the course of a half miles straight up a hill, where you get maybe a mile of flat ground and town before you go down another hill straight down for about 3/4 of a mile before running into [tag]Victory[/tag] bridge
Victory Bridge marked a great personal victory for me. It is closer to the actual halfway point of my trip and it also is the point where you cross into the [tag]Central[/tag] time zone. I can’t help but be excited about the fact I will be back in [tag]Alabama[/tag] before the end of the day tomorrow.
I stopped somewhere east of Cypress, I wouldnt bother looking for Cypress on a map, the city limit signs straddle one intersection and that’s it.
This was probably my least eventful day so far. Most of the day was spent with my head down convincing myself to push for one more mile. Every ten miles felt like a war. And when I finally turned over the 60th mile I felt like I could go no further. I think I was sleep before I unrolled my sleeping bag all the way.
Statistics
Miles for the day: 62.11
Average Speed: 12.6
Top Speed 34.6
Total; 381.1
Tire Trauma
Cypress Fl.-Brundidge, Al.
This morning got off to an awesome start. All the previous days injuries seemed to be gone and I fell into my pace fairly easily. My phone has been dead for a bit so that meant no music, but I was feeling so good it didn’t really matter.
During the first ten miles of my day I was pedaling along thinking to myself, “I have got this far with out a flat tire, amazing.” Unfortunately I must have said it out loud. Somewhere around the 25 five mile mark my rear tire went flat. Less than a mile from the Alabama state line. I didn’t even have time to get my back wheel off my bike and start swapping tubes out. Before someone had stopped to offer me a ride up to the [tag]Dothan[/tag] [tag]Wal-mart[/tag] so I wouldn’t have to waste my spare tube. Made as much sense as any. Well I crossed the state line in the back of a car, not exactly what I had in mind, but it was still early in the day.
I made it to the Wal-mart and outside was a squad of guys in a roped off area assembling bikes for the [tag]Christmas[/tag] rush. I talked to them about the area while I swapped my tube out. I think my skills impressed them, because they offered me a job traveling with them doing bike builds. I declined because I have other things in mind right now.
From there I rode the 231 north for a while. But that presented two major issues.. The first is there are long stretches of the [tag]231[/tag] that don’t have a shoulder, and after someone in a van actually cut over and physically pushed me off the road I decided to walk till the shoulder restarted. I ended up walking ten miles before I got a semi-ridable shoulder.
Surprisingly the shoulder on the 231 is textured with ripples that are about an inch deep. Riding over these on a road bike is not at all unlike riding a washing machine with two cinder blocks and an angry Doberman inside of it
20 miles of constant jarring vibration and I wanted to die. But then I saw this shimmer up ahead.
there was a 20 foot tall chrome [tag]chicken[/tag] staring at me from the darkness. That was all I needed, I couldn’t be defeated by a simple road.
My bag felt more like a [tag]superhero[/tag] cape, and the light rain that had been following me for the past few miles suddenly didn’t mater. The road was mine to do with as I pleased. It felt awesome. I ended up pounded out a few more miles before the rain got to heavy for me to feel comfortable with my computer.
The tale of the tape
Miles for the day: 72.9
Average Speed: 12.5
Top 30.5
Total: 454.1
I can’t See!!
Brundidge-[tag]Prattville[/tag]
I was pretty sore most of the day yesterday. I have realized that slow days make the fast days possible, and that I can’t go balls out every single day.
Luckily for a big chunk of the day I had a generous [tag]tailwind[/tag] from the south. At one point I was beating along at just a hair over 30 miles an hour. I saw a [tag]cop[/tag] sitting over the the grass to my left, and I assumed he would ignore me since I was on a bicycle. Then I see him raise his [tag]radar[/tag] gun and shoot me. I know he shot me because as I blitzed past him I saw him staring at the display on the radar gun clearly baffled. I could not help but smile to myself about that one for the rest of the day.
Somewhere after 50 miles I couldn’t get back onto my pace. I figured since I wasn’t going to get into a comfortable groove I may as well see how far I can go before I have to quit. I didn’t really think that one through very well. Because at this point I had eaten most of my snacks and was nearly out of water from fending off several dogs earlier in the day.
Realizing this after the 70 mile mark I decided to push ahead anyway. And thing were going great until my headlight started to get dim and I could see less and less of the road. Then I noticed all of the lights were getting dim, and I was having problems keeping my bike on the road. After a few more miles I realized what was happening. I was going blind. This had happened before once at a [tag]track[/tag] meet, so I knew what I had to do. Find food and water quickly, luckily for me I passed a well placed all night [tag]MacDonald’s[/tag] and was was able to rest and resupply. I would have hated to be taken out by a rookie mistake like that.
The Day In Numbers
Miles: 84
Average Speed: 11.8
Max: 33.7
Total Mileage: 538.1
Nothing Motivates Like Vultures on your Heels
I know I have been slacking off, but I think I earned an off day or two.
[audio:final.mp3]
Mileage for the day: 72 miles
Average speed: 12 mph
Max Speed: 28 mph
Grand Total!! 610 miles