Saturday, October 31, 2009
Departure from Portland
Lucie visited her friend from uni, Ingvill, who is now living in Portland. Ingvill took these photos of Lucie's departure for her Tour de Oregon/California.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Preparation in Portland
My first post!
No riding yet, but I'm now prepared to head off after a week staying in Portland with my friends Ingvill and David (who were lovely hosts). It was a week of furious comparing and shopping. I knew that because I was travelling for months before this trip I couldn't bring my bike from home, so I had my heart set on picking one up here on the West coast. I looked around at ALOT of bike shops- some really good ones with lovely, helpful staff, but settled on a pretty black one from a place called Performance Bikes. I was somewhat limited on range- while Portland is a very bike-friendly city, there isn't much in the way of touring-specific bikes. Most people will make up their touring bikes from scratch, but due to time constraints, I had to buy a rather nondescript hybrid and quickly add on the extras to make it 'tourable' (I hope to invent a few words as I go along too!). Its a Fuji Absolute 2.0, and I'm not sure if its perfect as is, or whether it may need a bit of tweaking to ensure it handles the tough roads ahead, in South America. Which is why this 'Giro d'Oregon/California' is important- it'll let me iron out any kinks before the Big One.
So tomorrow I head to the coast to start the 1,112km (Google maps- I hope they're right) ride. As I've been stuffing myself stupid these last few weeks with lots of good food and wine, I'm currently on the rounder side and am thus a little out of shape, so I'm gonna start with lots of short days to build up some strength, and hopefully in 3 1/2 weeks- the time I've given myself to get to San Fran, I'll be ready to tackle the winds of Patagonia with Kelly, my travelling companion for the first month.
Here's a brief list of what I'm starting with, which may or may not change as I get on. I dream that it'll get lighter, but I doubt that's gonna happen...
*Fuji Absolute 2.0 bike with 2 bottle cages, lights, speedo, fenders, seat post with suspension, Topeak rear rack (one of the most important parts- I merely pedal my bike- the rack carries my gear) and Ortlieb rear panniers. Tools and spare tube.
*Sierra Designs 2 person Electron tent, Thermarest Z-lite sleeping pad, headlamp, Macpac Latitude sleeping bag, pillow, cooking utensils, Macpac fuel stove and Steripen UV filter and pre-filter drink bottle.
*One set of thermals, cycling knicks, windproof tights, several cycling tops, fleece vest, warm riding jacket, beanie, zip-off pants, water-proof pants and jacket, and light hiking boots.
*Camera/s of course (my zippy Canon IXUS 80IS, and trustworthy Olympus Camedia C-760) and iRiver. Guidebooks and notebooks (these may become negotiable as times goes on) and toiletries.
Overall, I've got alot of stuff here in Portland and even in a few cities on the way here. I brought my sleeping bag and stove from home and a few bits of clothing, but the rest was bought here. The US has a great range of outdoor gear here, and its alot cheaper than back home. Add to that a currently favourable exchange rate, and you've got one happy camper (or should that be cyclist?). I highly recommend buying gear here if you're around, even if its just to take home- you can get a great deal.
On an aside, the US is a very cool place to visit for all kinds of reasons. Great cities, big and small. Yes, they can be on the business-y side and a little bland, but there are some really nice places, and almost all have friendly people in them. A few stand-outs are New York City (for everything), Boston for some laidback history, and Portland for its setting (Mount Hood is a beautiful back-drop, and there are trees everywhere- so much so you can't see Mount Hood when you walk up the hills for a view!) and community living. There are lots of homey cafes, co-ops are quite common here (and in alot of unexpected places throughout the country) and there's a real emphasis on local and fresh produce. Not the kind of things you come to expect of America, but the left-wing here is very strong and active. And if cities aren't your thing, then there's always the natural wonders that cover this place. There's literally every type of climate, landscape and setting you can imagine. Each corner has its own personality, and you start to understand how hard it is to get everyone on board when it comes to politics and cultural/racial issues. The plains of Montana are so far removed from New York City its hard to imagine they're a part of one nation. I highly recommend you come visit here if you're at all interested.
I hope to update this in the coming months, if for no other reason but to have a record. I'd love people to comment or ask questions. I'm really a novice bike-tourer (and by novice I mean ABSOLUTE BEGINNER) and am learning as I go so pass on tips and advice!
May the winds always come from behind!
P.S. I'm currently pondering a name for my noble steed and also in need of a mascot. I shall keep you posted of any developments.
No riding yet, but I'm now prepared to head off after a week staying in Portland with my friends Ingvill and David (who were lovely hosts). It was a week of furious comparing and shopping. I knew that because I was travelling for months before this trip I couldn't bring my bike from home, so I had my heart set on picking one up here on the West coast. I looked around at ALOT of bike shops- some really good ones with lovely, helpful staff, but settled on a pretty black one from a place called Performance Bikes. I was somewhat limited on range- while Portland is a very bike-friendly city, there isn't much in the way of touring-specific bikes. Most people will make up their touring bikes from scratch, but due to time constraints, I had to buy a rather nondescript hybrid and quickly add on the extras to make it 'tourable' (I hope to invent a few words as I go along too!). Its a Fuji Absolute 2.0, and I'm not sure if its perfect as is, or whether it may need a bit of tweaking to ensure it handles the tough roads ahead, in South America. Which is why this 'Giro d'Oregon/California' is important- it'll let me iron out any kinks before the Big One.
So tomorrow I head to the coast to start the 1,112km (Google maps- I hope they're right) ride. As I've been stuffing myself stupid these last few weeks with lots of good food and wine, I'm currently on the rounder side and am thus a little out of shape, so I'm gonna start with lots of short days to build up some strength, and hopefully in 3 1/2 weeks- the time I've given myself to get to San Fran, I'll be ready to tackle the winds of Patagonia with Kelly, my travelling companion for the first month.
Here's a brief list of what I'm starting with, which may or may not change as I get on. I dream that it'll get lighter, but I doubt that's gonna happen...
*Fuji Absolute 2.0 bike with 2 bottle cages, lights, speedo, fenders, seat post with suspension, Topeak rear rack (one of the most important parts- I merely pedal my bike- the rack carries my gear) and Ortlieb rear panniers. Tools and spare tube.
*Sierra Designs 2 person Electron tent, Thermarest Z-lite sleeping pad, headlamp, Macpac Latitude sleeping bag, pillow, cooking utensils, Macpac fuel stove and Steripen UV filter and pre-filter drink bottle.
*One set of thermals, cycling knicks, windproof tights, several cycling tops, fleece vest, warm riding jacket, beanie, zip-off pants, water-proof pants and jacket, and light hiking boots.
*Camera/s of course (my zippy Canon IXUS 80IS, and trustworthy Olympus Camedia C-760) and iRiver. Guidebooks and notebooks (these may become negotiable as times goes on) and toiletries.
Overall, I've got alot of stuff here in Portland and even in a few cities on the way here. I brought my sleeping bag and stove from home and a few bits of clothing, but the rest was bought here. The US has a great range of outdoor gear here, and its alot cheaper than back home. Add to that a currently favourable exchange rate, and you've got one happy camper (or should that be cyclist?). I highly recommend buying gear here if you're around, even if its just to take home- you can get a great deal.
On an aside, the US is a very cool place to visit for all kinds of reasons. Great cities, big and small. Yes, they can be on the business-y side and a little bland, but there are some really nice places, and almost all have friendly people in them. A few stand-outs are New York City (for everything), Boston for some laidback history, and Portland for its setting (Mount Hood is a beautiful back-drop, and there are trees everywhere- so much so you can't see Mount Hood when you walk up the hills for a view!) and community living. There are lots of homey cafes, co-ops are quite common here (and in alot of unexpected places throughout the country) and there's a real emphasis on local and fresh produce. Not the kind of things you come to expect of America, but the left-wing here is very strong and active. And if cities aren't your thing, then there's always the natural wonders that cover this place. There's literally every type of climate, landscape and setting you can imagine. Each corner has its own personality, and you start to understand how hard it is to get everyone on board when it comes to politics and cultural/racial issues. The plains of Montana are so far removed from New York City its hard to imagine they're a part of one nation. I highly recommend you come visit here if you're at all interested.
I hope to update this in the coming months, if for no other reason but to have a record. I'd love people to comment or ask questions. I'm really a novice bike-tourer (and by novice I mean ABSOLUTE BEGINNER) and am learning as I go so pass on tips and advice!
May the winds always come from behind!
P.S. I'm currently pondering a name for my noble steed and also in need of a mascot. I shall keep you posted of any developments.
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