The Bike

After training, the bike would be the second most important thing when considering a trip like this. I read lots of opinions from hard-core adventure cyclists who spend months out on the road...to speedsters who participate in RAAM (Race Across America). I've been riding a carbon bike since 1995, so the "durability of carbon" concerns raised by some were not an issue to me . My triathlon bike was a Kestrel KM40...followed by a Kestrel Talon similar to the one I'll be riding. The great thing is, Kestrel offers a life-time warranty! The frameset I'll be riding is brand new....thanks to Kestrel's warranty policy and the World's Greatest Bicycle mechanic, Jere, at Loco Motion Bikes in Winter Park! The Talon has been a great all-around bike. Relatively light and aero, yet strong, dependable and very comfortable on long rides. I decided to add Profile carbon Wing aerobars to Profile carbon Dromo drop bars for a nice combination of hand positions for added comfort. Replaced the Ultegra group...new shifters, rear deraileur, chain and cog. For gearing I went with a compact crank up front with a 50/34...and a 12/27 in the rear. That should cover me for the climbing days and keep me going fast if there are big tailwinds. I kept my carbon cranks and carbon stem as they have been bullet-proof. The same is true for the Velocity Spartacus wheels. They are mid-v, which means they are slightly more aero than standard box section wheels. It's my second set so I know they are very reliable. I'll bring along extras spokes...just in case. Fortunately, we'll have a bike mechanic along...because lubing my chain is about the limit of my mechanical abilities!

Training

In the mid-90's, I decided I didn't want to hit 40 fat and out-of-shape. Back then my goal was to do an Ironman distance triathlon (2.4 mile swim/112 mile bike/26.2 mile run). A couple years of sprint and Olympic distance triathlons taught me a lot about training. I learned about swim technique and how to run faster....I also learned that I loved riding the bike! In 1997, I did Ironman Canada in 10 hours 19 minutes and realized that training for the race was considerably harder than the race itself. For a few years I bicycled for recreation without focusing on any serious racing or training. Recently that has changed and I've been training and riding with the racers. I am fortunate to live in Florida where I can train all year long with some of the most talented cyclists in the country. Central Florida has some great cycling routes, rolling hills out west in Clermont and the Windermere Roadies! (www.windermereroadies.com) Hard rides and laughter made training for a trip like this a blast! I have a job that demands a considerable amount of time, so I have to get pretty creative with training rides. Fortunately, the Wednesday night ride goes year-round as well with a route at the airport that is completely "under-the-lights"! This is a typical week for me:

Saturday ~ 70 miles with the middle 40 miles hammering with the racers
Sunday ~ 100 miles with middle 60 miles at tempo pace with hills
Wednesday night~ 50 to 60 miles fast!!!

Over the last 4 months I have added mileage and tried to put in 3 consecutive days whenever my work schedule allowed*.

Saturday - 102 miles as tempo
Sunday ~ 112-130 miles with the middle section at hard effort
Wednesday night~ 50 to 60 miles fast!
Friday ~ 80 to 100 miles

Big thanks to Hal & Cori Downing (www.luvbobbies.com) for doing so much for cycling in Central Florida, Manny Otero for keeping the "WRoadies" website the best source for cycling info and trash talking on the planet, Mike Starr and Todd Barczak for their company on many of those long rides home and the rest of my cycling buds for pushing the pace and helping get me into shape for this trip! And, of course...my wife for putting up with my long hours at work and long hours on the bike.

Why?

My cycling friends already understand. Others seem to take a moment to think before asking. Why? The idea for this trip has been rolling around in my head for years. I stumbled onto the website of the LA-based group "the Dittybops" last summer. They set out via bicycle for New York to promote a new album...playing gigs along the way. They posted the details of the ride from what they ate and thought to the roadkill they encountered. That was it!!! I had to start planning. My original plan was to do this ride solo. It didn't take long for me to come to my senses. I wouldn't last a week camping under the stars, eating turkey jerky and brushing my teeth with water from someones garden hose! A bit of web-search and I found America By Bicycle, a company that has run cycling tours all over the country for more than 15 years. Looking at the tour dates for 2007...there it was: Fast America 2007 Costa Mesa, Ca to Amesbury, Mass (3459 miles) April 22-May 24, 2007. All I needed now was 5 weeks off work. April 19th just happens to be my 25th anniversary of working as a photographer for The Walt Disney Company, so I certainly had good reason to believe my request would be approved. April also happens to be my 25th wedding anniversary. My wife has always been hugely supportive of my cycling and never hesitated when she said: "you must do this trip!" To say that I am a lucky man to have the support of my wife and the time off to do this trip...would be an understatement! I love a good road trip!