This attempt to cross the USA by bike began on April 27th by dipping the rear wheel into the Atlantic at Rehoboth Beach, DE. It has now been four days since I rode into Florence, OR and concluded what became a truncated, two-part bike tour. Even though I've been sleeping long, hard and late, I still feel a bit wobbly... and I was only with the group in Phase 2 for the last seventeen of what was, for them, a seventy-five day adventure. Some, like Joe (who had to drop out), wer

If like me, you are a spreadsheet person, here are the numbers associated with the TransAm Express tour: First phase (Rehoboth Beach, DE to Pittsburgh, PA) was 561 miles with 8,789' of elevation gain Second phase (Missoula, MT to Florence, OR) was 884 miles with 37,716' of elevation gain Total 1,445 miles with 46,505' of gain Total riding days = 25 plus 4 rest days (average 57.8 miles/day) Thirteen people registered for the ride, plus there were 2 co-leaders who alternated be

Phase II of this bike tour will begin in about 24 hours when a good friend loads the touring bike box, one duffel bag and a carry on into a pickup and very kindly drives me to the Portland airport. Then it will on to Missoula, where I've yet to figure out how get all that the seven miles or so from the airport to the outrageously priced Motel 6 where I'll meet the remaining tour members. I'm told there will be a marathon in town that weekend, so perhaps that explains the usur

The mythical bird (not the city in Arizona) is said to be reborn from its ashes and so, like the Phoenix, I am going to rise up, rejoin the TransAm Express tour and attempt to finish what I started back in late April. I've been slowly returning to cycling (on my #1 bike, not the tourer, which is still boxed up for the shipment home from Pittsburgh) several times, including some 40-50 mile training rides, and the abused ribs feel fine. I've slept on the ground again with no di