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03-01-2005, 03:35 PM

Kumen wrote:
> As I've mentioned here before, I plan to ride around 150 miles to
> family reunion this summer. This after eye surgery, being diabetic
and
> not knowing anyhone else interested in riding with me.
>
> So it looks like my ride, at this point, will be a solo ride. I'll
> either ride from Amarillo, TX or Borger, TX to Elk City, OK. It's
> about 120 miles from Borger and about 150 miles from Amarillo. The
> route from Borger is much more familiar to me than the route from
> Amarillo, since I grew up in Borger and spent a lot of time growing
up
> in Elk City. I'm riding a Giant Boulder in really good operating
> condition.
>
> The route from Borger would take me across the Panhandle through
> Skellytown, Pampa, Mobetie, Wheeler, Sweetwater OK, Elk City. It's
> hilly at the beginning, flattens out between Pampa and Wheeler and
then
> gets hilly again between Wheeler and Elk City. From Amarillo, I'd go
> to Panhandle, White Deer and into Pampa where the route would be the
> same from there. It's pretty flat from Amarillo to Pampa.
>
> Cities along my route are pretty far apart, anywhere from 15 to 45
> miles. I'd be in cell phnoe coverage all the time. The road is well
> traveled and there are houses along the way.
>
> So here are the questions:
>
> 1. Given the fact that I won't be able to ride again until 1 April on
> doctor's orders, how do I prepare for this ride?
>
> 2. What suggestions do you have for food, water, clothing, etc.?
>
> 3. What kind of mental attitude do I need?
>
> Y'all have given me good advice, a lot of smiles and some really good
> laughs since I discovered this newsgroup. I thank you.
>
> Ride well, my friends.
> Kumen

I rode from Austin to Albuquerque in June about 20 years ago. I spent a
couple of days on the panhandle fighting the prevailing southwest
winds, and that was the hardest part of that ride, both mentally and
physically.

Even though you seem to be favoring Borger as a starting point, you may
want to factor in the wind. I'm guessing that you would have a fairly
good chance at catching a consistent tail wind if you started from
Amarillo and a fairly good chance of catching some stiff cross winds if
you started from Borger.

Top off your water bottles or your camelback at every opportunity. If
you use water bottles instead of a camelback or similar system, put
thick clean sweat socks around your water bottle cages and keep those
socks wet. The evaporation from the socks will keep your water supply
pleasantly cool.

Whatever you wear, don't skimp on the sunscreen!

Riding in the panhandle in the summer can be mentally challenging.
There were a few stretches, lasting for several miles, when I on my
bicycle was literally the high point in the landscape. At times that
was exhilarating, and at times, depressing. There were no terrain
features, other vehicles, or manmade structures (other than some
4-strand barb-wire fences) in any direction. My only competitors for
Total Terrain Domination were a few head of grazing cattle.

You may have checked out the websites referenced in Claire Petersky's
sig line. If you haven't, I'd highly recommend
http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm. There are some
techniques there for keeping things in perspective while you're in the
saddle.

I remember that the best part of my ride was the meadowlarks. they ride
shotgun, more or less, keeping you company in the hopes that your
wheels will kick up some grasshoppers or other goodies.

03-01-2005, 03:35 PM	#13 (permalink)
Gnarlito Posts: n/a	Re: Riding Cross Country Alone Kumen wrote: > As I've mentioned here before, I plan to ride around 150 miles to > family reunion this summer. This after eye surgery, being diabetic and > not knowing anyhone else interested in riding with me. > > So it looks like my ride, at this point, will be a solo ride. I'll > either ride from Amarillo, TX or Borger, TX to Elk City, OK. It's > about 120 miles from Borger and about 150 miles from Amarillo. The > route from Borger is much more familiar to me than the route from > Amarillo, since I grew up in Borger and spent a lot of time growing up > in Elk City. I'm riding a Giant Boulder in really good operating > condition. > > The route from Borger would take me across the Panhandle through > Skellytown, Pampa, Mobetie, Wheeler, Sweetwater OK, Elk City. It's > hilly at the beginning, flattens out between Pampa and Wheeler and then > gets hilly again between Wheeler and Elk City. From Amarillo, I'd go > to Panhandle, White Deer and into Pampa where the route would be the > same from there. It's pretty flat from Amarillo to Pampa. > > Cities along my route are pretty far apart, anywhere from 15 to 45 > miles. I'd be in cell phnoe coverage all the time. The road is well > traveled and there are houses along the way. > > So here are the questions: > > 1. Given the fact that I won't be able to ride again until 1 April on > doctor's orders, how do I prepare for this ride? > > 2. What suggestions do you have for food, water, clothing, etc.? > > 3. What kind of mental attitude do I need? > > Y'all have given me good advice, a lot of smiles and some really good > laughs since I discovered this newsgroup. I thank you. > > Ride well, my friends. > Kumen I rode from Austin to Albuquerque in June about 20 years ago. I spent a couple of days on the panhandle fighting the prevailing southwest winds, and that was the hardest part of that ride, both mentally and physically. Even though you seem to be favoring Borger as a starting point, you may want to factor in the wind. I'm guessing that you would have a fairly good chance at catching a consistent tail wind if you started from Amarillo and a fairly good chance of catching some stiff cross winds if you started from Borger. Top off your water bottles or your camelback at every opportunity. If you use water bottles instead of a camelback or similar system, put thick clean sweat socks around your water bottle cages and keep those socks wet. The evaporation from the socks will keep your water supply pleasantly cool. Whatever you wear, don't skimp on the sunscreen! Riding in the panhandle in the summer can be mentally challenging. There were a few stretches, lasting for several miles, when I on my bicycle was literally the high point in the landscape. At times that was exhilarating, and at times, depressing. There were no terrain features, other vehicles, or manmade structures (other than some 4-strand barb-wire fences) in any direction. My only competitors for Total Terrain Domination were a few head of grazing cattle. You may have checked out the websites referenced in Claire Petersky's sig line. If you haven't, I'd highly recommend http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm. There are some techniques there for keeping things in perspective while you're in the saddle. I remember that the best part of my ride was the meadowlarks. they ride shotgun, more or less, keeping you company in the hopes that your wheels will kick up some grasshoppers or other goodies.