Riding Cross Country Alone - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

03-01-2005, 12:26 PM

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

03-01-2005, 12:42 PM

Kumen wrote:

> 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.

I wouldn't consider 15-45 miles very far apart. And with a cell-phone,
it doesn't really matter anyway as you can always just call for someone
to come get you. I'd make sure someone agreed to that beforehand....

> 2. What suggestions do you have for food, water, clothing, etc.?

Pack light, but be prepared for rain. Carry lots of water and a credit
card. Food can be purchased.

> 3. What kind of mental attitude do I need?

Just do it. Going places on a bike is fun. Makes you feel very
indendent and lets you see the scenery and meet the locals.

Rich

03-01-2005, 12:42 PM

Kumen wrote:

> 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.

I wouldn't consider 15-45 miles very far apart. And with a cell-phone,
it doesn't really matter anyway as you can always just call for someone
to come get you. I'd make sure someone agreed to that beforehand....

> 2. What suggestions do you have for food, water, clothing, etc.?

Pack light, but be prepared for rain. Carry lots of water and a credit
card. Food can be purchased.

> 3. What kind of mental attitude do I need?

Just do it. Going places on a bike is fun. Makes you feel very
indendent and lets you see the scenery and meet the locals.

Rich

03-01-2005, 01:14 PM

"Kumen" wrote: (clip) 2. What suggestions do you have for food, water,
clothing, etc.? (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This is an idea a friend of mine used to use for motorcycle tours. He would
pack several suitcases with changes of clothing, or anything else he could
foresee. He would then send them to himself at various Greyhound depots
along the route. He could then pick up a suitcase, go to a motel, spend the
night, and in the morning go back to the Greyhound depot and send the same
suitcase, now full of laundry, souvenirs, or whatever else, to himself, at
his hometown Greyhound depot.

03-01-2005, 01:14 PM

"Kumen" wrote: (clip) 2. What suggestions do you have for food, water,
clothing, etc.? (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This is an idea a friend of mine used to use for motorcycle tours. He would
pack several suitcases with changes of clothing, or anything else he could
foresee. He would then send them to himself at various Greyhound depots
along the route. He could then pick up a suitcase, go to a motel, spend the
night, and in the morning go back to the Greyhound depot and send the same
suitcase, now full of laundry, souvenirs, or whatever else, to himself, at
his hometown Greyhound depot.

03-01-2005, 01:16 PM

"Leo Lichtman" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].net> wrote:

>
>"Kumen" wrote: (clip) 2. What suggestions do you have for food, water,
>clothing, etc.? (clip)
>^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>This is an idea a friend of mine used to use for motorcycle tours. He would
>pack several suitcases with changes of clothing, or anything else he could
>foresee. He would then send them to himself at various Greyhound depots
>along the route. He could then pick up a suitcase, go to a motel, spend the
>night, and in the morning go back to the Greyhound depot and send the same
>suitcase, now full of laundry, souvenirs, or whatever else, to himself, at
>his hometown Greyhound depot.
>

I'm starting to believe your friend was Jack Kerouac ;-)

03-01-2005, 01:16 PM

"Leo Lichtman" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].net> wrote:

>
>"Kumen" wrote: (clip) 2. What suggestions do you have for food, water,
>clothing, etc.? (clip)
>^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>This is an idea a friend of mine used to use for motorcycle tours. He would
>pack several suitcases with changes of clothing, or anything else he could
>foresee. He would then send them to himself at various Greyhound depots
>along the route. He could then pick up a suitcase, go to a motel, spend the
>night, and in the morning go back to the Greyhound depot and send the same
>suitcase, now full of laundry, souvenirs, or whatever else, to himself, at
>his hometown Greyhound depot.
>

I'm starting to believe your friend was Jack Kerouac ;-)

03-01-2005, 03:36 PM

Are you able to manage your diabetes while engaged in prolonged
physical effort? Having a cell phone won't help you if you go into
shock and don't use the phone.

I had a diabetic friend in Dallas who scared the hell out of me one
day when he neglected his insulin while we were out to lunch. He
became very agreeable and acted almost drunk before I realized how
pale he looked and noticed the sweat on him. He didn't realize he was
having a problem until I asked him directly if he forgot his insulin.
Then he seemed to realize the state he was in and asked me to get him
a Coke real quick. I got him a soda and he layed down on the floor
for a while and was OK a few minutes later.

Be careful!

03-01-2005, 03:36 PM

Are you able to manage your diabetes while engaged in prolonged
physical effort? Having a cell phone won't help you if you go into
shock and don't use the phone.

I had a diabetic friend in Dallas who scared the hell out of me one
day when he neglected his insulin while we were out to lunch. He
became very agreeable and acted almost drunk before I realized how
pale he looked and noticed the sweat on him. He didn't realize he was
having a problem until I asked him directly if he forgot his insulin.
Then he seemed to realize the state he was in and asked me to get him
a Coke real quick. I got him a soda and he layed down on the floor
for a while and was OK a few minutes later.

Be careful!

03-01-2005, 04:33 PM

"grerge" <csac> wrote: (clip)Then he seemed to realize the state he was in
and asked me to get him a Coke real quick. (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I believe your story, but I don't understand it. If he forgot his insulin,
his blood sugar would be high. Having a coke or candy bar is the treatment
for LOW blood sugar, which would be the result of an insulin overdose, or
missing a meal.