First tour idea- for Thanksgiving break

[redeyedtreefr0g]

I have a fleecy blanket that I could cut up and make puppy coats out of, that's a good idea even if my husband will roll his eyes at the idea of dog clothes. (I've wanted to make them raincoats too. I love Colorado since Jackjack has lost his allergy completely, but I miss making his protective overalls)

The trailer has a cloth floor, so I was thinking I might be able to use the rest of the thin plywood to create a floor. That way the two puppies aren't falling into each other all the time and they'd have warmer butts, I'm guessing. As for wind, the trailer I have is a nearly-new gift of an Instep Journey (it's green!!). Seats two children and has a removable canopy with a big mesh window in front and back, but also a plastic weather shield that rolls down, so if its very cold and windy I'll keep that closed. My biggest concern is that it is NOT water-proof, but it's not likely that we'll ride in any sort of precipitation anyway.

Dong a very small bit of poking around, I think my husband may have a broken axle. I have a freebie mountain bike that will likely donate her wheels to get his bike back in shape. (His bike is named Vandal because it always has to steal parts from others, first to become a rideable bike, and now to keep it rideable, hehe.)

I know I'll be in the right mindset, I just hope everyone else stays happy too. It should be so much fun! I'm very excited.

[Crankin]

How many days do you realistically plan to ride there and back? There's a huge difference between riding 18 miles a day and 30 or 40. Add in the cold factor, too, pulling dogs in a trailer, and riding with people who aren't as fit as you. I second the idea of hotels and maybe your mom and DH sharing sag duties. Maybe I lack the sense of adventure you have, but I know I would want to train a lot more for this type of trip. There's nothing worse than feeling miserable on a multi day trip.

[goldfinch]

I have a fleecy blanket that I could cut up and make puppy coats out of, that's a good idea even if my husband will roll his eyes at the idea of dog clothes. (I've wanted to make them raincoats too. I love Colorado since Jackjack has lost his allergy completely, but I miss making his protective overalls)

The trailer has a cloth floor, so I was thinking I might be able to use the rest of the thin plywood to create a floor. That way the two puppies aren't falling into each other all the time and they'd have warmer butts, I'm guessing. As for wind, the trailer I have is a nearly-new gift of an Instep Journey (it's green!!). Seats two children and has a removable canopy with a big mesh window in front and back, but also a plastic weather shield that rolls down, so if its very cold and windy I'll keep that closed. My biggest concern is that it is NOT water-proof, but it's not likely that we'll ride in any sort of precipitation anyway.

Dong a very small bit of poking around, I think my husband may have a broken axle. I have a freebie mountain bike that will likely donate her wheels to get his bike back in shape. (His bike is named Vandal because it always has to steal parts from others, first to become a rideable bike, and now to keep it rideable, hehe.)

I know I'll be in the right mindset, I just hope everyone else stays happy too. It should be so much fun! I'm very excited.

I use a kid's trailer for the dog. It does help to put in a solid floor with thin plywood. Otherwise the dog had no support. I also through a big fleece blanket in for her comfort.

Oh, and everyone should get a couple pair of padded bike shorts or liners.

[redeyedtreefr0g]

Well, my husband mentioned today that maybe Colorado Springs isn't such a great idea. He doesn't want to take the dogs and is willing to bargain with our roommate for babysitting. He's not too keen on trying to do that sort of distance when we have my mom along, who he believes (probably rightly so) that she will keep a slower pace. He doesn't want to take up the entire holiday break with this trip, and he also mentioned holiday traffic as a concern. He made it quite clear to me (since I was hearing a ton of reasons why he didn't want to do this trip at all, and must have looked quite crestfallen about it) that he was willing to do the miles, just maybe in a giant local circle or something in one day instead.

I am at a loss of where to go instead of to the very specific goal of: my twin's house for Thanksgiving dinner....

We don't have lot of money, but I was thinking of going to try on the cheap Schwinn brand padded bicycle shorts. Maybe they would work?

[goldfinch]

Well, how about people's suggestion about taking a vehicle too and have mom and your spouse take turns driving? You could do 30 miles a day and it won't take up the entire vacation. Especially if you just do it one way. Thanksgiving traffic may be bad right around Thanksgiving but you could do the trip earlier.

What size shorts do you need? I might have a pair of used ones I could send you.

[redeyedtreefr0g]

I dunno, but that would be awesome. I'm 5'2" with 28" inseam. Petite with 28" waist and 38" hip measurements as of a month ago, 120-125 pounds. Does that help?

[lph]

I think your tour idea is awesome. I completely get why you want your specific goal, to where your family lives. It's tremendously satisfying to cover a distance to something that's important to you, under your own steam. But entire days spent being uncomfortable has a way of being very demotivating. I haven't done many long bike tours, but I've done some long-distance hiking, and days with bad weather, or boring surroundings, or with some minor injury really sucks the joy out of things.

Trailers are terrific for hauling stuff. But pulling a trailer is hard work, and I wouldn't count on doing that all day unless I had to.

You're obviously the most motivated, so anyway you can wrangle that you ride the whole distance, and anyone else just joins you every now and then, or at a hotel for the night, sounds like a good idea. You'll ride that much faster and more comfortably if you're on your own, without hauling stuff.

Let us know how it works out!

[goldfinch]

I'll pm you.

[redeyedtreefr0g]

Thanks lph, I will