Not the 400 miles expected - probably because I didn't do the Day 0 tours & such. But still, 630km ( 391 mi) was pretty cool. This trip was validating that I was physically able to do this ride (knees, endurance), the bike was able to do the ride, and the gear I had was adequate.
*** Trip highlight was getting stopped at a crossroads for the Amtrak passenger train just outside canastota. And the pool is Syracuse!
*** Best section of the trail was Utica to Canajoharie. Most of it smoothly. Paved and wide open.
*** Worst section of the trail was the last day! Right after leaving Canajoharie it was paved but incredibly bumpy for long stretches.
First off, the rack with a duffel bag on the back was inadequate. Every time I wanted something from the bag, I had to unhook the entire net and dig around inside, and putting it back on was also a pain. I did adjust slightly and put the raincoat & hat between the bag & net so it was easier access, but at the end of day 2 I switched to my Thule panniers which was much easier! I need a smaller pannier, but getting inside the bag and removing it for the night was tons easier. However, the Thule rack was a disappointment. Several times when I was pedaling hard or moving side-to-side, the pannier twisted INTO the rear-wheel spokes. The attachment hook on the pannier was so far to one side of the bag, the other side was unsupported. A different rack should fix that easily enough. And in the end, since I was using the PTNY bus instead of the train (which required rack removal), I didn't fully utilize the Thule rack.
- I didn't need to pack so many energy bars or electrolyte drinks - PTNY had plenty of that.
- Didn't need a head bugnet at all, but I did sleep inside all the time.
- ALWAYS bring a long-sleeve shirt! Not only does it do great at protecting from the sun, but there was ONE day when it was a pretty chilly start. Not enough for a jacket, but too cold for just short-sleeves.
- USE COMBINATION LOCKS instead of key locks. This one should have been obvious to me, but if you keep the key easily accessible, you risk losing it. If you keep it deep into the bag, it's a pain to try to find when you want to use the lock.
- Having a chair was nice a couple times, but if you're inside, a lot of the times chairs are available. Next time, just bring a stool.
- Get a smaller 2-person tent. The 4-person was too heavy & bulky. I didn't even use it. And a one-person tent is just a bit tight for how hot it was.
- My 5" computer fan was INDISPENSABLE.
- If you sleep outside:
- Pros: you can isolate yourself & socialize a lot easier, temperature drops during the night
- Cons: dealing w/ the weather and portt-a-potty's
- If you sleep inside:
- Pros: A/C, bathrooms, showers, power outlets
- Cons: NOISE & heat. Only 1 place had A/C, the others were just big fans which helped, but it did NOT cool much during night. Noise of other people at wakeup and bedtime, noise of the facilities (doors slamming), snoring
- Confirmed: Electrolytes, snack bar, bug net, backscratcher, Car key, Hitch key, Lock key, Rack Key, Garmin Tempe, Swiss Army Knife, Garmin Edge, Cell Phone, Wallet, First Aid Kit, Chap Stick, Friction Frosting, Dude Wipes, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen, Buff
- Change next time: don't need the keys - get a combination lock. More dude wipes, fewer wet-ones. Get a bottle of spray sunscreen - easier to apply & store.
- Confirmed: Bag w/ mirror, toothbrush, toothpaste, nail clippers, tweezers, floss, Deo, Shower Soap, Washcloth, Lotion, Tylenol, Naproxen, Ibuprofen, Calcium supplement, Dude Wipes, Clothesline, Winter Hat
- Change next time: didn't use sink stopper, pain meds was a lot but better to have them & not need them ya' know? Same w/ the winter hat. Chose to not bring NyQuil and didn't need it anyway.
- Confirmed: Bike, helmet, sunglasses, gloves, sun-shirt w/ sleeves (or LS shirt), bibs, sneakers, helmet liner, Garmin Watch, Road ID, Front & Rear Lights, Water Bottles, Bear Spray
- Change: ULock w/ cable - get a combination lock! Helmet Liner was crucial in keeping the head from getting sunburned. Get FRONT LIGHT that flashes!
- After 2 days, I changed from the duffel to a pannier. It was fine except the pannier banged against the spokes of the wheel. I need a better rack. FAN needs to go into overnight bag also.
- Confirmed: Reading glasses, chamois cream, Repair kit, charge cables for electronics, charge block, power bank, Sun hat / ball cap, Wipes, Handtowel, Rain Coat, extra water bottle,
- Change: Tarp, Net, Bag Cover, Ext Cord, full MODL set, wrist brace, cold packs, happy nuts, USB Fan - move the ext cord to a duffel, only needed 1 power bank, charge block needed inside & at charging stations. Never used the umbrella. Sleeping mask wasn't used - never stopped long enough for a nap. Also didn't use the reading glasses, but this is where they should be. Bring SOME MODL, but don't need the full set.
- Confirmed: Book, shower shoes, toiletry kit, towel, GoMacro bars, hydration packets, clothes - STNKY bag, LS sun shirt, 4 bibs, 2 sun sleeves, 3 sun shirts, 1 gravel shirt, 1 camp shorts, 1 bathing suit, 3 socks (1 worn), 2 underwear (pjs)
- Change: only wore 1 pair of socks the whole week, used ALL the bibs, but threw one of them away at the end, used bathing suit, camp shorts for PJs, only wore the gravel shirt once - it wasn't as comfy as the sun shirts though it was UPF 50. When I wanted UPF 50, I just wore the long-sleeve shirt. Don't bring so many bars as the rest stops are well stocked.
- Confirmed: Tent, Air mattress, quilt, liner 1, liner 2, pillow 1, pillow 2, Towel, sleep masks
- Change: stool instead of full-chair. Is there a better option than the quilt?
The bus trip back was brutally uncomfortable so either I leave the car at Albany & take the bus at the start, or take the train to Buffalo? But biking this year with all the bags to the train station would be impossible. At one of the hotel stops I did some repacking and put all the stuff I needed for the night in just one bag and put it on my back and rode to the hotel.
Day 8 - to Albany, Buffalo, and home
I threw away the Prezlowski bibs that I used today, it was the second time I used them and each time was unpleasant. But even with such a short trip, they sucked. Nice band at the end, and overall a nice reception. Long wait for the bus so I went to get food at the Skinny Pancake. It was great!
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Validated some of my packing / traveling gear and made some changes along the way. Definitely helped to stay at Lotar's in Syracuse and a couple other stops along the way.
Routewerks handlebar bag:
Green duffel (clothes & inside):
Day 7 - canajoharie to Niskayuna
Qualidyne bibs
Very bumpy road going east of Canjo. My tailbone was VERY sore! Adjusted saddle forward 1/2 inch and no saddle sores! But the Qualidyne bibs were NOT meant for such long trips. Cold to start the day but I fortunately choose to wear the LS shirt so I was good. Rode into Schenectady with Jeff? from Stillwater. Felt much safer with two people and all that traffic going uphill.
Day 6 - saddle adjusted forward and more level
Cetopilar blue bibs
fun Rome to Canajoharie. Cooler, and only sunny the last hour or so I think. Did have some headwind, but most of this section was paved so it was a great ride. Still sore in my nethers, but got to the school early and had a shower so there's lots of time to recuperate. Huge hill at the end and I even had to walk some. Otherwise I could have made us another 100Km ride from
Sleeping in Canajoharie was horrible! Door next to gym kept slamming when someone came inside. Ladies weren't observing quiet hours at night OR in the morning. Guy next to me kept moaning everyone he moved. Started off warm also, but got more comfortable as the might went on.
Day 5 - Canari black bibs
bike noises - hub body & hub very dry and rust.
Almost got hit in Syracuse by a car.
Long stretch with no rest stops or towns, but all's good. The block party in Rome was quite something! Sorry I missed the Fort and Jan, but needed to rest my sores. Italian guys pizza was great!
Some clouds, but lots of sun today. Nice that we were often in forest to shade ourselves.
Day 4 - Cetopilar blue bibs
I think it was earlier this day that my bike fell and adjusted / tilted the hood inside a bit? Loved it and copied it on the right also. I think this helped my wrist pain.
GAS, heat, loose gravel, staying at Lotars tonight. Today was first day my legs were sore in the morning - maybe due to hills on road?
During ride, back was sore today, too.
Hills and heat going into Camillus was brutal but that pool in the park was refreshing!
Day 3 - New saddle
Cetopilar blue bibs
lots of road cycling coming out of Clyde at the end of the day. It was rough - very hot and heat bouncing off the pavement too. And several hills. Even though the night before I was in a hotel room.
Geese, dust
Day 2 -
Canari black bibs
100km
Geese, dust
Stopping for sights and sounds? Seriously?
Need to do this 3 times. Once to prove you can. Once to enjoy it. Once to volunteer.
Good food!
Seat sores from this one for sure.
New saddle at REI, but forgot original!
Hotel with Annie and dinner out - her lobster roll was horrible
Day 1 - Qualidyne blue bibs today.
so glad I stayed at a hotel Saturday night and enjoyed the air conditioning! But there were three cop cars at one end of the inn when I left in the morning.
I'm wisely visited the long-term parking lot before calling it a night, but I foolishly never checked for a parking pass. They didn't put that in my packet, it was a separate pickup which I didn't know. Probably should have asked the question, and / or attended more of the information sessions.
At dinner I spoke to Steve and Nora, put neither one seemed like talking much. I don't think they asked me any questions except where I was from. Then the band started playing and I could barely hear them so I took off.
Breakfast was pretty good, sugar waffles. The sausage was horrible.
I was really impressed with the spots where we took breaks. The staff was well organized, and there were a lot of volunteers making sure we didn't go into traffic, or directing us at tricky intersections.
Lunch was kind of weird. They was a stopping point Lockport, where the boat ride was, just so happens, a restaurant had a a food stand set up and I grabbed a cheeseburger. Otherwise I would have had to wait until Medina for lunch, but that was like 2:00 p.m.. And by then the sun had been beating down on me for a while. Along with the very dusty and bumpy ride. Up until Lockport, it was all paved and beautiful. My butt really needed to get out of this saddle. I took a break under a tree for 5 minutes before the last pit stop. Which for some reason was only 6 mi from the endpoint.
A pit stop snacks are not awesome, but at least they have bananas, water, Gatorade, and a few other choices.
I got a late start today because of that parking pass snafu. Hopefully I can start tomorrow around 6 or 7 instead of 8:30.
But my bike has developed an issue and the mechanics are working on it so that's the limiting factor now.
Stupidly forgot about the sun bouncing off the ground. And getting through my helmet ventilation holes. So a little sunburn on top of the head and the neck.
Showers at the school were great - nice water pressure!
Dinner was fantastic! Meatballs, ziti, salad, sausage, pepper and onion, and bread. I always get bread so I can eat a couple packages of butter.
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