Ready to Roll 1000 miles around Alaska, here we come!

By -
Gazing out the window, I can't tell you how excited I am to begin this journey around this beautiful state of Alaska. After weeks of reading books about cycling, listening to podcast about cycling, and interviewing real people about cycling, I am eager to start.  "Sea to Shining Sea" will be a 1000+ mile bicycle tour around Alaska from Prudhoe to Homer and lots of places in-between.

Training?  
I have done two of the three things to get ready.  
1) Get in the bike saddle as long as possible. That just means that I ride whenever and wherever I can.  I have learned the bike safety rules of the road and acquired a great map.  I do my errands, bike to church, ask as many people as I can to bike with me.  

*Since I bought a used Surly Long Trucker renamed Green Dragon, I have logged 232 miles.  
Please text me or message me if you want to train or bike ride.  I don't mind where or when, I just need the miles.  I can go fast or leisurely.  It is up to you.  I LOVE PEOPLE!

2) James and I got to fill our borrowed panniers and took the yellow tandem on a ride.  We tried to see if we could balance, and it wasn't bad at all.

3) HILL TRAINING 
NOT done!  Argh! I need to get out and do some hills.   

Equipment?
We have the best friends who had some panniers that we were able to borrow.  My hands love the lobster style specialized gloves for warmth.  My feet are super happy because God provided a $3 pair of Pearl Izumi neoprene cycling over-shoes in Thrifter's Rock.  They keep out the wind and some of the water.  A dear friend is even hauling up our camping fuel to Prudhoe because the flight will not allow explosive material.  Yeah for Great Friends!


Still Needed?
1)  Front rack for the tandem bike.
2)  Place to stay past Soldotna toward Homer around the end of May.  Anyone??
3) Encouragement and notes from the journey will be here only.  Please subscribe by entering your email address under the title. 

About to begin!
In just three weeks, this epic challenge will begin.  We are heading down to Homer from Anchorage.  Please message me if you want to join or be on the support crew. 

Animals spotted so far from the dragon:  Moose (6), Red Fox (1), Muskrat (1), Snowshoe hare (2), and countless birds including a Stellar Jay.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rippy Trail with Clear Sign

By -
Image
After my last review of Rippy Trail , I wanted to revisit it because it is a great trail.  It is one of the only trails that is multi-use, which means sharing with ATV's that is not a giant mud hole. Since it is spring, it is nice to know of some dry trails. Total Length is 3.8 miles round trip. To the Trailhead:  Head down Maud road to the end and further to the end of the dirt road called Maud Extension.  You will pass a nice lake on your right and a shooting range (recently updated) on your left.  Keep going.  The road gets narrow and at the bottom of a short hill there is a larger turn around place.  *If you continue to a even more iffy road you will end up at Jim Lake (too far). Park near the new sign.*not there earlier last year! Then the trail is clear except one point about 4 minutes in it looks like it has a Y but just stay to the heavily used trail to the right and you will be on the trail. Great trail for mountain bikes and fat bikes! Trail Terrain:  I
Read more

Anchorage is So Bike Friendly

By -
Image
One of the hardest parts of leaving Palmer is that I had so many opportunities to be outside.  However, a little gem that I didn't realize (born and raised in Alaska with COUNTLESS errands in Anchorage) how bike friendly it is.  There is the mountain bike trails and the multi-use paved trails.  Even some of the major roads have bike lanes. I am trying to train for the "Sea to Shining Sea" and I now consult this map before going out and driving around.  I think I am becoming a bike commuter first.  Someday, I will be a bike tourer.   ***Update*** I went out twice and didn't have ANY near death experiences.  I was able to bike 23 miles that were mostly flat.  But, little by little I feel a bit stronger.  When I see the sweeper trucks, I want to hug them and tell them how much I appreciate them.  Anchorage did put an amazing amount of gravel on the roads.  
Read more

Matanuska Peak, One Mountain many approaches...

By -
Image
Matanuska Peak aka Byers Peak The fair brings hordes of people to Palmer, but it also brings a temporary job with the amazing Alaska Chicks .  Seeing the beautiful weather (best in years), made my hiking feet cry for the mountains that call for me.  However, we had set September 10th for the ascent. Like other large mountains, this one has rewards all the way you climb it.  On the day we hiked, we saw people with toddlers who didn't summit, but enjoyed the tundra meadow! My husband is a fair weather hiker, and thankfully it was a STUNNING day.  We got a later start instead of 7am, we launched at 9 am. Many Routes to the same Peak. 1)   McRoberts Creeks approach Trailhead:  Smith Road 2) Matanuska Peak Trail Trailhead: Smith Road but after 3) Summit Lazy then go down the backside of Lazy toward the valley and connect with the Mat Peak trail. (Matanuska Peak Race) Trailhead:  Huntley Road Lazy Mountain Trailhead 4) Lazy-Matanuska Peak Connector Trail : Summit
Read more