Updated tour planning, part 2

This map represents 416 miles of our trip, planned out using the campsites listed at the ACSI EuroCamping website. I recommend opening it in a new window to zoom in and really appreciate the details, including terrain, satellite, and Google Earth views.

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Updated tour planning, part 1

This map represents 565 miles of our trip, planned out using the campsites listed at the ACSI EuroCamping website. I recommend opening it in a new window to zoom in and really appreciate the details, including terrain, satellite, and Google Earth views.

View Larger Map

Brooks B17 saddle review

As previously stated, I was salivating over the Brooks B17 (in apple green) because I noticed the seat that came with my Trek 520, the Bontranger Select City, was initially very comfortable but started to irritate me on rides over 20 miles. Since we plan on averaging 30 miles every day for 2 months, I decided to test the reputation and style of classic B17.

Upon arrival, I was surprised how hard the leather on the B17 was. I got some grief from Emma and several bike store salesmen in LL Bean about my decision to order it, so I felt some initial buyer's remorse, paranoid that it wouldn't get much more comfortable.

I could feel my sit bones pumping against the hard leather with every pedal stroke. It didn't feel the best, but I was also riding in khaki shorts and let a bike store technician put it on quickly. Upon getting home, I lathered the saddle in Proofide and hoped for the best.

The next day, I put Proofide on the seat before riding (the supplied directions are pretty unclear as to how much/ when to use the substance,) put much more appropriate clothing on, and it felt great! The grinding of my bones against the saddle was slowly disappearing, and I found a great sense of satisfaction in having created such comfort for my butt, by using my butt.

I don't know if this was a fluke, because others online report needing over 600 miles of riding for the B17 to become comfortable, but by the third day of Proofiding before riding (plus wearing a chamois and using Chamois Butt'r,) I was quite happy with it.

My only complaint is that the B17 creates much more perineal pressure (article about the effects of bicycle seats on men!) Basically, this means that when I lower my hands to the drop bars, the nose of the B17 is noticeably harder and more protruding, and I feel uncomfortable pressure in my perineum.

Considering that linked article says such pressure can lead to sexual dysfunction, I was scared by it and decided to angle the seat forward. This helped, but now I slip forward and put more weight on my hands, which is also bad in the long term. I am hoping this effect will also dissipate as the saddle breaks in more, and that I will be able to tilt it back and take weight off of my arms again.

Basically, the B17 in Apple Green looks super badass, but takes some getting used to. As a testimonial, Emma had previously experienced pain with several different kinds of seats, including a Specialized mountain bike seat with a channel down the middle. After weeks of experimentation, I finally told her to try my slightly broken in B17, and she literally yelled out loud because her butt had never felt so good on a bicycle, and immediately ran inside to find out where she could buy one for herself.

This was especially satisfactory, considering Emma and those LL Bean guys who sold her the inappropriate Specialized mountain bike seat were dissing the B17. She ended up buying a Brooks B17 S in Honey later that day. I guess that story speaks for itself!

Boston to Natick, via Lexington (30mi)

This will be our longest, most heavily loaded, most realistic training ride yet.

We are already sunburned and tired. High temperatures in the upper 70s/lower 80s range. Humidity like a thick velvet blanket draped over our bodies. Aching muscles, hands and feet.

The funny part is that our 30 miles today, the longest we will have ever completed, is supposed to be our baseline average for the trip! Better get used to it.

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Tour Planning, pt 3

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Tour Planning, pt2

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Tour Planning, following campsites

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Post-Grad

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Training fails...

This past week was Senior Week at Tufts, which means we were celebrating the final week of undergraduate life with our college buddies.

Sadly, that, plus horrible weather, has led us to a lack of training. Not to mention, Emma has a sinus infection, which doesn't help to get in the saddle and on the road.

Tomorrow is the last day before graduation, and then after that, its all training mode. Otherwise it might be tough in Europe. Holy SHIT I can't believe this is all happening!

Reeeaally hope the world doesn't end tomorrow.

saddle up route

TOIGHT LIKE A TOIGER

View 7 Riverview Rd in a larger map

Mainah loop

Oy mate. Imma wrangle me some lobstahs on this one!

...thats how Maine folk talk right?

Anyway, this is Diego writing as Emma, and this weekend we are up in Freeport, ME, where Emma calls home. It was a bit chilly today, which wasn't the worst, considering all the hills they have around here. In fact, we've been biking through so much cold weather that I'm starting to get concerned we will just melt in the summer heat.

(not a big concern, I'd rather it be sweltering hot because that's just how I am!)

In other news, LL Bean is freakishly huge, utile, has good prices, and even has its own zip code. Damn. Emma bought a bike seat which we have yet to try out, and I got some Chamois Butt'r that also has yet to be tested.

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The day my patella became intimately acquainted with a Boston curb

#mykneeisbruisedbutnotasbruisedasmyego

PIMP MY BLOG

Oh wait, Diego just did. <3

Round The Charles

Indeed, chum.

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New Hampshire

In NH today for Mother's Day Weekend.

We skipped riding yesterday because of finals stress. I think writing papers and studying for tests should have some equivalent to biking miles...I'll figure the equation out later.

So, instead of 25 for today, we rode this 18 mile loop around Paugus Bay that featured the biggest uphill climbs we have encountered yet. I personally loved it. There were small bursts of rain that kept us fresh throughout the ride, and after those big hills were some huge, satisfying downhill stretches overlooking the serene NH landscape.

It was interesting how a long, gradual uphill was so taxing. I'm happy I have that third "granny gear" on the front on my Trek 520, because when we are fully loaded up with 20+ pounds of equipment, I will probably have to use it a whole bunch. I've been purposefully trying to stay on the largest front gear when not fully loaded to simulate weight.

The more I ride, the more I feel I will be needing a better bike seat. (Emma has been dealing with pain from hers since the first 20 minutes of trying it!) For example, I felt fine for the majority of our ride today, but at the end of 18 miles, I could feel discomfort starting. If we plan on 30-40 miles a day in Europe, I'd rather not have it be in pain.

I will most likely end up ordering a Brooks B17 in Apple Green. They have a great reputation, and (I think) will look badass in contrast with my Rootbeer-colored 520. Or at least I hope it will give the bike a more personalized character, which I believe it is currently lacking.

...Besides, true cyclists would never ride a stock bike, right?

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Riding in the Rain

Well, it has finally happened. The sky opened up on us about 3/4 of the way through our ride and we learned through expereince that the Trek 520 is indeed up to a downpour. Despite the rain, there were no accidents...except for my attempt to do a little loop-de-loop to let Diego get ahead of me and promptly falling into the wooded bank that bordered the road. Nothing to injured except perhaps my pride.

Also, I only yelled at Diego once ("Slow dowwwwwnnnnn cars might hydroplane!") and I did not cry at all. Hurrah, we are making progress. Today's ride was also the debut of Diego's new iPhone bike mount, which as far as I can tell was a grand success.

My riding outfit consisted of too-big padded bike shorts that hurt more than they helped. I think a new saddle is in order, and certainly some new riding gear. If only it were not all so gosh darned expensive.

Overall a good ride. A week until we are both done with finals. 18 days til graduation. 40 days til departure. BRING IT ON!

Reading Period Ride

Senior year classes are officially over! Now to hand in final papers and keep biking. Hopefully the rain doesn't catch up to us on this 15-mile loop.

Also, sorry about the other starting point on the map, 'tis a strange glitch I couldn't remove.

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Re diego's first blood

If we included pictures of all my injuries/ bruises this blog might have to be censored for gore.

(Diego's) First blood

I was in the middle of lecturing Emma on proper clip technique when my foot slipped and I slammed my shin into the jagged metal pedal.

Thankfully, 'twas merely a flesh wound! I eventually rolled it off, implementing the cathartic methodology of screaming dirty words to ease the pain. Some TLC from a lovely friend, however, was what really helped :-)

Trek 520 review with panniers

THIS IS MY BICYCLE!!!!

Honestly, it is so sexy. I've gotten quite used to riding beater bikes around Boston for the past couple of years, which means I have a built-in resistance to saddle soreness and the daily experience of climbing hills (Tufts University is all one big hill!)

We spent lots of time researching different options, and this seemed like a reputable, solid choice for a month-long tour. It is also speedy and durable enough for the fast, metropolitan style of riding I like to do, which means it will get great use upon returning to the USA.

As someone who mostly RIDES bikes and doesn't quite fuss over the details, I don't know if certain components are significantly better/worse than others. All I know is that I feel like I can ride forever on the steel frame of the 520, it is much faster and fits better than my previous $100 Craigslist bike, and that rootbeer finish glistens in the sun like nothin' I've seen before.

I also have Axiom Laselle panniers, which are currently loaded up with:

• 3 t-shirts
• 2 shorts
• a button-up shirt
• jeans
• 4 pairs socks
• laptop
• textbook
• 2 notebooks
• towel

These things still have plenty of space to spare, with pockets and bungee cords that haven't even been touched yet. They seem pretty awesome, and the best part is that I haven't really noticed much of a change in my riding after loading up the bike with all the extra weight. In fact, it seems to add inertia/speed when I go downhill. Considering this isn't a race, I foresee general awesomeness.

AHHHH I can't wait for this trip!! Gotta graduate college and keep training first.

Emma's wrist's note to her brain

AVOID POTHOLES!

(written by Emma on Deeg's account)

WISH LIST (ie. things we will have to end up buying ourselves before the trip..)

WE both need:

• CHAMOIS BUTT'R: "Butt'r your buns!"

http://www.treefortbikes.com/product/333222336738/721/Paceline-Chamois-Butter.html

EMMA needs:

• a new saddle cuz she's a girlllll
• padded bike shorts x3 (still a girl)

DIEGO needs:

• a travel guitar cuz he's a music addict

more later..

Mayday Ride

Wutup yo.

We did this 15 mile ride today, my first with the panniers! I loaded up 4 pairs of socks, 4 pairs of undies, 3 shirts, a nice button-up shirt, jeans, a school textbook, and a towel. I pretty much forgot about them, which was a nice feeling, because I was slightly concerned the extra weight would be really obvious.

Pics of the bike with panniers/ my bloody leg coming soon...

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Diego's panniers have arrived. Currently trying to pack them realistically for our 15 mile ride today. Yesterday's ride was rather circular, in fact, completely circular: biked from 45 Province to Tufts, with a quick detour at my house to clean up Diego's bloody shin (his pedals viciously bit him) and then rode back to 45 on Mass Ave to pick up his car and drive back to tufts for spring fling. Today we are Natick, last ride of the first week this morning, and then tomorrow, week 2, higher mileage! Hopefully, I get more used to the seat on my Trek as time goes on. Each morning I climb into the bike saddle my pelvic bone protests for a good half hour. Next step (besides obtaining the rest of our panniers) is to have the ol "budget conversation" with both sets of parents. Wont that be fun! Just as long as we do not have to live off of spam..