Even though Penny and I plan to do this trip 'solo" (i.e., unsupported) we would love to have any of you join us for parts of the route (on a bike). You could ride for a day, a week or whatever. Call me if you are interested (719-238-7971) and I can give you more specific information about our route and expected timing.
For those technically minded types/equipment freaks, you may be interested in our rig. We will be riding a custom Rodriguez tandem. The steel framed behemoth was built for us over 20 years ago. Then last year Bilenky Cycle Works retrofitted the bike with S+S couplers, replaced the original oval tubes with round tubes and repainted it (it took them damn near an eternity to finish, but they did a great job). We have lowered the gearing for this trip, with our crankset now sporting 22-34-44 chain rings, giving us a low of 17 gear inches and a high of 108. Yes, this means we spin out sooner in the top end but the weenie gears are sure nice to have going up steep grades.
We will be pulling a BOB (one wheel) trailer behind the tandem with about 50 pounds of gear in it, including camping equipment, tools, spare tires, etc. We will also be carrying two panniers (bicycle bags, for those nonriders out there) with rain gear, energy bars, etc. Both of us will be wearing hydration packs (Camelbaks) filled with water/energy drink and other assorted stuff. The bike + trailer is at least 20 feet long end-to-end and God only knows how much the whole thing weighs. We have done several runs fully loaded and everything seems to work fine so we are hoping we'll have fewer mechanical problems than on our trip to Minnesota three years ago (11 flat tires, a pump that did not work and a tire than would not clear the rear fender).
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