Yes I said it I am a cheap skate. I plan on doing this trip with the cheapest gear possible. This leads me to the revelation that I am falling into the corporate scams of Walmart. Actually I love Walmart, I won't lie about that.
I have found 5 things that I am going to purchase by mid August for my trip alone on Walmart.com.
First thing I must have is a helmet. So of course that is on the list.
Here is what I am purchasing and the prices.
Schwinn Merge Q-Star Microshell Bicycle Helmet, Adult 16.96 with free site to store shipping
Stansport Pack-Lite Camping Pad 12.86 free shipping to home (dying of hypothermia doesn't sound appealing)
Wenzel Deluxe Mess Kit on sale for 9.85 plus free shipping (it's pretty basic but all I need is basic)
Outdoor Recreation Group - Set of 3 Ultimate Dry Sacks 9.97 with free shipping (I need my clothes to stay dry)
Wenzel Current Hiker 2-Person Tent 29.86 plus free shipping.
(this has better reviews than the tent I was going to purchase and is about a pound and a half lighter plus its 60 bucks cheaper, can't beat that. I just am scared that I will end up somewhere without any trees and then I won't have any place to put up my hammock tent)
I also have a hydration pack on my list which cost about 22 bucks. I have a camel pak but my dad took out the bladder and uses it for his riding sack. I guess it works well for him as that, I prefer using it for water. It seems like none of my water bottles ever fit in the bottle rack on my bike.
So the total with the hydration pack is 101.60....... Can you see how this is way more appealing than just paying that on a tent that has bad reviews alone.
I am going to split this stuff up into 2 purchases too for one specific reason.
Ok everyone is probably going to laugh at me and I probably will hate myself a few weeks from now, but I have that determined look in my eye right now and I'm going for it.
I am going to purchase a sewing machine this week. My grandmothers is broken and my aunt is crazy about using hers even though she can't sew. So you're probably wondering what this has to do with cycling and camping. Well I have decided that I am going to make my own set of panniers because I want them to be perfect and pretty too lol.
Believe me I know how crazy I am. But its an adventure its supposed to be a little crazy.
Well hopefully I will plan some more this week so I can actually write some blog post but for now I have to get back to those dreaded household chores... Life on bike is so much easier.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Planning and my bike
So I've been doing a lot of thinking and some rough planning about what I will bring and how I will pack it.
I do not want to ride a bike carrying everything I would carry when I go camping with my car. That's just not possible. I want things to be lite. As lite as possible.
I am still on the fence on whether to bring my hammock tent or buy one of those solo tents that only weigh 3lbs. I am worried that if I bring my hammock tent there will be no trees to camp in once I arrive to my camp grounds. But if I buy a tent I don't want to suffer from hypothermia by sleeping on the ground so I'd have to carry something to put underneath, the extra weight just does not seem appealing. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
As far as clothes go I think I have it figured out.
1 jacket the waterproof windbreaker kind that's in the ugly neon colors
1 pair of pants that turn into shorts
1 set of night clothes
2 pairs of capri's/shorts
4 shirts one of which will be long sleeve probably my yellow cycling jersey
4 undies
2 bras one sports
and 4 pairs of socks
I am pretty sure that's all I need but I could be forgetting something.
Of course a helmet and bike gloves.
I have a small bike tool kit that has everything I need in it. Its on my bike now in a little frame bag. I of course will take an extra inner tube with me.
As far as food this is where I'm at a loss. Should I bring food with me? Or should I grab it on the road? What camping stove should I use?
I need to buy a rear rack as well as bags to go on my bike. I'm looking around for cheap and durable.
But with all my concerns aside I figure I should show you guys my bike. This is a 1984 schwinn World Sport that I had when I was a teenager. Its been sitting in my friends garage for years and I redid it at the beginning of the summer. I did take it in for a tune up and to have my gears fixed which they weren't and when I was riding yesterday they would not shift. Lets just say I am very angry and will not be taking it back to the department store where I had it tuned. Century Cycles will be getting my services from now on.
But here it is. I'm very happy with it aside from the gears.
I do not want to ride a bike carrying everything I would carry when I go camping with my car. That's just not possible. I want things to be lite. As lite as possible.
I am still on the fence on whether to bring my hammock tent or buy one of those solo tents that only weigh 3lbs. I am worried that if I bring my hammock tent there will be no trees to camp in once I arrive to my camp grounds. But if I buy a tent I don't want to suffer from hypothermia by sleeping on the ground so I'd have to carry something to put underneath, the extra weight just does not seem appealing. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
As far as clothes go I think I have it figured out.
1 jacket the waterproof windbreaker kind that's in the ugly neon colors
1 pair of pants that turn into shorts
1 set of night clothes
2 pairs of capri's/shorts
4 shirts one of which will be long sleeve probably my yellow cycling jersey
4 undies
2 bras one sports
and 4 pairs of socks
I am pretty sure that's all I need but I could be forgetting something.
Of course a helmet and bike gloves.
I have a small bike tool kit that has everything I need in it. Its on my bike now in a little frame bag. I of course will take an extra inner tube with me.
As far as food this is where I'm at a loss. Should I bring food with me? Or should I grab it on the road? What camping stove should I use?
I need to buy a rear rack as well as bags to go on my bike. I'm looking around for cheap and durable.
But with all my concerns aside I figure I should show you guys my bike. This is a 1984 schwinn World Sport that I had when I was a teenager. Its been sitting in my friends garage for years and I redid it at the beginning of the summer. I did take it in for a tune up and to have my gears fixed which they weren't and when I was riding yesterday they would not shift. Lets just say I am very angry and will not be taking it back to the department store where I had it tuned. Century Cycles will be getting my services from now on.
But here it is. I'm very happy with it aside from the gears.
Friday, July 13, 2012
The passion, the crazy looks, and the support
To start of I have been riding a bike with my father for as long as I remember. It is one of the few things I really enjoy. We lived in Oberlin which has a wonderful bike trail running through multiple towns. This was our quality time when I was starting to get into that age where it was "totally uncool" to hang out with my father. Now we aren't fortunate to live in Oberlin and the bike safe zones in our current locations, well as teenager me would have said "totally suck."
I really do miss those weekends where we would just ride for the whole day on the trail, talking about random interest. I am truly blessed to have such a relationship with my father, what teenage girl actually communicated with her father.
SO biking is my passion and I still have my 1984 schwinn world sport to prove it. This leads me to the next part the crazy looks.
I have officially decided to use my vacation time that I have accumulated for this year to go bike camping. I put in my request off sheet yesterday morning. My boss told me I was nuts when I gave her the details of my trip. When I told my coworkers my plans well the look they gave me wasn't far off from the whole nuts thought. But each person has something they love to do and want to do. I just happen to want to take a week and bike 186 miles to the PA/OH border.
I told my boyfriend the plan and he was very supportive and is using his vacation time at the same time so if I end up in trouble he can come pick me up. He understands that this is what I like to do and I am astonished that I got so lucky to have found such a catch as Jason. He is the official bug killer, and car fixer whenever I need him. Plus he rubs my back when it hurts from picking up toddlers all day. Yes I would conclude that I am a lucky duck.
Here is the plan in very rough form:
I am going to leave my apartment Thursday Sept. 13 and ride my bicycle (the schwinn) down to Portage Lakes camp ground. Thats around 29 miles. I will camp there for the night. Friday Sept. 14 I will set out on the 45 mile trek from Portage Lakes to Guilford lakes camp ground, camping there for the night. On Saturday Sept. 15 I will travel 20 miles to Guilford Lakes to Beaver Creek camp ground. On Sunday I will turn around and head back to Portage Lakes which is 63 miles from Beaver Creek. I will again camp there. On Monday I will return home with a sense of accomplishment and a very sore bottom, especially if I don't buy a new saddle.
I really do miss those weekends where we would just ride for the whole day on the trail, talking about random interest. I am truly blessed to have such a relationship with my father, what teenage girl actually communicated with her father.
SO biking is my passion and I still have my 1984 schwinn world sport to prove it. This leads me to the next part the crazy looks.
I have officially decided to use my vacation time that I have accumulated for this year to go bike camping. I put in my request off sheet yesterday morning. My boss told me I was nuts when I gave her the details of my trip. When I told my coworkers my plans well the look they gave me wasn't far off from the whole nuts thought. But each person has something they love to do and want to do. I just happen to want to take a week and bike 186 miles to the PA/OH border.
I told my boyfriend the plan and he was very supportive and is using his vacation time at the same time so if I end up in trouble he can come pick me up. He understands that this is what I like to do and I am astonished that I got so lucky to have found such a catch as Jason. He is the official bug killer, and car fixer whenever I need him. Plus he rubs my back when it hurts from picking up toddlers all day. Yes I would conclude that I am a lucky duck.
Here is the plan in very rough form:
I am going to leave my apartment Thursday Sept. 13 and ride my bicycle (the schwinn) down to Portage Lakes camp ground. Thats around 29 miles. I will camp there for the night. Friday Sept. 14 I will set out on the 45 mile trek from Portage Lakes to Guilford lakes camp ground, camping there for the night. On Saturday Sept. 15 I will travel 20 miles to Guilford Lakes to Beaver Creek camp ground. On Sunday I will turn around and head back to Portage Lakes which is 63 miles from Beaver Creek. I will again camp there. On Monday I will return home with a sense of accomplishment and a very sore bottom, especially if I don't buy a new saddle.
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