tires

So i had a flat recently. And both bikes are in need of a tune up. I should just do it myself but I will probably end up getting someone to do it for me. I find working on bikes to be both rewarding and time consuming and generally if I can get someone else to do it I will. Not lazy just would rather be riding than repairing. Perhaps if I make it to march and thee is a super nice day that happens I will take it to clean and tune up one of the bikes. See what happens.

help

somebody. So I had a strange experience with a woman in need. I was biking from my house back to the downtown and I was in a bit of a rush as I was trying to meet some friends for a concert and they were holding a spot for me on the lawn and as it was a free concert holding prime spots can be difficult. I was making a sharp turn onto the ATT and a elderly woman in an electric wheelchair was sitting still with her cell phone out. I looked at her and she pleaded "can you help me?" I stopped and asked what she needed. She had run out of power in not just her wheelchair but her cell also. She lived,"just at the corner" and could I ,"push her to her house" I am if nothing else a good person at heart so I locked my bike and pushed her to the corner. When we got there she informed me that now she could ,"see her house." It was another half a mile distant. It was about a thousand degrees out and I was already late but I couldnt just abandon her though there were more people around at that point so I pushed on and after much sweating and lamenting my kind nature i finally arrived at her home. I swear the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I finally got back to my bike and found 3 hoodlums standing around it looking at the lock and cable. I gave them a hard time and biked into town in time to catch the last of the concert but not in time to get a seat. Eventually I met up with the folks I was going to meet and had a beer, so in the end no harm no foul. But really who goes almost a mile away on an electric wheelchair that may or may not make it back and further why didnt she have a charged cellphone. To rely on the kindness of others is a bad policy, I dont know if I would do it again. Then again I would because many people have helped me when I was in a bind and I feel like somehow I can work it off. Its a hard life working off all the good that has happened to me. I should be thankful to be so in debt.

hey hey

so i am biking again. i love it. I have a nice 3-4 miles to work and I plan on riding every single day. It is amazing being on a bike. the wind the sound of tires rolling along. Almost all of the ride it on trail so I dont have any traffic just me and the trees. It is one of the best parts of the house here in durham. I also get to ride to go out for a night. I live like 2 miles from the downtown again along the trail so I love it. I cant recommend riding a bike strongly enough. It is just joy. I am working with a few others that ride to work, I plan on getting a parking space assigned to me and putting a container garden in it. I think it will be great. looking forward to settling in and going for a nice long ride, so far 10-12 miles is the farthest I have gone, but the trail continues for like 30 miles so I will do that soon. I love being mobile.

hysterical

I have been reading about the increase in tickets to NYC bike riders in the recent weeks. I am sure it is two fold, one the weather is nicer so more people are out on bikes. 2 most motorist actually dislike bicycles. I have been on bikes in many cities and I can attest to the fact that most traffic/city planning is not designed with two wheels in mind. It can be a pain in the ass to ride. I have also been guilty of running the red lights and not strictly obeying every rule of the road. However I have also been on the other side of that equation where cars have endangered my life for what seems to be no other reason than 'sport'. I can not see an easy solution to this clash of cultures in most cities. I actually have to side with the cars on this one. Most cities are designed with them in mind, lights are timed for their speed. Distances and sight lines are based on their dimensions. If you ride and break the rules you should be ticketed. It is the only fair way to deal with it. Same rules should apply to cars, no more warnings, you violate the rules and get caught tickets.

tag

you're it. so for the next 30 day challenge I will be trying to run 100 miles in the 30 days. for those of you who live in the metric world that is 160.9 km. it should be doable but as it is getting hotter I will be doing it late in the evening or on treadmills at work. i plan to measure my weight and resting pulse before i begin the challenge to see if there is any change. if i had a bike i could think of a few challenges with it. soon.

want

I want a bike trainer that hooks up to my google earth and I can ride through all the cities of the world. It would be great if it could auto adjust the tension to make climbing harder and downhills easy but right now i would just love to be able to sit down and bike through budapest, cario or lima without leaving home. It would certainly make winters more bearable.

when

when do i get to get out of this desert hell? I still miss my bike. and the feeling of the wind blowing through my hair. I have loads of 20-40 mile bike trips planned around my new house. I think i will ride down to a nuclear power plant that is about 26 miles from my front door. so excited. just 90 more days.

cold

I still have no bike. Sad about that. not much else has changed.

missing it

I really miss being on a bike. its been a long time. I will never live in a city that I cant bike in again. that is my new years resolution.

time trials

went for a walk. being on foot is a far cry from being on wheels. I have been looking at bikes online and coveting them. I know it is probably a sin and all but I really think that in my position even god would be tempted. This place is flat and the temp all week will be 70 and sunny. I will buy a stationary bike to exercise as running for an hour is tearing up my knees. I am making sure that wherever I go next is bike friendly. Fuck not being able to ride.

exercise

I am going to buy an exercise bike to ride here while I am in Saudi Arabia. I went down to the biggest market to see if I could possibly find a bike that was reasonable and of course I could not. They either had 1500 dollar road bikes that would cost half that in the US or else 20 dollar chinese bikes that fell apart if you looked at them wrong. I figure that with the sand storms, pollution, traffic and general lack of people riding it may be best if I ride inside. Thus this week part of my home gets overtaken by a stationary bike. Call me crazy but I love to pedal.

looking

I am in the process of trying to find a bike shop here i riyadh. There are none as far as I can tell. it is truly amazing. the weather is really nice right now mid 80s in the afternoon and 60s at night perfect weather to ride in but no bikes to be had. Perhaps i will luck out and find one in the next few days.

bike in Saudi

So i have an unbelievable observation that I have made. If gasoline costs less than 25 cents per gallon no one rides a bike. That is what gasoline costs here in Saudi arabia. 25 cents per gallon. Mindboggling isnt it. Anyways I saw two bikes in the evening during my walk. Poor old beaten up folks. It will be an adjustment.

close

I might be starting a new bike adventure soon. will keep everyone posted.

still

I haven't moved much since arriving to the outer banks. Mostly just relaxing and healing. I do get on my bike and ride it a few miles and once rode it about 20 miles north only to turn around and ride back. I think that is part of the problem. I miss being on my bike and riding but without anywhere to make progress to it is hard to motivate to ride. I run and workout sometimes but I dont ride. I still use my bike for utility purpose but it isnt the same, two miles to the post office and back is just not the same as 4 miles east or north. I am strongly considering getting back on my bike and riding it back to Texas. It all depends on when my contract starts with the School in Saudi Arabia. There has been some delays which I did not expect and thus I may have a few weeks to ride back to the west. I am hopeful, not because I dont want to go to work but because I really loved biking across the country

The turtle washed up while I was fishing yesterday.

yeah

link

this should get you to a web album of all the picture I took going across the US. Right now they are unlabeled but are in chronological order. I will be adding captions and a few more that I have in other places but for now look around and enjoy.
http://picasaweb.google.com/elijahmaurer/BikeAcrossTheUS?authkey=Gv1sRgCKOo2-7bwInzXw#
if the link doesn't work then the www. is above it to cut and paste.

fin

I haven't been able to post as I have been busy pedaling my way towards the finish. In the final stretch my rides were 95 miles, 75 miles, 115 miles, 100 miles, 115 miles, and 140 miles to end in the outer Banks of North Carolina. I made it all the way across the United States. I met loads of really nice and interesting people, and received help from more people than I can count. I truly could not have made it without all of you. Thanks for helping me and being great. Now it is time to enjoy the beach. I have bout two days before a hurricane gets here, the news claims it will be the worst one in 20 years. I guess that my biking for 2 months and getting rained on for just 26 minutes (I timed it, that is how little I got rain) is catching up to me now. I will certainly take any weather now as I have a roof over my head and a bed to sleep in. Pictures will be up soon, trying to figure out the best place to put them.

junk

So as I move across this grand and fantastic nation I have seen lots and lots of detritus along the side of the road. I have in my travels seen hundreds of towels and washcloths, a few shirts, some pants, a couple of pairs of shorts, thousands and thousands of cans(coke,beer,redbull,etc.), two licence plates, probably 20-40 cooler lids, 2 coolers (no lids on them) lawn chairs, shoes, flip flops, twine string, rope, cord, bungees, rubber straps, hooks, dead animals(every variety including an owl), food wrappers from convenience stores and fast food chains, letters, cds, cassettes, a hammer, tires, two bike helmets(one was a childs)a few life vests, about 87 cents in a variety of coinage, plastic bags, flower pots,an almanac,food, dolls, 2 stuffed bears, 3 bandanas, a wrench, lots of bolts, and 3 cellphones but one thing I have not seen is zipties. I know people use them and I know that they must break but I havent seen a single one. So if you need to secure something to your car I will be so bold as to suggest a ziptie. Otherwise could you all that drive please keep your crap in the car, its sad that there is so much trash lining the roads. It doesnt matter city or rural it is everywhere. I have started to get excited when I approach a town and see lots of DQ cups because I know I get a blizzard soon. And that is sad that there are so many I notice and it happens so often I have become accustomed to it.

rolling

I am just motoring along now. It is not so bad these last 300 miles in Kentucky. The hills are steep but short or longer and not so steep so it works out just fine for me. People are still really nice just helpful and easy going. I am always surprised by the fact that a southerner can talk on and on and on and on for hours about nothing at all. I stopped to ask if a road went where I needed and ended up in a 15-20 minute conversation that was not about anything in particular. all I wanted was yep or nope. but it is better for people to want to chat then not be helpful at all. I have a few hundred miles left one mountain range and a bunch of hills. I just may finish this thing. A little luck, some hard days and if the weather holds it should all work out. At any rate I will try my best to get a whole bunch of pictures up when i get done. Everyone told me Ky is full of dogs and terrible people. I have been chased by like three mutts but nothing spectacular, and everyone has been super nice to me.Hope that continues also.

what flavor jelly???

so I made it to KY and so far its been good. though i did find out that the place i stayed last night (cave in rock) was having the annual Insane Clown Posse meeting and concert so there were literally thousands and thousands of retards in town. there is of course just on ferry across to Kentucky and thus the morning ride was hectic but now it is much better. I was going to do a shorter day yesterday and slowly get back into the riding groove but once my ass hit the seat I just couldn't stop. Three different places I said to myself OK here is far enough, and each time i sat for about 15 minutes and then looked at the maps and saw a town just another 8 miles or just another 11 and so I went there until i arrived at the ferry to KY. Got into the campground changed the hosts back tube his bike had a flat he didn't have the right tools. He gave me the night for free. and as I was changing his tire it starts to pour rain, buckets and wind. I finish his tire about 10 minutes later and the rain stops, I get back on my bike to ride over to the tent area and just laugh, still just 6 minutes. Must be some sort of record. Wonder if I will make it all the way?

nevada

clean

Happy to have made it to the house of some old friends. Today is the first day off I have taken since Cedar City Utah. I am in Carbondale Illinois. No break in most of Utah, none in Colorado, nor in Kansas, or Missouri, but today is a day without riding. I must at this point give a huge thanks to two different and seemingly unrelated people. First The Best Damn Bike Shop. REI St. Louis. You three rock something fierce. If the world was full of people who enjoyed their jobs and life and were as helpful as you all were the world would be an awesome place. Thank you again for getting me in and fixing all the problems I had, the bike runs like new and is again a pleasure to be on. And if you read this, I again avoided the storm, call me lucky but I still stand at 6 minutes of rain for the entire journey.
Seems impossible I know but here is how it went down.
I roll into Freeburg Il. and camp behind a bar ( the owner said it was OK) spend a sweltering night dripping sweat into my tent. wake have biscuits and gravy for breakfast and get the route straight, I was going to take 15/13 through Pickneyville and into Carbondale. I get to a small town I think it may have been Coultrerville and stop for some water. I was in a gas station and asked the attendant if 13 does in fact continue into Carbondale. She said yep. Then a toothless crazy lady kind of behind me mutters,"you dont wanna take 13." I asked why not?
She says take old county line road to 4 then over to Ava then the Bike trail/Ava road to 13/127 and then to Carbondale. I ask to see a map from the gas station and of course old county line rd. isn't on it. The lady gets her county map out of the car and shows me then gives me her map. I decide Ill try it, whats the worst that could happen right. So I go down old county line rd. And into Ava. I couldn't find the bike trail/Ava rd so I go into the bank to ask, as I am speaking to the teller a Fed/Ex guy walks in looks at me and says you riding the bike?" I am thinking this guy is sharp, of all the folks in this bank (there were 5, 3 workers, me and a 85 years old) he guessed I was on the bike. I said yes, he told me, I wouldn't go out there if I were you, Pickneyville(my original Route) just got hammered with 70+mile winds, a torrential downpour and the storm was moving. I laughed and told the bankers that if I were them I would make sure my car windows were rolled up because it was going to rain in Ava in 45 minutes but that I would be nearly to carbondale by then. I left, rolled down Ava road onto 127/13 into carbondale, pulled into my friends house, walked inside and it started to rain here. 6 minutes while riding. So thanks to the Oracle of Phillips 66 for seeing the route. Glad I listened to her. More help from strangers than I deserve, all of it much appreciated.

hot damn

so I have found a problem with the tire patches i am using. First they are called scabs made by the same company that makes slime for tires. This is a fairly reputable company that makes good bike products. I bought the patches and followed the instructions when i got flatted. Now what the company fails to mention or perhaps does not know is that the self adhesive glue that is used on the back begins to fail/melt at anything over 110 degrees. Usually this would not be a problem but as Kansas is going through what all the locals refer to as either "nice biking weather" or "the hottest its been here since all the goats died off... what year was that (looking at other locals) ... conversation takes a dramatic wrong turn , and I try to politely excuse myself.... it is a problem. now I can bike and the tires stay ok but if i stop the flat. Could be because the blacktop is 140 could be many reasons but i have 3 times taken my tire off to find a leak and nothing but the old patches leaking. Moral of the story. Don't talk to old guys sitting outside of the gas station, they will argue about the strangest things. Oh and keep biking, if you stop tires go flat. Kansas has been grand. Free swimming pools free parks to sleep in and today a guy stopped along the side of the road to give me an ice cold Gatorade. 2nd time its happened in Kansas and a lady offered me money after I ate lunch today, also the 2nd time someone in Kansas has tried to give me money. Hope that the next state is as kind.

swarms

In the last two or three days I have been inundated with grasshoppers. Literally killed thousands of them by myself. My tires are slimy with their guts its getting gross. At first I was trying to avoid them but they are everywhere. They sit and as I approach they hop and fly, when the wind is at my back its not too bad they fly off in front of me and do it again, but the times the wind is into me it is like a nightmare. They jump and fly and the wind pushes them into me, they have sticky claws that they cling to me with and then they jump again. Some hit me in the face others legs some on my body. It truly is horrifying. I got off my bike at one point to take a photo and there were three on the bags hitching a ride. Just gruesome beasts. They range in size from 1/2 an inch (much harder to run over) to 2+ inches (they pop and squirt) so Kansas has been fun but not for the reasons I expected.

big KS

am riding through Kansas right now. If california was tough because of the newness and Nevada was tough because of the distances between water and Utah was tough because of the grades of the roads climbing the mountains and Colorado was tough because of the rockies, then kansas is tough because of the heat. It is 101 out right now and I have 60 more miles to go. It is oppressive yesterday was 120 miles and it was 106 out the good thing is that I had great tailwind and was able to make good time. I have lots more to say but need to get back to the road before the wind switches on me as it is expected to do in 5 hours. Last thing I want is a head wind. I am still loving this everyone should go out and ride their bikes today. Its hard not to smile while on a bike. Trust me on this I have now traveled about 2000 miles on one and not stopped smiling. My cheeks hurt from smiling so much. And my ass hurts, but thats expected i guess.(really my ass stopped hurting weeks ago, not sure if I got used to it or if it just lost all feeling.)

divide and conquer

I did it i biked over the continental divide. That's right folks from here on its all about the east coast. it was a tough 10 mile climb to 11300 ft but the downhill was worth the effort. My host last night Christine was again an absolutely lovely person, and a fine cook to boot. What is it about the hosts that I have that they are all good cooks?and almost all are environmentally aware. I am beginning to think it is more than just a coincidence. On the road today I met a bunch (12 or so) motorcyclist who were going through the back country roads from Canada to Mexico. It was funny because they were bitching about how hard it is and rough the roads are and how their motorcycles were getting flats. I was just sitting enjoying a cup of coffee before the climb began and one of them just looks at me and laughs. I sort of gave a quizzical look and he told his friends that they need to stop whining that people who bicycle can complain and if I could sit contentedly then they had nothing to moan about. It made me smile. Then near the top of monarch pass as I was exhausted about 7 or eight cyclists can screaming down hill, they had reached the summit and were cruising down, each of them yelled encouragement as they whizzed passed. It was great and instead of taking a break i continued to pedal. I gave the same love to their compatriots that had yet to make it to the top on my way down. A grand day of riding, wouldn't trade it for the world. Feels like I really accomplished something today.

the hills have

bears...
Slept stealth last night again and after a dinner conversation with a bartender who talked about the bears in town (telluride Co) I was more than a bit nervous. As I wandered around looking for a good spot to tuck in for a few hours winks I noticed that every trash can was bear proofed, every single one of them. Needless to say as I tried to sleep every little noise made my skin crawl. I really don't like bears. They terrify me. Got up without much sleep and put in 65 mile today. Only one hill a 2000ft climb, no problem at all.The hills here in Colorado are super nice, they go on for miles and miles and are just slightly uphill the whole time. unlike Utah where they are 2 miles long but steep like a crazed monkey paved the roads. I feel like I am making good time across Colorado. Tomorrow to Gunnison and then over the highest point I have to get up to. The winds coming into town today were blistering, just took a lot to keep up any momentum. Will sleep well tonight.

long time

it has certainly been a long time since i have sat at a computer. I am now in telluride colorado after riding through the vastness of utah. The place is wonderfully beautiful but not built at all for bicycles. the roads have 8-14%grades that go on for miles. It is unreal. have thus far in colorado scaled one of the two 10000 ft passes that i need to get over the other will be in about three days it stands at 11000+ looking forward to that. I am holding up fine have been sleeping in some choice spots (picnic tables in the park, rocks in national parks, grassy areas on the side of the road) only the best for me. I am keeping to the 60-70 miles per day and it is getting easier, not that the roads are better if anything it should be harder, through Utah every day I climbed 3000-5000 ft. and so far the same is true of colorado. I am really looking forward to being bored in flat kansas. I should be there in about a week. Utah was the most beautiful state that I have ever been in trly just remarkable in so many ways, I wish I had the chance to put up photos but the library wont let me. When I get the chance I will. All in all this is really fun, now I just need to find some food an a place to sleep for the night, I wonder if there are any abandoned homes in telluride?

rough

made it into cedar city and through the last part of Nevada. I was fooled by the time change at the border, I am usually really good about that sort of thing but I am also not normally on a bike when I change time zones. At any rate the next morning I awoke in Milford (slept on a picnic table in the park) and got what i thought was an early start. It was however an hour later than anticipated. The ride from Milford to Cedar city was by all measures uneventful, pretty standard stunning hills, and passes, desolate empty desert, a few cattle (dead and alive) the typical assortment of rode kill. I made it to Cedar City and called my hosts here. Again truly nice and generous people. This is the first family I have stayed with and it is great. They eat dinner together, have a good rapport with one another and are friendly and chatty. I was going to head out in the morning and try to make it to the next town but when I woke up at 430 this morning I started to throw up, I don't think it is serious just my body needs some time so I will spend the day wandering through the city and will get some rest tonight and tomorrow will be back underway. Starting to really get hot now during the day time, it is supposed to be 109 in this city today. I hope it is just a passing heat wave if not the next states will be more brutal than expected.

desert

just rode what I hope is the hardest portion of the journey. I have been told by two other riders that it is indeed the case. I had 84 miles from baker to milford uphills and in the heat of the desert. I am dirty hungry and tired. two of the three I will take care of here in milford, the other will have to wait until the next city. It was about 103 today and climbing took forever I am just not a very good hill person. I did get out of Nevada and I must say I really enjoyed it. The weather is pleasant enough in the morning and the scenery is amazing. I hope after Utah I can say the same, however as an introduction into the state today is not making me hopeful.

hills

have been looking at the elevation profiles at the next few day and weeks of riding and it is not a pretty site. I have loads of passes to get over coming up including two at over 7000 ft tomorrow and then 3 the next day and then I have a 10000 ft climb just after entering utah which is full of little 2000 ft climbs. All this before colorado home of the Rockies. I am nearly through nevada and it has been about what i expected. If you put in the time on the bike and are entertained in your own head it is not a bad state to ride through. I suspect that there will be more places and states that I will be able to say that about. I am looking forward with fear to Utah. Just after Cedar city I have to climb to 10000+ ft which seems daunting right now. I know that the climb up to 8500 at Carsons pass was brutal I cant even begin to imagine how hard the final 2000 fet up will be. I hope that the new chain and adjustments are fine as any trouble after tomorrow means another 100 mile to a bike shop and I really dont want any more trouble with the bike it is hard enough to ride for these distances without a nagging worry about mechanical problems. At any rate I have to believe it will be ok and press on. Tomorrow Baker and then Milford then Cedar City.

hey hey

sorry I have been away for so long. I think my last post was just as I crossed into nevada and now here I am in Ely. getting on towards the boarder of Utah. I have met some amazing people along the way and want to take the time to say thanks. All of you are really making this a most grand ride. I did encounter my first major setback. Riding uphill as I came into the last town I downshifted, the gearing skipped and the chain jumped off. That would have been ok but a link bent in the process. I took out the tools which I carry for such an event and set to work in the blazing hot sun along the side of the road(yeah for no trees. I removed the offending link and reconnected my chain and off I went. In all only an hour or so lost. The bike rode fine for the next 25-30 minutes but as soon as I hit the last hill it jumped again and another link broke. I knew then that either my repair left much to be desired (most likely) or my rear derailer was screwy. I limped into town and slept in the park on a picnic bench. I had a serious decision to make. I had two repairs and zero confidence in my ride so I needed a bike shop. Unfortunately there was and is no bike shop for about 100 miles. Without a new chain and someone to inspect my rear derail er I wasnt going anywhere. I pondered this for the evening and woke early to find a solution. I roamed the streets asking if anyone knew of someone going to Ely(there is a bike shop here) and no one was going or knew of anyone. I asked the sheriff the same and they said they could give me a lift 125 mile north to another city but that was the best they could do. No deals there either. So I did what any reasonable person would do. I hitchhiked to Ely. I thumbed down a passing motorcade of trucks, after 4 hours of trying ,with trailers and asked if they could schlep me along and they said sure. We stopped for lunch and they wouldnt let me pay. I tried but they insisted on not only not allowing me to buy them lunch but they went and paid for mine. Talk about people and their ability to surprise. We had a good conversation along the ride and they dropped me at the bike shop. The driver even got out and made sure that they were going to be able to fix my bike, he was going to give me parts from his bike if needed. Luckily the bike shop replace the chain and adjusted the derailer and now I am back in working condition. It is fortunate because I have another 63 mile tomorrow and then 84 after that. I took a hotel and showered for the first time in days and it was divine. Will go look around town now and find a place for dinner. Moral of the story today. People kick ass. Be nice to those in need I may be one of them. Thanks again to everyone who has been so nice and helpful. Y'all are what makes this a great country.

1/10

On the route that I have chosen I have a total of ten states to go through. Some are the complete state(looking at you Nevada) and some are just cutting the corners but in all I will pass through ten. I have crossed into state 2. I made it over Carsons pass after a long and dificult climb. My knee is killing me and I am not really looking forward to crossing the desert as it will be hot and dry. Water is my biggest concern and I hope I have enough to get me through. The pace will be slow and I will need to get very early starts something which a job interview has prevented me from doing today. I will have to ride for a few hours in the heat today to make it to my destination. I am hoping to cross without too much trouble. My bike is in good shape I had the brakes adjusted and the whole thing generally checked out I feel like I can do this. I am sure it will be really tough but I think I can. After nevada comes Utah which is not much better then the mountains in Colorado. These next weeks will be some of the toughest that I can think of but I will not look too far ahead. Two days. 60 miles a day. I can do that.