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So I have created myself a small bucket list I wanted to do with my life....and it contains many different things (keep in mind I created this at 16, whereas now I'm 18). Some fairly achievable such as opening bank account/accumulating 1000 in savings, and going to the gym for several months, to more drastic ones like sky diving, base jumping in Norway, doing some form of Ninja Warrior, etc, etc. But I have come across one on my list that I feel I can cross off here very soon. That one is biking from my area, Pittsburgh PA, to Washington D.C.
I have a hybrid Raleigh bike that I paid 500$ for and I'm really starting to enjoy it. Pic below.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/2hmgw.jpg)
A little background of me riding - it all started just before this past winter hit. I wanted a bike so I bought one maybe before October hit. I had a small amount of time to ride before it got too cold, and the snow settled in so I may have gotten close to 100 miles until recently. Now that the weather has improved it has probably reached closer to 350 miles if not more. Whenever I do ride, I average at least 10 miles a day since I ride it to and from the gym. And I have probably peaked to about 50 miles in a day from riding.
However I realize this is no small task. It is nearly 380 miles or something like that all throughout a whole week of riding and lodging. I realize this is not only going to be just a riding experience but also a trip of hardship. A trip that will define me for setting my goals properly and acheiving this accomplishment, or something that is just what I feel like doing and it will pass over and I wont do it. But I do feel like this will be something I will want to do in about 3-4 months which is when I project to do it.
Now that I have my mindset on the actual goal, I have to recollect my thoughts and try to get to it. My one first obstacle is I will probably doing this alone, which I don't mind. I am pretty independent. I know I can pay to join bike groups that do a whole tour of this but I'd rather do this with friends or just myself, which right now it leaves me to myself.
Another thing that I may become a bit worried about is, I will only be carrying a backpack. So I know I will need some of the bare essentials, money, ID, some clothes, hygiene...and that may be it. I'm not too sure of what exactly to bring, I haven't thought of that yet, but I know I want to pack light...very light since this backpack will be on me for at least 380 miles.
And lastly, my get home option. Load it all up on a bus and sleep the way home? Go for the extreme course and ride home for a total of about 800 miles? Who knows, but whatever the choice at this point. I will be happy since I have made it to D.C.
So TL, I ask you for some pointers/advice/ also if any of you have completed this what have you done, taken with your, recommend, just throw it at me.
Finally, when I do complete this task, I will make sure to bring a camera and photograph my journey and also re write another blog explaining my adventure. If it all works out.
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ninja warrior ftw!
best to start out planning stuff when youre young, although 16 might be a bit young 
sounds awesome, wish i had the time to do something like this, it could certainly define someones character
as for getting home, id try to arrange something so that youre not riding back. As your going there, you might start regretting it knowing that youre going to have to do it all again on the way back, might make you wanna quit.
Id definitely try to find a different way to get back
apart from that, GLHF :p
cant wait to see pics/updates once this happens
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Sky diving is sooo much easier than biking that far o.o
(It's fun as hell too!)
Best of luck to you :D
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On March 13 2012 02:10 ThatGuy89 wrote:ninja warrior ftw! best to start out planning stuff when youre young, although 16 might be a bit young sounds awesome, wish i had the time to do something like this, it could certainly define someones character as for getting home, id try to arrange something so that youre not riding back. As your going there, you might start regretting it knowing that youre going to have to do it all again on the way back, might make you wanna quit. Id definitely try to find a different way to get back apart from that, GLHF :p cant wait to see pics/updates once this happens
Yea that's why it is my biggest area of worry. But I still have a few months to either think of a get home option, or train to be ready for the ride back. It just all depends on the circumstances.
And I can't wait to skydive/base jump. Looks like one of the most intense things ever.
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United States9015 Posts
Bus back to PA after coming to TL DC nerd dinner on a Saturday night!
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You guys have a TL dinner every Saturday night!? If so, I know I'll be packing my teamliquid shirt!
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Nice! I don't really know what you would have to prepare for this trip, but be sure you bring emergency money just in case. I remember that when I was your age I wanted to go on a biking trip from Los Angeles to Sacramento and eventually do a bike trip from Los Angeles to Vancouver, but eventually I grew away from the idea, haha. I would train and bike 40 miles every other day though, for a few months before giving up.  Would have been a cool trip had I gone through with it.
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I would start with the 350 miles if I were you
Last summer I biked around Denmark (about 80-100 miles pr day), as a sort of training to go from Herning (middle of jutland) to Skagen (the most northern part of Denmark) and back, about 290 miles. And I must say that if you aren't used to long rides like 100 miles - ish +, it can be really exhausting mentally, unless you have some clear stops on the way. Even though you do it over a longer period - a couple of days.
I actually considered trying it in less than 24 hours just because I like doing crazy things - never got to try it though, had to start studies earlier than expected.
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Here's my 2 cents. we all know that DC has a good contingent of TLers and that they have a weekly dinner. So find someone from DC that you can send a small package of clothes to. That way once your trip is over you will actually have clean clothes to wear. Possibly one of those DC TLers will allow you to take a shower(no on wants a smelly biker at their dinner party). Then bus it home with a full belly, and clean clothes.
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On March 13 2012 02:27 FreezingAssassin wrote:
You guys have a TL dinner every Saturday night!? If so, I know I'll be packing my teamliquid shirt!
Well, we don't go every Saturday night because it's sometimes tough to get 3+ people to make it worth going, but yeah...Sat nights we have TL meetups in Northern Virginia :D
We used to dominate TL Community section before Barcrafts invaded! :p
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Maybe you've already thought of it, but I'd suggest making sure your bike has working lights, and getting yourself some high-vis gear (at least a vest, anyway). You might not be planning to do any cycling at night / evening times, and I don't know what sort of roads you'd be cycling on, but it's best to be safer just in case.
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If you haven't already, teach yourself how to make basic repairs to your bike. Get some spare tire tubes and tools required to replace them - tire lever to remove the tires from the rim, spanners to unscrew the wheel and, of course, a bicycle pump. This way you will avoid getting stuck in the middle of nowhere with a punctured tire and no way to replace it.
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Getting to DC and finding a TL get together would be awesome. And good thinking about the basic bike repairs was not thinking about breaking down on a bike trail. Oh how bad that would be. And most of cycling will be during the day on the Great Atalantic Passage or also known as, GAP.
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I don't know how serious you take the "tour of hardship" thing but I would advise to get a bike with a carrier and then to buy a proper touring back that you can put on it. Carrying a backpack while biking the whole day will be pretty annoying, especially in warm wheater and its bad for your back as well.
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^^
I bike everyday to work and tried riding with a backpack, NOT FUN. I can't imagine riding 30+ miles with even the comfiest backpack during the summertime. Even a cheap rack + pannier will make you much more comfortable and on long distance rides comfort is king. Even little things like pants that scratch a little will become the most annoying things on earth after 3 hours of scratching.
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Yea I should be able to attach a some things to my bike from under the seat to in the frame but I think I may still need to carry some sort of bag since I won't be able to have all my belongings on my bike. But good ideas.
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United States9015 Posts
just tell us what Saturday you'll be in DC and we will make it happen ezpz.
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Careful with that $500 bike of yours. There are some pretty bad places in DC.
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EPT
