The 411 - Mickey Slim's end of the world bicycle tour

across the midwest

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:53:18 +0000

I reached Rapid City yesterday after riding across the plains to the first national park on my route, a 40 mile ride thru the badlands of South Dakota. I rode directly west for nine days out of Madison and there were some headwind sections but I also scored some tailwind. Only one day was particularly tough in the wind when I was hit with a steady NW crosswind of 25-35mph. I made good time and am enjoying a rest day today before rolling into the Black Hills tomorrow and then Wyoming.

Tailwind to Missy's

Fri, 04 May 2012 20:46:13 +0000

Had i been on my original schedule I would have battled headwinds last week all the way to Missy's in Madison WI but rolling a week late i was able to soft pedal and rest my irritated achillies tendon/ankles and still cover over 100 miles a day. Unfortunately this is Missy's busy week with papers due for grad school, but i'm not bored, because i'm in Madison, and I've never seen a city so bike friendly as this not to mention the great food.....

productivity?

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 21:00:53 +0000

My five days at Allen's have been great, it feels the same to live with them as when they lived in NH, like no time has past even though they moved 6 years ago. Its been a real treat to stay with the family and eat the food off this land all week long. I finished my list of little things to do and change to get my equipment just right before getting back on the road, but i wonder what good finishing a personal list does for anyone...

getting into the rhythm of travel

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:20:03 +0000

I had a great stay in Rochester with the Myers. Speedwork with Keith, hanging out with the kids, checking out the flour city bakery renovations, listening to Jerry tell us stories while dining at two-vine packed my 2 days there with a week's worth of good times. Now I am spending 5 days with Allen and his family on his biodynamic farm that he created in Gosport IN.

Some old guys can't see

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 18:28:05 +0000

I made it to Keith's in Rochester exactly 2 years after the last time I showed up on a bike tour. I had planned to arrive a week earlier but had some trouble in Manchester VT when an elderly driver didn't see me, or my bright yellow trailer, and drove his car into the back of me.....

the (somewhat epic) finale

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:49:37 +0000

As I walked around Plainfield (Plainfield has to be one of the best places to live in VT) I kept hearing reports of big snow the next day so i changed my plans. I wasn't going to wait for good weather, but instead ride as far south as I could. I was ready for some epic pedaling.

finding E-rok

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:11:52 +0000

Plainfield is a great little town in central VT. I just sat in a cemetery with three other people (erik, Heidi, someonelse) on a beautiful sunny morning and ate an apple pie for breakfast. Erik's new place is a quarter mile from the center of town where there is a natural food coop, a couple great restaraunts, book store, library, and a bunch of places that make a nice community setting. But when i was looking for Erik I was headed to Calais, I only found him in Plainfield by chance.

1028 miles to the Holiday Inn Montreal!

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:55:02 +0000

I rolled in to Newport VT yesterday to stay a night with Scott Gilson who I haven't seen since he graduated highschool 18 years ago. So much to catch up on, 18 years is a long time. Scott was a senior when i was a freshman and he made sure i didn't get beat up by the upperclassmen. Which was challenging because i was a wise guy, pushing people's buttons even though i was small (only 90 pounds at the time)...easy target. Scott did a great job....thanks man!

mission accomplished

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 11:57:55 +0000

Addie just went to class with her 7" Shun santuko, for the first time, and that means mission tupper lake was a success. And it was quite easy i must say, but for such ease everything had to time out perfect so here's my journey from Rochester.....

rollin'

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:01:44 +0000

It took two rides to reach Rochester NY from state college PA. I had a few tailwinds and not much straight on headwind along the way but I really think its that I'm riding myself into shape. Plus the BOB is especially fast in certain conditions almost like its not even there.

the 411, in 2010, CANCELLARA!

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:02:11 +0000

first things first: Cancellara is a machine. I wonder how fast he could go across the cobbles with a full BOB in tow. probably faster than me without one

I arrived in State College PA on my birthday (4-11), one day faster than i expected due to tailwinds during at least a part of each day. I'm at Rebecca Donaghue's home, a runner friend from the highschool days who after a decade of injuries is healthy. And flying, she was 2nd at the Falmouth RR (only one Kenyan could beat her) and almost made the olympic team. She says that she will be able to compete during her thirties like she wanted to during her twenties. Excellent. I'm going to watch a hard track workout today before i take off and run a bit with her if my achillies tendon is okay with it

northeast tour starts tomorrow

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:45:52 +0000

I just tested out my BOB ibex trailer for the first time today. It rides smooth no hands but shimmies my CAAD7 while out of the saddle at high(er) speeds. Started to smooth that out, i should get used to it.....

the 411, in 2009

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 01:44:35 +0000

I doubt there will be any touring for me this year. Even though my bike is ready with new mavic disc rims, narrower tires, and new sleek fenders, I am not. It appears that my breakdown in the pyranees was not me being a wimp, but actually the beginning of lyme disease...

statistics

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:00:22 +0000

Just went and saw the palace and cathedral in Madrid and walked back to the youth hostel where some college age people start talking to me when they find out I'm from the states. They ask about the economy and I tell them I dunno, Ive been sleeping on the side of the road for three months but its fun to get to speak English........

Jen went right and I went left

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:34:14 +0000

it was the plan we had made the evening before. Jen stays in Spain 11 days longer than me and has the opportunity to check out the north coast while I have a flight to catch from Madrid....and on the way it was my turn to struggle....