Evaluating logistics, planning, and preparation for the just under 900-mile bike ride from Denver to Minneapolis that my son and I have planned is a challenge. We anticipate starting on May 17, 2014, from Golden, Colorado. This is also my son's mother and his girlfriend's birthday. That was not planned to take him away on this particular day; it just turned out that way. Initially, we would start on May 10, 2014, although various issues supported a one-week delay.
Analyzing and planning for all possible issues are much more complicated than I thought. At first, we started by purchasing a bike for my son. While he has my old Cannondale SR400 and a Cannondale Quick 5, these are not bikes I would consider for touring at this distance.
After months of discussion, we found a small bike shop in Denver called VeloSoul (http://velosoul.com). We met Zach Hepner, the Owner of the shop, who had significant experience customizing bikes. We actually sought out the shop because they were a Jamis distributor, and I was well aware that most Jamis shops are owner-operated.
After significant discussions, I purchased a Jamis Quest Comp. It is an all-steel bike with a solid Shimano Sora derailleur, SRAM 9 speed 11-28 rears, and an FSA Vero triple (50/39/30) front. Zack customized it with a thumb shifter from Paul Component Engineering and a Problem Solvers Cable Doubler (http://problemsolversbike.com/files/tech/6516_pro_cable1-2_inst.pdf). This provided a nice ride for my son without breaking the bank.
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| Jamis Quest Comp (Jordan's Bike) |
I have a Fuji Roubaix 2.0, which could be better for touring, although I have beefed up custom front and rear wheels. I maintain it for essential maintenance, so it is in good shape. I did take it in for a complete overhaul, and they informed me I had a cracked frame. The crack was small at the crank. Fortunately, Fuji has a lifetime frame warranty for original owners. So they upgraded me to a 2013 Roubaix 1.5, although I had to pay $250 for moving all the parts onto the new bike.
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| Londell's Fuji Roubaix 1.5 (with stock wheels) |
With the bikes operational, I have to think about gear. Basically, there are two options: panniers or a trailer. This took minimal thought, as you can't even mount panniers on my bike. So, I researched trailers and ended up with a Bob Ibex for the trip rather than panniers.
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| Bob Ibex (Not our bike) |
It is time to focus on food, water, parts, tools, routes, and camping equipment.
