Since my recent focus (for this summer, anyway) has been on bicycling, I’ve been searching around for good bicycling blogs, without a whole lot of luck. This morning I came across this post at Trekalong.com talking about bike helmets.

I have always felt those bike helmets were the most ridiculous looking things. I put off buying one until recently, frankly because “we never had to wear helmets when we were kids, and we turned out just fine!” Preparing for my 100 mile trek, though, gave me pause and I decided it would be better to be safe than sorry.

So I guess I have joined the “goofy looking safe bicyclists club”.

I have wanted to plan a bike tour in Europe for many years. I started thinking about this about 10 years ago when a friend and I were planning a tour of Ireland. I still think Ireland would be an awesome place to spend a week riding and photographing.

Iron Donkey is one of many companies organizing tours of Ireland. They handle everything from bike and equipment rental to luggage transport and accomodations. So if you’re looking for a “vacation” that’s probably a good way to go.

On the other end of the spectrum, Rednels over at My European Bike Tour is planning a self-guided tour across Northern Europe in about 9 months that sounds like a lot of fun. If you’re interested in learning from his planning and experience, keep an eye on his blog.

If only I had done it when I was in college, had more disposable income, and no dependents. Maybe I’ll still get there one of these years. Here’s hoping.

111.5 miles on a mountain bike. What was I thinking??? It was an awesome trip. I had a lot of fun, and learned a lot about long distance biking. I was aided by two good samaritans with directions at two very opportune times. One was after a long detour while trying to find my way back on course. The other was a chance encounter with someone who ultimately noticed there was a flaw with my map – a road that does not exist – and helped me find an alternate route.

At most stops I wrote a little bit about how I was feeling, the weather, and anything interesting that happened since the last stop. It was a very fun trip. I think I will try it again next year, but I will definitely try to build up to it a little more before I go. If I have a road bike next year, that will make it a lot easier.

If you like, you can read the journal of my trip, and there’s a few pictures thrown in that I took along the way…

6:05am – departure

6:45am – stopped to stretch. Just saw a couple deer on the trail, doe and fawn (sorry no picture). The doe stood broadside on the trail and watched me approach. I didn’t see the fawn until they took off. I feel good, back is a little stiff, but not bad. My wrist is good. I got some annoying sniffles and no Kleenex.

7:41am (19.5 mi) – Just past Cedar Grove, off the trail now. Weather is gorgeous, sun behind the clouds, very little breeze. I’m stopped at the I43 memorial. Stretched out, wrist still good, back getting tighter. Had first equipment failure at 13 miles. Bad omen? I went over some railroad tracks and the pack fell off of my rear rack. My camera was in the bag and was damaged. It still works, though. I rigged the pack up a little better so it shouldn’t be a problem again.

8:38am (30.7 mi) – Back is really stiff now. Stopped at gas station to stretch and use facilities. Sun is out now and getting warmer – 70 degrees. Legs still feel good.

9:41am (40.6 mi) – First glimpse of the lake since I left this morning. Just stopped to stretch and snap a picture.

10:53am (54.5 mi) – Should be about halfway. Had to take a slight (8 miles or so) detour because of a bridge out on LS between CTH-X and CTH-F. I’m back on course now, should be to Manitowoc by 12:30 or so. Back and neck are really stiff. I don’t see how I can make it another 50. I’ll take a nice long break in Manitowoc. Legs are starting to feel it now.

11:44am (60.8 mi) – Beginning of the end, I’m afraid. I saw a park bench and couldn’t say “no”. I’m just south of Manitowoc at “Silver Creek Park”.

12:40pm (62.9 mi) – Made it to Manitowoc. Made a couple phone calls, grabbed some lunch, going to hang out down by the lakeshore for awhile before tackling the last 40 miles.

1:22pm – Just about to take off from Manitowoc. Took a little nap on a park bench. Sun is high, no clouds in sight. Took a few pictures of the lake:

5:23pm (100.0 mi) – Had to stop at this momentous point in my journey to take a picture of the speedometer. I’m just north of Kewaunee, way behind schedule, and tired beyond comprehension. Since Manitowoc I have had to stop every 5 miles or so to stretch out my back and neck. I think I have about 10 miles to go. I’ll make it!

6:15pm (111.5 mi) – Arrived in Algoma, exhausted but alive!

As promised, here’s the route I will be taking from Saukville to Algoma.

Here’s leg 1, Saukville to Sheboygan (30 miles so far):

And here’s the second leg, Sheboygan to Manitowoc (this should be about the 60 mile mark):

And here’s the last 40 mile leg from Manitowoc to Algoma:

Wish me luck and say a prayer. Check back on Tuesday for pictures from the ride.

I made it 60 miles this morning without any trouble. My neck still bothered me by mile 30 or so and nagged me all the way home. But this gave me a good boost of confidence for Saturday’s ride. Check back tomorrow, I’ll post my route for Saturday’s 100 mile ride from Saukville to Algoma.