T minus 2 weeks and counting

I've been remarkably slack in my posting as the build-up to my tour launch approaches - and for that I apologize.  I had grand visions (can't call them "plans" as that would imply a greater deal of forethought and detail than I really had) of a whole host of blogs leading up the the launch date, but life got in the way and I've not been able to dedicate the time I had hoped to journalling my efforts thus far.

To date, just shy of 24 bikes have been raised to send to Africa.  I expect we'll see that number climb to at least 30 before I leave.  Not quite the 100 that I had hoped for, but I'll take it.  The donation page will remain "open" during my tour but obviously I won't be able to track it in "real time" - so any weight that gets added might see a bit of a lag before it really gets added.  :p

I did a bit of "training" on the weekend.  As with training for anything, specificity is key - so I rode up a hill one handed while eating a pain au chocolat.  If that doesn't get me ready for this tour then nothing will...

So far with the assumption of 30 bikes, I'll be hauling 90lbs.  That's "light" enough that I can carry all the superfluous weight in my panniers and not need the Burley Cargo trailer that I procured specifically for the task of hauling a pile of extra weight.  The nice part about that is that pulling a trailer is a lot more work than just riding with laden saddlebags.  The downside is that I kind of wanted to have to pull all that weight.  So if you haven't already donated (or are feeling rather flush with cash and feel inclined to donate some more), please do so and force me to pull that trailer!  It won't be just additional weight that I'm carrying, but additional frictional drag as well as horrible aerodynamics to boot!

Just picture me hauling this, filled with virtual bikes!

Can we hit 50 bikes?  I think that we can...

Donate here