Training begins

Finally training has begun.  Got out on the bike for the first time in 2 months.  Beautiful weather, in the 70s yesterday, today and supposed to be for the next 2days.  Rode only 15 miles as hand and shoulder ached.  Today was much better, did 25 miles.  Certainly am out of shape as it was hard to do and tough to keep going.  It will get better as the miles roll by.

Milepost.... Only 79 days to go!

Wow, just turned 79 days left to go!   It is coming on quickly.  Amazing how fast the days are flying by until go time.

Still not able to train for the trip.  Cast is off but very stiff and soar.  Maybe in another week.  Better be able to soon or else it will be a very tough start to the adventure.  Just received another bulletin from the tour company talking about sanitary conditions on the trip.  This is going to be a very rustic trip.  Or should I say a very back to basics and nature adventure.  Many stops will be in the middle of no where literally.  With that in mind the "facilities" will be a hole in the ground and that is all.  :(   

Need to get all the vaccinations shortly;  yellow fever, hepatitis A & B, meningitis, rabies, tetanus, polio to name a few.  Oh well, will feel like a pin cushion but better safe than sorry!

It is getting amazingly exciting!  The bike class is edifying....  so far we have covered: bottom bracket, headset, and hubs.  It was great, this past week solved a problem on my cross country bike that I didn't even know I had.  I should be able to diagnose and triage a good number of problems after this class.  Certainly will come in handy.

Have the new (used) bike for the trip.  Will be able to use it this week in class for brakes and shifters.  Nice steel 843 bike with bar end shifters for easier maintenance, 40mm tire capabilities, 53,39,30 Triple and will be putting an 11-34 9 speed cassette on her.  Should be able to handle just about anything Africa could throw at her.

Just broke the 90 day mark! Only 89 days left until kickoff!

It is hard to imagine but it is now only 89 days left til the trip starts!  I have broken the 90 day mark and now have less than 3 months until trip start.  Still have not been able to do any training as my hand is still in a cast and shoulder still very sore.  Hopefully will get the cast off this coming Thursday.  Then I should be able to get out on the bike.  Hopefully.....

Another setback...  the bike I originally bought to ride the trip was stolen out of the basement of the building.  This sets me back as I need to now get a new set of wheels, literally.  But on a good note, I have signed up for a 6 week class on how to repair your bike.  Week one was this past Sunday, bottom bracket repair.  It was a great class.  By the end of the 6 weeks (18 hours) I should be able to do or at least understand everything about a bike.  Just what I need to be able to keep going on the Africa trip.

89 days and counting!!!  It is getting very exciting!

Milestone.... 99 Days left to go!

It's amazing that I am now down to only 99 days to the beginning of the trip!  Just received a bulletin from Tour d'Afrique with hotel information and airport pickup stuff.  It is becoming very real!  

The bulletin included a comment on the Ebola outbreak.  It asked ... "Is the first question that everyone asks you when you say you are going to Africa, what about Ebola?"  Yes, that is the first thing everyone says.  Or more appropriately, most people say, You can't go there....  Can you get your money back???   My answer is I don't want my money back, I want the adventure of a lifetime!   And that is exactly what I have in store for me.  As the bulletin states, Ebola is not in anyone of the 10 countries we will be cycling through as well as it is not airborne and can only be contracted through direct contact of bodily fluids.  

My cycling buddy from the cross country trip, Montana Mike, visited this past weekend.  He was driving across the country in a car he just bought.  He is the only person who is of like mind and full support of the epic adventure.  As he said, this is a trip of a lifetime and he only wished he could do it as well.   thanks Mike!

Only 99 days left until pedaling down the length of Africa!   CAN'T WAIT!