With the shoes of Mercury

Another fantastic ride yesterday. I followed the same route as before, 36 miles through the green hills of West Austin. I felt great and could've kept riding, but I had to return to the bike shop before they closed to pick up my old shoes. Yep, I bought new shoes - the kind that lock into my pedals. They're amazing. Probably the greatest investment I could make for this trip. With them I can apply force though the entire rotation of the pedals, whereas with regular pedals and shoes I could only push through less than half the rotation. Now riding is easier even on hills, I can go faster, and my legs won't burn out as quickly.

Largely because of these new power shoes I'm feeling great about this trip. I can't wait to get on the road. When I ride I feel so free. Fueled entirely by my own will and strength I am fast and smooth, the sun warms me, the wind cools me, the earth embraces me. I could ride forever.

"I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul" -Invictus by William Earnest Henley.

Wishlist

I've learned a lot about cycling in the two weeks since embarking on this journey. I now know how to patch a flat tire, adjust my brakes, and install shifters. I understand the value of pedaling efficiently, hydrating properly before a ride, and following safe roads.

I also realize that this ride to Gulfport is a much more serious undertaking that I initially thought. After meeting some folks on a cross-country bike trip, I think I'm just barely within the realm of possibility given my current gear, experience, and schedule. I can adjust the schedule and train for the next 8 days, but I could really use some help with gear. Here's a few things that will be tremendously beneficial:

• a Camelbak hydration system - donated by Ruth!
  
• quick drying shirts, such as patagonia's capilene
  
• bike shorts
  
• portable shelter or places to sleep each night. I've got friends in Houston and New Orleans, but nothing for all the other nights.
  
• two weeks worth of organic food - fruits, veggies, and grains mostly

Anything you can do to help me acquire these things will bring me closer to a reasonable trip. And remember: the size of one's gift is unimportant. Simply that you would give is the greatest act. Thanks for staying with me.

Ryan

Zen and Bicycle Maintenance

Success! Progress! I had a great repair/upgrade session tonight at Yellow Bike, though it didn't start that way. My intention was to spend my time there tonight replacing my basic pedals with the sort that lock into a special shoe, a pair of which I was also hoping to find in the donation pile. I arrived just as Karl, the coordinator, was unlocking the door so I knew I'd have plenty of time. I asked Karl for guidance and he quickly went to looking for the necessary parts. Though it quickly became apparent that there were no shoes for me, and one of the necessary parts to the locking pedal setup, the cleat, was missing.

Thus defeated, I examine the bike trying to determine which part to work on next. I was still missing a front brake, the shifter cable needed replacing - and I had just installed it a week ago, the rear brake needed fine tuning even though I adjusted it last week and it's parts are crude and fine tuning is very difficult, the gears and chain are dirty and gunky, and well, it looks like the whole bike is a scrap heap. Why bother working on it? I only have 4 more nights to work on it, and the work I've done so far has been very slow and clumsy. Even if I do get it working well it's still barely road-worthy. All these thoughts crashed down on me, and I was ready to junk it and just buy a proper road bike, even though doing so would reduce my funds to a dangerous level.

Karl approached and I shared this general feeling with him. He asked about the rear brake and in trying to explain it to him, I realized that its not so bad. We turned to the shifter cable, and Karl recommends replacing the shifters and even the handlebars. I balk at this, so now replacing the cable seems easy. Especially now that I've done it before and I've got plenty of time. I don't get it on the first try, or even the fifth, but with help from the other coordinators who have arrived I get the cable set properly. Then Karl turns up with a cleat and a brand new set of pedals! Woody, another coordinator, recommends craigslist for finding cheap shoes, and even goes to the shop computer and pulls up a few listings. There is hope again!

Back at the bike, I turn to the front brake and once I locate a cable of proper length, I install it quickly. I adjust the wheel alignment. Then I lube the chain. Then I install a second water bottle holder. So much progress! I'm only one pair of shoes away from a very ridable bike!

But now I must rest. Much was done today. Tomorrow I hope to return to Habitat for my first full day of work! The weather should be very pleasant once again. Thanks Texas!

Best wishes,
Ryan

Today's Ride

Texas is beautiful. This whole country is beautiful. Here the sky is blue, the sun bathes the world in light and warmth, the hills are blanketed by all shades of fresh green, the hills roll gently, the cool river sparkles and reflects peace.

I biked through such a world today. 36 miles. Not a great distance, but I learned several important lessons. One, pedals which lock onto one's shoes are extremely valuable. I bet they could double my output, either in total distance or speed. I had seen such pedals before, but concluded that they were nice and would improve performance, but only for really serious riders. They would allow me to use my legs to power the full rotation, rather than just push down as I had been doing in my regular shoes. I hope to get to Yellow Bike -the local non-profit, volunteer run, community bike shop- tonight and acquire some of these magic shoes.

I came to this realization when I got really tired after only 10 miles. On the next hill, I shifted my body somehow and managed to pull the pedals as well as push. The results were great and immediate. I took the hill smoothly and quickly, and the next 15 miles were fairly easy. I had originally planned on a 58 mile ride, but I was fairly tired, and there was no middle route between 36 and 58. Safe biking roads are scarce here in Austin.

My apologies.

I have done you a disservice. I have neglected to properly inform you, I have failed to share my ideas, thoughts, and activities with you. I invited you to join me, to be a part of the project, but only presented you with a skeleton. I displayed none of the passion or life that I felt and still feel. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't have responded strongly either. There is so much more that I should be doing. So I intend to start fully sharing my journey, from now through the end of this project, wherever that is. Thanks for staying with me.

Love

I'm trying to find words that express how I feel. I want to say how valuable you - the people participating in this project - are to me. 'Thank you' is not enough. My world is bigger, brighter, and more beautiful because of you. My heart is erupting with joy at the magnificence of what this community project is creating. I can't fully capture this feeling with words. It is bigger than anything I've ever imagined. The only word that comes close to expressing it is love. I feel the love of the community, the love from you. I am over-filled with love; My cup runneth over.

The only meaningful response for me is to send love back to you - to continue to share the love. I am so happy to be alive and working with you. I am eager to see what we will do.

Why.

This is about more than Habitat for Humanity. It's about more than helping Hurricane victims. It's about more than a couple guys taking on a challenging journey. This is bigger than any of us. This is about a community. This is about concerned individuals deciding to give more than objects - to give of themselves. That's why I started this. Not just to get to Gulfport, not just to build, not just to help Habitat and the people in the Gulf. I started this in order to be a part of a community of caring individuals working together, supporting each other, and creating something extraordinary.

Now there are two!

I received some fantastic news a few hours ago! My friend Andrew from Kentucky is going to get a bike and join me on the journey! He's 20 years and 8 days old today, and also is a novice cyclist so send him some encouragement too! I'll leave a more detailed introduction to him, if he so chooses, but let me say that I'm very excited to have such a good traveling companion!

Jump first, fly second.

Whew. After 6+ hours of work I've got a page I can be happy with for a day or so. The basic info is there, what I'm asking for is there, and I like the color. But it does need some pizazz, yes? Something to highlight the title. And I need some pizza...

I'm already getting lots of encouraging responses. Moray's given me pages of cycling tips, Dan gave me an inner tube recommendation, and lots of you have joined the Facebook group. I feel good, despite the utter lack of sleep.

If you have any suggestions for this site, something that isn't clear, something you think is missing, please let me know. I believe that the information I'm presenting is just as important as the bike ride.

Thanks for reading.
Ryan