I must admit to having a selfish reason for wanting to pedal my bike for a charitable cause. To be honest, it would encourage me to keep going. Call it the ultimate peer pressure. If I knew that every pedal stroke further down the road helped raise funds for a community, I'd be far less likely to take the easy way out one rainy miserable afternoon when I was confronted with my third flat of the day. When I remember previous tours there were times when I seriously wondered what I was doing out there. My "Day From Hell" comes to mind. When those times come (and really, it's not a matter of if, but when), it becomes tempting to throw in the towel, pack up the bike and find another way home.
I'm going to spend the next couple of weeks or so chatting up this idea of somehow securing commitments from others to make contributions to a charity of their choice for the distance I cycle this fall. I'd like to find out if the idea is feasible. I may post a link to this, for example, at the Adventure Cycling website, perhaps ask them to post something in their bi-weekly "Bike Bits" newsletter.
So, rather than pedal for my cause, I want to pedal for your cause. I want to inspire as many people as possible to contribute to their community in whatever way makes sense to them. The idea is that many communities potentially get the benefit, while I get the peer pressure to keep going.
Perhaps it could work like this. Someone in, say, Louisville, Kentucky sees this & decides to make a pledge to donate a penny for every kilometer I complete to support their local youth organization. If I do the entire ride of about 3000 kilometers, $30 is raised for an important local cause. When I'm informed of the pledge, I post a link to it on my website, & encourage the contributor to follow along for the ride as I pedal south. They let other community members know and before you know it five other people think it is a good idea, and a total of $180 is raised. One of these people shares the link with their cousin in Melbourne, Australia, who decides to make a similar pledge to support their local hospice, and, well, you get my drift. With the Internet, this can, & does, travel around the world in the blink of an eye.
My side of the bargain would be that everytime someone makes a pledge, I post a link to encourage more contributions to that cause. I also would commit to maintaining a daily blog, posting my distance through a gps enabled website (either strava or mapmyride) that would allow anyone to track my progress.
I think it is a wild & crazy idea. I don't know if I will get the ball rolling on it, but, I would like to. I haven't received any responses yet on my previous blog post on this, but I am not going to let it discourage me. I'm just going to keep "chatting it up" for now. Regardless, I'm going ahead with my plan to pedal into America this fall, and see what I can learn about my neighbour to the south.
As before, comments & suggestions are welcome.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
A Fun(d)raising Idea
As part of the preparation for my BIG bike tour from Ontario to Florida this fall, I have been reading through several online journals of people who have pedaled a similar route. Not everyone, but often people are doing a big bicycle trip to raise money for a cause. It may be for a hospice, a community radio station or to raise awareness (& money) to fight modern day human trafficking, but they cycle for a cause.
Now, my initial reason for embarking on this journey is because I simply love touring by bicycle. Wouldn't it be wonderful though, if a side benefit would be that I could also raise awareness & perhaps a bit of cash for a cause that was dear to me?
But then, I had a bit of a problem. There are a number of issues that I am passionate about. How could I pick one? Then it struck me; maybe I don't have to choose. I could let those who are so inspired to make a contribution to what they believe in. And, it wouldn't have to be money. It could be that someone perhaps didn't have spare cash, but had some time to donate, or some tools they could share in a community project.
As I thought about it more, I realized that one of the biggest causes for me is doing whatever I can to encourage people to be involved in community building, in whatever way makes sense for them. Yes, money is always a welcome donation to so many cash-starved organizations and the multiplier effect can be tremendous, especially when one of our wealthier (at least money-wise) citizens chooses to open his or her check book. But really, the act of giving can be so much more than writing a check. Certainly for those with limited time it may be the best way to "share the wealth". But how about the one with no money to share, how can they participate in the joy of giving? Really, it's easy. It can be sharing your last cigarette. (And this, coming from an avowed non-smoker;) or helping out at your local food bank.
What I'd like to do then, is devise a way that I can turn this bike tour into a means of encouraging others to share their wealth, whatever that may be, with others. Wouldn't it be way cool if I could inspire someone to volunteer a night at their local soup kitchen or with a youth group for every 100 kilometers I ride? If I could get just ten people to make that pledge, & I completed the journey, that would add up to almost a years worth of volunteered evening shifts. And it would be just as cool if just one (or more) of our more financially fortunate friends chose to donate a dollar for every kilometer I rode to their favourite charity.
I realize that I don't want to tell anyone how they should donate their time or money or expertise. I just want to inspire all of us to share whatever it is we have to share.
I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who may have views on this idea. Does it make sense? Could it work? It would seem to me that there would need to be some way of tracking participation. Would the best way to do that be through the Internet, either individuals posting anecdotes about their volunteer pledges on my blog, or perhaps through a social media site like facebook?
To be honest, my primary goal this late summer and into the fall is to have a great adventurous bike ride. If, however, I thought I could encourage some interesting community involvement on the part of folks I know, & people I may come to know, that would be, as I said above waaaaaaaaaay cool;)
Let me know what you think. Now, I just have to hit that Publish button up above & get this crazy idea out there.
Now, my initial reason for embarking on this journey is because I simply love touring by bicycle. Wouldn't it be wonderful though, if a side benefit would be that I could also raise awareness & perhaps a bit of cash for a cause that was dear to me?
But then, I had a bit of a problem. There are a number of issues that I am passionate about. How could I pick one? Then it struck me; maybe I don't have to choose. I could let those who are so inspired to make a contribution to what they believe in. And, it wouldn't have to be money. It could be that someone perhaps didn't have spare cash, but had some time to donate, or some tools they could share in a community project.
As I thought about it more, I realized that one of the biggest causes for me is doing whatever I can to encourage people to be involved in community building, in whatever way makes sense for them. Yes, money is always a welcome donation to so many cash-starved organizations and the multiplier effect can be tremendous, especially when one of our wealthier (at least money-wise) citizens chooses to open his or her check book. But really, the act of giving can be so much more than writing a check. Certainly for those with limited time it may be the best way to "share the wealth". But how about the one with no money to share, how can they participate in the joy of giving? Really, it's easy. It can be sharing your last cigarette. (And this, coming from an avowed non-smoker;) or helping out at your local food bank.
What I'd like to do then, is devise a way that I can turn this bike tour into a means of encouraging others to share their wealth, whatever that may be, with others. Wouldn't it be way cool if I could inspire someone to volunteer a night at their local soup kitchen or with a youth group for every 100 kilometers I ride? If I could get just ten people to make that pledge, & I completed the journey, that would add up to almost a years worth of volunteered evening shifts. And it would be just as cool if just one (or more) of our more financially fortunate friends chose to donate a dollar for every kilometer I rode to their favourite charity.
I realize that I don't want to tell anyone how they should donate their time or money or expertise. I just want to inspire all of us to share whatever it is we have to share.
I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who may have views on this idea. Does it make sense? Could it work? It would seem to me that there would need to be some way of tracking participation. Would the best way to do that be through the Internet, either individuals posting anecdotes about their volunteer pledges on my blog, or perhaps through a social media site like facebook?
To be honest, my primary goal this late summer and into the fall is to have a great adventurous bike ride. If, however, I thought I could encourage some interesting community involvement on the part of folks I know, & people I may come to know, that would be, as I said above waaaaaaaaaay cool;)
Let me know what you think. Now, I just have to hit that Publish button up above & get this crazy idea out there.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Bike Trip Into the Heart of America - Why?
The idea of cycling from Toronto to the gulf coast through what one might call the "heart" of America first came to me in the summer of 2011. I had just completed a 1,000 km. bike ride around Lake Ontario. I very much enjoyed the few days I spent in upstate New York cycling east from Niagara, along the Erie Canal. I noted the rhetoric of the 2012 American election was already beginning to heat up, as a gaggle of Republican presidential hopefuls played leap-frog over each other to appeal to Tea Party supporters.
I have always been drawn to any opportunity to observe events as they unfold. Whether it is looking up when I hear a siren, attend a G20 demonstration, a political convention, or witness the FLQ crisis unfold, I'm always curious. I want to take events in with all my senses whenever possible.
For this ride I intend to observe campaign events as I come across them, eavesdrop on coffee shop conversations, perhaps even participate in one or two. Not immediately jumping in, I expect, will be one of my greatest challenges. I'll need to keep front of mind that I will be a guest in America, in possession of two ears and one mouth. I will want to remember to use them in a similar proportion.
Of course, there will not only be the election events to observe. America, like everywhere else, is struggling with transformation. Like it or not, all of humanity is confronting the challenge of diminishing resources. I am curious to know how the slice of America I travel through is dealing with this. Are they in denial, or seeing it as an opportunity? I suspect it is a combination of the two, and much more, but I will have to wait and see.
I will be sharing my observations as I pedal through America. I'll make the best use of technology during the trip to report on what I see and hear. I'll use Twitter (@leonardpoole, #LPRide) which will automatically post to my facebook page. As time permits, I will be posting longer commentary to this blog. Follow along if you are interested. Don't hesitate to fire off any suggestions or comments.
I'm looking forward to experiencing a little slice of history unfold this fall. It should be a blast!
I have always been drawn to any opportunity to observe events as they unfold. Whether it is looking up when I hear a siren, attend a G20 demonstration, a political convention, or witness the FLQ crisis unfold, I'm always curious. I want to take events in with all my senses whenever possible.
For this ride I intend to observe campaign events as I come across them, eavesdrop on coffee shop conversations, perhaps even participate in one or two. Not immediately jumping in, I expect, will be one of my greatest challenges. I'll need to keep front of mind that I will be a guest in America, in possession of two ears and one mouth. I will want to remember to use them in a similar proportion.
Of course, there will not only be the election events to observe. America, like everywhere else, is struggling with transformation. Like it or not, all of humanity is confronting the challenge of diminishing resources. I am curious to know how the slice of America I travel through is dealing with this. Are they in denial, or seeing it as an opportunity? I suspect it is a combination of the two, and much more, but I will have to wait and see.
I will be sharing my observations as I pedal through America. I'll make the best use of technology during the trip to report on what I see and hear. I'll use Twitter (@leonardpoole, #LPRide) which will automatically post to my facebook page. As time permits, I will be posting longer commentary to this blog. Follow along if you are interested. Don't hesitate to fire off any suggestions or comments.
I'm looking forward to experiencing a little slice of history unfold this fall. It should be a blast!
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Bike Trip Prep - The Basic Equipment
The more I talk & think about my plans for a bicycle tour into the U.S. this fall, the more excited I get about hopping on my bike. There are seemingly countless things I need to put into order. In this post, I shall detail the basic equipment plan.
My bicycle is a 52 cm. Surly Long Haul Trucker . I purchased it in the spring of 2011. It comes with the basic stock equipment, but I have embellished it somewhat to suit my preferences. Additions include a Brooks B-17 saddle, Arkel low-rider front racks, Tubus rear racks & fenders. I use Shimano A530 road pedals & wear Keen Austin cycling sandals. I am currently riding on 26x1.5" Continental City Contact tires. They have already given me about 5,500 kms. of flat free riding & show little appreciable tread wear. I do, however, plan to swap them out for Schwalbe Dureme 26x2" folding tires before heading out on this ride.
Perhaps the biggest modification I have made is the addition of a second stem & bar that allows me to mount extra equipment, such as mirrors, bike computer, front bag, cycle-cross brake handles, Samui Air-Zound cycling horn, & bells. More details on the installation on this previous blog post.
To carry the gear I will use Arkel GT-54 Grand Touring rear panniers, MEC cordura front panniers, & a MEC handle bar bag. To better compartmentalize my clothing I use three labeled waterproof stuff sacks. With respect to clothing, I figure whether you are going for three days, or three months, you pretty much take the same stuff. One of those stuff sacks holds "cool weather" gear. This includes a merino wool sweater, long tights, 1 pair of full fingered gloves, 1 pair of wool socks & a beanie type cap that will cover my ears. (Okay, if I'm heading out from home in the middle of July for only a couple of days, I probably won't need this bag;) My cycling clothing bag holds two days worth of riding clothing (two cycling shirts, two padded shorts, two pair of socks). The street clothing bag holds lightweight convertible pants, a lightweight nylon long sleeved shirt & a polyester t-shirt. In the handle bar bag I will carry leg & arm warmers. I will also have the requisite Gore-Tex rain gear, including jacket, pants, booties & lobster style gloves.
My tent is a Big Agnes Fly Creek UL-2 and I sleep on an Exped Downmat sleeping pad. I sleep in a Europe Bound +2C sleeping bag. (If it's colder than that, I'll be renting a room somewhere, I hope;) For a pillow, I stuff a down vest into a pillow sack. When I cook it will be with an MSR WhisperLite stove.
Other items include a basic tool kit, spare tube & tire, a few spare parts and other repair paraphernalia. (An entire blog post could probably be written about those details;) There will be a first aid kit, toiletry bag, lightweight towel, bug repellent, afterbite, anti-chafing cream, etc., etc., etc. I actually have a master list on a spreadsheet that I will be dutifully checking off as the date approaches.
Of course, I don't want the ride to be about the equipment. It is the gear, though, that, in combination with my body & soul, is the great enabler. Whenever I reminisce, either with myself or others, I always reflect very fondly on exquisite memories of the people I meet & the hills I climb & descend. A memory of a bad day on the bike is always so much better than a great day at the office. And those amazing days on the bike? Absolutely priceless.
My bicycle is a 52 cm. Surly Long Haul Trucker . I purchased it in the spring of 2011. It comes with the basic stock equipment, but I have embellished it somewhat to suit my preferences. Additions include a Brooks B-17 saddle, Arkel low-rider front racks, Tubus rear racks & fenders. I use Shimano A530 road pedals & wear Keen Austin cycling sandals. I am currently riding on 26x1.5" Continental City Contact tires. They have already given me about 5,500 kms. of flat free riding & show little appreciable tread wear. I do, however, plan to swap them out for Schwalbe Dureme 26x2" folding tires before heading out on this ride.
Perhaps the biggest modification I have made is the addition of a second stem & bar that allows me to mount extra equipment, such as mirrors, bike computer, front bag, cycle-cross brake handles, Samui Air-Zound cycling horn, & bells. More details on the installation on this previous blog post.
To carry the gear I will use Arkel GT-54 Grand Touring rear panniers, MEC cordura front panniers, & a MEC handle bar bag. To better compartmentalize my clothing I use three labeled waterproof stuff sacks. With respect to clothing, I figure whether you are going for three days, or three months, you pretty much take the same stuff. One of those stuff sacks holds "cool weather" gear. This includes a merino wool sweater, long tights, 1 pair of full fingered gloves, 1 pair of wool socks & a beanie type cap that will cover my ears. (Okay, if I'm heading out from home in the middle of July for only a couple of days, I probably won't need this bag;) My cycling clothing bag holds two days worth of riding clothing (two cycling shirts, two padded shorts, two pair of socks). The street clothing bag holds lightweight convertible pants, a lightweight nylon long sleeved shirt & a polyester t-shirt. In the handle bar bag I will carry leg & arm warmers. I will also have the requisite Gore-Tex rain gear, including jacket, pants, booties & lobster style gloves.
My tent is a Big Agnes Fly Creek UL-2 and I sleep on an Exped Downmat sleeping pad. I sleep in a Europe Bound +2C sleeping bag. (If it's colder than that, I'll be renting a room somewhere, I hope;) For a pillow, I stuff a down vest into a pillow sack. When I cook it will be with an MSR WhisperLite stove.
Other items include a basic tool kit, spare tube & tire, a few spare parts and other repair paraphernalia. (An entire blog post could probably be written about those details;) There will be a first aid kit, toiletry bag, lightweight towel, bug repellent, afterbite, anti-chafing cream, etc., etc., etc. I actually have a master list on a spreadsheet that I will be dutifully checking off as the date approaches.
Of course, I don't want the ride to be about the equipment. It is the gear, though, that, in combination with my body & soul, is the great enabler. Whenever I reminisce, either with myself or others, I always reflect very fondly on exquisite memories of the people I meet & the hills I climb & descend. A memory of a bad day on the bike is always so much better than a great day at the office. And those amazing days on the bike? Absolutely priceless.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Planning for a BIG Bike Trip
Ever since returning from my two week sojourn around Lake Ontario last summer, I have been contemplating my next journey. One idea that has fascinated me for almost a year now has been to travel extensively for several weeks (8-10?) in the United States during their upcoming election in the fall of 2012. To start to push this idea further toward reality, I have begun, in the past month or so, to speak about this idea with a few friends. I figure if I talk about it, I'll be opening myself up to the possibility of some peer pressure to actually start pedaling.
The PLAN, at this stage, is for Niagara Falls to be the starting point of a cycling journey that would take me to the gulf coast of Alabama and then across to Florida by election day on November 5, 2012. I would start the weekend of August 25-26 from Toronto, taking the 9AM GO train to Niagara. I have chosen a route that roughly follows the Adventure Cycling Association Underground Railroad Route. It traces a route from Mobile Alabama all the way to Owen Sound, Ontario. I have a couple of detours planned. One will take me to Kent, Ohio as I want to visit the site of the May 4th Memorial at Kent State University. I will probably avoid a meandering part of the route and travel more directly between Cincinnati and Louisville. From there I expect to stick to the prescribed route until I reach Aliceville, Alabama at which point I will pedal across to Selma so I can cycle the Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights National Historic Trail.
Total distance for this epic journey is a little over 3,000 kilometers, or about 1,900 miles. It would be roughly three times the distance I traveled last summer over a two week period. So long as the legs hold out, I think ten weeks or so should be enough time to allow not only for visiting historic sites, but also to witness first hand the electoral process in the United States. One of my biggest challenges, as a guest, will be to simultaneously keep my ears and eyes open, while keeping my mouth shut. No small task for someone who likes to talk;)
I love my bicycle, the Surly Long Haul Trucker and I think I have outfitted it with the gear that I need. I have some new Schwalbe Dureme tires on order which should minimize concerns regarding flats. I'll be hoping to post to my blog as I go, sharing what I can. I plan to do some camping, staying in motels, & also, when possible make connections with others for accommodation through Warmshowers.
There, not only I have I spoken the words, I have published them on the Internet. One step closer to reality. Hopefully this will push me that much closer to pedaling another dream trip.
The PLAN, at this stage, is for Niagara Falls to be the starting point of a cycling journey that would take me to the gulf coast of Alabama and then across to Florida by election day on November 5, 2012. I would start the weekend of August 25-26 from Toronto, taking the 9AM GO train to Niagara. I have chosen a route that roughly follows the Adventure Cycling Association Underground Railroad Route. It traces a route from Mobile Alabama all the way to Owen Sound, Ontario. I have a couple of detours planned. One will take me to Kent, Ohio as I want to visit the site of the May 4th Memorial at Kent State University. I will probably avoid a meandering part of the route and travel more directly between Cincinnati and Louisville. From there I expect to stick to the prescribed route until I reach Aliceville, Alabama at which point I will pedal across to Selma so I can cycle the Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights National Historic Trail.
Total distance for this epic journey is a little over 3,000 kilometers, or about 1,900 miles. It would be roughly three times the distance I traveled last summer over a two week period. So long as the legs hold out, I think ten weeks or so should be enough time to allow not only for visiting historic sites, but also to witness first hand the electoral process in the United States. One of my biggest challenges, as a guest, will be to simultaneously keep my ears and eyes open, while keeping my mouth shut. No small task for someone who likes to talk;)
I love my bicycle, the Surly Long Haul Trucker and I think I have outfitted it with the gear that I need. I have some new Schwalbe Dureme tires on order which should minimize concerns regarding flats. I'll be hoping to post to my blog as I go, sharing what I can. I plan to do some camping, staying in motels, & also, when possible make connections with others for accommodation through Warmshowers.
There, not only I have I spoken the words, I have published them on the Internet. One step closer to reality. Hopefully this will push me that much closer to pedaling another dream trip.
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