Training Totals for March

NOB HILL, ABQ--Here at the total number of miles logged during March. Various amounts of weight were carried...usually about 20 pounds.

• Week One: 107 mi.
• Week Two: 133 mi.
• Week Three: 157 mi.
• Week Four: 149 mi.

No injuries to report. Bike was gone over by Jeff at Two-Wheel Drive. He replaced all cables, re-packed the bottom bracket and hubs, trued wheels, replaced the chain. It is so important to me to have only one person working on the bike. And Jeff works on it as if he were taking the trip himself.

Charlie, the owner, and Jeff are in my corner. Thanks.

Training for the Big One

NOB HILL, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO--I have been training for the last 4 weeks. I started pretty much at zero. Here are the mileage totals so far:

• Week #1: Feb. 17th, 90 miles
• Week #2: Feb. 24th, 106 miles
• Week #3: Mar. 2, 107 miles
• Week #4: Mar. 9, 133 miles

The goal from here on out it to increase the mileage by 20 miles per week until the last week. That week is not totally certain, but I am planning on leaving someplace around April 20th. So that gives me 4 weeks to get ready!

I am riding the bike I plan on taking cross country, a Gary Fisher Tassajara. Yes, this is a mountain bike. I am training with heavy, fat tires and carrying two bags and half a gallon of water. I'm not sure what this all weighs, but the whole thing rides like I'm trying to pedal a pickup truck.