22/23 December 2010

22 December: “Think of bicycles as ridable art that can just about save the world”. – Grant Peterson

We are on the road, first to Chicago and then to Nashville, packed with gear for, as far as possible, a self-sustained journey: two changes of bike gear; one set of street clothes; some power bars; tools; one lipstick. We’ll be doing so-called “credit card touring’, where we’ll be staying at bed and breakfasts along or near the Trace, rather than camping in the wintery weather (we may be radical but we’re not crazy). We’ll be buying food along the way and breakfasting at the B&B, but otherwise we’ll be depending on the supplies in the trailer to fill all our needs, from sunscreen to rain gear to bike locks to books.

For the morbidly curious, the bike is a customized three-person tandem, often called a “triplet”. Specs: eleven feet long (fourteen feet with trailer); aluminum construction frame; 27-speed; Meridian brand; 65 pounds unloaded, 410 pounds with riders, 510 pounds with trailer and gear. Top speed attained is 56 mph (downhill). It attracts stares wherever we go (though it didn’t impress the cop who pulled us over tonight for speeding en route to Chicago and who was more concerned with determining whether or not we’d stolen our car).

Riding the triplet demands teamwork and coordination. The person in front (the captain) is responsible for the safety and smooth operation of the bike. He steers, shifts, brakes, and keeps the team running in alignment. It’s much like driving a single bike, with the added dimension of extra length and weight – and the added responsibility of the wellbeing of two extra riders.  Those two riders provide the power (hence they are termed “stokers”), navigate (including reading maps and guidebooks), dispense the energy supplements, keep the captain entertained with witty banter and safeguarded with two extra sets of eyes on the road. Any stoker who is an experienced cyclist has to learn to allow the captain full control of the bike, relinquishing all engrained instincts to brake or veer when they see an obstacle ahead.  It is an exercise in letting go. And for all three riders, keeping the bike flowing smoothly means that we must be in the moment, which makes riding it a truly meditative experience.

Miranda writes: I’m very excited to go on a seven-day trip on the bike. I’ve brought bike shorts, jerseys, sunglasses, helmet, gloves, windbreaker, and rain jacket. We also decided to have a mascot on the bike so I bought a hedgehog. I’m proud to be raising money to help recycle bikes and send them to people who need them. I get to sit on the back of the bike and I get to help the captain look out for cars behind us.

If you have any questions, please email us at stuart.muir@huntington.com and we’ll be happy to answer you in the blog.