Making a list, checking it twice

I’ve been doing more research than training for this ride, starting with the “bible” that everyone refers to, the nattily titled “Bicycling the Pacific Coast: A Complete Route Guide, Canada to Mexico“, a number of blogs from those who have done it and a private Facebook group of people currently on the route. There’s lots of great information to be found and the most common method seems to be carrying a boatload, sorry bikeload, of camping gear and staying at campsites and/or Warm Showers.  Some of the lists I found were mind-boggling and I didn’t want to lug all that gear so I’m going to stay in hotels and motels along the way.

Here’s my list of what I’ll have with me:

• The bike, a Specialized Roubaix
• Garmin Edge 800 with maps from the Adventure Cycling Association
• 2 spare tubes, puncture repair kit and tire levers
• Pump
• 2 water bottles plus a Camelbak
• Electrolytes and snacks/gels
• Lightweight jacket, hat, layers, lots of layers
• Timbuk2 pannier bags
• Awesome aluminum rack from China that comes with no installation instructions. Despite the crappiness of the box and absolutely zero instructions it really is quite awesome and fits road/race bikes that aren’t prepped for a rack. As an added bonus it came with a really fugly free headscarf!
• 3 gallons of anti-chafing butt cream (ok, perhaps not quite that much, but close)
• Credit cards
• Phone, portable charger and cables
• Rear view mirror to minimize the fun from Lhermitte’s
• Nitrile surgical gloves, just in case I need to perform any surgeries on the way (hopefully not on myself) and, if not, they are great for keeping the cold and wet at bay
• Selfie stick, sorry, but I had to

My evening clothes for fancy dining in exotic places like King City, CA will be in the support truck along with spare tires, my laptop so that I can hopefully keep this blog updated and other sundries, medications etc.

Aside from my legs and my bum, my other biggest concern is my throat. The radiation treatment left me with no saliva so I get severe dry mouth just breathing normally. Huffing and puffing on a bike in to the wind is going to be a challenge so I’m thinking that a Camelbak will be needed to avoid the desert throat feeling.

I just had the bike serviced with a new chain and cables so I think the planning phase is coming to an end and now it’s time for the doing phase. Yikes.