Bios

Patrick Colleran
Hometown: Boise, Idaho
Bike: A 1976 Sam Braxton (#23) refurbished for it's second cross country trip
Favorite piece of gear: B17 brooks saddle
Go-to road food:Corndogs
Best touring specific trick: Poppin curbs and riding wheelies
Last employment: Field leader for citizen science backpacking trips for wilderness character monitoring in the HPBH WSA just north of Yellowstone
Most anticipated destination: Austin, Texas
Best bike related experience: Touring the San Juan Islands with Alison E. Riley

Max Horrowitz-Burdick
Hometown: Longmont, CO.
Bike:
Salsa Vaya
Favorite piece of gear:
spatula
Go-to road food:
snickers
Best touring specific trick:
on bike sunscreen application
Last employment:
Denali National Park trail crew
Most anticipated destination:
middle of nowhere mississippi
Best bike experience:
first wheely

Vince Roubitchek
Hometown: Mt. Prospect, Illinois
Bike: Surly Long Haul Trucker (Fatties Fit Fine)
Favorite piece of gear: Bear Spray
Go-to road food: Jalapeno Cheddar Cheetos
Best touring specific trick: Limbo under gates of closed campsites....while riding
Last employment: Raft/Backpack Guide in West Glacier, Montana
Most anticipated destination: Beers on the beach in MIAMI!
Best bike experience: Cruisin' Avenue of the Giants in Nor Cal

Kyle Lehman
Hometown: Corbett, Oregon
Bike: Surly Cross Check with a dented rear wheel and noisy brakes.
Favorite piece of gear: Michael Jordan tank top
Go-to road food: Corn doggies
Best touring specific trick: No handed jacket removal
Last employment: Wildland Firefighter for the State of Montana
Most anticipated destination: New Orleans
Best bike experience: Crashing so hard while dirt jumping that I shit my pants.

Danny Thuerer
Hometown: Boise, Idaho
Bike: Surly Long haul Trucker
Favorite piece of gear: GoLite nickers
Go-to road food: Milky way
Best touring specific trick: Riding forward
Last employment: Helena National forest
Most anticipated destination: The South
Best bike experience: Riding down hill

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Four Man Caravan

Patrick's rear wheel disintigrated on Wendsday as he tore down a steep descent in the Coast Range. From what he says, some pitting in the hub's bearing race caused it to lock up and tighten down with each successive rotation. Eventually the rear quick release shattered from the pressure and shot accross two lanes of traffic, leaving his wheel thrashing about in his drop outs like a beached Coho Salmon while he tried bring his bike to a stop. Thankfully he did so without incident and hitched a ride into Seaside were he could buy a wheel at the local shop.

The rest of us plodded through the final climbs of the day and met him on the boardwalk feeling fatigued and hungry. We cruised past the candy and toy stores of downtown before pulling up in front of a place with dollar tacos and cheap beers. Just as we were locking up Pat's rear tire exploded from being overinflated by the bike shop. Patrick looked down at his $100 investment and shook his head. "I want a fucking taco," he said. "I'll deal with this later."

By Thursday my ass was feeling as raw as a freshly shucked oyster and our bikes were clattering and squeeking from lack of attention. But it was hard to find issue with the scenery, steep climbs through towering forests and ripping descents along the rugged Oregon coastline. Putting down good mileage gets easier with each day and we have yet to pay for camping. Last night was spent in the Walport Irish baseball field where our night was interupted when a homeless man stumbled into the home dugout looking for a place to sleep. Seeing it was full he slunk back into the light drizzle with his backpack, highlighting the stark difference between funemployment and unemployment.

3 comments:

  1. How were the tacos? Hope Pat's bike problems are fixed. HB recommends Chamois Butt'r (designed by a cyclist for irritated skin). Good Stuff! Are ya'll writing a guide where the homeless can find the best coastal places to live? Safety First, M&D The HB's

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  2. Your first encounter with the homeless. Well done, guys.

    change your font. i feel like i should be reading about how to make cupcakes or something.

    xo,
    -b

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  3. definitely enjoying the posts, try to keep them coming. have to admit i agree with the font comment. love you guys and looks like plenty of dry clear weather as you head south.

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