Tour de Awesome

A Journey by the Numbers

2011-08-12T20:13:00.002-04:00

In many ways, questions are better answered and more interesting to the common folk when it is presented in colorful pie charts and bar graphs. With that, below are some cool graphs that show everything from our distance travelled to the number peach rings I personally consumed. Enjoy! (Some can be better viewed by themselves in a separate window. Just click it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Distances and Days
Total Mileage (mi)	4062
Total Mileage ridden (mi)	3834
Total Days	68
Rest days	10
Average/day (excludes rest days)	66

Weights
Bike Weight (lb)	27
Avg Gear Weight (lb)	35
Total Loaded Weight (lb)	62
Beginning Body Weight (lb)	168
Ending Body Weight (lb)	156

Shelter
Outdoor camping	54%
Residence home	40%
Church	3%
Other	3%

Hygiene
Legitimate showers	67.6%
River bath	11.8%
hose shower	7.4%
sink	7.4%
bottle shower	4.4%
none	1.5%

Mishaps
Total fall count	17
Chauncey	59%
Brian	24%
Jacques	18%

Tubes Replaced
Total inner tubes replaced	11
Brian	73%
Jacques	18%
Chauncey	9%

Approximate Expenditures
Initial gear investment	$2,058.00
Food/restaurant/cash withdraws	$1,550.00
Bike associated costs	$165.00
Other expenditures (5/29-8/2)	$435.00
Airplane and bike shipment	$282.00
Total	$4,490.00

Winning America

2011-08-04T21:39:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to ourselves for completing the bicycle travel across the contentinental US from coast to coast. 4200 miles of sweat, sunscreen, chamois butter, and Cliff bars have gotten us from Yorktown VA on the Atlantic all the way to Astoria OR on the Pacific. In a short 68 days, we have learned so much about this glorious country in which we live in. Not only that, we have also gained an invaluable personal experience that we can dwell on for the rest of our lives. You may not agree, but America is extremely diverse and rich with culture. It's the stuff you whizzed pass while driving on the Interstate or flied over at 500mph. The sights you see, the people you meet, the stories you exchange, the perspective you gain - it is only possible when you do it at 14 miles an hour. Traversing the continent via pedal power is no cake walk, it takes a lot of perseverance, mental strength, and an uncanny ability to look over that next hill ahead. But at the end of the day, it gives you the best sleep of your life (even on a hard concrete floor) and a new day of adventure to look forward to. That is what makes it all worth it.

Signing off,

Jacques "Boss" Li
(Not really, I still have to post pictures later, ugh)

America: a post by Jacques

2011-08-04T21:35:00.001-04:00

America: wrapped up in a pig blanket and served in a warble of words here

It's hard to depict the awesomeness and grandeur that is America through pictures, much less with words, and very much less so when I'm the one writing the words. But each part of the country is unique to it's own social-demo-geographical region. More so than the spectacular geography and awesome scenery are the people we meet. Every warm welcome into a household is an invitation into someone's life. They enrich our young minds with a plethora of fascinating stories, and a display of their interesting hobbies, and a peek into lifestyles other than our own Generation Y upbringing.

The South still holds onto it's rebel ties through proud displays of the Dixie flag and bumpers stickers. You can't help but notice the poverty stricken areas of eastern KY aka coal country, or I as like to call it - the ghetto of the rural. There, they hate alternative energy not because they are a bunch of backwards bucktoothed rednecks, but because coal mining is their bread and butter.

What the Midwest lacks in the geographical features, it is made up by the hospitality and generosity of the people. Humble backgrounds make for the nicest people. But I must say - big tractors, combines, miles of corn, amber waves of grain - riding through the bread basket of America really does embody the feeling of being American.

Then comes the Rockies and the wild wild west. The single most beautiful place in the country hands down. Big blue skies, snow capped peaks, winding rivers, towering aspens, the site of a wrangler on a horse moving his cattle down the road, perhaps this is where they get that stuff on that "America is awesome" video they showed me when I got naturalized as a citizen.

The Northwest knows a good thing when they see it. After being in small town USA for a good bit, it was easy to forget that that there are some places in this country with more than a handful of people. The Northwest is known for their gray overcast ambiance, yuppies jacked up on coffee, and more craft beer breweries than I can drink. Once I hit Portland-Vancouver-Seattle area, I feel myself entering a rather progressive and really white part of the country. Portland really struck a good note on my banjo. I can see why white people like this place.

Sitting on Our Butts... Across the United States

2011-08-02T20:21:00.000-04:00

Turns out we can accomplish something without leaving the comfort (eh) of our seats. Today we had a short ride and finished off our trip in Astoria, Oregon! You've been good to us United States, thank you for your ugly people and uglier scenery, just kidding it was all great. Who knows what adventures lie in store for the three they call Brian, Jacques, and Chauncey? All that can be sure of, is how awesome they all are for finishing this first challenge. Stay adventurous and happy my friends.

Unofficial Official Theme Song of Our Journey

2011-08-02T19:49:00.002-04:00

http://youtu.be/sy1dYFGkPUE

Cyclo-Urination

2011-07-27T17:47:00.000-04:00

Relieving yourself whilst cycling is a system of high risk, high reward. On one hand, in result of failure, you risk mutilation, humiliation, messiness, and a charge of public indecency. If successful like a champ, you gain pride and urinary tractifaction while still making forward progress on your bike ride i.e. worth the risk. Women need not apply, biking experience required. Right now I will not go into the details, nor will I post pictures of success, but I will say the secret is to work with a slight downhill.

Vegetables

2011-07-25T20:14:00.000-04:00

I don't know whether it was my taste buds maturing or my body craving intense amounts nutrients for energy, but this summer I've been eating my vegetables for the first time in my life. I even made my own salad at one point, that's pretty crazy in my mind. Just fyi

Final Stretch

2011-07-25T20:09:00.000-04:00

So we bring our journey towards an end, ~450 miles left. We should finish within a week. There have been good times and great times, long days and short days, memories to cherish forever. Virginia was our introduction and first love, we blew threw it century after century just to get the trip rolling. Kentucky proved to be our bane, testing us with miserable boringness. Illinois was a short jaunt but gave us one of our best stories. Missouri introduced us to the west with it's arches and an excellent night at City Museum. In Kansas we got familiar with wind and heat. Colorado was overwhelming with beauty and friends to stay with. Wyoming's national forests were worth the trip. Montana was wildly wonderful in itself and was the first point we started realizing the adventure was coming to a close. Idaho was a quick sprint through beautiful cedar and river country. The rest is a mystery but I imagine it to be pretty cool.

For those of you that have helped us on our way, don't worry we'll write a thank you for each and every one of you... if you're lucky.

DOC POPCORN

2011-07-22T14:50:00.002-04:00

Biking across the U.S. is tough. We burn calories like millionaires burn hundys, so we're shoveling food down our throats any time we get a chance to. We generally like delicious food like regular people, but we also like food that's kinda healthy and won't have us dragging @$$ in the saddle. For this reason we'd like to make a shout out to Doc Popcorn. The founder of the company and his family were wonderful and awesome hosts, letting us stay with them for a night back in Boulder, CO. Right before going through the national parks in WY we received a care package full of Doc Popcorn. We almost ate it all in a single sitting it was so good. It's pretty wholesome and good for you too. This was the snack that helped power us over some mountains and into some beautiful natural scenes, so for that we'd like to say Thank You Doc Popcorn!
DocPopcorn's Site

Why Wyoming?

2011-07-13T17:13:00.001-04:00

Someone once raised the question: what's the farthest distance you've ever been away from any other human being? Well, I can say with certainty that Wyoming is probably the farthest I've been from any other person. But it sure is gorgeous in every way.

PS new photos! check them izzout

The Great State-Line Race

2011-07-11T20:49:00.000-04:00

In the cycling world it is customary to race eachother to imaginary lines for imaginary pride. Throughout the course of the Trans-Am tour there has been a tight race, victories are as follows:

Jacques "Spoke Breaker" Li
-Jacquestucky (Kentucky)
-KansJacques (Kansas)

Chauncey "Baby Bike" Smith
-Chauncorado (Colorado)

Brian "Flat Tire" Undercoffer
-Brianois (Illinois..kinda)
-Brioming (Wyoming)

See bios of the racers below and place all bets through our PayPal account (warning: no bets will be returned even in case of victory)

Brian "Flat Tire" Undercoffer

2011-07-11T20:37:00.000-04:00

"Slow and steady gets you where you need to go, 20 minutes after everybody else gets there"

Bio
Tan: Lobster red
Beard: Peach fuzz civil war soldier
Nakedness: Above average
Luck: 5 flat tires and a shirt stolen by a raccoon

Additional Stats
+1 Mountain king
+1 Unexpected effort
-1 Weak knees

Chauncey "Baby Bike" Smith

2011-07-11T20:25:00.000-04:00

"That zephyr was a dreamy monster and I like colorful vegetable tips for teens"

Bio
Hair: Mouse green/ gold and curly
Tan: Ghostly/sunscreen white
Accessory: Hair bow
Panniers: Maximum capacity

Additional Stats
+1 Drafting queen
+1 Wind cutting
+1 Cuteness
-1 Girl
+1 Tough as nails

Jacques "Spoke Breaker" Li

2011-07-11T20:13:00.001-04:00

"I'm always in the big chainring"

Bio
Age: Legal/ Old enough
Height: Immaculate
Beard: Whispy Fu Manchu
Tan: Multicultural

Additional Stats
+1 Chinese biking blood
+1 Sprinting power
+1 Immaculate eagle eyes
-1 Distractibility

Mountains Upon Mountain Tops

2011-07-08T17:07:00.000-04:00

Rocky Mountain National Park has by far given us the most scenic day of our journey so far. We reached a max elevation of 12,183 ft. and even made snow angels on our way up #nbd #middleofsummer. Saw some bull elk and moose. Passed over the continental divide for the first time. Every curve had a priceless view. We got many a kudos for riding fully-loaded up the mountains. The 4kforcancer kids that we kept running into in eastern Kentucky started the parkway at the same time as us and we beat them to the top, whatwhat!

New Horizons

2011-07-05T21:07:00.000-04:00

Any day the sun doesn't boil the flesh off of our backs is a good day. Being in Colorado has been wonderful so far, the temperatures are much nicer due to the elevation, but we're looking around 40 degs in the mountains that we'll be going through tomorrow. Colorado folk go nuts over elevation, they post it on every sign. We almost forgot what hills and shade were after being in Kansas. The red rocks and mountainous horizons are pretty crazy awesome, hopefully the views will get even better.

Pit Stop

2011-07-05T20:49:00.000-04:00

In Colorado Springs we were able to stay with Chaunstar's aunt and her husband, Mike. Luckily Mike is bikey and we were allowed to use his stuff to pull a long needed overhaul on our bikes. We all cleaned and lubed our drivetrains and put tire-liners just end worries about popped tires. I replaced my rear tire because of bubbles forming. There was a pretty miserable 90 mile stretch from Tribune, KS into CO where both my front and rear tubes had slow leaks and the rear tire bubbles were thumping against the road.

boss's corner (*and new mail drop location)

2011-06-29T18:53:00.000-04:00

Nice posts Thundercoffer, but Ima post something new and demote your post to one below me. And kudos with da pics, you earn one yohoo.

new photos added to the photostream since I'm just sitting in the library waiting out this 100+ degree scorcher.

after long talks and many a filibusters, the congress of tour de awesome has decided that we may not in fact be hitting up our third mail drop location in Cambridge Idaho (see sending mail on the trans-am post) . Instead, I would like to offer you an alternative location to send your postal love. Missoula MT - we are almost certainly going through Missoula, so this ensures speedy deliverance of your goodies.

The parcel should be addressed:

*Recipient Name

c/o General Delivery

Missoula MT 59802

Thanks!

Tansas

2011-06-29T16:02:00.000-04:00

About halfway through our journey, we are about to leave another state in our dust and work our way into the Rockies. Kansas is not only a large producer of shadeless roads and gale force winds, it's also the friendliest little state we've ran into so far! We even got to a point of avoiding offers for shelter because we wanted to go to sleep early without feeling obligated to be friendly guests. May the rest of our journey continue to be full of such kind and wonderful people.

Other Awesome Adventurers

2011-06-27T18:17:00.001-04:00

A guy walking from DE to CA we met in Eureka, Kansas (6/25): http://www.natewalksamerica.com/

Two crazy guys biking west to east for their grandma we met in Eureka (6/26): http://bikealzheimers.com/

A lone man biking from FL to WA we met in Eureka (6/26): http://america.crazyguyonabike.com/

MY BROTHER hiking the AppTrail: http://lonelypolicebox.wordpress.com/

A couple biking the same route as us we met in Berea, KY (6/10): http://slowwheeling.tumblr.com/

Group of cool guys we met just outside of Yellowstone, hope to see them back east (7/15): http://wolfspank.wordpress.com/

Road Romance

2011-06-27T17:56:00.001-04:00

The sexiest thing about going east to west is that we ride into the sunset every day, like cowboys on our steads. I like to call sunsets the lazy person's sunrise...

Not all pavilions are created equal(ly)

2011-06-26T13:26:00.010-04:00

Every place we camp has its perks, and some are way nicer than others. We found ourselves comparing the different sites and decided it was time for a formal rating system for nature camping and pavilion camping*.
The campsites on the map above have been updated with their scores, the front runner nature camping location is My Old Kentucky Home Campground in Bardstown with 18/20 and Troutdale, VA and Howardstown, KY are the highest rated pavilions.

Categories	0	1	2	3
Food	None	Restaurant	Gas station	Grocery store
Water	None	Faucet/Hose	Bathroom	Shower
Space/Roof	Rocky ground	Soft open field	Tree Cover	Roof
Electricity	None	1 outlet set	2 outlet sets	Ample outlets
Hammock Supports	None	Poles/Trees	Well Spaced Poles/Trees	Poles/Rafters with Perfect Spacing
Cellphone Service	None	Brian or 1 Bar AT&T	2-3 Bars	Full Bars and Internet
Permission	Not Permitted	Stealth Camping	Didn't Ask, SeemsO.K.	Explicit

In addition to the scoring rubric, bonus points of +1 each are added for:
Mirrors, Fans, Free Food/Supplies, River, Beauty, Laundry, Friendly People.
And a negative nuisances lose -1 points each for:
Bug bites, Noise, Fire Ants, Extra Dirty, Creepy, $$, Animal Attacks.

*A pavilion is defined as having a roof and is scored out of 21, while nature camping is scored out of 20.

Today is our one month trip anniversary. To celebrate we slept late, used the internet ate breakfast burritos and did laundry.

bossman says:

2011-06-22T18:55:00.000-04:00

photostream on the blog has been updated as of June 20th. They are the same photos as posted on my fb album.

in other news, we are currently located in Columbia MO, home of Mizzou Tigers. We have officially traded mountains/rolling hills for a super flatastic midwest time. But now I now found something else to curse at while on the bike instead of hills - large copious amounts of headwinds. if wind knew what was good for it, it wouldn't blow against me.

THE WRECK!

2011-06-15T23:28:00.001-04:00

In our haste to the Maker's Mark distillery there came two person wreck on a sharp downhill turn. Jacques the boss wiped out of the side of the road (due to outsider influence, b/c Jacques doesn't fall by himself), mangling his back tire and losing the adjustment screw to his Brooks saddle. His body was left a little scratched up too. Trying to avoid Jacques I ended up laying out and sliding the left side of my body across the dusty pavement.

Luckily Chauncey was there, unwrecked, with a medical kit and I got to look like a gladiator mummy!

Read Across America...Literally(haha)

2011-06-13T10:19:00.000-04:00

Reading is cool. It's soo cool that I can't give it up for this summer of adventure. To keep up with reading and not have to carry a book (ounces) I've been reading a book chapter by chapter at each individual library that we've gotten a chance to stop at. For my book I chose Watership Down because it's 1) a great book 2) a classic that every library will probably have in stock. I plan on finishing it before reaching Astoria.