The Greater San Fransisco Area

Continuing my quest to travel the world.

It has been my quest to cycle around the world for a very long time, although I have ticked off 16 countries to date, I still haven't achieved the ultimate goal of cycling the world. I cannot wait any longer for the conditions to be perfect, age is catching up with me, so it is now or never.

picture drawn by Jim my Step - Father on our trip across Australia

picture drawn by Jim my Step - Father on our trip across Australia
After our trip to Vietnam in 2012.

Saturday 27 February 2016

Trans Am pair.

 latest update. Mini tour number three completed. What went well? I accomplished my goal of 1000 kms in 6 days in a range of conditions from non stop rain to very hot to strong headwind and cross winds. What didn't go so well was breaking in a new saddle that caused saddle sores, but that is one of the reasons for training - discovering potential problems and sorting them.
I really enjoyed the Kiakora coastline, and the views of the mountains and lakes in the central high country. I also enjoyed the drive up the stunning west coast on my trip back home to Nelson. We live in such a lovely part of the world.
After Niel met me at the 1000 km mark, we then we swapped - I drove home and Niel got on his bike. He didn't have a good time and as a consequence we have made the decision to enter the Trans Am as a pair. We ride well together - as we have been riding around the world together for 30 years, and know exactly each others strengths and weaknesses.
Riding together as a pair has advantages and disadvantages but we still ride the whole distance each.
The advantages is that we can take turns breaking the wind in the front and can share some of the load and consequently lighten our loads just a fraction.
The disadvantages are that you don't get so much kudos for finishing, and there is the possibility that one or other of you may get frustrated with the other at some times.
However it should be more enjoyable having someone to talk to and share the experience with.
This will be my last blog post, I will be changing to a 'like page' on Facebook. It is much easier for me to use and to add photos to. I invite you to join my like page when I set it up. I know not everyone uses Facebook, but I had to make the decision for ease of use.
I hope you will enjoy reading Vespa Chick - diary of a word cyclist.

Tuesday 26 January 2016

Resurrection of my blog and the TransAm.

I was about to give up on writing my blog. I really want my life to be more private and less open to public scrutiny. Following a suggestion from a fellow TransAm buddly (thanks Jodi) - I have decided to make it only a diary of my cycling endeavors. If you are not interested in my cycling adventures then I sadly bid you farewell.
To clear a few things up from my last post months ago - I am postponing my proposed trips to finish cycling the world, in favor of redoing the TransAm bike race.
While riding the TransAm last year - I couldn't understand why anyone would do it a second time, so what bought this decision on? Mostly I hate not finishing something that I know I can finish, but I learned a lot and realized that I made a lot of mistakes. The TransAm takes a lot of training and dedication, I cannot frit away money on trips of fancy when I need to put in months of long rides and mini tours from home to get to the stage of riding 1,100kms or more with a load on my bike in a week and it being easy.

There are a lot more women entered in this years event. Having had some experience last year is definitely an advantage as I know what to expect and how to cope with the things that caused me problems last year, especially as a woman and not just another rider. I have had my Carpel Tunnel in my hands repaired so I can hold the handle bars better although I still have a struggle squeezing on the brakes - however I am sure that will improve. I have reduced my load from last year by a third and have a wider saddle to control the saddle sores and bruising I suffered last year, and found other ways of coping with the pain and discomfort - Niel is even using these remedies too in anticipation of getting some chaffing. I am also training my mind to be happy riding at night instead of always during the day - if it is unbearably hot or windy during the day.
Niel is also doing the TransAm this year, but we are not riding it together. I will be starting on the east coast, and he is starting on the west coast. We both have reasons for these choices. So we will see each other briefly somewhere near the middle.
My training is going well. I have only been able to ride distances of over 150km in the last month since recovering from the surgery on my hands. But in that time I have ridden at least one 200km ride every week and added other rides to try and increase my distance to 1100kms a week. It is not my body stopping me achieving this, but rather boredom with riding the same roads all the time, that is why I need to get away on mini tours. The next one is the length of the South Island( 1,000kms) in 6 days sometime in February.
I will let you know how it goes.