My wife and I did that trip 20 years ago when I was in my mid 40s.. I started out training around 230 - 240 pounds but got down to the mid 180s before we left. Ended up in the hospital about 4 months before we left. Found out I had Crohn's disease most of my life and did not know it. Fortunately I responded well to the meds they gave me and it made the trip much better. We started in late September and went the untraditional east to west way. I don't regret that as prevailing wind seemed to be just as good one way as the other and easier eastern riding gives you training for the West. Basically your backpacking with a few extra tools and much less need to carry food. We went very light. I had a bob trailer and wife had a pair of rear panier bags. 2 pairs of cycling outfits, layers for warmth, backpacker camp gear and one real light weight rei casual cargo pants and shirt outfit. Took a 6 quart water bladder and didn't fill it most of the time but parts of West Texas and New Mexico are very dry and water is not easy to find.The biggest thing I took away from that trip is most people want to help you. I tend to be down on people a lot but something about being on the bike and seemingly helpless brings out the good side in people. Hope you have a really good time and if possible and acceptable find someone to do the trip with. Having someone go with Youn is safer and somewhat easier. For me also, I get mid point in something and it gets boring. I might have quit and done something else but the wife kept us going.
Congratulations on making this epic commitment while you are young enough to do it again. And maybe again! I think I will get to do this in 2024 or 2025 after I retire at over 70. Everyone has their own inspiration. One mantra I may borrow is, I'm going for a bike ride today to ... wherever your next destination is. Somehow, that perspective doesn't make it seem so daunting. Happy trails, I hope to follow along.
Good man! What you say resonates very much with me. I turn 60 in a couple of weeks and while I don't have a plan to cycle across America, well I live in Europe, I do have the objective of loosing weight and being fitter and more active in my 60s. I look forward to watching more of your videos.
Hi Dave, I rode across Korea last year (633kms) and I'm riding the Camino in Spain this year (800 kms) and plan to ride the Danube river next year (2800kms). My best advice is think simple and light. You will find you need very little, a good tent and sleep set up, basic cooking and be flexible with how many miles you ride a day. I'm 63 this year and when I rode Korea I let my body tell me how many miles to do. I lost 10kg in three weeks 😀 Enjoy the ride
April 1 - July 2, 2016: Left home in Asheville (NC), pedaled to St Augustine then headed west. Enjoy your trip - you're gonna love it. Be sure to stop at the springs in Florida!
It will be tougher than you think, good luck and take care of not falling. You will have much better equipment that will help you enjoy your epic trip. Norm.
Check out bike across america 1965. Newport Beach to the new york world's fair. ON utub as well. News articles. Pictures etc. Give you an idea of old school trip. 1963 schwinn paramount. My partner on a Bianchi.
I love this Dave! I did my first ride across America last year from San Francisco to Maine, also on a Kona Sutra. More than happy to share my advice and insights from the journey. In regards to kit advice, I have a few suggestions: 1. Foam sleeping pad, not inflatable- out west there’s lots of thorny things that can poke a whole in your sleeping pad, as I learned numerous times on my way eastward. By the time I was 300 miles in and a few rough nights in the sierras, I was ready to give up on the air pad and bought a foam pad. Not it’s not quite as comfy, but it’s warm and I adjusted. Good news is that you sleep really well if you’re tired from riding all day :) 2. Kinekt Suspension seatpost- in the most literal sense, this thing saved my butt. Highly recommend, esp for a fixed frame like the Sutra, it takes the edge off chatter, bumps and potholes. 3. Get some Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires. I rode on 38mm and they were great; super durable, only had 2 flats in over 4,000 miles.
I’m regards to training, I would highly recommend getting familiar with packing your gear and riding with it, it’s a bit of a learning curve to get it dialed in a way that’ll work for you. Anything heavy, like water & food, you want to try and carry between the wheels, ideally in a frame bag. The lighter things can go out towards the edges of the bike. It makes a big difference in how the bike handles if you can center the weight and reduce overhang. The more riding you do with gear, the more conditioned you’ll be and the more prepared you’ll feel.
Also, now that you’ve got your bags sorted, you can integrate weighted rides by doing errands by bike, like getting groceries. Part of my training was doing a Costco run every 2-3 weeks where I’d load up what I could and ride it home. It can really humble you the first time you ride a hill fully loaded, take your time and remind yourself that it’s tough now, but your body will get conditioned to the task.
@@davesepicadventure forgot to mention, I made my foam pad comfier by getting smarter about my camp ground setup. If you gather pine needles, dry leaves, or soft vegetation and lay them out and build your tent over them you can make your pad very comfy.
"Gutsy move, Mav". Dave, thanks for the frank assessment of your starting point for training; it gives you and us a full idea of what this will take and how far you will have come. As you noted, there is a lot of information on TH-cam and encouraging videos and hopefully encouraging comments here on your page. I have not done a coast to coast (although my wife has begun suggesting I go away for 9 weeks or more), but have done several self-supported multi-day bike tours. Will. you have any support along the way? Someone in the camper meeting you or following you? Warm Showers is a biker support organization to look into. Lighter is Better. Plans are for preparation - once the rubber hits the road, plans will change. Friction is bad (except rubber on road). Sunscreen and water are your friends. Since you put the bike together you are a step up on many who ride; good on ya - remember: maintenance prevents repair. Don't sweat keeping us posted, but keep us posted. It's sea-level at both ends, so rolling friction aside, all the up hill's will have their down hill.
I want to do this as well. I’m 62 and I’m 280. I’m going to retire soon and have started riding every other day at least 8 miles. It’s going to take me some time to lose enough weight and prepare my body for this journey but I WANT TO DO IT! I could MAX the PT Test when I was in the Army but that was 35 years ago so lots of preparation. My bike is 43 years old, Centurion Super Le Manns I don’t know if I need any other bike. I bought it new in ‘82. Best wishes Dave I’m guessing your out there on the road now.
Look into getting on Zwift - it is a great training ground and the new Zwift training hug is excellent for simulation - www.zwift.com/invite/gWrmJvkYd6
Good Luck on your adventures, looking forward to seeing your progress. I hope to follow your lead and cycle across the country myself. Stay motivated and enjoy the ride.
You go, Dave! Best of luck and safe travels. I'll actually be a month ahead of you. I plan to leave San Diego on March 22nd and will hopefully be in St. Augustine, FL before Memorial Day. But I'll have no set agenda. If I find something interesting along the route, I may linger there for a couple of days just to explore. I enjoyed your posting here on TH-cam. I actually have a TH-cam channel as well but there's nothing there yet. Watching you inspires me to make a video documenting all my preparation as well. The preparation can seem daunting at times. BTW, I'm 65 years old now and still going strong. I'm planning many more adventures in the years ahead.
Looks like an amazing journey! That is one of my lifelong dreams! I do try to ride 15 to 20 miles a day several times a week during the warmer months. I just turned 55 and feel like the chance is slipping away. From the videos I've seen of people that have done it, the main takeaway is do not over pack. Will be watching your progress and rooting for you!
Don't push for speed or distance; I'm in my late 40s and won't ride for more than 50 miles a day. I've been riding for 35 years and toured extensively, the weather can really put a dent on your plan.
Do it 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻👍you have our support
Your an inspiration, I'm pulling for you.
My wife and I did that trip 20 years ago when I was in my mid 40s.. I started out training around 230 - 240 pounds but got down to the mid 180s before we left. Ended up in the hospital about 4 months before we left. Found out I had Crohn's disease most of my life and did not know it. Fortunately I responded well to the meds they gave me and it made the trip much better. We started in late September and went the untraditional east to west way. I don't regret that as prevailing wind seemed to be just as good one way as the other and easier eastern riding gives you training for the West. Basically your backpacking with a few extra tools and much less need to carry food. We went very light. I had a bob trailer and wife had a pair of rear panier bags. 2 pairs of cycling outfits, layers for warmth, backpacker camp gear and one real light weight rei casual cargo pants and shirt outfit. Took a 6 quart water bladder and didn't fill it most of the time but parts of West Texas and New Mexico are very dry and water is not easy to find.The biggest thing I took away from that trip is most people want to help you. I tend to be down on people a lot but something about being on the bike and seemingly helpless brings out the good side in people. Hope you have a really good time and if possible and acceptable find someone to do the trip with. Having someone go with Youn is safer and somewhat easier. For me also, I get mid point in something and it gets boring. I might have quit and done something else but the wife kept us going.
Congratulations on making this epic commitment while you are young enough to do it again. And maybe again! I think I will get to do this in 2024 or 2025 after I retire at over 70. Everyone has their own inspiration. One mantra I may borrow is, I'm going for a bike ride today to ... wherever your next destination is. Somehow, that perspective doesn't make it seem so daunting. Happy trails, I hope to follow along.
@duzer - Thanks for giving me the inspiration for making this a priority for me to complete this year. Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole
Looking forward to seeing your trip
you, sir, deserve a lot of respect.
Looking forward accompanying you on your journey. Thanks for sharing.
More to come!
Looking forward to your adventures and experiences. I have a feeling we would have a meeting of the minds (and hearts). Godspeed.
Good man! What you say resonates very much with me. I turn 60 in a couple of weeks and while I don't have a plan to cycle across America, well I live in Europe, I do have the objective of loosing weight and being fitter and more active in my 60s. I look forward to watching more of your videos.
Good luck my friend! You got this.
Hi Dave,
I rode across Korea last year (633kms) and I'm riding the Camino in Spain this year (800 kms) and plan to ride the Danube river next year (2800kms).
My best advice is think simple and light. You will find you need very little, a good tent and sleep set up, basic cooking and be flexible with how many miles you ride a day. I'm 63 this year and when I rode Korea I let my body tell me how many miles to do. I lost 10kg in three weeks 😀
Enjoy the ride
Good wishes from Ireland! Extraordinary how it just comes down to cycling. Hard hard going some days but memories forever.
Yes it does!
Looking forward to following the journey. Just keep pedaling.
Right on! I’ll be excited to see your journey, Dave!
Did this San Diego to st Augustine in 2013. Incredible the feeling when you finish never leaves you. Leaving San Diego is straight up a mountain.
Yes. That is on my mind everyday. I will see it for real in about a week.
Nice one Dave! Well done on seeing the opportunity and taking it! Looking forward to following along
April 1 - July 2, 2016: Left home in Asheville (NC), pedaled to St Augustine then headed west. Enjoy your trip - you're gonna love it. Be sure to stop at the springs in Florida!
Ok I will. Thanks
It will be tougher than you think, good luck and take care of not falling. You will have much better equipment that will help you enjoy your epic trip. Norm.
Check out bike across america 1965. Newport Beach to the new york world's fair. ON utub as well. News articles. Pictures etc. Give you an idea of old school trip. 1963 schwinn paramount. My partner on a Bianchi.
Thanks
I love this Dave! I did my first ride across America last year from San Francisco to Maine, also on a Kona Sutra. More than happy to share my advice and insights from the journey.
In regards to kit advice, I have a few suggestions:
1. Foam sleeping pad, not inflatable- out west there’s lots of thorny things that can poke a whole in your sleeping pad, as I learned numerous times on my way eastward. By the time I was 300 miles in and a few rough nights in the sierras, I was ready to give up on the air pad and bought a foam pad. Not it’s not quite as comfy, but it’s warm and I adjusted. Good news is that you sleep really well if you’re tired from riding all day :)
2. Kinekt Suspension seatpost- in the most literal sense, this thing saved my butt. Highly recommend, esp for a fixed frame like the Sutra, it takes the edge off chatter, bumps and potholes.
3. Get some Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires. I rode on 38mm and they were great; super durable, only had 2 flats in over 4,000 miles.
I’m regards to training, I would highly recommend getting familiar with packing your gear and riding with it, it’s a bit of a learning curve to get it dialed in a way that’ll work for you. Anything heavy, like water & food, you want to try and carry between the wheels, ideally in a frame bag. The lighter things can go out towards the edges of the bike. It makes a big difference in how the bike handles if you can center the weight and reduce overhang. The more riding you do with gear, the more conditioned you’ll be and the more prepared you’ll feel.
Also, now that you’ve got your bags sorted, you can integrate weighted rides by doing errands by bike, like getting groceries. Part of my training was doing a Costco run every 2-3 weeks where I’d load up what I could and ride it home. It can really humble you the first time you ride a hill fully loaded, take your time and remind yourself that it’s tough now, but your body will get conditioned to the task.
Thanks for all the information.
@@davesepicadventure forgot to mention, I made my foam pad comfier by getting smarter about my camp ground setup. If you gather pine needles, dry leaves, or soft vegetation and lay them out and build your tent over them you can make your pad very comfy.
I will be watching, how exciting!!
Thanks
"Gutsy move, Mav". Dave, thanks for the frank assessment of your starting point for training; it gives you and us a full idea of what this will take and how far you will have come. As you noted, there is a lot of information on TH-cam and encouraging videos and hopefully encouraging comments here on your page. I have not done a coast to coast (although my wife has begun suggesting I go away for 9 weeks or more), but have done several self-supported multi-day bike tours. Will. you have any support along the way? Someone in the camper meeting you or following you? Warm Showers is a biker support organization to look into. Lighter is Better. Plans are for preparation - once the rubber hits the road, plans will change. Friction is bad (except rubber on road). Sunscreen and water are your friends. Since you put the bike together you are a step up on many who ride; good on ya - remember: maintenance prevents repair.
Don't sweat keeping us posted, but keep us posted.
It's sea-level at both ends, so rolling friction aside, all the up hill's will have their down hill.
I want to do this as well. I’m 62 and I’m 280. I’m going to retire soon and have started riding every other day at least 8 miles. It’s going to take me some time to lose enough weight and prepare my body for this journey but I WANT TO DO IT! I could MAX the PT Test when I was in the Army but that was 35 years ago so lots of preparation. My bike is 43 years old, Centurion Super Le Manns I don’t know if I need any other bike. I bought it new in ‘82. Best wishes Dave I’m guessing your out there on the road now.
Look into getting on Zwift - it is a great training ground and the new Zwift training hug is excellent for simulation - www.zwift.com/invite/gWrmJvkYd6
Best wishes for your trip! I'll be doing the northern route in June - supported though.
That one is on my list. Good luck!!
Good Luck on your adventures, looking forward to seeing your progress. I hope to follow your lead and cycle across the country myself. Stay motivated and enjoy the ride.
Hello it is really exciting to hear about your journey. I am really looking forward to your journey through your videos.
Thanks
You go, Dave! Best of luck and safe travels. I'll actually be a month ahead of you. I plan to leave San Diego on March 22nd and will hopefully be in St. Augustine, FL before Memorial Day. But I'll have no set agenda. If I find something interesting along the route, I may linger there for a couple of days just to explore. I enjoyed your posting here on TH-cam. I actually have a TH-cam channel as well but there's nothing there yet. Watching you inspires me to make a video documenting all my preparation as well. The preparation can seem daunting at times. BTW, I'm 65 years old now and still going strong. I'm planning many more adventures in the years ahead.
How is the trip going?
Did you start your adventure?
GO SOONER DAVE LIKE NOW
Wish I could.
Looks like an amazing journey! That is one of my lifelong dreams! I do try to ride 15 to 20 miles a day several times a week during the warmer months. I just turned 55 and feel like the chance is slipping away. From the videos I've seen of people that have done it, the main takeaway is do not over pack. Will be watching your progress and rooting for you!
Thanks. Never to late to do it.
This would be awesome ride bro, amazing👍 salute anda success for your bike tour
Thanks
Great video! Excited to follow on this journey
Thanks
I'm also looking for a Sutra SE! Which dealer did you go to?! Good luck on your trip!
Hello Dave i wish you the best of luck. do lots of push ups and burpies in your training. good luck
Thanks. I will incorporate that into my workout.
2-5 miles? Start ramping up the mileage ASAP, good luck on your journey 🎉
He has time to train up, he mentioned 50 miles weekend rides. Ramping up is not recommended when you are in your 50s.
careful near the border bro. You might wanna ride a little farther north.
Don't push for speed or distance; I'm in my late 40s and won't ride for more than 50 miles a day. I've been riding for 35 years and toured extensively, the weather can really put a dent on your plan.
Yes the heat will be a big deal for me.
Leaving earth day, it will be very hot in June in florida . Are you going to carry every thing? What kind of seat do you have?
Yes going unsupported with everything on the bike.
Are you doing this bike tour solo?
That is the plan. If anyone wants to join let me know.
What part of the country do you live in and will be training?
BRING A BUCKET HAT BECAUSE YOUR HELMET WILL START TO GET HOT
I wish I could be I need to finish my current project. I don’t like leaving my customer mid way through a project.
OK JUST BRING ALOT OF WATER DAVE
IDID 180 MILES IN LATE MARCH LAST YEAR AND IT WAS ALREADY HOT HERE IN INDIO TO EL CENTRO AROUND SALTON SEA DURING THE DAY