Overview
On July 17, 2004, the journey was completed, with 4000 miles ridden. Click on Travel Log for photos and daily updates.


Between May 22 and July 17, 2004, I cycled exactly 4000 miles across North America to raise money for the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, Cheers for Children, The Cancer Research Institute, The Nature Conservancy, and The Animal Rescue League of Boston.

On May 22nd, 2004, the trip began with a start point of Anacortes, WA (a little north of Seattle). We headed east through the Cascades mountain range on the "Cascades Highway", to Sandpoint, ID. Continuing eastward, we cycled into Montana and through Helena, Missoula, and then onto Yellowstone National Park. Crossing the rest of Wyoming and the Bighorn Range, we then entered South Dakota, with a route through the Badlands. The relative flatness of the Midwest then took over, as we rode through northern and central Iowa and into Illinois to a major rest point in Chicago. From Chicago we continued through Indiana and Ohio along the southern shore of Lake Erie. Continuing along Lake Erie to Niagara Falls, we then angled down to New York City, and onto Long Island. Crossing the Long Island Sound into Connecticut, the final leg of the journey was through Newport, RI, and then onto Cape Cod with an endpoint in Provincetown, MA on July 17, 2004.

Day 1 in Anacortes, WA


Day 57 in Provincetown, MA
Are You Planning a Cross Country Trip?
Send me an email if you have any questions: James (at) CodeLords (dot) com
In The News
Click on the icon below for the article in the newsletter of the Cancer Research Institute (article on page 2):
CancerResearchInstitute.pdf

Click on the icon below for the article in the newsletter of the Animal Rescue League of Boston (article on page 2):
AnimalRescueLeague.pdf
StatisticsNote: The stats below reflect only James' experience on the ride (not the other riders).
Total trip duration: 57 days
Total 'on-saddle' time: 48 days
Distance ridden: 4000 miles
Distance ridden/day total duration: 70.2 miles
Distance ridden/'on-saddle' day: 83.3 miles
Sag wagon support days: 13
Flat tires west of Chicago: 2
Flat tires east of Chicago: 4 (mainly because second set of tires was worn out)
Set of tires used: 2
Accidents: 0
Near Accidents: 1
Average travelling speed with Yak Bob: 14.5 mph
Average travelling speed without Yak Bob: 16.0 mph
Days in motels: 39
Days at friends/family homes: 9
Days camping: 10

Equipment
Bicycle: Litespeed Classic Road Bike

Tires: 700x28 Continental Ultra Gatorskin (good choice in retrospect)

Pedals: Shimano caged with Shimano mountain clips (good choice in retrospect, because you can ride with sandals)

Shoes: Sidi Dominator 4

Gear Hauling: Yak Bob Trailer

Off bike footwear: Merrill lightweight sandals

Tent: Sierra Designs Light Year

Sleeping: Thermarest ProLite 4 with 3 lightweight polyprop blankets (sent home blankets one by one as the trip moved eastward and the weather got hotter).

Cooking Gear: none.

Clothing: 2 Pearl Izumi Micro Sensor bike shorts, 2 jerseys, 1 set of long underwear, 1 long pants, 1 shorts, 2 shirts, 1 rain pants, 1 rain jacket, 1 gloves, 1 rain hat, 1 heavy pair of camping socks (for tent sleeping)

Chamois Creme: Assos

Recommended Accessories:

Handlebar bag by Madden

SKS Race Blade clip on fenders

Digital Camera: I used a Nikon Coolpix 5000 with wide angle lens, but that is probably too big of a camera for most people.

Luxury Items:

Computer: I used a Sony Vaio Picturebook PCG-C1VN (just enough power to create this website while on the trip, in a small form factor) - http://www.stevebarr.com/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/barrst/goto.pl?c1vn

Sound Soother: Sharper Image Travel Soother 20 - http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/productview.jhtml?sku=SI621SIL
The Insider's Joke
SouthPark.mp3 Like all good insider jokes, you had to be there.