Greetings everyone,
Way back in 1972, me and my pal road some old cluckers (by today's standards)
from Phoenix, Arizona to Yuma, Arizona. The distance is 188 miles. The Schinn ten-speeds we rode probably weighted 4 tons apiece. Ok, maybe not that much, but they were heavy! It was our senior year of high school and we were actually going to see the State cross-country track meet in KOFA High School in Yuma. We were actually ill prepared for the trip, but we managed to make it anyways, mainly because we were YOUNG back then. Ok, my friend, Bill, has asked me down throught the years to take the trip again. I have FINALLY agreed to do this. OK, here's where you guys can offer me some great (or at least helpful) advise. I took an old mountain bike (about 3 years old) that we have in the garage and have ridened it 5 times since last Sunday (Today makes a week). I went 3 miles the first time, then 8 miles the second time.
I started getting cramps in my right calf about 6 miles out, but managed to ride thru it. I went 8 miles again, with no cramps and then did 9. Today I did 10 without too much trouble.
I guess I should tell you that I've been rather lazy the last 4 years, by that I mean no exercise of any kind. I'm now 50 years of age, a long ways from the
17 years I was the time we rode to Yuma.
What I'm looking for is advise on how much to ride daily, what kind of bike I should cycle on, how to keep my rear from getting sore (yeah, there's a million jokes there). Hopefully, we will make this ride again in November, same as the original ride. Any comments and advise will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Rene Aguilera
🙂