Ephemerica

Check out this cool toy we got at REI last weekend! It’s called a gorillapod, and is just the perfect size and weight to come along with us on our journey. We also splurged (thanks to the fall sale, and a couple of coupons) on new sleeping pads and bags. The reason we got the bags was to be able to zip them together for snuggle time—although I’m thinking that most of the time, I’m going to be too freaking hot to even get inside the dang thing.

Bike update: I ordered us some front racks, and they don’t fit on the stupid fat tube GT forks that we BOTH have now (thanks to the carport incident) because they don’t taper as they go to the dropouts. I thought about getting us some Surly Long Haul Trucker forks in fashion colors, but decided to go with the (much cheaper) black Tange fork for both of us. Boring, I know… Also upgrading Cindy’s headset to threadless. Forks should arrive on Monday, and I’ll have to get help cutting the steerer tubes to the proper length and installing the new headset (another reason to ditch the threaded one—I don’t have the tools to dismantle it). So another trip to Recycled Cycles for me. My fork is currently removed, so I’ve been riding Cindy’s bike this week. It’s somewhat heavier than my bike, but feels similar nonetheless (hmm….it does have the same wheels and shifters as my bike). If the new forks don’t work with the racks, I may ride in front of a bus…

Posted by Matthew on October 13th, 2006 | Filed under: Pre-trip Planning