Tips for Biking Across America Part 2

11. Dogs
There may be wild dogs that will chase you, particularly out toward states like Missouri or Kansas. There are three things you need to do if they do take chase and you can't outrun them. First is to start screaming at the top of your lungs. Usually this does the trick and they scamper off. If not, the second thing to do is to grab your water bottle from the cage below and start spraying them. Your last resort is to get off your bike and hold it in between the dog and yourself while screaming and spraying it all at the same time.

12. Clip on's
These will greatly increase your efficiency and also work out your abs (for all you out there who want a six pack). I should have used these but I didn't because I had knee problems and clip on's limit your foot to one position. Looking back though, I would have liked to have one of these.

14. Layers for cold weather
You might be biking during the summer and thinking to yourself, I'll never need a sweater or a jacket but that's not the case. In states like Colorado or Nevada, sometimes it got down to around 40 degrees at night, or at least that's what it felt like.  It's also pretty chilly in the morning, which is why I had under armor, a pair of sweats, a jacket and a windbreaker. There were times where I had all these items of clothing on at the same time. As a side note, I would recommend getting tight clothing because you don't want loose and baggy apparel to get caught up with the air resistance.

12. Sleep early, get up early
You'll find that if you start early, you'll be able to beat the midday heat. It's weird, but on days that I started early, I found myself biking so much faster. There were days where I would average 20 mph for a good hour or two. The main reason I'd start early though was because I had to beat the headwinds that started anytime between 10 to 11. If you heed my first piece of advice and bike West to East, you won't have to worry about this problem.

16. Wear sunscreen

One of my bigger mistakes is not having worn enough sunscreen. At the end of the trip, I had sun damage and my skin broke out like crazy. Get at least spf 45 and apply freely at least three times a day. Just a fun fact, some of the hair on your body may actually start turning blonde if you're out for long enough. For me, it was about a month into the trip.

13. Jack 3D
This thing gives you so much energy, it's ridiculous. Careful though because you don't want to overdose on this. I usually only had one scoop per day and I rationed it to whenever I started to get tired. It's like a mini energy drink on steroids.

15. Helmet
Don't ever take this off when you're biking. I wore a helmet every single moment of my bike trip across America but when I came back to my hometown, I stopped wearing it. Dumbest mistake because then I got hit by a car and got a concussion.

18. Limit night riding
It might not be as hot, there might not be as many headwinds, but it's dangerous. Some drivers get obnoxiously close and vision is incredibly limited, especially if you are out on the plains. On flatlands, one of the worst things that can happen is being able to see the lights of the town ahead and not feeling like the lights aren't getting any closer.

17. Adventure Cycling Maps
These maps are great because they show you the scenic routes and suggest places to stay at night. However, I would not follow these maps blindly; some routes make you cycle through terrible rolling hills or climb an extra mountain or two. So right when you cross a new state border, buy a state map so you can see if there are any routes that are shorter. Ask locals which path might be more or less hilly. Trust me, you'll get to hate hills after a while. They really suck.

19. Planning
One of the most frequently asked questions that I get besides "Where'd you stay?" is "How did you plan the trip?" I actually planned it day by day and I really think this was the best way to go. Not only was it more spontaneous and you never really knew where you would end up the next day, but because you really can't plan your entire trip out. Things change, and you might have to call a day short because of an injury or because of terrible weather. By planning day to day, you leave room for error.

20. Keep an open mind

You'll find that people are generally very good natured. When I biked across America as a teenager, I had a different outlook on the world and on people in general. Being in high school, I thought people were provincial, competitive, backstabbing, but I was wrong. I met so many fantastic people that helped me along the way and it really changed my paradigm of the world. There were great families that offered their homes to us, other fellow cyclists who helped me with my first flat tire, and an entire community to cheer me on.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment or a message on the youtube video posted below. 

Tips for Biking Across America

People have been asking me for tips about biking across America and I decided that these are the top ten things you should be mindful of on your trip. 

1. Bike West to East

I think one of my biggest regrets was biking the opposite way. If you bike East to West, you'll run into headwinds and they can get pretty savage out on the plains. There were days that I just wanted to turn my bike around and go the opposite way so I'd have a tailwind, but I couldn't and it drove me crazy somedays. Don't make the same mistake.  

2. Bring lots of water

We all have different physiques, but if you don't have a support vehicle or you did ranged checkpoints with support (like I did with my dad), I would plan for about one bottle of water for every five miles you do; one to three if it's really dry. But don't worry, if you run out, muster up the confidence to stop on the side of road and just wave at passing cars. Some of them are more than generous to give you a water bottle or two. I can't stress how important it is to stay hydrate

d. Sidetip: Truckers carry giant packs of water in their trucks. If you're at a rest stop and you see one, don't

be afraid to knock and politely ask for a bottle. As always, be thankful.

3. Chamois butt'r

Just buy it. Carry it with you at all times. All the friction from cycling will seriously rub away at your butt and about two to three weeks in, you'll feel the pain. Apply generously. Sometimes I'd put it on 3-4 times a day. 

4. Invest in a quality pair of shorts

If you're planning on biking across America. Bring at least two QUALITY pairs (shell out the $50 for it) but I would recommend three. Why three? You'll use the first pair on one day and then you'll have to hand wash it (laundromats are a luxury). The second day, it'll be drying so you won't be able to use it anyway. The third pair is there because cycling shorts can wear out pretty quickly with all the miles you're putting in. Switch through the three pairs regularly and you'll be able to last the trip without having to buy another

5. Careful with earphones

It is extremely important you can hear your surroundings. I know music can help pass the time, but if a car is coming and you can't hear it, good luck. I would invest in a pair of bike speakers. These can be pretty pricey or you could just do what I did; Buy a $5 speaker and strap it onto your bike using velcro or something of your choice. Refer to picture somewhere in blog.

6. Audiobooks
I wish I had discovered these earlier. I actually only used audiobooks for climbing mountains. They'd keep my mind off the burn and on the story-line. You preferably want something that's more action packed because slow and dull books like The Scarlet Letter will only make you bike slower. 

7. Areas of Rest
You're not going to find a hotel, motel, Holiday Inn everywhere you go, plus, it adds up in cost. You'll be surprised at where you can stay over the course of your trip. Try fire stations, churches (call beforehand), laundry rooms, campsites, etc.

8. Bring a camera and learn how to bike with one hand
Take pictures and videos everywhere. You will look back at these pictures and smile, honest. Oh, and get a camera that's durable. I had a pink Canon Powershot and I must have dropped it in every single state at least twice but it still worked everytime. (Pink because it's harder to lose) Also, don't be afraid to take a small break every now and just savor the scenery. You never know if you'll ever see it again.

9. Don't go too fast
Going fast is exhilarating. On a nice road bike, you'll probably push 40 mph easy going downhill, but be smart. If you fall even once on your trip going anywhere past 20 mph, you could seriously risk the entire trip and may have to wind up going home. If you are going to speed, make sure the downhill slope is straight with no turns.

10. Pay it forward
Good deeds travel in circles. There will be a lot of strangers who will help you on the trip. Don't forget what they did for you and return the kindness by offering others your help. Quick sidestory, there was this one guy stranded on the side of the road with an overturned motorbike that he couldn't get upright. I got off my bicycle to help him lift it and was then on my way. Literally ten minutes later, I was speeding my way downhill (refer to tip above) and I fell off my bike on a turn that I was trying to make. Luckily, a very kind-hearted woman found me lying down on the side of the road, picked me up and brought me back to her house to wash out the wound. To this day, I am thankful that someone would help a complete stranger like me.