The First 1000 Miles and Your Comments
Post categories: Canada
| 14:39 UK time, Monday, 13 July 2009
The first 1000 miles... it's always a good feeling on these expeditions to get the first 1000 in the legs... only about 14,000 more to go now!
I am on the Yukon/British Columbia border in the town of , a place that boasts a collection of over 50,000 signs from around the world! How and why I am not yet sure. I've stopped here to catch up online and do my laundry. I have been wild camping since Whitehorse and my cycle clothes have not been cleaned in over 800 miles (fortunately I am riding solo so there's no one to complain!)
I posted a last week and thanks for your photo replies, it was cool to see what you are up to. I was also hoping for some tractors, shops or other interesting workplaces. Surely not everyone works in a traditional office?
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It's great to see so much feedback on , , and here on the Ö÷²¥´óÐã blog. Feel free to comment and ask questions any time. I can't always reply that fast when I am in the wilds, so here is a catch up on some posts. Sorry I haven't had time to reply to them all.
Q - Corbettbagger was asking how far away from twitter I am at any time and also commenting on how interesting the Cassier Highway looks, which is one of the roads I could take through British Columbia.
A In the Yukon I have had no mobile reception so can't twitter instantly that way. However I have a satellite link from my laptop so have roaming internet for updates from anywhere along the roadside hence the regular photos and posts. This is new technology for me and very useful but just takes a bit more time to set up. I agree that the Cassier Highway looks amazing but I have decided to go further inland so I can cycle closer to the Rockies and also finish the Alaska/Canadian Highway which I have been on for the last weeks.
Q Funrunrobbie was asking if I am following the Tour de France and what my fastest time for a 10 mile time trial is.
A I am unfortunately missing most of the Tour so any updates welcome - the only news I get is from a few of the riders twitter pages. I have no idea what I could ride a 10 mile TT in, it's not really my distance as I have never been a sprinter and never raced. I think I could beat most over a 1000 mile TT though!
Q AndrewDMilne was asking how this expedition compares to cycling around the world.
A I am finding this ride completely different. When I was cycling around the world it was an out and out race and I always had the focus of 160km (100 miles) per day. Nothing else really mattered and the filming was a secondary concern. On the Americas expedition the fitness is different and I have found it tough to come off the mountaineering and then be hill climbing every day on the bike. I am pushing less miles (about 70mp/day) but the climbing is far greater. Also, this time I am doing a lot more filming, online, radio etc with the Ö÷²¥´óÐã and I am trying to get more of a sense of the world I am passing through. The documentary series which will be on in March in the UK is going to be very different. After a month and a half out here I am really enjoying it but mentally and physically it is a very different challenge.
Q WilliamNB asked if having company interferes or enhances the experience of the ride and if solitude was part of the attraction.
A Company is good fun as long as he/she can ride at the same speed. Over such big distances I have an endurance speed which is hard to change. On the grand scale of the 15,000 mile journey I will probably have company for a few hundred miles at most so when it happens it is a nice change.
Q Vit_t_1991 wondered if the flies were bad up here.
A I can not describe how bad the mosquitoes are in the Yukon. The only place I have ever experienced anything close is in the thousand lakes region of southern Finland. Whenever I put my tent up, it gets hot between the inner and outer sheet which attracts and then traps them so as I fall asleep to hundreds of squealing mozzies inches from my face (they can't get to me). I am going through more DEET than I have ever used.
Q r0nnybums was asking how many punctures I had whilst cycling 18,000 miles around the world.
A I honestly can not remember. I would go thousands of miles without any then in one day in Texas I had three. I think probably about a dozen, maybe less.
Q Eddokloosterman was commenting that he though Koga Miyata bikes never broke so was surprised that my pedal broke.
A Reply I agree in my experience my expedition bike didn't break. The pedals did not come with the bike so it wasn't the bike that broke. However, I have never broken Shimano pedals before either so I was surprised they did. The mechanic in the bike shop in Whitehorse had never seen this part snap either so I must be pedalling strangely!
Q Ange77H, ag0803, gunessunny, kendoclem and a few others have commented that they are or have already read my book, 'The Man who Cycled the World', which was just published.
A Thanks for the feedback, hope you are or have enjoyed it, I enjoyed writing it. Ag0803, good luck with the riding and go for the century!
Thanks for all the messages. Keep them coming as they keep me going!
Mark
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