Cycling/ Bike Purchasing

[PDH]

Interstates in the west sort of have different rules than in the east of the USA.  Lots of places allow bikes (though for reasons MiM said few use it), but the larger town areas do not. Salt Lake, Denver, for instance do not allow bikes near them (though there are frontage/parallel routes to take).

Having driven the route from Wyoming to California at least 30 times in my life, I can't imagine too much more foolish than a broke novice trying to bike from the Bay Area to Salt Lake City.

[LaCroix]

take a train there in the last week if you wish to explore isengard and its culture. don't ride there, not because it's dangerous, you're not prepared, etc, but because inevitably you will not carry through with it. this is a pipe dream with an expensive price tag. you've no employment, are still in school, and the money you inherited from your father can only last so long. spending $1-2k or more on what you think to be a really cool idea is not becoming of a southern gentleman

[Richard Hakluyt]

One problem is that if you will need decent sets of both front and rear panniers, they will balance your bike and the weight is far less important than the weight distribution IMO. Good panniers are, of course, quite expensive, but riding with a backpack is moronic both in terms of immediate safety and future back problems. You will also need gears that include a few extremely low gears, you should be aiming to ride up every hill and mountain, walking a loaded bike is far harder than riding it.........but you really need very low gears for an extended climb.

One major problem is that if you start in California that is the wrong coast, you will get to the desert (which is pretty damned dangerous I would imagine) when you are still a wobbly unseasoned urbanite. Much better to start the ride in Charleston and go west...............more historically apt too.........if you did this you would gain your cycling legs in relatively easy terrain. Cycling requires a lot of stamina, stamina you simply will not have until you've been on the road a few weeks.

[Maladict]

Only 2 days left! Got a bike yet?

[Lettow77]

 To my embarrassment, the impracticalities and drudgery of it, but most of all the urging to desist of most everyone I know, has shelved the plan to cycle to Deseret.

However! I will still be departing for Utah, and I will still be cycling. A more revised practical itinerary involves taking a train and then renting a bike to explore the land. I want to see Provo in particular. I am unsure about the 22nd date; there is still some things I care to do here, where before I was eager to leave. I've met some fascinating folks.

Perhaps on the 5th, after the customary two days of fasting?

[Zanza]

Cycling from Salt Lake City to Provo sounds much more sensible.

[CountDeMoney]

To my embarrassment, the impracticalities and drudgery of it, but most of all the urging to desist of most everyone I know, has shelved the plan to cycle to Deseret.

Shame.  I would've liked to have seen your final moments from your cell phone camera, carrion birds waiting off in the distance.  Waiting.

[Lettow77]

 I don't have a cellphone! I've said this.

But um, cycling around Utah should be enough of an undertaking. More pressingly, i'm not sure where I'll stay. Cheap monthly housing can be had, (very cheap, actually- surprised me) but that's no good if I want to be out and about. I'll improvise I guess.

[Caliga]

  Shouldn't you maybe be trying to acquire marketable skills at this point in your life, instead of "cycling around Deseret?"

[Lettow77]

Marketable skills is a disgusting idea. I am a gentleman of letters.

Or rather, did you spend all your college summers in a quest to increase your marketability? I will be a successful lawyer, or professor. I am confident I can do well in whatever I choose to pursue. The Deseret trip could change my life though

What if I: find the true faith?

[Caliga]

Marketable skills is a disgusting idea. I am a gentleman of letters.

Have fun being a lettered hobo then.

Or rather, did you spend all your college summers in a quest to increase your marketability?

Actually, yes, yes I did.

I will be a successful lawyer, or professor. I am confident I can do well in whatever I choose to pursue. The Deseret trip could change my life though

What if I: find the true faith?

If the LDS Church is the true faith, then I'm Cinderella.

[Admiral Yi]

What exactly did you do Cal?

[Caliga]

What exactly did you do Cal?

Worked for an ISP in Philadelphia during the summers, and during the school year worked as a 1099 contractor doing web development and more general IT stuff around campus for various departments and centers.  Alot of my friends were doing lame workstudy shit at like $8 an hour while I was billing at $50-100.

[Monoriu]

Shouldn't you maybe be trying to acquire marketable skills at this point in your life, instead of "cycling around Deseret?"

Cal is wise

[11B4V]

Shouldn't you maybe be trying to acquire marketable skills at this point in your life, instead of "cycling around Deseret?"

Cal is wise

Good advice +1