Early this summer I attempted my first ever bicycle touring trip, but did not complete the trip as planned. The plan seemed simple enough, ride west until the trail ended, then turn around and ride back home. The planned route was fairly level and devoid of motorized traffic. The scheduled daily mileage was comparable to my average training rides, but the training routes had the added difficulty of hills and traffic.

So, what happened? Definitely, rookie mistakes were made. Too much junk was packed, causing the bicycle to be very heavy and difficult to handle. More planning was needed to know where resources were located in the towns along the route. The scheduled daily mileage was a bit too much considering that temperatures were in the mid-90’s, and scheduled to reach 100 later that week. Finally, a relatively minor bicycle malfunction convinced me to end the trip.

What is different this time? Hopefully, a better plan. I will be taking the Amtrak to Lee’s Summit, and then riding one way back east towards home. The facilities in the towns along the route have been mapped out. Less junk has been packed, less miles are planned for each day, and the forecast calls for temperatures around 80 degrees.

A factor to consider will be the shorter days. In June, I could ride until nearly 9:00 pm. But now, it starts to get dark around 7:00 pm. I won’t have the longer days to bail me out like I had in June.

The big test will be to see if my body can tolerate sitting on the saddle for more than three days in a row, which is my maximum so far. Some adjustments have been made to the bike that will hopefully help reduce saddle soreness and muscle cramps. Riding fewer miles each day should also help reduce some of these physical problems.

Despite the problems with my first trip, I did enjoy seeing the sights, traveling through the towns, and meeting a variety of people. I am looking forward to my rematch with the Rock Island/KATY trail.