Training day.

Ride Across America update. A little more than three weeks to go. Yesterday was my first training day. Special thanks to Steve Chadwick and Michael Patterson who shared it with me.



Started in St. Mary’s at 11:30 after a morning meeting; Steve met me and we rode to Lexington Park for coffee. Then we headed for Damascus, Md, to meet Mike for lunch; the goal was 230-3pm, the reality was 4pm. (Sorry, Mike!)
Together, we all headed up for Westminster, to O’Lordan’s pub, and then had the only really fun, scenic, and open road stretch of the day coming back down 31 to Frederick. Said goodbye to Steve, and then waved goodbye to Mike at 118 and 270.



Leaving me to solo from Gaithersburg back to St. Mary’s and my bed, at 10:30-ish, just in time to see the Caps take back the lead. Woot!



292.9 miles, just shy of my goal of 300, but:
A solid 9 out of 11 hours on the road spent actually riding (god, the traffic!) Which is more than almost any day I have planned, on the actual trip... And generally, I feel fine!

Lessons learned:
The Purple seat pad I borrowed for part if the ride from Steve is Magic. I’ve ordered one already.

My iPhone needs a new battery, anyway, but I need to take a serious power backup on the road. Looking st the Rugged Geek model; recommendations welcome.

Also, have to wire up my accessory harness.

I had been thinking of trying to get a different bike; something cushier than my 2014 Interceptor. I don’t think I’m going to. Some minor mods to the Interceptor are in order, like bar risers and maybe road pegs, if I can find them. But the bike simply handles great, and I just wasn’t that sore at the end of quite a long day, and the ignition mapping will be useful for grossing the mountains. I’m glad, because now I can start seriously outfitting the cycle for the trip.

Tomorrow’s trip is up to Honda Powersports of Crofton, to look for luggage and to schedule the shop visit for All The Things: new tires and chain, fluids, etc.

UPDATE: wound up going to Coleman Powersports in VA, because it’s close to Bonnie; and guess what was just sitting there, where I hadn’t thought to look...


This is THE bike I’ve been searching craigslist and the Interwebz for for months. 2007 ST1300, with PGM-FI, and ROAD PEGS custom-cut into the engine sliders.

The test ride’s tomorrow. Stay tuned....