Gear, gear and more gear

Sorry its been so long...my mom told me I'm going to "lose my followers" if I don't step up my blog activity so here goes. Among packing up my apartment in preparation to begin my months of nomad-ness, I've been getting all geared up for the big trip. I got a huge and exciting delivery from my sister and her husband that was almost exclusively spandex...three pairs of chamois, leg warmers, arm warmers, gortex rain cycling jacket, two pairs of gloves, a Camelbak, shoes, socks, sleeping bag...LOTS of stuff to try and shove in my duffel bag. A bag which I have to say looks very small considering I'm going to be living out of it for almost three months. I also got a big delivery of gear from a bike shop in Boston who is nice enough to give B&Bers a lot of supplies at cost. Spare tubes, tires, a bike pump, chain lube, tire levers, a new saddle (KEY in my making it all the way across the country!) among other things. So I've been having fun playing with all my new toys and trying to figure out what it all is :)

My bike is all "supped-up" with everything I'll need to ride safely on a day to day basis, and on Friday I'll be taking it to my local bike shop to get my cleats installed for my clip-in shoes and get a good bike fitting in an attempt to avoid any knee or back pain that usually accompanies an improper fit. Last night I tried to install my bike computer but something is awry because I wasn't pedaling anywhere and it was telling me that I was going 75 miles/hr. Hmm, I'll have to tackle that problem somehow. My co-worker was also nice enough to loan me her bike trainer so I can pedal away in the comfort of my own home since it is the middle of April and I am still wearing mittens on a daily basis. Mother Nature is on my bad side right now...

Other than getting all my gear ready, I have been very busy getting my leader responsibilities taken care of! I went to Philadelphia for the Bike & Build Leader Retreat a few weeks ago and got to meet all the leaders from all the trips, and most importantly my fellow leaders Jake, Kelsey and Ben. Let me tell you, Bike & Build leaders are a special breed and I can quite honestly say I haven't ever been surrounded by a group of people so different, interesting, outgoing, and just downright funny. It was great weekend, we learned a lot about what we'll be facing on the road and we managed to have some fun too. One of the leaders gave a presentation on "Health and Hygiene" and I'm officially terrified of saddle sores and road rash...so everyone keep you fingers crossed that my riders and I come away unscathed! I've lined up most of the overnights I'm responsible for, so I'm just pounding away at lining up host for one night in Mississippi, and a few nights in Colorado (Aspen is proving to be a little tricky). People have been so great and so supportive when I tell them what we're doing and I'm amazed at the kindness of strangers, I'm so excited to meet them all over the next few months!

Non Bike & Build related stuff:

1. I'm moving in two weeks and will be shacking up with my friend Maria and her husband Mike for about a month before I leave...they have a spare bedroom in their lovely condo that I'll be calling home, thank god for great friends!!

2. We had a baby shower for my sister in Green Bay a few weeks ago, and she is looking absolutely adorable. June 2nd is creeping up on us! For those of you who can't tell, I'm just slightly excited to be an aunt...

3. I'm headed to the Kentucky Derby in a few weeks as a last hurrah before I leave. Shortly after that all cute outfits and looks will go directly out the window for the entire summer so I'm strapping on my highest heels and a big hat and plan to have a mint julep or two!

38 days! Wow, that is terrifying.