A Question Of Responsibility

From Jeff Kerkove's Instagram story

"Self-Support". It is a term I am intimately familiar with. Both as an event promoter and as an event participant. I've written reams on the subject here, mostly in conjunction with Trans Iowa, the ultra-distance gravel event I put on for 14 years, starting out things there with Jeff Kerkove. 

Jeff left Trans Iowa in about 2007, and since then he has not let his foot off the gas when it comes to self-supported, ultra-endurance bicycle riding/racing. This year he has already tackled the Atlas Mountains in Africa and most recently the Ozark Gravel Doom, or now just known as "DOOM", by setting the FKT for the event breaking Hailey Moore's previous record set just last year. Jeff's time was 42Hrs, 23min, shaving nearly an entire day off the previous record. By the way, the event is self-supported. 

43,000ft of vertical, 390 miles, and you have to get your own water and food. Oh.....and resupply is not guaranteed. Per Jeff's Instagram post:

"Resupply is lean. It’s even leaner when you cannot rely on said resupplies even being open even though their store hours say so. I resupplied at mile 90. Had pizza at mile 293 because my resupply 45 miles earlier was closed. The last resupply was Dollar General at mile 351 – arriving with just 5 minutes to spare."

Jeff also wrote that many years of this event saw no one finish at all. So, it has a certain reputation. Certain elements of the challenge certainly could be ferreted out, should you want to put yourself to this test. Research, understanding, and preparation are vital to success at such events. Also vital: Knowing when to stop. Also vital: Understanding your responsibility in undertaking a challenge with a high rate of failure. 

From Sonya Looney's Twitter feed.

 So, what is all this about "understanding your responsibility" as a self-supported rider anyway? 

Well, many times I have witnessed and have read about riders in these sorts of events that fail and then take the "blame someone else" route to justify their quitting. We saw this at the Gravel Doom event. One participant was upset that a resupply point that "might be open" wasn't and decided that they could not go on. It was intimated that that this was the fault of the race organizer. Of course, this also happened to Jeff, who persevered, somehow, and not only won, but set the fastest known time, (FKT) in the process.  

Jeff used to tell me all the time that everything has to work perfectly for a rider to finish one of these types of events. That does not always happen, and when it doesn't? Nutrition, mechanicals, weather, or even your mental state can make it so that you do not finish. 

Ultra-endurance events call out for a high degree of personal integrity, discipline, and discernment. One of the tenets of the genre' I was taught was that self-extraction from an event was to be highly prized and a thing worth being celebrated and acknowledged by others. The thing is, as a society and as a group, cyclists don't do this. Failure is seen in a negative light, and being able to know "when to say when" is an art that seems to be lost on many folks. It's hard to find that "right" balance, and well, if hard things are to be avoided, which seems to be the case these days, then maybe that is why blame games are played out like we see sometimes. 

But whatever. I think it is valuable to just have thrown yourself at a challenge, with all the resources and research you can muster, and then do the thing. If that ends in a non-completion of a challenge, well, that is still a very valuable thing. If you are learning anything, that is. 

By the way, "Congratulations, Jeff!" And Congratulations to anyone who tried that event and rode in it. 

A Question Of Responsibility

From Jeff Kerkove's Instagram story

"Self-Support". It is a term I am intimately familiar with. Both as an event promoter and as an event participant. I've written reams on the subject here, mostly in conjunction with Trans Iowa, the ultra-distance gravel event I put on for 14 years, starting out things there with Jeff Kerkove. 

Jeff left Trans Iowa in about 2007, and since then he has not let his foot off the gas when it comes to self-supported, ultra-endurance bicycle riding/racing. This year he has already tackled the Atlas Mountains in Africa and most recently the Ozark Gravel Doom, or now just known as "DOOM", by setting the FKT for the event breaking Hailey Moore's previous record set just last year. Jeff's time was 42Hrs, 23min, shaving nearly an entire day off the previous record. By the way, the event is self-supported. 

43,000ft of vertical, 390 miles, and you have to get your own water and food. Oh.....and resupply is not guaranteed. Per Jeff's Instagram post:

"Resupply is lean. It’s even leaner when you cannot rely on said resupplies even being open even though their store hours say so. I resupplied at mile 90. Had pizza at mile 293 because my resupply 45 miles earlier was closed. The last resupply was Dollar General at mile 351 – arriving with just 5 minutes to spare."

Jeff also wrote that many years of this event saw no one finish at all. So, it has a certain reputation. Certain elements of the challenge certainly could be ferreted out, should you want to put yourself to this test. Research, understanding, and preparation are vital to success at such events. Also vital: Knowing when to stop. Also vital: Understanding your responsibility in undertaking a challenge with a high rate of failure. 

From Sonya Looney's Twitter feed.

 So, what is all this about "understanding your responsibility" as a self-supported rider anyway? 

Well, many times I have witnessed and have read about riders in these sorts of events that fail and then take the "blame someone else" route to justify their quitting. We saw this at the Gravel Doom event. One participant was upset that a resupply point that "might be open" wasn't and decided that they could not go on. It was intimated that that this was the fault of the race organizer. Of course, this also happened to Jeff, who persevered, somehow, and not only won, but set the fastest known time, (FKT) in the process.  

Jeff used to tell me all the time that everything has to work perfectly for a rider to finish one of these types of events. That does not always happen, and when it doesn't? Nutrition, mechanicals, weather, or even your mental state can make it so that you do not finish. 

Ultra-endurance events call out for a high degree of personal integrity, discipline, and discernment. One of the tenets of the genre' I was taught was that self-extraction from an event was to be highly prized and a thing worth being celebrated and acknowledged by others. The thing is, as a society and as a group, cyclists don't do this. Failure is seen in a negative light, and being able to know "when to say when" is an art that seems to be lost on many folks. It's hard to find that "right" balance, and well, if hard things are to be avoided, which seems to be the case these days, then maybe that is why blame games are played out like we see sometimes. 

But whatever. I think it is valuable to just have thrown yourself at a challenge, with all the resources and research you can muster, and then do the thing. If that ends in a non-completion of a challenge, well, that is still a very valuable thing. If you are learning anything, that is. 

By the way, "Congratulations, Jeff!" And Congratulations to anyone who tried that event and rode in it. 

Technology Shifts What It Means To Be "Self-Supported"

(L-R) Troy Meyeraan and GT. Self-supported circa 1995

NOTE: Large doses of "my opinion" will be handed out in gloppy dollops today. You've been forewarned.....

There was a big kerfuffle involving a bike packing event and a certain individual recently that got me to thinking about "rules", 'self-support', and why those terms don't mean what they used to anymore. 

I made the mistake of reading a Facebook comment thread that went into the depths of several folk's opinions, feelings, and ideas on those terms, (and others) which has helped prompt this post today, but this post is not about that specific situation. Just to be perfectly clear.

I've had the special privilege of having done self-supported cycling before, during, and after the start of the"Age of Information", as we once called this. (Maybe we are in the "Age of Disinformation" now, eh?) The times when if one wanted to 'disappear', it was as easy as just walking out the door without telling anyone where you were going. Now? Good luck with that, because you likely are addicted to a smart phone, and 'getting lost' is about 1000 times harder to do these days than it used to be. 

In fact, we are so inundated with information and 'contact' that we don't really even understand what being 'disconnected' even means, much less what it feels like. Take anyone the age of 25 years or younger. They have no memories of pre-smart phone days, most likely, and for sure, they cannot imagine a world where one would have to wait for information a day, a week, or two months, like we used to have to wait for news back in the day. 

I remember weekly T.V. shows where you had all week to wait until the next episode. Now people 'binge-watch' streaming series in one sitting. Marathon watching season after season of a T.V. series as if they were some sort of content-gobbling, ultra-entertained athlete.  And yet, we want more....

Ryan taking a photo of me. We had to wait to get it developed until after the tour!

And all of this affects ultra-endurance events like bike packing, and some forms of gravel events as well. The changes in society which have occurred run cross-ways with some folks who had some sense of 'the times before social media' and how things felt and were done back then. Some others say it is 'no big deal', while others just cannot even begin to understand why anyone is upset. And even if they are, it doesn't matter. 

This all goes back a decade or more. Events of recent times are just a further manifestation of what happened in the 00's. I recall some individuals who were trying to hold to a certain standard for ultra-endurance events, but eventually, it was of no use. The tsunami of adopted tech, cultural change, and appetite (addiction?) for more content won the day. 

So, who is right? Who is wrong? What is 'better'? Those are great questions to ask, discuss, and ponder. Answers will vary from person to person. I can only say one thing with any certainty- Things are very different now, and you cannot recreate how it was in the past. 

Technology is so pervasive that any notion of doing something- say like what John Stamstad did in the late 1990's when he ITT'ed the Great Divide route- is no longer a possibility. What he had to go through, experience, and overcome is different than how one would experience things now. Was it 'harder to do' back then? Well, if technology makes our lives easier? Then yes, it was harder back then. Both mentally and physically. Again- you can discuss that all day long, but having done things myself on either end of the technology divide, I fall on the side of "things are easier now".

Ted King winning the DK200 in 2016

And now you have people, entities, municipalities, and more making money off this "content creation" which comes out of gravel racing, or bike-packing events. That changes things even more. When Trans Iowa started in 2005, only the small community of endurance cycling fans even cared about the event, or what had happened. There was no 'money' in doing it from a promotions or athlete side. Now? 

Pffft! 

You've got to wonder how many athletes would fall away if there were no longer any endorsements, media fame, or salaries involved in participating in gravel events or bike-packing events. Yes- some measure success by monetary and social worthiness metrics. But trust me, that ain't how it got started. 

Of course, I would be a hypocrite if I did not recognize that I have personally benefited from those who have made a living out of the gravel and ultra-cycling/bike packing arenas. The cycling industry made us great products, and that doesn't happen without money being made. Events happened which made some amount of money, which perpetuated the gravel scene, and eventually brought a light to my contributions. Sure, I get that. 

But if no one had noticed us in 2005, or cared, I would still be happily riding my 2003 Karate Monkey on gravel roads here. It is what I love to do, and being "famous", or having had some modicum of "success" is not my central focus for what I do. In fact, it doesn't really matter in the end. By the way, my life would have been way less complicated and stressful had no one cared or noticed us and our little gravel event. That said, there have been a lot of good things come out of this, and I am happy now. So, there is that as well. 

My Karate Monkey which was my gravel sled here shown in 2006.

But what about the whole 'self-supported' ethos now? Well, here's the thing as I see it: Content creation is at odds with what many see as being 'self-supported'. Just how that works is what isn't quite as clear, or as easy to explain, maybe because, as I previously mentioned, most of the youth of today have never experienced 'disconnection', and many adults past the age of 25 have forgotten what that feels like. And then- there is a large sub-set of people who don't give a damn about what it once was like and would rather define what 'self-support' means on their own terms. 

But you have to realize that a lot of what drives the friction we're seeing in gravel events and in bike-packing events, (and in other sports as well) is how changes are being made to accommodate more content for consumption. Film crews, drone shots, cameras mounted to bikes and athletes, announcers, fancy finish-line areas, media access, and in-event reporting via social media has created access heretofore unheard of for cycling events. Even format changes and rule changes are being made to accommodate more content creation to engage more people.  Sure- there are predecessors which one can point to. Motos in big stage events on Pro road tours being a good example. But content extraction during events is pervasive now and people want more. Well, that's what we think and what makes money, anyway. 

And I'd argue that the original philosophy behind 'self-support' is antithetical to 'fame' and/or making coin off your efforts. But that philosophy is under attack, and is changing, and as I stated before, can we ever really go there again? Our addiction to technology would seem to point to that answer being a hard "No". 

Note: I may do another companion post to this speaking about "rules" for events. Stay tuned....

Technology Shifts What It Means To Be "Self-Supported"

(L-R) Troy Meyeraan and GT. Self-supported circa 1995

NOTE: Large doses of "my opinion" will be handed out in gloppy dollops today. You've been forewarned.....

There was a big kerfuffle involving a bike packing event and a certain individual recently that got me to thinking about "rules", 'self-support', and why those terms don't mean what they used to anymore. 

I made the mistake of reading a Facebook comment thread that went into the depths of several folk's opinions, feelings, and ideas on those terms, (and others) which has helped prompt this post today, but this post is not about that specific situation. Just to be perfectly clear.

I've had the special privilege of having done self-supported cycling before, during, and after the start of the"Age of Information", as we once called this. (Maybe we are in the "Age of Disinformation" now, eh?) The times when if one wanted to 'disappear', it was as easy as just walking out the door without telling anyone where you were going. Now? Good luck with that, because you likely are addicted to a smart phone, and 'getting lost' is about 1000 times harder to do these days than it used to be. 

In fact, we are so inundated with information and 'contact' that we don't really even understand what being 'disconnected' even means, much less what it feels like. Take anyone the age of 25 years or younger. They have no memories of pre-smart phone days, most likely, and for sure, they cannot imagine a world where one would have to wait for information a day, a week, or two months, like we used to have to wait for news back in the day. 

I remember weekly T.V. shows where you had all week to wait until the next episode. Now people 'binge-watch' streaming series in one sitting. Marathon watching season after season of a T.V. series as if they were some sort of content-gobbling, ultra-entertained athlete.  And yet, we want more....

Ryan taking a photo of me. We had to wait to get it developed until after the tour!

And all of this affects ultra-endurance events like bike packing, and some forms of gravel events as well. The changes in society which have occurred run cross-ways with some folks who had some sense of 'the times before social media' and how things felt and were done back then. Some others say it is 'no big deal', while others just cannot even begin to understand why anyone is upset. And even if they are, it doesn't matter. 

This all goes back a decade or more. Events of recent times are just a further manifestation of what happened in the 00's. I recall some individuals who were trying to hold to a certain standard for ultra-endurance events, but eventually, it was of no use. The tsunami of adopted tech, cultural change, and appetite (addiction?) for more content won the day. 

So, who is right? Who is wrong? What is 'better'? Those are great questions to ask, discuss, and ponder. Answers will vary from person to person. I can only say one thing with any certainty- Things are very different now, and you cannot recreate how it was in the past. 

Technology is so pervasive that any notion of doing something- say like what John Stamstad did in the late 1990's when he ITT'ed the Great Divide route- is no longer a possibility. What he had to go through, experience, and overcome is different than how one would experience things now. Was it 'harder to do' back then? Well, if technology makes our lives easier? Then yes, it was harder back then. Both mentally and physically. Again- you can discuss that all day long, but having done things myself on either end of the technology divide, I fall on the side of "things are easier now".

Ted King winning the DK200 in 2016

And now you have people, entities, municipalities, and more making money off this "content creation" which comes out of gravel racing, or bike-packing events. That changes things even more. When Trans Iowa started in 2005, only the small community of endurance cycling fans even cared about the event, or what had happened. There was no 'money' in doing it from a promotions or athlete side. Now? 

Pffft! 

You've got to wonder how many athletes would fall away if there were no longer any endorsements, media fame, or salaries involved in participating in gravel events or bike-packing events. Yes- some measure success by monetary and social worthiness metrics. But trust me, that ain't how it got started. 

Of course, I would be a hypocrite if I did not recognize that I have personally benefited from those who have made a living out of the gravel and ultra-cycling/bike packing arenas. The cycling industry made us great products, and that doesn't happen without money being made. Events happened which made some amount of money, which perpetuated the gravel scene, and eventually brought a light to my contributions. Sure, I get that. 

But if no one had noticed us in 2005, or cared, I would still be happily riding my 2003 Karate Monkey on gravel roads here. It is what I love to do, and being "famous", or having had some modicum of "success" is not my central focus for what I do. In fact, it doesn't really matter in the end. By the way, my life would have been way less complicated and stressful had no one cared or noticed us and our little gravel event. That said, there have been a lot of good things come out of this, and I am happy now. So, there is that as well. 

My Karate Monkey which was my gravel sled here shown in 2006.

But what about the whole 'self-supported' ethos now? Well, here's the thing as I see it: Content creation is at odds with what many see as being 'self-supported'. Just how that works is what isn't quite as clear, or as easy to explain, maybe because, as I previously mentioned, most of the youth of today have never experienced 'disconnection', and many adults past the age of 25 have forgotten what that feels like. And then- there is a large sub-set of people who don't give a damn about what it once was like and would rather define what 'self-support' means on their own terms. 

But you have to realize that a lot of what drives the friction we're seeing in gravel events and in bike-packing events, (and in other sports as well) is how changes are being made to accommodate more content for consumption. Film crews, drone shots, cameras mounted to bikes and athletes, announcers, fancy finish-line areas, media access, and in-event reporting via social media has created access heretofore unheard of for cycling events. Even format changes and rule changes are being made to accommodate more content creation to engage more people.  Sure- there are predecessors which one can point to. Motos in big stage events on Pro road tours being a good example. But content extraction during events is pervasive now and people want more. Well, that's what we think and what makes money, anyway. 

And I'd argue that the original philosophy behind 'self-support' is antithetical to 'fame' and/or making coin off your efforts. But that philosophy is under attack, and is changing, and as I stated before, can we ever really go there again? Our addiction to technology would seem to point to that answer being a hard "No". 

Note: I may do another companion post to this speaking about "rules" for events. Stay tuned....

Oh Yeah! That Reminds Me.....

Gravel Worlds posted this on their Facebook page and other social media over the weekend.

 Having been a promoter, organizer, chief cook and bottle washer for a gravel event or two in my lifetime, I tend to notice things other promoters in the space are doing. Over the weekend I spotted a message from the promoters of Gravel Worlds regarding the issues with having extra cars on course. This is something that really triggers me, so I apologize in advance here for the oncoming rant......

First off- NOTE: Gravel Worlds is a self-supported event. I know many of you here reading this understand what that actually means, but I am consistently reminded that most people do not understand what that means. 

If they did, this entire 'cars out on course' issue would be a moot point, but because we live in a world that cries foul if they cannot access information immediately, and because we have over-protection built into our culture these days, misunderstandings arise. And due to this, the term 'self-support' doesn't register with many people. It is because they feel as if they have a right to know and by-golly! They are going to get that information even if it means driving on roads that they would almost assuredly not even consider driving on otherwise. All under the guise of 'spectating', which is code for "I must know what is going on!" As if by being there they could confer some well meaning 'vibes' and 'cheer' to spur their rider onward. Which, by the way, is exactly why they should NOT be out on course, first and foremost. Because by 'cheering' on and 'spectating' you take away from the self-support elements of the event. Spectators actually demean the rider's efforts in a self-supported event. It is all due to selfishness. 

Think that is crazy talk? Explain 'home field advantage' to me then. See...... Spectators are an anathema to self-supported racing. 

Secondly, and one could argue this is the most important point, (but I will leave that discussion for another day), is that drivers out on course are a danger to riders. Furthermore, this traffic is not natural to the area and it disturbs the very reasons why people love to ride gravel, which for many is to get away from cars! It's difficult enough that we have to dodge local farmers and their agricultural machines, (and we gladly defer our positions on the road to them) but when you add in drivers unfamiliar with gravel-travel, well, it becomes a nightmare for the riders in the event. At the very least, it is a bother, at the worst? You could cause an unnecessary accident. 

Oh, and by the way, you strangers stick out like a sore thumb. It is easy to spot non-locals out driving the gravel, looking for 'their riders'. For one thing, bike racks, nice SUV's, and out of state plates are not a usual thing out in the Styx. I could go on.... 

But the thing that grinds my gears is that we have to keep messaging the same thing over and over again, year after year. It gets tiresome, and it reminds me why I am happy to be out of promoting gravel events now. After 15 years, I think I've paid the dues. But that doesn't mean I still don't pay attention, or care, and because I do, it provokes rants like these. So, please do a thing: Be an ambassador to those who 'don't get it yet'. But be nice!  

If y'all want 'the thing' that y'all are chasing in this gravel riding scene, you aren't going to get it with no boundaries. There is a way it works, and a way that it doesn't, and anyone can play. You could get the same 'good thing' we all got back in the day doing it one way. But, if you want to play it your way, go ahead. I know it won't work the same.

Nuff said......

Oh Yeah! That Reminds Me.....

Gravel Worlds posted this on their Facebook page and other social media over the weekend.

 Having been a promoter, organizer, chief cook and bottle washer for a gravel event or two in my lifetime, I tend to notice things other promoters in the space are doing. Over the weekend I spotted a message from the promoters of Gravel Worlds regarding the issues with having extra cars on course. This is something that really triggers me, so I apologize in advance here for the oncoming rant......

First off- NOTE: Gravel Worlds is a self-supported event. I know many of you here reading this understand what that actually means, but I am consistently reminded that most people do not understand what that means. 

If they did, this entire 'cars out on course' issue would be a moot point, but because we live in a world that cries foul if they cannot access information immediately, and because we have over-protection built into our culture these days, misunderstandings arise. And due to this, the term 'self-support' doesn't register with many people. It is because they feel as if they have a right to know and by-golly! They are going to get that information even if it means driving on roads that they would almost assuredly not even consider driving on otherwise. All under the guise of 'spectating', which is code for "I must know what is going on!" As if by being there they could confer some well meaning 'vibes' and 'cheer' to spur their rider onward. Which, by the way, is exactly why they should NOT be out on course, first and foremost. Because by 'cheering' on and 'spectating' you take away from the self-support elements of the event. Spectators actually demean the rider's efforts in a self-supported event. It is all due to selfishness. 

Think that is crazy talk? Explain 'home field advantage' to me then. See...... Spectators are an anathema to self-supported racing. 

Secondly, and one could argue this is the most important point, (but I will leave that discussion for another day), is that drivers out on course are a danger to riders. Furthermore, this traffic is not natural to the area and it disturbs the very reasons why people love to ride gravel, which for many is to get away from cars! It's difficult enough that we have to dodge local farmers and their agricultural machines, (and we gladly defer our positions on the road to them) but when you add in drivers unfamiliar with gravel-travel, well, it becomes a nightmare for the riders in the event. At the very least, it is a bother, at the worst? You could cause an unnecessary accident. 

Oh, and by the way, you strangers stick out like a sore thumb. It is easy to spot non-locals out driving the gravel, looking for 'their riders'. For one thing, bike racks, nice SUV's, and out of state plates are not a usual thing out in the Styx. I could go on.... 

But the thing that grinds my gears is that we have to keep messaging the same thing over and over again, year after year. It gets tiresome, and it reminds me why I am happy to be out of promoting gravel events now. After 15 years, I think I've paid the dues. But that doesn't mean I still don't pay attention, or care, and because I do, it provokes rants like these. So, please do a thing: Be an ambassador to those who 'don't get it yet'. But be nice!  

If y'all want 'the thing' that y'all are chasing in this gravel riding scene, you aren't going to get it with no boundaries. There is a way it works, and a way that it doesn't, and anyone can play. You could get the same 'good thing' we all got back in the day doing it one way. But, if you want to play it your way, go ahead. I know it won't work the same.

Nuff said......

Just Passing Through

Wesley and his Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross bike.

 On Monday when I arrived at work at Andy's Bike Shop I was running the show alone for the morning hours. It was a good thing that I have had almost 45 years of working with customers at a retail level under my belt because things started off with a bang. The phone was going nuts and I had multiple people on the sales floor several times throughout the morning. One of the calls I fielded was a bit unusual. 

The caller was obviously outside, judging by the wind noise I could discern during our conversation. It turned out I was correct because the caller was on the road near Denver, Iowa on a self-supported bicycle tour. He needed assistance with a poorly behaving rear derailleur and a wheel that was wiggly. I gave him the thumbs up to make an appearance at the shop whenever he could get there that afternoon. 

Eventually, after a couple of hiccups finding the place, a young man with an orange bicycle, laden with baggage, and sporting an American flag slid in through the front door. His name was Wesley, and he had a Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross, just like mine! Right down to the same size and everything. Pretty amazing right there. Wesley marveled at the fact that I had an identical frame and fork to his and then I got the heavily laden rig up into the stand to have a look. 

We got him sorted- a loose rear cable and a broken spoke turned out to be his issues with the bike, and then we had time to chat a bit. Andy had showed up by this time, and Wesley got our photograph for his You Tube video channel documenting his journey. Eventually he is to hook up with a companion traveler and together they are going to go to California via bicycle. Wesley thought the trip should consume about two months time. 

I told Wesley that if we were part of his story, he had to be part of mine, so he graciously posed for a photograph, and well, here is the story. I was pretty interested in his situation, having done a similar trip by bicycle twice in my life, (See "The Touring Series" link below the header above for those stories), but nothing cross country to California. That is a big adventure! I wish Wesley and his companion well! Hopefully they have some awesome, life altering-in-a-good-way type experiences along their way.

Just Passing Through

Wesley and his Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross bike.

 On Monday when I arrived at work at Andy's Bike Shop I was running the show alone for the morning hours. It was a good thing that I have had almost 45 years of working with customers at a retail level under my belt because things started off with a bang. The phone was going nuts and I had multiple people on the sales floor several times throughout the morning. One of the calls I fielded was a bit unusual. 

The caller was obviously outside, judging by the wind noise I could discern during our conversation. It turned out I was correct because the caller was on the road near Denver, Iowa on a self-supported bicycle tour. He needed assistance with a poorly behaving rear derailleur and a wheel that was wiggly. I gave him the thumbs up to make an appearance at the shop whenever he could get there that afternoon. 

Eventually, after a couple of hiccups finding the place, a young man with an orange bicycle, laden with baggage, and sporting an American flag slid in through the front door. His name was Wesley, and he had a Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross, just like mine! Right down to the same size and everything. Pretty amazing right there. Wesley marveled at the fact that I had an identical frame and fork to his and then I got the heavily laden rig up into the stand to have a look. 

We got him sorted- a loose rear cable and a broken spoke turned out to be his issues with the bike, and then we had time to chat a bit. Andy had showed up by this time, and Wesley got our photograph for his You Tube video channel documenting his journey. Eventually he is to hook up with a companion traveler and together they are going to go to California via bicycle. Wesley thought the trip should consume about two months time. 

I told Wesley that if we were part of his story, he had to be part of mine, so he graciously posed for a photograph, and well, here is the story. I was pretty interested in his situation, having done a similar trip by bicycle twice in my life, (See "The Touring Series" link below the header above for those stories), but nothing cross country to California. That is a big adventure! I wish Wesley and his companion well! Hopefully they have some awesome, life altering-in-a-good-way type experiences along their way.