Why

Why? is the question I get most of the time when I tell someone I am going to bike across America. I don't have a quick-witted remark at the ready and usually just say because I want to. I have been biking with a group of friends for about 12 years. We try to bike every day but normally five to six times a week. We have done many long rides of various distances on mainly road bikes. I have no experience doing unsupported solo tours, but my wife and I did go to Missouri where I rode the entire Katy Trail. While I rode the trail, my wife drove the sag, hag, nag wagon. Last April I bought a Trek 520 touring bike from Matt, who owns the local bike shop

on Marco Island. He helped me outfit it and since then I have been gathering gear, information and maps for the trip. My plan is to do the Trans-America route and have bought the maps from Adventure Cycling. But, I have not decided which direction or time of departure yet. However, I will probably depart late April or early May. For now I alternate between my Trek 5200 road bike and the touring bike. I have about 15000 miles on that road bike, 5000 on my Cannondale and about 1100 on the new touring bike.