Meet Olga

Hi,

Strong, sturdy, dependable…that’s me. My name is Olga, and I’ll be ferrying Matt and Mary Ellen down the East Coast for the next couple of months. While sitting in my packing crate in the factory waiting to find my new home, I had a chance to talk with some of the other tandem bikes. All of us were wondering where we would end up, what kind of family would adopt us, and what adventures awaited us around the next bend of the road. When I think back on those days, I remember the words of a wise old tandem that was getting refurbished after thousands of miles of riding. She told me about how important is for me to be reliable, to ride smooth and true. I learned the importance of making sure that the shifting is crisp and quick, and that my disc brakes stop really well, even when shooting downhill with a full load. But most importantly, I realized the important role I would play in two people’s lives. After all, I would be responsible for their safety and well being for many years to come. I came to understand one of the most important laws of tandeming…"Wherever the relationship is going; it’ll get there faster on a tandem!” It's my job to make sure it goes smoothly.

I now find myself living in Montana, and if you ask me, life is pretty darn good. Matt and Mary Ellen have taken me to a lot of interesting places. My first ride out of the box was on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alene in Idaho last year. Matt was a little shaky at first, getting used to my gearing and my disc brakes, and learning that you can’t make sharp turns at slow speeds with two riders. For Mary Ellen, I think it was love at first sight. Once she got a new saddle and suspension seat post (they skimped a little on some of my components at the factory), she took to me like a fish does to water. Sitting on the back, she gets to look around, sit up and ride no hands, take photos, give neck massages…whatever suits her fancy. And now that they have ridden me about 600 miles in Montana, they’ve become a great tandem team. They still haven’t met the hill that they can’t conquer, although I hear tell that there will be some tough climbing on the East Coast route. I think my gearing is up to it, but life is different since they introduced me to this guy named BOB.

There’s no polite way to say this...BOB is a pain in the butt. He hangs out on my rear wheel, and is a real drag. He weighs something like 70 pounds when fully loaded, and doesn’t do anything really, just hangs on for the ride. I have to do all the work. But it looks like I’ll have to put up with the guy for a while, as Matt and Mary Ellen seem intent on bringing him along. I just hope he behaves himself back there, doesn’t get any wild ideas and go off in another direction or get a flat or something even more grievous.

But hey, this entry is about me, and if I must say I look fantastic. My picture doesn’t do me justice. We ALWAYS get compliments when we ride anywhere. People actually stop us to find out where Matt and Mary Ellen got me, or say things like “That looks like fun”. As tandems go, I’m no lightweight, but I’m built for endurance and adventure. Matt is a bit reluctant to let me show all of what I can do, but the other day I felt really good, and we were going 47 mph on a downhill with nary a wobble. It’s fun to let it all hang out once in a while, but with BOB hanging on, I tend to move a lot slower. Better get used to it I guess.

I’m looking forwarded to going back east. I was born in Pennsylvania, so it will be good to be in my old stomping grounds again. You can check out my vital statistics and dimensions at the Cannondale website. Everything you need to know about me is there. They've added racks and a few other trinkets that make me look and feel good. I'm looking forward to the trip.

Hope to see you on the road!

Meet BOB

Greetings,

My name is BOB and I'll be hauling the load for Matt and Mary Ellen. I've been doing this kind of thing for over 10 years now, and find it to be a very satisfying line of work. I have lots of family who haul stuff for bicyclists all over the world, and we share some pretty amazing stories when were not on the trail. For this trip, I'll be carrying about 55 pounds of gear, which is below my max, but is plenty. One of the hardest part of bike touring is for the riders to decide what to leave behind. Just because you can take something along doesn't mean you should! Backpackers worry about grams. Cycle tourists also are concerned about weight, but they do have a bit more leeway. Volume, however, does get to be an issue, as there is only so much you can stuff into my waterproof sack and be able to secure it properly. Matt is still trying to learn how to fit everything into my waterproof stuff bag. He's having a heck of a time getting the load distributed right, but I'm sure he'll get the hang of it soon.

My low center of gravity does provide stability, and I track right behind the rear wheel. In fact, when I'm packed right and doing my job correctly, they don't even know I'm there. I do get upset when they go over big bumps without slowing down, but I think they've got the message and are learning to slow down and enjoy the scenary. My safety flag is an added plus, making it easier to see as we cruise on down the road. Attached to Olga, we're 11 feet long, and I can tell you we are quite a sight! Most people see us and smile, wave, or give the thumbs up sign. Once in a while, a jerk passes too close for comfort, but I keep my cool and stay on the straight and narrow.

I don't need much to make me happy. Good tires, lots of air (pump me up to 110 psi) and a bath with a few squirts of lubricant after a rainy day. Matt and Mary Ellen are still trying to get the knack of attaching me to Olga without much effort, but from where I sit, I'm just as content to hang on to her as long as I can. She's a sweet young thing. Now don't be reading too much into that or getting any weird ideas or anything. I just mean we're a great team, and I'm looking forward to spending many hours with her. I'll have plenty to brag about next winter when we get done with this trip, that's for sure.

I'm not sure if I'll be able to write to you once the trip begins, as I'll be preoccupied with my duties. But I'm sure Matt and Mary Ellen will keep you up to date on my condition. No news from me is good news I say. I'm the strong, silent type, so the less you hear from me, probably the better.

There you have it. I can't wait to get going. Honk if you get the chance. Even a shy guy like me enjoys the recognition.

Route Overview-Bar Harbor ME to Richmond VA

BAR HARBOR, MAINE, TO RICHMOND, VIRGINIA: In the Northeast, we'll enjoy the flavor of quiet Maine coastal towns, New England villages, the rural countryside, and bucolic Amish farmlands. Once you cross the Mason-Dixon Line, which is the boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland, we'll ride into the South and get some flavor for Civil War history by visiting the battlefields at Fredericksburg, Virginia, and the city of Richmond, Virginia. Spurs lead into the various larger cities along this route. A lack of road signs can make parts of this route challenging. It can be ridden from late spring to late fall. We chose the fall, with hopes of riding in reasonable temperatures, and hopefully, less humidity. Due to changing local conditions, it is difficult to predict any major wind patterns. Starting in the tourist town of Bar Harbor, Maine, on Mt. Desert Island, we'll bike out of town through Acadia National Park and then along occasional back roads situated near the coast. We'll allow some time to savor the quintessential ambiance of the coastal towns.

Only a small portion of the route is along the Atlantic's edge in Maine. More New England beauty will be enjoyed as we head south through New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. We'll see charming, picturesque towns that you might find on your wall calender. As we bike through New York, we'll pass through scenic farmland. The route along the Hudson River has several sites of historic significance. Entering New Jersey, our ride takes us through one of the best areas in the state for bicycling along the Delaware River. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is particularly beautiful and gives an other-world meaning to typical images that people have of New Jersey. The route heads west into Pennsylvania through productive farms and many hills. We'll ride through Valley Forge National Historic Park, then enter Amish country, where "old-style" living includes horses and buggies. The route swings west around the outskirts of Baltimore. There are more farms in northern Maryland, which will turn into suburban sprawl as we reach the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Although congestion increases tremendously, the ride though Washington, D.C., is pleasant. Bike paths through Rock Creek Park take us to the Lincoln Memorial and the Potomac River.

We should reach Washington, D.C. around October 10. At that time, we plan on spending a few days with Donna and Brian (our in-laws) for a little R&R before heading back out on the trail.

After crossing the Potomoc, we'll ride another beautiful bike path to Mount Vernon, George Washington's residence from 1754 until his death. Then there are more urban areas in expanding northern Virginia, some quiet country roads, and increasing urbanization as we approach Richmond.

Terrain: This is one of the challenging rides that Adventure Cycling has to offer, as it has many hilly areas where granny gears are needed to climb the steep hills. Northwestern Connecticut, the Susquehanna River area in Pennsylvania, and the country roads north of Richmond are extremely hilly. But we do have some easy riding to compensate, such as when biking the paths along the Potomac River in Virginia.

Stoker's eye view of the road ahead.