Maui Bike Tour Prep!

Last August a group of friends invited me to tag along with them on a bike tour of the island of Maui in the spring. The tour would be a week or so in length and we we would be carrying all of our gear: Clothing, food and shelter.

One of the friends, Rick Gunn (www.soulcycler.com) had already completed the Maui tour several times over the past 25 years. His most recent trip was a few years ago after he had finished a three-year bike journey around the world, photographing and journaling for a newspaper the entire time.

He would be our leader with his friend and former colleague, Kevin Cannon, coordinating all the details. Kevin's sister Vanessa Cannon had recently turned 40 and this was to be a celebration in honor of her birthday. Others in our group included Taylor Flynn (www.mountainnews.net), publisher of the Tahoe Mountain News, Eric Jarvis (www.jarvisgallery.com), photographer extraordinaire, Ken Mirell a technology expert, Rob Swain who works for the South Lake Tahoe Parks and Recreation Department and little ol' me.

I had never been on a bike tour before but because I can swim, bike and run, everyone assured me I could do it. Altogether we'd travel around the island, over 200 miles and over 15,000 feet of climbing. It would be difficult but manageable and beautiful and a once in a lifetime opportunity.

To prepare, I went on a lovely bike tour for three nights in October along the coast of California. It was pure magic. I was hooked.

I was excited to be included in mix of people and began to look at airfares that were reasonably priced. I  slowly accumulated all the gear needed for such an undertaking. This took months of acquiring items at Sports Basement in Walnut Creek, Forward Motion of Danville and R.E.I. in Concord.

When deciding which bike to take, I was looking for one that could carry the weight of all the gear I needed to cart around the island. I decided to use my oldest daughter's cast-off bike. It was very heavy but the right size. 

I developed an extensive list of items which included the following:

Clothes and Gear 

Helmet

Bike Gloves

2 pairs of bike shorts

3 sleeveless bike tops

Title Nine dress

KEEN bike sandals, flip-flops

socks

sports bras & underwear

Gortex jacket, blue fleece jacket (running tights ?)

Swim suit

hat

nylon pants (backpacking, light weight)

Running shorts

lightweight long sleeved shirt

T-shirt, hat, and necklaces for contest

BIKE BOX  

Bike and bike rack

Pannier bags

Bike Light (small lock purchased on trip)

Bento bag

Water bottles

Extra bike tubes

Bike tools

OTHER 

headlamp

cup

knife/spoon/fork OR spork

pot/pan/bowl combo

backpacking cookstove

cutting knife

can/corkscrew/bottle opener

tent

pad

sleeping bag liner (& light weight fleece blanket ?)

Washcloth

Towel

Purse w/ glasses, camera, iPhone, wallet items, headphones and charger

Toiletries: body butter, sunscreen, shampoo/soap, toothbrush, paste and floss, comb, rubber bands, razor

FOOD

Sports Beans

Shot Blocks

Assorted energy bars:

         Cliff Builder’s, Cliff Mojo, Kind, Think Thin

Walnuts

Freeze-dried blueberries

Oatmeal

Peanut butter

Cereal

Foil pouches of Albacore White Tuna

Pouches of wild rice

Organic Ramen noodles from Whole Foods

Cans of St. Dalfour Ready to Eat Gourmet on the Go:

         Three Beans with Sweet Corn

         Whole Grains with Beans

Spices

Olive Oil

Balsamic Vinegar

The timing was less than stellar – six days after my first marathon. My legs would be tired and tested and I could not train much on my bike beforehand. Still, I felt it would be more mental than physical, and that I was up for the once-in-a-lifetime challenge.