Bike Boxes

One of my main challenges was how to get my bike to and from New York in a relatively cheap way.  Luckily, there is a service I found called BikeFlights.com.  They are specialists in shipping bikes and negotiated some good rates with FedEx.  So the cost to get my bike from LA to NY is only about $70.  Not bad at all.

I obtained a bike box from a bike shop nearby.  So now I just have to take apart my bike and fit it in there.  I’ll also throw in my panniers and camping gear and stuff also.  Whatever I take on the plane with me is what I will need to bike with!  So I’m throwing everything into the box.

For the way back, I ordered a bike box to be delivered to Pat’s house so hopefully it’ll be waiting for me when I get there.  (If I get there!).  Then I just pack my bike up again and Bike Flights will pick it up.

Fingers crossed this all goes smoothly!

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Gear!

I have to admit I’ve been enjoying shopping for all the gear that I’ll need for the trip! Luckily, thanks to the odds and ends I’ve picked up over the years on my backpacking excursions, I don’t really need too much. I have all the essentials like the tent, sleeping bag, portable stove, etc.  So really all I need are some other small things like a handlebar bag and new tires.

After doing a lot of research on what to pack, I’ve come up with some preliminary lists:

  • Spare tube
  • Allen wrenches
  • Tire levers
  • Pedal wrench
  • Patch kit
  • Pump
  • 2 Back panniers
  • Back bag
  • Handlebar bag
  • Tail light
  • Front light
  • Extra batteries for lights
  • Helmet
  • Lock
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Huel

Those who know me probably aren’t a stranger to the fact that I don’t really enjoy eating all that much. There are a lot of foods I like, and sometimes even crave, but if I could just not eat during the day and get those hours of my life back, then I probably would.

So when I heard about this new meal replacement stuff called Huel, I thought this was too good to be true! I ordered some, thinking this was a perfect thing to take on my bike trip. After all, it seemed I could have a nutritionally complete, easy to prepare meal with minimal fuss. It even comes with a special bottle that I could use to mix it up on the go – perfect for a bike tour!

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been experimenting with various recipes. I’ve added some bananas, cocoa powder, and other flavorings that they recommend. I’ve blended it with water, milk, and just shaken it up in the bottle. And after lots of servings, I’ve had mixed results.

Overall it’s very gritty. Unless you blend it for a really long time in a blender, there is definitely a lot of grit in it which is a little nasty.  The flavor isn’t great, but it’s definitely not bad. Adding the cocoa flavoring really helps.

PROS:

  • Easy to prepare
  • Easy to carry/store on the bike
  • Super cheap (less than $2/serving)
  • Nutritionally complete

CONS:

  • Flavor isn’t great – almost gross
  • My bowels apparently don’t appreciate it (not good for biking!)
  • I’m not convinced it could replace a meal
  • Need to bring additional ingredients to make it palatable

So the jury is still out on  whether I will be bringing it along on the the bike. Part of me still really thinks it’s a great idea, but I’m still not convinced I could rely on this instead of a meal.

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