BIKES
7 - so far. This is pretty good for 179,393.29 miles (287,029.26 kms.) as of April 18, 2008. The ride started from Portland, Oregon on February 19, 1993. The first two bikes were Schwinn ('93 and '94 Criss-Crosses (the series was discontinued in '96 and replaced by the Searcher series)) while the other two were Specialized ('97 and '98 Crossroads - Sports). These four were hybrids (a cross between road and mountain bikes). They gave the best of both worlds without the pain in your back from using drop handlebars. All four bikes were actually the low-end of the bike series but they have stood the test above and beyond the call of duty. Price of each bike excluding the accesories was between $300 and $450.

Only one bike (Bike #1) wore out due to metal fatigue in the frame. Never let somebody adjust the rear dropouts if you don't need the repair. I had a little over 23,182.84 miles (37,092.54 Kms.) on it after around seventeen months. A new bicycle was given to me for free from the Schwinn Company since they had a lifetime guarentee on the frame.

Bike #2 was taken from under me during an attack and robbery in one of the SW suburbs of Philadelphia back in April, 1997. That bike had over 28,032.37 miles (44,851.79 Kms.) after twenty-one months of touring. Bike #3 was damaged beyond repair in a hit and run accident in the French Quarter of New Orleans December 31st, 1997 with 9,698.31 miles (15,517.30 Kms.) in six months.

Bike #4 had nearly 33,907.31 miles (54,251.70 Kms.) when I retired it the Fall of 2000. During 2000 alone, I had ridden 10,000 miles (16,000 kms.) on "Liz". It wasn't cost-effective to maintain it so I had to retire it but I found a good home for it. "Liz" is in storage in the archives of Habitat for Humanity International in Americus, Georgia awaiting it's installation in the museum that is in the planning stage. I visited at least a 1,000 affiliates on this bike while I did my regular ministry work.

In the Fall of 2000, I made the decision to switch over to recumbents instead of getting another hybrid, A recumbent "bent" is more efficient (at least 40%) and less damaging to my body. I have several things that I needed to consider. Back in 1995, I damaged a vertabrae in my lower back in a non-biking accident. Along with this, I have some problems with my legs and I have been suffering from pre-cursors to carpal-tunnel syndrome. Holding onto the handlebars for as many miles that I've ridden has started to cause a lot of pain in my wrists. There are many different types of bents but I chose to get a SWB (short-Wheelbase) recumbent that has the pedals out in front of the steering column.

Bike #5 - "T-bolt" was a Lightning Cycle Dynamic Thunderbolt A-10 recumbent and made in Lompoc, CA. Between April 02, 2001 and April 30, 2005, I had ridden 49,882.21 miles (79,812.66 kms) on it. During this time period, the frame had to be replaced three times because of structural problems with the frame (stress micro-fractures). The Thunderbolt had been pulled out of production for several years now.

Bike #6 - "Speedy" was a limited edition (prototype, short production run) that had been designed by Easy Racer of Watsonville, CA and licensed to be made Sun Cycles and distributed by J&B Importers in 2004 and it was EasySpeedster-SX short-wheelbase recumbent with 24 speeds, steel frame, V-brakes, 20 inch front wheel, and a 26 inch rear wheel. It was destroyed on April 18, 2007 in a freak auto accident in Mystic, CT but I was not on it at the time. This was the second bicycle destroyed by an automobile. 23,648.71 miles ( 37,837.94 kms) was ridden on it in 418 days at an average of 56.54 miles ( 90.46 kms). between April 30, 2005 and April 18, 2007. Retail price back in 2005 was around $1000 but I was given it as a gift from an Assembly of G-D Church and a bike shop in Savannah, IL.

Bike #7 - "Alice" was designed and made by the same companies as my last recumbent (Easy Racer - Sun) It's designation is -AX instead of a -SX since it has an aluminum frame instead of a steel frame. The new recumbent has 27-speeds, an aluminum frame, front and rear disc brakes, 20 inch front wheel, and a 26 inch rear wheel. Retail price back in 2004 was around $2000 but I got it at a great discount of $500 from Shirk's Cycle Shop in East Earl, PA, near Lancaster. The reassembly of the recumbent was done at Mystic Cycle in Mystic, CT. Both Easy Racer and Sun Cycles do not sell this recumbent any more. As of April 18, 2008, I've got 11,116.91 touring miles (17,787.06 kms.) on it.

Schwinn Criss-Cross
Hybrid bike with unique "Glenn Bar" (bow-tie handlebar). 18" Cro-Mo frame, 27.5 inch wheels and tires (had to go to a bike shop for them since they were actually smaller than 27 1/2 inch tires). Grip Shifters. Cantilever brakes. Suntour ('93) and Shimano ('94) derailleurs. Gearing was 42x32x22 up front and 13-30 in back. Quick release brakes, wheels, and seat post. Pedals with toe clips and straps. Spenco saddle. Here is a picture of the first Criss-Cross that I had. The picture was taken at the ICARE Volunteer Center in Cutler Ridge, FL where I did some volunteer work between 1993 and 1995 after Hurricane Andrew. You can see the unique bow-tie handlebar.

Specialized Crossroads Sport
Hybrid bike. 18" Tig-welded Cro-Mo frame with Cro-Mo fork. 700 x (28-35 tires). SRAM GripShift MRX-201 shifters. Textro brake levers. Textr linear pull brakes. Shimano Acera derailleurs and drive system. 42x34x24 front gearing and 11-32 rear gearing. 36-spoke Araya PX-645 wheels. Quick release brakes, wheels, and seat post. Pedals with tow clips and straps. Spenco saddle.

Lightning Cycle Dynamics Thunderbolt A-10
The Thunderbolt A-10 had twenty-four speeds with a sixteen inch front wheel and a twenty-six inch rear wheel. The recumbent weighed twenty-nine pounds and had a wheelbase of forty inches. Components included a Shimano Acera rear derailleur, Grip Shift shifters, alloy rims, high pressure (85- 100 psi) tires, and V-brakes. Price for the A-10 was $995. As of Spring, 2006, the recumbent line had been discontinued. Lightning Cycle Dynamics "custom made" each recumbent to fit the person's dimensions (height, ex-seam, inseam).

The one real drawback of recumbents is that they cannot carry as much gear as an upright bicyle. This is due to the small front wheel. Because of this, I reduced my gear greatly so that it and food could fit into two rear panniers and a 700 cubic inch seat bag that Lightning had provided. I had this recumbent till April 30th, 2005. I had ridden 48,506 miles 77,609.6 kms) on it.

While in Savanna, IL, a brand-recumbent was donated. I had gotten in contact with the pastor of the Assembly of G-D church through the police station. Pastor Wayne offered to let me stay with him and his wife in the parsonage. The next morning, I attended the men's breakfast at the church and was given the chance to speak to the group. Afterwards, Pastor Wayne offered to take me to Arnold's Bicycle Repair Shop to get some new grip-shifts put on the recumbent. The next thing that I knew was that the old recumbent was taken in as a trade-in and I was given a new blue EZ-SPEEDSTER SX designed by Easy Racer in California and made by Sun Cycles in Florida.

Here is a picture taken of it with me back in 2005. I was in Iowa at the time.

If you go to either the Easy Racer website or Sun Cycle website (temporarily off-line), you will not find it listed or being sold. The short-wheelbase recumbent was only built in 2004 on a limited basis as a try-out (prototype). From what I gather, several hundred were built amongst the three types (Steel Frame - SX, Chrome-Moly Frame - CX, and Aluminum Frame - AX). I've only come across a dozen recumbents of this model at different bike shops around the country. I did find out that there is an Australian touring on one in his country. Before it's destruction on April 18, 2007, I had ridden 23,648.71 miles ( 37,837.94 kms) on it.

Here are some of the specs.

Frame: High Tensile Tig Welded Steel,
Fork: High Tensile Blades Cro-Mo Steerer,
BB: Loose Ball 68mm,
Crank: Alloy 170x52/42/30 (steel rings),
F. Derailleur: Shimano C202,
R. Derailleur: Sram 3.0,
Shifter: Sram 3.0,
Freewheel: Sram PG-830 11-32 8 Speed,
Pedals: Wellgo LU-812A,
Brake Front: Tektro Alloy Linear Pull,
Brake Rear: Tektro Alloy Linear Pull,
Brake Levers: Sram 3.0,
Headset: Steel,
Handlebar: Steel,
Stem: Alloy Pivoting,
Hub Front: Alloy Q/R,
Hub Rear: Shimano FH-RM40 8 Speed,
Rim Front: 20x1.75 Alloy,
Rim Rear: 26x1.75 Alloy,
Spokes: 14g. Stainless Steel,
Tire Front: 20x1.50 BW Kenda Kwest,
Tire Rear: 26x1.50 BW Kenda Kwest,
Saddle: Contoured Foam w/Lycra Type Cover,
Seat Slide: Alloy,
Seat Back: Steel Black,
Weight: 41 lbs

My new recumbent was made by the same companies as my last recumbent (Easy Racer - Sun) and it is an EZ-Speedster-AX instead of a -SX. The new recumbent has an aluminum frame and has front and rear disc brakes. As of 18, 2008, I've got 11,116.91 touring miles (17,787.06 kms). Pictures will be posted at a later time. Here is a picture of it taken in May of 2007.

Here are some of the specs.

Frame: Aluminum,
Fork: High Tensile Blades Aluminum Steerer,
BB: Sealed Cartridge 68mm,
Crank: Shimano 8-speed 170x52/42/30 (steel rings),
F. Derailleur: Shimano C202,
R. Derailleur: SRAM X-9,
Shifters: SRAM X-9,
Freewheel: SRAM PG-830 11-32 9 Speed,
Pedals: Wellgo LU-812A,
Brake Front: Avid Disc,
Brake Rear: Avid Disc,
Brake Levers: Avid Speed Dial,
Headset: Steel,
Handlebar: Steel,
Stem: Alloy Pivoting,
Hub Front: Alloy Q/R,
Hub Rear: Shimano FH-RM40 9 Speed,
Rim Front: 20x1.75 Sun Rim Single Track 6061 Alloy 599x31mm,
Rim Rear: 26x1.75 Sun Rim Single Track 6061 Alloy 599x31mm,
Spokes: 14g. Stainless Steel,
Tire Front: 20x1.50 BW Kenda Kwest 100 psi,
Tire Rear: 26x1.50 BW Kenda Kwest 100 psi,
Saddle: Contoured Foam w/Lycra Type Cover,
Seat Slide: Alloy,
Seat Back: Steel Black,
Weight: 31 lbs

CURRENT GEAR

Accesories

Helmet (a must), Rhodegear bar-end handlebar mirror, Blackburn rear rack for disc brakes, Bell Opti-LED Diode head light, Rear Flasher, Specialized Turbo cyclometer, GuideSeries solo LED Diode caving light (for use at night on helmet for extra light), Kryptonite - Kryptokeeper cable lock, Schwinn high pressure mini-pump, 1.0 liter Camelback fastened on back of seat and extra hydration comes from three water bottles in pockets of the panniers.

Bags

Homemade Panniers made out of backpacks (1000 cubic inches capacity each set),

Tools
patch kit, plastic tire irons, high-pressure tire gauge, 2mm - 8mm HEX L-Key set, spoke wrench, small flathead screwdriver, electrical tape (never really had to buy some because I have found many rolls beside the roads), WD-40, and zip-ties (great for replacing bolts that had fallen off somehow).

Camping
Tent - $20 Walmart - Oakwood Trail free-standing tent. It serves the purpose and stands up to pretty well all kinds of weather. The tent was actually made for children but my 5'7" frame fit in them okay. I am able to get all of my panniers and things off the bike into the tent without it being tight in the tent but because of the sloping sides I have to sleep diagonally. I am still able to more around without filling confined and able to sit up also. Weight of the tent is under four pounds. I did have to buy a seperate tent fly.

Other Camping Gear
Sleeping bag - mummy style (have gone through several). Current is a Slumberjack Thermolite-Extreme rated for 20 degrees. Thermorest sleeping pad.

nylon tarp - 7 ft x 9 ft
first aid kit
hygiene kit
spoon and knife (no room for other cooking supplies)
small stuff sacks

CLOTHING -

Just to mention that I did carry some but I just don't feel that I need to give a rundown on how many changes of clothes that I carried down to socks and underwear. Please just use common sense and pack light.

EXTRAS -

Bible
journals
maps
2 paperback book
small flashlight
walkman radio