Day 5 & 6 - To Indianapolis

An (im)Perfect Circle

After setting up the trailer with me at a coffee shop next to the Hotel, I said my goodbyes to Jeffrey, who has been a stalwart friend and Godsend over this trip so far. We shared a hug and he went off to do some jobs with clients and I set off down the road at just at 4pm.

In the waning day I rode with purpose towards Scottsburg, IN and hopefully Austin, IN about 40 miles down the road, hoping to make good progress towards Columbus, and a potential wheel rebuild there.

After an hour of riding or so I heard a loud sound from the rear and stopped to investigate. Two more broken spokes. I texted Jeffrey and let him know, but that I was continuing.

About 30 more minutes down the road he called to ask about my situation and if I was stranded. I let him know I wasn't but rechecked the wheel. Now I had five broken spokes. He didn’t miss a beat — he told me he was coming to get me and we’d figure it out from there.

It took him about an hour to get to my hunkered down location off the main road and we discussed options.

It became clear the best option was simply to progress forward. Indy was the best opportunity for rebuilding a wheel with the sort of non-standard spokes I would need, and the expertise and tools required. Not only that but on the 10th my wife was already set to meet me in Indy at my Sister-in-law’s house and she could bring up my old 4 inch fat wheels — which had been perfectly fine carrying me around at an even higher weight, and paired with the trailer I can have full assurance those wheels will handle the strain.

So the executive decision was made at 6:30pm to truck up the road about 100mi to Indy and drop me at Amy’s house. So we took another ride, Jeffrey and me, and enjoyed that final couple of hours before he sent me off one last time in Amy’s garage. I think we both know that if he had the time and ability to he would quickly cobble a bike together and just join me on the trail. I cannot tell you how rad that would be. But I can already say next time… Maybe that might just happen.

Moving forward, or A fatty on fatties.

In talking with both Jeffrey and other bike shops it’s clear that my misgivings about the 4in fat wheels is moreso just the type of tires I currently have on them, which are knobby and so they have significant rolling resistance. However I’ve purchased much more suitable road tires of that size to arrive at Amy’s house soon. Jeffrey and I joked that I should get white walled tires, because if you’re going to look like a complete goober with a fat tire bike towing a baby trailer filled with equipment — lean into it. So that’s exactly what I’ve done. My hope is that I can get people to sign the white walls in sharpie or draw things on them as a kind of moving souvenier and totem to carry me forward.

It feels very much like a step backwards to make a step forwards. But I said I was going to do this, and so I’m going to do it on fat tires, and I’ll just have to rent a car for the section I had intended to take the train over. Honestly as long as I can make it to Bob Daun’s wedding by any means, since that was the impetus for this journey, everything else is gravy. I will still have more than a month of days to take whatever pace I choose to get to Spokane and beyond — or not.

I refuse to put any distance constraints on myself this go round. I’m not trying to prove something, I’m just trying to get healthier doing something I love.

Right now, sitting on Amy’s house I absolutely feel the antsy drive to make miles, and the pull of the road, but I’m also happy to spend more time with her and her kiddo in her space for the first time. If I could ride my bike, I would right now… maybe not further down the road, just around the city.

What are the takeaways?

Man… I don’t know. I’m not Ted Lasso over here. I just know for me it’s to keep going. I’m not trying to be an inspiration to anyone for anything, but if I am, I’ll gladly play that role. I mean, if a 44 year old 389lb man can do this, most people could.

For me the takeaway is to treat those in need with the absolutely astonishing level of hospitality and friendship that Jeffrey has shown me and my family in all the things he’s done.

I’ll update in two days when things kind of settle, right before setting out again.

Dueces, Y'all.