Trial Ride

I'm a day away from my trial ride, and I'm really so ready to head out. When I say ready, I really mean more mentally than physically. I've been spending so much energy just thinking about cycling many miles over three days, anticipating what it may feel like to be riding for weeks and weeks at a time. Now I feel like I just need to get out there on my bike so I can put my energy into actually riding as opposed to just thinking and planning for it. 

Because my 2016 ride will consist of upward of 60 miles a day, my goal is to reach that mileage during my trial ride. I'll be riding fully loaded, setting up and break down camp, even though I'll be returning to the same site. I could lighten my load and leave my camping gear, but if I'm going to use this weekend as a way to practice and test out my gear, stamina, and routine,  then I really do want to pack back up just as I would on the ride. 

Over the last couple months, I've been researching and buying gear as time and budget allows. My cycling shoes arrived today and I just finished installing my clipless pedals. My panniers are on the bike and I have piles of gear to load into them. I'm familiar with my tent and camp stove. I invested in a backpackers French press, a collapsible camp sink, and a pretty rad knife. 

I can't wait to pull it all together and head off, trying on the title of touring cyclist.