Throughout my second day within the state of Missouri, Josh and I made a decision that we might wait a day till heading out on the Katy Path. It had rained all night time lengthy and the path was most definitely a moist and sticky mess. So we determined to offer it a day and hang around on the town.
With the entire day now free, we spent a lot of the time assembling our bikes, speaking about our highschool days, and discussing our targets, goals and plans for the long run.
Josh had bought a brand new Large hybrid bicycle earlier than I arrived within the state, and I introduced with me a rack from my outdated touring bike for Josh to make use of on our upcoming journey. I had Josh assist me set up the rack… after which I helped him modify the peak of his handlebars in order that they have been at a extra snug degree.
As a result of we deliberate to take action a lot strolling on our journey, we each determined to make use of toe clips to assist us with our biking efforts. These clips would additionally enable us to put on common sneakers whereas on our bike, which meant carrying solely a single pair of sneakers on the journey and strolling in consolation as soon as we have been off the bikes.
I used to be additionally despatched plenty of completely different bicycle bells from the Mirrycle Company in Boulder, Colorado. So, I gave one to Josh to check out and use on our journey. I’ll publish the evaluate of this explicit bell (The Incredibell Omnibell) in some unspecified time in the future within the close to future.
After getting Josh’s handlebars, rear rack, bell and toe clips in place, we mounted his bike with a model new set of yellow Arkel XM-45 panniers. With Josh’s large measurement 15 sneakers, we had to ensure the heel of his foot didn’t rub up in opposition to the entrance of the panniers. However the Arkel panniers excelled on this regards. With a small adjustment, we have been capable of transfer the panniers again on the rack and Josh’s toes have been free to rotate with out interruption.
Driving for the primary time with a set of panniers, Josh pulled a wheelie on his new bike whereas I snapped some photographs.
Then I took Josh’s bike for a experience. In comparison with my little crimson folding bicycle, his bike felt completely gigantic. However it at all times really feel good to experience a model new bicycle. Boy was that factor easy!
After finishing the arrange of Josh’s bike, we whipped out his little purple moped and rode it across the block a few instances.
I’ve only recently bought a Kawasaki KLR 650 bike and have been studying to experience over the previous a number of months, so with the ability to zip round on slightly 49 c moped was a whole lot of enjoyable. Not having to manually change gears was good as effectively! I want my Kawasaki have been an computerized.
After getting my repair for motorized automobiles, it was time to place collectively my bicycle – a Bike Friday New World Vacationer.
I had flown my bike out with me – packed inside it’s journey case. I had used this bike final yr when touring by Europe for 9 months, and this may be the primary time I had used it since returning final September. However mini journeys corresponding to this are precisely why I purchased this bike within the first place. The bike flew without spending a dime to Missouri and it might work completely for my brief journey on the well-known Katy Path.
Utilizing a brand new bike pump that had been despatched to me for evaluate by Axiom Efficiency Gear, I pumped up my tires and requested Josh is he wished to experience round city earlier than it bought too darkish.
So, after each our bikes had been assembled, we loaded up and took off on a brief experience across the city of Marshall.
Josh took me into the middle of the town, the place I posed for this picture within the metropolis sq..
Then we went to Jim the Surprise Canine Memorial Backyard – a small, however stunning park situated simply outdoors of the town sq..
Because it bought darkish and began to rain, we circled again round city, by the town park, over a bridge and again to Josh’s house. The next day, we might start our journey on Missouri’s Katy Path.
Keep tuned as we start our Katy Path bike journey within the metropolis of Sedalia and head southwest towards the tiny city of Windsor, Missouri. My subsequent publish… coming very, very quickly!