All right. I have a lot of bad news, but some promising alternatives.

After a long rest for my knees I set out again on my TransAm bicycle tour last Friday. With less of a load, a new, fairly-flat-in-the-beginning route to the southern states via the Atlantic coast . I took a train out to Somerville, NJ in order to meet up with a predestinated route according to the Adventure Cycling maps that I bought. All was well and good - taking it slow - cruising with less stress on my knees and my brain. That was the plan, and up until about 25 km into the ride it was working out really well. Then came that familiar pain in my right knee. I told myself not to panic. Just stop and rest for a bit before it gets worse and tape it up. I learned how to tape my kneecap so that it stays on track and that seems to work really well (Runners Knee is when the kneecap moves off its track and rubs up against its sides, causing the cushioning cartilage to get worn). Back on the bike - another 10 km - the tape fails - re-tape - 5 km - fails - fuck this. It really is amazing how I can alleviate the pain by physically rotating my kneecap clockwise a bit and moving inward until I find that sweet spot. Keeping it in that sweet spot was impossible and after few more agonizing kms, I called it a night in Lambertville, NJ, a nice little town on the Delaware River. I knew what was to come the next day with my knee, so I had to get a six-pack, think of my options, and make some tough decisions.

Nothing left for me here

Rantan, NJ

Nothing but corn

somewhere in NJ

The best course of action: confirm my fears by seeing a doctor. The next day I headed to Trenton, NJ and got a train back to New York.

The Delaware Canal The Deaware Canal Bike Path

I went to my doctor, who sent me across the hall to another doctor that specializes in Orthopedics. This is what I learned - Diagnoses for both knees: ITBS (Iliotibial Band Syndrome) and NOT Runners Knee, oops. Treatment: A very long and careful regimen of rest, home physical therapy, ice, muscle building exercises, and NO CYCLING.

This is something that can be beat if I follow the regimen. But the short-term aim to get back in or on the saddle will be a tortuous process, and I really don’t want this journey to be about my knees. So considering that I’m old, unemployed, and without a home or a state for that matter, I need an alternate adventure now. Right now. An adventure during which I can deal with the knees.

I meet this guy David who had once went to Southeast Asia and bought a Russian made two-stroke 125cc Minsk motorcycle for about $300. He traveled around Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos for 5 months. I looked into it and have found few others online who are doing a similar journey if not a shorter one just within Vietnam and then selling the Minsk at the end of it. I also found this expat Minsk Motorcycle club in Vietnam.

I really wouldn’t have to change much. Maybe just this graphic:

nothing to it

So as of now I am on a flight to California with a new list.

1. My stepfather, Royce has a motorcycle that I can practice with. Maybe.
2. Take the motorcycle drivers test at the DMV. I currently have a normal California driver’s license. From what I’ve read, Vietnam now requires a motorcycle license from your home country in order to obtain a temporary Vietnamese drivers license.
3. Vietnamese Visa.
4. Flight to Hanoi, Vietnam

I will keep you posted in the upcoming weeks.

First thing: weight. It’s funny how, going in to this, it was so difficult deciding what to bring. Packing had been a very carefully-calculated process that took up quite a bit of my time. And now, going back through all of my effects, my calculated bits and pieces, it took me all of five minutes to purge almost half of it. All of those things that I was so sure I couldn’t do without on a long and unpredictable expedition, with its many unforeseen complications and life-threating situations–well, whatever. They were only things that would have made me feel comfortable and closer to home. I may as well have brought my PlayStation 3, for cripes sake.

before and after

So it was mostly clothing that got the boot. Plus, I got rid of the handlebar bag that weighs more than the items it was meant to carry. And, in a bold move, I bought new, smaller rear panniers. That’s right, I scrapped the meticulously hand-crafted panniers that held an impressive 3300 cubic inches of useless crap, and replaced them with the beautifully-designed 2441 cubic inch Ortlieb Back Roller Classic (they are effing awesome in every way). All and all, I shaved off 23 pounds - which is 34% of my original pack weight. Nice job, me.

smaller panniers

Got some new stock no-frills cruiser flat pedals. ‘Cause cruising is my new credo. And it’s not a choice man….It’s a lifestyle.

flat pedals

And finally, the “route,” or lack thereof, needs a major adjustment. More on that later.

Okay so here’s the thing – and I know what you’re thinking – and I want you to put it out of your head.

I need to make some adjustments to the Romic, to the weight, and to the route. When I came up with this idea to tour the world on a bicycle, a little over a year ago, I rigorously planned my every move and, if you know me at all, you know that once I get into the details I get a little bored. Which is fine when planning my professional life, but this is an adventure. So I stopped just short of a strict, calculated plan and allowed for more spontaneous adventure. Well I’ll tell you, that’s not going to work. So considering that I wasn’t originally going to start this tour until August 15th and I need two weeks to heal my knees, I am going to chalk this up to a training tour. A training tour that I planned on taking and never did. A false start, if you like.

I’m going back to Brooklyn and restarting in two weeks with less of a load, a less ambitious and more widely-accepted route, according to the bicycle touring sect, and hopefully two well-rested knees. No tail between my knees or anything; thankfully, I have very little pride. The point of this blog is to give a completely honest account of my journey, which includes revealing things that I normally keep to myself.

So here’s what happened, if you’re interested:
On the first day, I felt that my foot position was off. I was using toeclips with straps, which forces your foot to stay on the pedal. I went to the local bike shop to get just regular flat pedals so that my foot could just find its natural position. The bike shop, however, didn’t have any standard flat pedals, so I just took the toeclips and straps off as a temporary solution. I explained my problem to the guy at the bike shop - he smiled, nodded his head and said, “Sounds like you have Runner’s Knee.” He told me that new pedals would be a good start, but I should get better shoes and make sure my seat is high enough, which it was. He also said that should I go on, to make sure that my knees are fully healed before climbing with a loaded bike. I told him that the pain was gone and he came back at me with, “Oh it’s not gone, trust me.” I did trust him, but I wanted to give it one more shot, just in case it really was gone.

The first climb out of town was about 1000 feet with in 10 km. I felt great! My feet found their position and standing up on the pedals was a snap. There was no feeling of someone stabbing me in the knees, so I actually got to enjoy the scenery.

Milford, PA

PA

As I approached the top of a hill there was nothing but beautiful trees and open road. What more can I possible ask for? How about ice cream? OK.

pit stop

The ice cream shop was closed but I decided to take a seat on the curb and hydrate. After five minutes I got up, only nothing was happening. My knees would not work. After an hour I was able to walk back to town (about 19 km). I had my thumb out most of the way, but gave up towards the end. And by the way, every other passing vehicle was a fricking pick-up truck. I’m just saying. Nothing against Pennsylvanians, cause I like em, but the only guy to at least stop to make sure I was all right was from Brooklyn (he was in a sports car with no room).

Anyway, in short, I’m back in Brooklyn now. Please don’t give up on this blog. Two short weeks is all… most likely.