daydream believers

My wife and I have an idea.

She loves camping.
I love bicycles.

Seems like a marriage made in heaven, no?

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She got into riding when we met, and really enjoyed it. Due to various health concerns and an injury, she has been unable to ride much in recent years. However, she acquired an Optima Orca recumbent bicycle which she can ride. This machine is not made anymore, but Optima still makes bikes similar to her orca. Basically, the orca is a very competent touring recumbent. The kind which can be used to complete a self supported world tour over such gentle terrain as one might find in Mongolia.

It is a tough bicycle.

Now she likes to ride it, but does not love to ride it like I do my own bicycles.

But she does love to camp...

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I am the first to admit that I do not really like to camp. The biggest problem is not the dirt, the sleeping outside, the food, or anything else. It is the quality of sleep. I simply don't sleep well and this makes me somewhat crabby. Ok ok, really crabby. I need my non-ugly sleep.

Last summer, we improved this for me by getting a nice cot for me to sleep on. Bad sleep conquered, I really enjoyed camping. At last.

I have been on trips where I slept well on the ground, but they were trips which lasted typically longer than we have been able to take since we got married. I had a chance to get used to it. It became "not so bad" after about a week.

So I don't love camping as my wife does, but I do like it.

But I do love my bicycles...

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Due to a rather nifty series of circumstances, I am zeroing in on making my love of bicycles and my wife's love of camping meet and form our very own version of that grand old thing known as bicycle touring.

It will take a while to get this show on the road - likely next year at the earliest - due to basic fiscal realities, but dreaming is free.

So let's dream...

***

It would not be my blog without a picture of a bicycle.

So tada!

This is the bicycle I am thinking of getting. There are several reasons for me to get this bicycle. I present them to you in a list:

1. It is a bicycle. That is explanation enough, no? n+1 theory.
2. Happy circumstances make this delightfully affordable.
3. It would get use beyond the rather specialised function that is touring.
4. Seeing as it comes fully kitted with useful things (racks, fenders) and my current bags will fit with ease, it makes for a superb long distance commuter bicycle; handy since we are moving in two months much farther from one of my current jobs. Yes, I have more than one job.
5. My Brooks saddle (the chocolate brown one) will look dead sexy on it.
6. I want to mix bicycle riding with photography very very very much. My Jake the Snake gets ridden my version of hard and fast and is not great to carry a camera on. Add a handlebar bag to this one though and hey presto! A bicycle suited for a long distance photoroam.

It would not be my bicycle without me making some changes to the basic as you see it bicycle. I likely won't Frankenstein it like I have my other bicycles, but a few things need doing. I present changes to you in a list (I like lists tonight):

1. The seat has to go. I have a lovely, dare I say delightful, brooks saddle which will fit quite nicely on it and match the paint of the bicycle perfectly. How handy is that.
2. The handlebar tape will be replaced with drop dead gorgeous brooks leather handle bar tape hopefully in a colour which matches the saddle. Yummy. I realise I risk being overcome with a bad case of smug, but I think it worth the risk...
3. I need a kickstand. This bike is not about fast. It is about practical. Kickstands are practical, and I need one which will hold up a fully loaded touring bike. And, it can be done. Enter this lovely thing from Pletscher. The double bipod one. I have one on my commuter and have used it for years in all sorts of crap and it still works and does not wobble. It is awesome. Very awesome. Get one if you ride a bicycle you load up with bags. It is worth it.
4. Luggage. Oh yes, luggage. This luggage in fact. I have used axiom stuff for years on my commuter and it is very very tough. When they say it is waterproof, believe them. It is.
5. I own lights. They will fit and help me see cool. Yeah, that's it.
6. Pedals would be nice. I was thinking some Shimano all mountain type pedals like these. A cage around the clip in bit would be good to add stability since I want to use touring shoes vs my race ones.

 So there you have it.

A bicycle dream all wrapped up in fun riding and vacation time. Believe the daydream; it will come true.