900 Mile cycle ride 8 months post surgery !

[ChouDoufu]

don't forget the practice tour! a week or so ahead of time, load up your
bike with all your gear and take a short ride - 25 miles or so, overnight if
you have the time. figure out where all your stuff should go, check the
balance, listen to the strange noises. ride on different surfaces. ride
up a looooong hill. test the ride on the descent. when you're done
check all the nuts and bolts and see what came loose.

with your bike fully loaded (including water and snacks and camera),
pick it up, lift it over a fence, carry up a flight or two of stairs. too
heavy? you've got too much stuff. everyone carries too much stuff.

you also should practice fixing your bike if you haven't had a chance.
change an inner tube, a brake cable, a derailleur cable, brake shoes.
practice adjusting the gears. go over the bike, look at each nut and bolt
to see you have the right size hex keys. look at all the parts that can
break, see that you have the tools and spares to fix whatever goes wrong.
got a chain tool, and know how to use it?

btw, i've never used spd's. always worn touring shoes, the ones with a
steel plate in the sole, along with toe clips and straps.

 

[Woodbutcher]

Thank you Chou doufu,
That's a really helpful and informative email and definately given me lots to think about. I've copied and pasted and put a print on my shed wall ! Thanks, justin