It has almost been a month since we finished our trip. I’m a little late, but I said I would do a last post with some data, as I am a freak regarding statistics. Stefan and I both are back in Vienna, so no cycling except for some short distance in the city. A small final update on the flat standings. In the morning on our way to the airport in San Francisco Stefan’s rear tire finally flatted. I guess the goathead didn’t seal anymore. However, it’s amazing that the goathead sealed the tube for almost 1,000 km! The final result is therefore …
— Stef 9 : 12 Chris —.
A total of 21 flats… wtf?
I wanna grab the chance for a huge shout out to everyone who supported us during our trip. Especially all our warm and welcoming hosts. Furthermore to everyone who helped us in some way, all the people we met and had a good time with, and everyone who motivated us with supportive messages. Thank you!
A selection of reactions when we told people that we were going to SF (or coming from NY):
- You guys are nuts!
- You guys are shitting me!
- Have you had your brain examined?
- Did you go see a psychiatrist?
And here’s some data:
Totals
Distance: 6271.0 km
Elevation: 38,019 m
Revolutions: 1,531,623
Moving Time: 334h 16m 2s (13.9 days) – actual time on bike
Elapsed Time: 532h 26m 38s (22.2 days) – time from start to destination
Averages
Distance: 108.1 km per day
Speed: 19.08 km/h
Elevation: 655.5 m
Temperature: 28.7°C
Cadence: 76 RPM (inc zeros)
Revolutions: 26,407
Moving Time: 5h 45m 48s
Elapsed Time: 9h 10m 48s
Time efficiency: 63%
Extremes
Max distance: 206.3 km
Min distance: 42.5 km
Max avg speed: 25.1 km/h
Min avg speed: 12.6 km/h
Max elevation: 2,114 m
Min elevation: 103 m
Max avg temperature: 41 °C
Min avg temperature: 12°C
Max temperature: 45°C
Min temperature: 2°C
Max avg cadence: 86 RPM (inc zeros)
Min avg cadence: 63 RPM (inc zeros)
Max revolutions: 42,351
Min revolutions: 10,721
Max moving time: 9h 8m 44s (Cody to Yellowstone)
Min moving time: 2h 31m 0s
Max elapsed time: 13h 24m 2s (Cody to Yellowstone)
Min elapsed time: 3h 28m 33s
Max efficiency: 82%
Min efficiency: 42%
This journey was more than just one big experience both of us will never forget. It’s hard to describe in words what goes through your mind when you finally see the Golden Gate Bridge and push your bike through loose sand towards the Pacific. I had to think of all the people we met on our way, all new friendships, curiosities, incredibly hard and exhausting days versus simply amazing days of riding your bike, freezing mornings and strikingly hot afternoons, mountains and the hell of Pennsylvanian hills, smooth trails, kindness and curiosity of American people, nice and not so nice drivers, incredible nature, 21 flat tires and so much more.
After the heat of the first day when we did just a bit over 40km I thought “how the fuck are we supposed to go through the whole country if we both are already half-dead after 40km”. But somehow we made it. The heat got less and our bodies got accustomed to riding a bike every day. We both were totally new to cycling and all preparation were 3 ~70km bike rides around Vienna. We are really lucky nothing serious happend and we both were able to do the whole distance without illness or serious injury (despite some pain). Especially from Jackpot (NV) on, I head fairly strong pain in my knee all the way to San Francisco, which forced me to take Ibuprofen to prevent a serious inflammation. I wouldn’t recommend to cycle the same distance per day without preparation as we did. We started with pretty short days and still pain was on and off.. Yet, all the trouble we went through showed me what your body and mind is capable of doing, and even further. I learned to push through, follow my goals and don’t give up – even if you go with 8km/h in 40km/h headwind 😀
If I hadn’t done the trip I would do it again any second.
Thanks for reading. Cya at the next trip haha.
cyclingmurica 