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A Zen Teacher saw five of his students return from the market, riding their bicycles. When they had dismounted, the teacher asked the students, "Why are you riding your bicycles?"

The first student replied, "The bicycle is carrying this sack of potatoes. I am glad that I do not have to carry them on my back!" The teacher praised the student, saying, "You are a smart boy. When you grow old, you will not walk hunched over, as I do."

The second student replied, "I love to watch the trees and fields pass by as I roll down the path." The teacher commended the student, "Your eyes are open and you see the world."

The third student replied, "When I ride my bicycle, I am content to chant, nam myoho renge kyo." The teacher gave praise to the third student, "Your mind will roll with the ease of a newly trued wheel."

The fourth student answered, "Riding my bicycle, I live in harmony with all beings." The teacher was pleased and said, "You are riding on the golden path of non-harming."

The fifth student replied, "I ride my bicycle to ride my bicycle." The teacher went and sat at the feet of the fifth student, and said, "I am your disciple."

As soon as I realized that my recumbent would allow me to complete my dream of riding a bicycle across the country, I started research all over the web. While reading through the many trip reports of coast to coast touring cyclists, two things became clear. First, I would be riding the TransAmerica trail created by Adventure Cycling in 1976 (the year of my birth). Second, I should purchase, read, re-read, and take along Donna's book.
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I have been unable to find a pannier set that works exactly as I would like for the under-seat rack on my RANS Rocket. I like the panniers made by Arkel of all the panniers I have looked at and used.

I decided to make my own set tailored (quite literally) exactly to my needs and I borrowed quite a bit from Arkel's design work. Below is a description of the process for those who would like to do the same.
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I have been asked many times why I wanted to ride a bicycle across the county. Having completed the trip, the question became easy to answer. It was not easy to answer before I left. My history started the same year as cross country ride. I am a bicentennial baby, born in 1976. This is the same year the Bikecentennial route was created. Thousands of cyclists rode across the country on that route, during that year. Many thousands more have crossed the United States on the same route since. The route is still maintained by the same organization with a new name: Adventure Cycling. Their maps are extremely helpful for the bicycle tourist and have kept the same basic route, with slight changes as roads are modified over the years.All of this is good and well, you say, but it still doesn't answer the why. The truth is that I didn't really know. I read a tour report on-line and thought it sounded interesting. Over the years it fermented into a strong desire. I wondered if this was something I could do. I started riding a Trek 520 touring bike in college. I was overweight. No nicer way to say it. Riding 50 miles in a day was a task. This wasn't because I couldn't physically do it, my butt just couldn't handle the time on the bike. Yes, I had the real bike shorts. I tried three different seats. It just didn't work. All season would be required before I could do two back to back 50 mile days. I couldn't see myself riding across the country, when you are doing 50+ mile days every day. The idea was put on the shelf.
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For over 20 years, the American Diabetes Association has held a fund raising event that gives cyclists the chance to ride around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This event
is called "The Smoothest Ride in the World". The only thing required to participate is $35 in pledges, a human powered cycle of some sort and a helmet. It is the most diverse cycling event, with pace lines going for a sub 5 and a half hour century through weekend cyclists bringing the young kids to ride. The track is large enough to accommodate the variety. Each time around you just have to answer the question, "Can I ride another 2.5 miles?" With "pit stops" between turns 1 and 2, in the middle of the back straight away, and between turns 3 and 4, you are sure to be fully energized.
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This owner had motorized his BikeE as an attempt to stay close to much stronger riders on lengthy rides. The motor was sizable and could propel him along at speeds in excess of 30 MPH. All was well and good until... Well. He brought his bike in his dealer with a serious problem. It seems the chain had managed to jam in the sprocket assembly and instead of the wheels turning the bike was shortened in length.

You have to see these photos to believe the story:
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The NITE (Navigate Indy This Evening) Ride and the Hilly Hundred are the two major events put on by the Central Indiana Bicycling Association. I rode in the Hilly last year, but this is my first NITE Ride. There are events to participate in the entire day up to the 11 pm start of the ride.

I rode to the Major Taylor Velodrome, where the ride starts, as I always find it somewhat counter productive to drive a few miles to attend a cycling event. That meant that I had to bring everything with me, so I loaded up all 4 panniers and headed south. Riders were allowed on the velodrome from 4 to 6 pm. I had never been there before, so why not. I was amazed how much bank the turns have, but I guess you need that considering the tight turns. It is a little annoying to have to carry your bike under the stairs to get on the track. It seems like it wouldn't be that much of a problem to allow the NITE Ride participants to enter through the sides of the track, the way the racers do.

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