There’s plenty of preparation going into this trip; I don’t like being caught unprepared. Maps, routes, places to sleep, packing lists, etc… Step one, though is of course the bicycle itself. I used to tour on a $300 Trek Mountain Bike. Nice bike, but not built for the thousands of touring miles I had put on it. So last May, an avid cyclist and good friend of mine pointed out the Raleigh Sojourn Touring Bike in a catalog he’d been drooling over (He told me he refers to these bike catalogs as “porno mags”). A few moments later, the store we happened to walk into had that same bike, and in the correct size. A little negotiating and credit card swiping and there it was, my brand new Raleigh Sojourn: complete with Brook Saddle and Grip Tape, extra spokes, fenders, back rack, disc brakes and even a pump. I haggled my way into a front rack and cruised out the door. I haven’t look back since then. Below is a shot of my war-horse, built specifically for the task at hand this summer. When you’ve got a solid endeavor on your plate, make sure you come equipped!