September 2012

Ralf insisted that before we plan any trip, sell the house etc, I would need a new touring bike.  Ralf already has a Trek 520.  As I am only 5 foot,  I knew I could not get a Trek Touring bike to fit me.  We had spoken previously to Glenn Buckmaster at Algonguin Outfitters in Hunstville about a custom build, but I had not seriously considered it.

I now seriously considered it and gave Glenn a call to see what we could do.  We arranged to meet in October to discuss the bike, cost etc.

We spent about two hours with Glenn discussing the bike, measuring me and my road bike and discussing touring.  Glenn and his wife tour regularly on a tandem, so he knows what he is talking about.  Ralf and I have in the past few years taken cycling vacations, but have never had to carry our gear with us.  The vacations we have taken have been camping related but supported rides – someone carries your gear from town to town.  We have had a couple of weekends away carrying overnight stuff but we stayed in Bed and Breakfasts, so the panniers were fairly light.  The Grand Adventure which we have now nicknamed it is going to be a little different from previous cycling vacations.