November 10, 2012

Mrs Sweet Cheeks is a Marinoni Tourismo Extreme, built in Quebec.  Glenn decided on all the component parts, with a little input from Ralf and I.  We basically wanted to have similar components to make it easy on getting replacements. Although I have 26 inch wheels and a big gear ratio.  When the frame arrived from Marinoni – Glenn sent me pictures. I got very excited. 

I thought there would be more of a contrast with the two blues, but it still looks good.

Glenn said she might be ready for my birthday in December.  Unfortunately, that wasn\’t to be.  I could have picked her up the week before Christmas, but we were flying to Cuba for our Christmas vacation, I decided to wait until after Christmas.

October 6, 2012

While I was getting fitted for my new bike Glenn suggested we get both get Brooks saddles.  He measured our sit bones on the assometer.  Yes there is actually a gizmo that measures how big your arse is.  Well actually where your bony bits are on your bum.  It was very funny.  Ralf sat down first and Glenn commented on how narrow his sit bones were – I immediately responded \”oh Sweet Cheeks\”  I sat down and of course having wider sit bones Ralf noted \”Fat Arse\”.  We were laughing helplessly while Glenn, I think, wondered if I would get upset at Ralf for calling me fat arse. I, of course thought it was hilariously funny, as I do not have a fat arse.  The funny thing was Sweet Cheeks stuck and we laughed about it all the way home.

The next day Glenn called to tell me I should think about the colour of the bike and also informed me I could name my bike.  I could have my name on it, a nick-name or name the bike.  Ralf and I discussed it and we decided on Mrs Sweet Cheeks.  We thought it would be a great ice-breaker if people chatted to us on the route and possibly the name for the blog.

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.

September, 2012

To actually put this crazy idea into action, I had to convince my hubby that it would be a good idea.  I created a PowerPoint presentation for him, showing him where we would go, how we could do it. approximate cost and time and what we would do when we got back.

I was amazed that he immediately jumped on board and encouraged me to start planning.  I knew he had not been happy with his work for sometime.  As a truck driver hauling auto-parts for Honda on a just-in-time delivery schedule day after day and working 12 to 13 hours a day it was getting a bit much for him too. Time to enjoy life.

August, 2012

Whose crazy idea was this?

I am sure at some stage during the trip this question will come up.  I fess up now it was mine.  I had this crazy idea of cycling around the world shortly after discovering that the Company I had worked for for over 17 years was being merged with another company.  I would keep my job, but lose vacation days and paid sick days.  Most people would say I was lucky to keep my job, but I didn\’t feel that way, at the time.  Vacation days are important to me.

I have created this blog to record the planning and actual bicycle ride that my husband (Ralf) and I are going to start in 2014.

The first few posts are retroactive as I wrote them before I created this blog.