Choosing the steed... er... bike

Hey Y'all!



I have had a lot of people ask me a few questions about the bike I chose for my long-distance tour across America. I read a lot of articles and studied other cyclist blogs trying to figure out the best (and cheapest!) way to go. Here are a few answers:





^^Maximus. What a hansom fella.

1. Did you decide to get a used bike?

I did! You can save several hundred and even thousands of dollars on a used bike. I decided to go to a  (somewhat) local recycled bike store and tell them exactly what I needed and what it was for. If you're looking for a bike, I would highly recommend checking out some of your local stores first.

2. Did your bike cost you a fortune?

Nope. Granted, it's not a fancy bike by any means, but I read about a lot of people who have done long-distance bike touring, and most people say that you don't need anything super expensive. Mine was under $300. It has a lightweight frame, and it fits me perfectly. At the recycled bike store, I picked out a used frame and seat, and then they put brand new tires, chains, breaks, and wraps on it.

3. What brand should I get?

Honestly, brands don't seem to matter too much when it comes to getting a bike. I would advise not going to your local super market. Really check into local bike stores and even check into classifieds. You'll be able to get a high quality bike for half of the price. Mine is an older model but is still fully qualified for what I need.

4. Why Maximus?

I feel like I have a better connection to things when I name them. Also, this tour is probably going to get a little lonely... So my bike is going to be my #1 pal.
I posted on Facebook that I needed name ideas for my bike, and got overwhelming responses! I had names from famous singers and actors, to characters from Disney movies. My brother, Aaron, suggested the name "Maximus" and I really liked the sound of that one! Not to mention my Jeep is named Flynn Rider (I know, I know. Cheesy. "How old are you, Heather?") but I thought that Maximus was a good fit. Also, the Latin meaning is "Greatest." He needs to be greater than anything else we encounter on our journey, especially some of those mountain peaks.

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for more about my preperation.

Creating the Project Trailer

Hello all!

This week I have been working on the Love Your Life Project video trailer to hopefully introduce what it's all about.

Holy cow. I did not realize how hard it would be to create a video that looks somewhat professional with the limited resources that I have and entire lack of experience in the art of video making.
I just barely received my beautiful, new camcorder with which I will be doing most of the project. I have read a lot of reviews and decided to go with the Canon HF500. So far, I'm loving it!

Yesterday, I decided to campaign the expertise of my brother, Adam, to help with some of the filming. After about an hour of dodging cars, trying to get a shot in the middle of the street, we finally got 3 seconds of the video done. We have a long ways to go!

I spent most of the day in my red shoes, (If you want to know why, you'll just have to wait for the trailer!) and Adam spent most of the day laying on the road or trying not to die on my longboard. It has definitely been an adventure!

I've got some great interviews lined up, so that will help with the latter part of the video.

Stay tuned for more stories, and don't forget to check out www.thatadventurelife.com and watch for the video to be uploaded.