FLCC> donations? sales? for an adventure...

[Daniel Kidney]

		Hello there everyone,
	it's been a while since I've seen many of you.  At first I pretended 
to have an excuse every week for not showing up Tuesday or Thursday, 
but mostly I've just been busy fattening up for the invariable cold 
when I actually do leave.  I plan to  come back out for at least 
tomorrow's Tuesday, and one more Cayutaville TT.  I'd like to make it 
to the Pink slipper, and may yet do so, but the racing bike is going to 
be decidedly out of commission by then, sacrificing some key components 
like handlebars, to the touring bike.
	Anyway, for those of you who don't know, my brother, Toby (whom a few 
of you have met), and I are headed out for a bit of a jaunt to somewhat 
foreign lands.  Short version of our plans: round trip with two bicycle 
powered legs, first bicycle leg: Trumansburg, NY to Asheville, NC; 
second bicycle leg: Buenos Aires, Argentina to Trumansburg, NY.  We're 
leaving in a day less than two weeks; September 17th.
	As we go through our lists again and again, and money evaporates on 
"essential" equipment I've been meaning to see what might all ready be 
lying around peoples' closets/sheds.  Mostly we're looking for clothing 
but there is certainly some equipment we would appreciate as well.
	In the clothing department we're fairly wide open; things for on the 
bike or off the bike (though mostly on).  Anything wool would be great 
(really really great!).  We'll even take used shorts, provided they've 
been cleaned in some way (interesting note, a week or so ago someone on 
Buffalo St. really wanted some shorts: I had a pair stolen off my 
unlocked bike, on which both my jersey and shorts were hanging to dry; 
there were panniers with valuables, and the bike itself, but only the 
shorts went missing... I figured someone that desperate for a pair of 
shorts can have them).  Anyway, this doesn't all have to be in the 
spirit of the standard shorts/jersey wardrobe; button up shirts of some 
relatively thin fabric can make great cycling wear.  Holes in anything 
are not a problem; there must be some reason to give it away, and we're 
not picky about such things (we'll take new things too... free 
advertising for 12,000 miles!).  A list, by no means exhaustive, of 
things we would appreciate:
-socks
-shorts
-jerseys
-shirts
-bandanas
-gloves
-arm warmers/light jackets
-rain gear
		(note: we both pretty much fit the 'medium' (to small) category of 
any clothing)
	If you have something you'd be willing to part with... but maybe not 
for free, feel free to make sales offers; we've been buying quite a few 
things lately, and it probably wouldn't be very hard to convince us to 
buy something at non-retail prices, with neither sales tax nor 
shipping.  With that in mind... other gaps in our equipment list 
include:
-large stainless steel camp pot (3-4qts)
-generators (we're thinking something real simple, not a generator 
light system, just something to produce a little voltage, from a 
tread/sidewall unit, could be homebuilt, maybe someone has advice for 
building one?)
-maps (see our approximate route here: 
http://sasa.ppckernel.org/mediawiki/images/a/a0/SASAroute.jpg)
-a stretch: fry-bake pan? (http://www.frybake.com/ anyone have/willing 
to sell one for less than that?)
-scalpels? (any vet school folks out there? ... they're a whole lot 
better than a pocket knife for what they're made for)
-BBs (have some, but if you have an extra JIS ('not campy') square 
taper cartridge that you don't use any more, 68mm shell, at least 113mm 
spindle, and it's still in good condition, we'd give you a couple bucks 
for it as a spare)

	If you've read this far... thanks for entertaining my lengthy 
solicitations.  Any offers would be tremendously appreciated (either as 
donations or sales offers).  Charles: your panniers are coming back 
SOON (before I leave).
	Also, anyone ready to tour fairly independently in two weeks... would 
be welcome to accompany us for a day, or two, or all the way to 
Asheville.  We'll be riding the Blue Ridge Parkway; camping (illegally 
if necessary, or if it costs money to camp legally), and surviving on 
about $6/day.  If you're feeling a little adventurous and don't have 
much to do for the next month or so... it could be fun (if you've never 
toured before, keep in mind it will be miserable at times, take more 
money than you expect, and my brother and I may not have time and won't 
have money to take care of you, as we've got a flight to meet in Miami, 
and I've got college to come back to in a year, that said... it could 
be fun!)
	For those of you sticking around here, I'll write on the subject of my 
whereabouts and adventures when I make it to a computer.  Courtesy of 
my programming savvy brother, a new site should be appearing online 
soon, something that might interest some of you.  It is going to be a 
geographically based version of a web journal.  The general idea is 
that a google maps interface will allow to track your own progress, and 
every where you upload journal entry(s)/photos there will be a point on 
the map, and when people click on that point the relevant 
entries/photos will be brought up in parallel frames.  It's still very 
rough; he's in the other room developing it right now.  Once we're on 
the road I'll send a link.
	Thank you all again.  Sorry I haven't been out with the groups much, 
but I credit this club with sparking my interest in cycling; having 
first conceived of the idea of riding more than 5 miles or so when I 
found the list of Sunday routes one stir-crazy winter night about two 
and a half years ago.  I've all ready had many offers, much advice, and 
assistance from the club, without which I highly doubt this trip would 
have been possible.  So I now humbly consider this to be my 'launch 
into the world,' thanks to all of you.  I hope to see you all again 
before I leave.  Everyone have a safe season next year; I imagine I'll 
still be out on the road, far away, and then it's off to college.  I've 
had a wonderful couple of years riding with you all, and you can be 
sure I'll be back whenever I can make it.
	-Daniel