Back in the CHI

After an amazing time in Denver, CO with my friend Amy and pretty much her entire building (thanks guys and gals)! Denver rawks!

I'm in the CHI. One more time.

Jonathan and I

This is me and my friend Jonathan from Moscow, ID. We're standing in front of the best gear shop in town! He happens to work there and that's where we met!

No help from the VA...

For those of you who don't know. I'm a veteran of our United States
Army. I have a health care related issue and I'm not surprised at all
that I can't get any help from the VA for this tooth of mine.

If you feel so inclined. Please write your congressman and/or senator
and express the need for a better health care system in this country.
Especially for people who've given something up for it.

My damn tooth.

I've been having some problems with one of my teeth. The same one that I've had worked on several times. I figured it would be ok if I just left it alone and stopped eating on that side of my mouth. Well, last night I woke up around 11pm with the most intense pain in my tooth. It eventually subsided and I was able to get a wonderful nights sleep. I woke up this morning and while taking stock of my body, noticed that my gum was incredibly swollen! My tooth is now loosy goosy and I think I may loose it. Which means that I will have a gap in my mouth!

I have an appointment today for a cursery exam of my tooth that will probably cost me around $100! If indeed I do lose my tooth. You will find me taking a little trip down to Mexico or India or some other place and having an implant done for a quarter of the cost. The prices here are rediculous! Of course I am in one of the poshest cities in the US. Steamboat Springs, CO where a simple breakfast of one single egg and nothing else will cost you six bucks. That doesn't include toast or coffee.

It's a good thing I stealth camped last night! Free is the only way to stay!

I love my teeth, but I love to eat more. Come on national health care plan!

Craig to Steamboat, CO

Back in the saddle. Craig, CO to Steamboat Springs, CO 42 miles. No problem. Taking US-40. No comment.

Glacier National Park

Taken by a tourist from texas who was kind enough to send it to me via email!

Montana left behind.

I'm done with Montana for now. She hurt me pretty bad towards the end. Its time to move on to Wyoming. I don't feel like riding anymore. Some folks offered me a ride and for the first time I'm taking it. Will be picking my tour up again in the near future but right now I am simply another petrochemical passenger.

The folks that picked me up are lovely. A retired english teacher and her husband. Its remarkable to be able to talk politics and religion with such level headed folks. They are some of the best people I've met on the road to date.

Off to Three Forks

I'm off on 287 south to see the Lewis and Clark Caverns state park. 22 miles west of Three Forks on US-2 actually. See you all in pictures!

The numbskull in Helena Montana

102 miles. What the crap was I thinking? I did it but I think I'm stuck taking another rest day. I've decided I have way too much food with me. I don't need more than two days food at any given time. On my other route, the one I'm not doing anymore I would need two weeks worth of food. But now I don't.

I'll keep carrying it but for now, just know how pissed about it I am.

Yesterday was hell, today has been awesome. I've meet at least one 'Prophet of Helena' who has explained to me exactly why Helena is the best town in the world. I'm inclined to agree, except...I see no evidence of a symphony orchestra nor do I see an opera. Two major requirements for homesteading. That and everyone here seems to be married. Not that its necessarily a bad thing if you're married but you can't expect the young single guys to flock to a town full of married folk.

On the other side it has a pretty sweet bakery called the Park Avenue Bakery. The breads and other vittles to be had there are top notch, on par with Germany in my opinion (home of the best bread I've ever had).

I'm about to have a bit of a look around the Blackfeet River Brewery and drink what I can see. Hopefully I will be sober enough to ride the 68 miles I want to do today and not spend another 50 bucks on a hotel room. Two bike shops, one gear shop and two breweries. I think this place has its priorities in the right place.  More on Helena later. Right now its time to drink some beer!

Choteau, MT to Helena,Mt

102 miles. No problem. At least that's what I keep telling myself. Yesterday was hilly and hard. Today should be better. Choteau is nice and I highly suggest staying the ultra cheap city park campground should you have a chance.

Good times. Helena, here I come!

Glacier.

I will miss the Glacier area immensely. For some reason I feel this incredible melancholy coming over me as I ride further away. I may stay the night in the park again. I have already made it to Saint Mary and I find that I have more ride in me if I wanted. I am thinking of Kalispell, MT and all of the amazing people that I have met there. What a great little town. I lift my fork full of strawberry-rhubarb pie to you my dear friends. I am sitting at the Park Cafe in Saint Mary. Their pies taste as close to Mom's pies. They're here all the time and Mom only makes them every once in a while. I really think I could live in Montana for a minute but not for the rest of my life.

It looks a lot like the pacific northwest actually. The weather is so much more extreme though. Although today its pretty mellow and yesterday was down right chilly.

I think I need to find a place to nap for a couple of hours or so and then I guess I'll ride down to Browning in order to keep things rolling along. This will probably post just before I get there. I'll most likely motel it when I get there because there do not appear to be any campgrounds in that area.

Alive and well

Still in glacier. What an amazing place. Leaving the west today and crossing the divide. Will be in st mary tonight.

Ah the long ride.

I'm I Kalispell,MT. Rode 96.34 miles to get here. Someone immediately offered me food and beer and someone else immediately offered me shelter. I love this town.

I need to plan...

So glacier fills up their camp sites so I'm most likely going to be stuck in some nasty hotel for a day or so in kalispell. Or maybe even 2 days. I guess I have to take my time but I have mail waiting there so I have be there by friday,,, or show up real early...

We'll see. Feeling better now. Its amazing what hydration will do for ya!

St. Regis.

Oh Montana why are you so hot! And I don't mean like 'hubba hubba' I mean like 'damn its hot out here!'

Any way I crossed over to Montana today from idaho traveling through many many scary black tunnels including the 8000+ ft (not meters as I was previously told) one and lived to tell about it. I'm kind of beat at the moment. Its hot and I waiting out the heat under an awning on the road to MT200.

I'm changing my rout again. The route is rubbish and is taking me too many places I don't want to go, including some pretty nasty roads. Which have all been fine but who wants to have their but kicked by their saddle for 15 miles? That ain't me.

From St. Regis, MT I am taking MT135 to MT200.

East on MT200 to Local 382 to MT28.

Mt28 to Elmo and FEDERAL 93 North

FED93 to Kalispell where I will get lost I'm sure.

Kalispell to FED 2 east or north or whatever into West Glacier.

Tah dah!

Looks like two days ride so I'm lucky enough to make it for the annoying weekend crowd!

Yah!

Tour route change

From taft I will follow I90 frontage roads to ST Regis, MT. Then take 135 to 200 east to 212 to federal 93 to state 35 north to local 206 north to federal 2 to the going to the sun road.

The road to reovery.

Moscow, ID,
This place is awesome. It has an awesome bike shop, called Paradise Creek. The owner TJ helped me out with my cleat adjustment and some other minor stuff. Which is good because I woke up this morning with terrible pain in my back, hip and knee. I think my IT band has finally atrophied on me. I've spent the day stretching and enjoying the immense hospitality. My new friend Johnathan has offered to put me up for another night. He's one of the most awesome dudes in town and works for the most awesome gear shop in town called Hyperspud! For some reason I thought there would be more potato references in Idaho but I guess there are more in Washington than here now anyway. At the very least, the locals are awesome. Went to the local co-op to buy some dehydrated foods. I'm over the pressure cooker. It weighs too much and I will be sending it home tomorrow when the Post Office opens. spent some time at a little place called Sisters Brew writing letters and such. A lazy sunday to be sure. I am lightening my load by only carrying what I'll need from now on. I am about to climb in to the rockies.

NOTE: I AM CHANGING MY ROUTE SLIGHTLY.

I am taking dirt forest service road 301 to Avery and then dirt county road 456 to Pearson and then the Haiwatha trail through the St Paul Pass Tunnel and will end up in Taft, Montana.

I will post more on where to from Taft tomorrow when I have a better map in front of me.

AAA maps are good as long as you don't want to leave the pavement. 

Having an awesome trip and I hope you enjoy reading about it!

Rudolph!?

I can't tell if the pic looks good or not but this is just outside Colfax, WA!

The difference is stark.

Everyone smiles at this post office.

Post office on Pasco, WA

It occurs to me that I haven't made good time today. That is acceptable to me. It also occurs to me that I have been whinning a bit too much lately. I stayed in a lovely hotel last night. Let me be absolutely clear about this, I am in love with this trip! I am having so mych fun but it seems that I have to get my body accustomed to these things again.

On another note. Desitin is not your friend for saddle ailments. It has cod liver oil in it! Disgusting! I picked up some aveeno shortly after and haven't used it yet but I will post details (although not the gory details later).

Gear note: Scwalbe Marathon Plus tires are the best! I pulled no less than seven large thorns from my front tire yesterday. They were huge! Like thumb tacks but no flat! Love them!

Stopped to ship some things around so I don't have to carry them. I figure if they go ahead of me by a day or so, I will work less hard.

Having a great day and I hope this finds you well!

Wimping out.

Made it to the tri-cities area today and spent the day trying to find a good nutrition alternative for water a.k.a. some sort of gatorade like thing that will supply my needs. Bought a crappy handlebar bag so I don't have to get into my panniers at every stop.

Spent $10 sorting out a simple derrailleur issue and a bunch of cash on dinner and beer. Now I'm going to sleep in a motel! The BLi Hi Hotel to be sure. This will be the best night of sleep ever! My knees are much better but the left one is giving me a bit of a problem.

Oh and if you care about the drink mix, I opted for one called Ultima Replenisher in both orange and lemon lime. It tastes like crap. Well that was my first impression. It seems to be growing on me. I will post more info soon.

Day 3: part 2

Ok so after a little research and a slight cleat adjustment I feel much better on the bike. My body is still pretty weak but at least my knee doesn't hurt. Turned North from WA-14 today. Headed for tri-cities area.

good morning...

I had a pretty hard day yesterday. Lots of climbs and a lot of technically hard riding over gravel and sand. I could have avoided it and I think I will next time. This morning my left knee hurts like it did at the end of the day so I will be trying to take it easy today. Perhaps I will stay in a proper campground this evening and have a lazy day. It sucks when your body decides to give up. I've just taken 800mg of motrin and will be relaxing for about 40 minutes.

On a lighter note! On my way into camp last night I startled a yearling buck with velvet still on his antlers. I stayed on a bit of federal land last night called Whitcomb Island. Deer everywhere. Very exciting. I was close enough to an older buck to smell him and man did he smell something fierce!

Day 2: What happened to Maryhill, WA?

Its on the map but its not there! I was hoping to get water there but now I must cross into Oregon and waste a bunch of time and then hae to climb like crazy for about seven miles. Just for water. While I'm here I might as well get some coffee and charge my phone. Wasco, OR. Really just a truck stop and a power outlet to me.

Day one.

85 miles. Campground was $20 at a minimum. What's up with that. I'm tired. It was a long day and tomorrow will likely be just as long. my body is pissed at me, my bike is too heavy.

My chain broke today. Well actually it wasn't the chain it was that crappy SRAM gold link. Fixed that. All is well, I am at peace cooking dinner on the banks of the mighty Columbia river. Waiting for dark so I can pitch my tent guerilla style.

I'm off!

After a day delay. I am off. See you soon!

My Latest Route

View Larger Map

This is a slight variation on a route that I had previously planned. It eliminates around 40 miles of road that I've done before. I highly suggest the Terrain View as pointed out by the lovely Miss Alison.

In a Moment of Weakness

Amtrak manhandled my bike and caused a bunch of minor damage to it. I will be spending the day truing my wheels and grocery shopping.

Made a good day of drinking at a pretty hip northwestern bar last night. Delicious food and a chair on the sidewalk is all the excuse I needed to drink myself silly before a friend gave me a ride to my parents.

So, while there will be minimal miles ridden today, I will be getting maximum Mom time which is sorely needed.

Hot Amtrak Tip of the Day:
Buy the insurance.

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test pixelpipe for android test

For some reason my g1 hates me.

I don't know why it hates me but it does. I've posted two amazing posts to this blog but where are they? Where could they be? Why would my g1 do this to me just as I get ready to be on the road. Why? Why?!

At any rate. I'm sitting at my parents newish house in a suburb of a suburb of Portland, Oregon its quiet here and oh so far from people that I know (obviously besides my parents). Its a nice place to hide out before a big adventure. Really though what I want to do is drink myself into a stupor. My bicycle didn't make it to PDX on time so I have to wait until tomorrow at some point to figure all that out. My phones been freaking out and erasing messages and people don't seem to read what I'm writing anyway. Well there is that one kid in Japan who looks me up every now and again. Thanks Google Analytics for making me neurotic.

Anyway, I've decided to leave monday. I'm going to attempt 100 miles on my first day because I'm feeling impatient. Its probably a bad idea, but I'm feeling the need to get some space between myself and the rest of society at the moment.

Hopefully I'll be meeting up with my childhood chum K tonight and being reckless as hell in the mean streets of the 'couve. If you know where that is, you're laughing your ass of right now.

More later. Be well and never stop.

On the rails.

Yesterday was ok. Today was straight drama. I've ridden the train quite a few times and I've never once experienced the drama. Amtrak Chicago, you get a ef minus for your ability to be flexible at all.

I could go on about it but I wouldn't want to waste the bandwidth. For the next six weeks or so, I will be posting primarily from my mobile phone. As such, I will waste less time on photos and more time writing, which is what I love to do. Please read with with relish and delight.

I am currently on the Empire Builder from Chicago to Portland, OR. One of the most lovely things about taking the train is the quiet and the speed of it. Its slow but it leaves behind the noise and bustle of faster modes in favor of scenic routes and some of the oldest byways in the country. You also get to meet some the most interesting people. That can be an adventure in and of itself.

I'm having a minor concern about my front wheel. Its a bit out of true and started making a bit of noise when I put a load on it. I sincerely hope I don't need a new wheel before this is over. On the other hand, my Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires are performing perfectly.

Addendum: To everyone that helped me out the door recently, thank you and I love you more than I can say with simple words on the screen.

Hot tip: if you want to ship your bike, be at the station an hour early. Just do it. Save yourself the headache. I was forced to ship my bike a day later than today because I was two minutes late. So I will be in Portland for a whole day without my ride. That's a hard spot to be in one of the bikiest cities in the US.

The final ruckus.

Its done. I'm moved into storage. Packing comes in the AM and so does shopping for food. So tired. Can't wait for the High Life.

Miscellaneous Miscellaneous.

Grilled Chees Delicious!

Portland, Oregon! I love it. This is a community bike shop that has a whole tool set you can use just sitting right on the street! See you soon PDX!

More LOMOgraphy

If you've seen my Flickr, you've probably seen this one but I love it so much and it constantly motivates me to get another LC-A Automat.

Maps and so much for getting lost in Illinois!

I bet I don't get lost in Illinois now with the help of these totally awesome maps. They're made by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and best of all they're totally free! Just give them a call and they send them right out! the whole set! Totally sweet!

Ode to the Visual Thesaurus

ride force push button
agitate vex worry headache
interest occupy invade overrun overproduction
make seduce score success
useful utilitarian consider weigh liberate oscillate vacillate waver flicker
move sell exchange replace substitute stand-in
pay make-up reconcile harmonise

Midwestern wonders (Chicago -> Milwaukee)

I took a little 110 mile bike ride to Milwaukee (I got lost for much of it). These photos are the fruits of my map-less folly. What lovely Neon and Architecture there is here in the Midwest. Unfortunately, most of it is miles away from anything worth visiting.

Tour Plan Changes

So, I've decided not to tour Lake Michigan. I've opted instead for an full on 2800 mile tour from Portland, Oregon to Chicago, Illinois. I'm going to stop off in two of the places that I've never been and always wanted to go. Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. I also plan on stopping off in Denver for at least a day to meet up with a good friend. So I have three stops planned. Those will be rest days hopefully three in a month of riding seems like a good number or rest days to me. I haven't a time limit but I plan on leaving the 5th of August and taking anywhere from four to six weeks to complete my tour. I'm a little scared and excited. Unfortunately I will not be touring Door to Door. I must first take a lovely train ride out to Portland. A most enjoyable trip.

LC-A Automat Photography (LOMO)

I took this with a friends LC-A Automat. I need a camera, it's a wonderful camera, I think I'll buy it.

Double Dagger and The Fiery Furnaces!

I love the Hideout. It's absolutely the best place to see an intimate show in Chicago. I love it!

On an up not DOUBLE DAGGER is probably the best show I've seen in years. The energy, passion and strength that their music takes on in a live performance is easily 10 times that of their records. What a performance! They sound like the pure angst of mid-90's post punk that has matured to a fantastic, spastic fury! I Love IT!

I'm a fan of the Furnaces but I have to say that I won't see them live again. Compared to Double Dagger or even records that I've heard they are so lack luster and a bit boring to see live. This is my opinion obviously but they seem to be too hip to put a little energy towards the crowd, which seemed to love them. I did not. I kept hoping that Double Dagger would maybe go back on, but sadly by the fourth song I was bored to tears and went home knowing that I would definitely see the Daggers at every possible chance. So Good.

Dental Emergencies Suck

Ouch. A filling came out of my head! It was put there just five months ago and now it is gone! Evidently the new "Composite" type filling are a bit temperamental in the curing stages. I will be having a less expensive and time honored amalgam put into it's place. What's a little mercury vapor between friends. Depending on cost, this will be causing me to delay my trip even further than I already had. Very disappointing and painful at the same time.

The ATL and back again

Well I wish I could say that I'd ridden the whole way down to Atlanta. I drove, it's not that bad actually. It definitely added a couple of places to the list of touring destinations. One of which is ROCK CITY! It's some sort of bavarian style happy place with gnomes and trolls and such. The ad campaign for it is irresistible really. The price tag of $15.95 is a bit steep for me at the moment so it will have to wait until the next time.

Pretty much all of Tennessee has my vote for most beautiful middle southern state.

Tire Test, Frying Pan Lament and Camera Wishes.

Well it's official. These tires rock. They roll over everything. I mean
everything. I've almost stopped almost stopped avoiding potholes and if
it wasn't for worrying about my mediocre wheels I would stop avoiding
them altogether. I only have 32 spokes though and I don't want them to
break so I take it easy. This photo was taken when I stopped to cook
myself a burrito for lunch. The frying pan I am carrying is crap. I have
started thrifting again to see if I can find a better one. I am
confident that it will be no problem. People throw away the nicest
things. All it all it was pretty sweet. 6 hours to do 51.8 miles
including a couple of one hour breaks to chat with people and check out
the Chicago Botanic Gardens. I don't do plant pictures, they never turn
out well.

In other news, as you can see from the above photo, I am going to need
to take a camera on tour with me instead of just my phone. 2MP is just
not enough to take really awesome photos of anything if you want to be
able to crop at all. If anyone has any suggestions about cameras that
aren't huge and use AA batteries, let me know.

The Cockpit

I want to talk a little bit about the choices that I have made for my cockpit. You will notice that there seems to be a lack of technology, and with the exception of the Knog N.E.R.D. 12 computer that my local bike shop Smart Bike Parts sold me for a song, you would be right. I haven't the patience for things like STi or Caliper brakes. I am much happier with my cantilevers , basic brake levers and bar end friction shifters. What happens if my fancy STi cracks off when my bike falls over under a load? Will a local bike shop in the middle of nowhere have one in stock? will I be able to afford to purchase it? These are problems I would rather not deal with.

So, for me, simpler is better. I can ride and still shift without ever signifigantly changing my riding position AND they wont fail if I happen to shift incorrectly (although other failures can happen, b0rk3n chain and such).

As for the cantilever brakes, they fit any size tire. All the time, period. I'm riding a Salsa Cyles Bell Lap bar which is actually a Cyclo-cross bar. I'm thinking about a euro bar for the big tour but this bar affords a ton of real estate for ones multiple positions.

Where The Rubber Meets The Road.

When I opened the box from Schwalbe North America, I was surprised to see the tires jammed in there in, what seemed to me, a hap-hazard sort of way. The first thing I noticed was that everything was twisted together and folded onto themselves without crimping the bead of the Marathon Plus HS 348 622-37 (700c x 35). These are the fattest tires that I feel will allow me to go down the road smoothly while not giving way under the extra 60lbs of gear that I'm riding with.The second thing I noticed was was the totally bitchin' reflective stripe down the sidewall of the tire. Awesome. Although I hope never to have to rely on them for my only visibility, crazier things have happened.I had heard and was expecting that these tires would be hard to put on. I didn't experience this at all. They were a dream to get on. In fact, after everything I had heard, it felt like they were too easy to put on. I'm sure it's all in my head. So my lady has new shoes (yes my bicycle is a she, but she doesn't have a name yet). These tires are HEAVY. I mean they probably weigh at least a pound each (at least, and I don't have time to check the specs). So in retrospect I think I might have gone with all three Marathon XR which are much MUCH lighter, have a folding bead (as seen above) and some of the most luscious rubber I've ever felt on a tire.

This is all pre test ride, so I will post more on this in the near future. Now I gotta ride.

Where The Rubber Meets The Road...

I just got my box from schwalbe north america today! They gave me a really good deal on a couple of Marathon Plus HS 348 tires. I also picked up a Marathon XR folding bead tire while I was at it so in the event of a blow out (which I have never heard of with Schwalbe tires but its better to be safe than sorry 300 miles from nowhere). I've just put them on and will give them a hard test tomorrow and let you know more.

Belated

So I've been posting all these delicious food photos that I took while in Portland. I don't know where I got it from but it was delicious.

Delicious

File this one under must have when and if you find yourself in Portland, Oregon. First, get a delicious bacon maple bar from Voodoo Donuts and then walk up the street and get a delicious latte at Stumptown Coffee and you have; drum roll please! That's right! The breakfast of champions!

Cooking

I just purchased a pressure cooker of the 1.5 liter variety and have tried it out several times now. Food that comes out of this darling little pot has never tasted so good. Cook pasta in two minutes, cook rice in three! Want some beans? Soak them in a spare bottle for a couple of hours and they cook up in 5 minutes!

Why hadn't anyone told me of this before?!? Thanks Ira and Andrea over at BikeTour2K6. Until then I had never heard of anyone taking one of these puppies anywhere but from the shelf to the kitchen.

As it turns out the one from GSI is quite expensive (for me) and it's made in China anyway (not that it's necessarily a bad thing but does Chinese cuisine require a lot of pressure cooking?) and it's pretty big (around three liters). Perfect for a pair but not so perfect for me. I mean a cup of rice and beans will feed me after the longest of days until I'm bursting with nutritious goodness. So I opted for a much smaller (1.5 liter) and I'm assuming, more efficient (in terms of weight and size, cooking capacity and fuel efficiency). The made in India model A00 from Hawkins. It's a bit awkwardly shaped for stuffing into Pannier but I think I can work it out considering it's not that much larger than my original cookware and replaces both pots. I think I may still take the frying pan for things like bacon, eggs and pancakes (mainly breakfast I guess).

Anyway, I haven't taken it on a ride yet but I can definitely recommend it for your kitchen for one and definitely goes on my desert island gear list for it's quick fuel efficient cooking.

Planning: IL CICLO DI CIRCUITO DEL LAGO MICHGAN

Initially I thought that I would probably be able to do 100 miles a day. Very funny. After two lovely days in the saddle to the Indiana National Lakeshore Dunewood campground and back I have decided that no less than 80km per day and no more than 110km per day is about the maximum with fully loaded bike.

The reason for this is simple. I want to enjoy myself. 110km is a pretty sweet distance (around 70 miles) to go and still be a quite enjoyable ride in any weather, wind, rain, hopefully not hail. These distances keep me mellow and allow me to meander now and again, off the beaten path. I am in now hurry. This is definately not a race.

I hope to complete the tour in 21 days and at 2100km these limits fit nicely in with the idea of having a rest day somewhere way up north in the middle of no where.

The calumet fisheries inc.

Delicious fried smelt and a smoked chub for the road. dinner tonight promises to be quite sustaining. 

Test

This is a test of my mobile posting ability.

Test ride.

To the Indiana Dunes and the Indiana National Lakefront.

Around 50 miles. Just testing my existing gear and readiness level.

Back tomorrow, or the next day.

Planning: IL CICLO DI CIRCUITO DEL LAGO MICHGAN Day One

Day One has been planned and a test ride will be conducted on May 6th. You can view the route here.

SUPPORT IL CICLO DI CIRCUITO DEL LAGO MICHGAN

So, I've decided to go for a little bicycle ride. By little I mean 1200 miles of open road with nothing but myself to rely on. The purpose of the tour is to prove that human power is better than oil power. I need to prove it to myself obviously and in turn that will convince others as well.

I tried to fund the entire tour myself but after falling in love with the Surly Cross Check and blowing my entire bank on it. I'm soliciting sponsors for my ride. The official list of possible sponsors includes:

Teko socks makers of the best socks in the world.
IceBreaker makers of fine wool products.
Ortlieb makers of panniers.
Jandd Mountaineering makers of panniers and other wonderful bags.
Surly makers of amazing bicycles and the infamous Nice Rack. Replied and has offered no assistance.
Agu Makers of all things cycling, including really nice panniers.
Arkel Makers of fine cycling bags and accessories. Replied and has offered a generous 33% savings.
Schwalbe Makers of the fine bicycle tires.
Continental Makers of fine bicycle tires.
SmartWool Makers of fine wool products.
Canari Makers of fine cycling clothing.
Pearl Izumi Makers of fine cycling clothing.
Alex Global Technology Makers of fine bicycle wheels.
Planet Bike Makers of fine bicycle accessories.
Chris King Makers of precision bicycle parts.
Cane Creek Makers of precision bicycle parts.
Shimano Makers of precision bicycle parts
SRAM makers of precision bicyle parts.
Brooks England Makers of fine leather saddles and bags.
Mountain Safety Research Makers of fine backpacking gear.
Primus Makers of fine backpacking cooking gear.
Mountain House Makers of fine backpacking cuisine.
W. L. Gore, Inc. Makers of fine outdoor clothing and textiles.
Recreational Equipment Incorporated An outdoor gear cooperative.
Smart Bike Parts My local bike shop.

Hopefully some of these guys can help me out because WOW, cycling just got more cash intensive. Of course, it's nowhere near what a car would cost.