Christian Ayoob
TRANSAMERICA
PRE-RIDE
So, after the extraordinary time in California at Blackburn Ranger camp, I learned that riding to the bar 20 miles is not nearly enough to train with. I returned back home to Georgia after meeting and biking with many new friends who all helped to make this tour happen. My particular route is called the TransAmerica Trail and it extends 4,300 miles across the United States. I have been biking non-stop since I have been back home and training for this epic adventure.
In the few days before I began riding in the car to Oregon, I would bike around Athens, GA all day in the humid and dense air sweating uncontrollably and trying to stay hydrated. I worked out all the kinks on my beautiful new Niner RLT bike. Pre-rides are so important to smooth out and finalize your gear. I have always lived by, “Take care of your gear, and your gear will take care of you.”
The night before I left for the ten day road trip out to the trailhead, I laid out all my gear and diligently reviewed my list to make sure I had everything: all the way down to the toilet paper. Once I was comfortable with what I packed, I loaded it up on the rack, crawled into bed, and closed my eyes, trying to enjoy every second of my bed before I left.
Woke up refreshed the next day, waited for my Adventure Cycling Association map set to be delivered, and hit the road. Over ten days in the car with my incredible parents to see me off in Astoria, OR. We plan to see multiple National Parks on the way and make an adventure out of the long drive. We are hitting hotspots such as; Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce National Park, Petrified Forest National Park, Crater Lake National Park, and Capitol Reef National Park. I will be riding my bike through as many of these parks as I can and documenting the whole thing.
Grand departure date from Astoria, OR is set for May 17. Stay tuned for the stories and adventures I find along the TransAmerica Trail!
In the few days before I began riding in the car to Oregon, I would bike around Athens, GA all day in the humid and dense air sweating uncontrollably and trying to stay hydrated. I worked out all the kinks on my beautiful new Niner RLT bike. Pre-rides are so important to smooth out and finalize your gear. I have always lived by, “Take care of your gear, and your gear will take care of you.”
The night before I left for the ten day road trip out to the trailhead, I laid out all my gear and diligently reviewed my list to make sure I had everything: all the way down to the toilet paper. Once I was comfortable with what I packed, I loaded it up on the rack, crawled into bed, and closed my eyes, trying to enjoy every second of my bed before I left.
Woke up refreshed the next day, waited for my Adventure Cycling Association map set to be delivered, and hit the road. Over ten days in the car with my incredible parents to see me off in Astoria, OR. We plan to see multiple National Parks on the way and make an adventure out of the long drive. We are hitting hotspots such as; Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce National Park, Petrified Forest National Park, Crater Lake National Park, and Capitol Reef National Park. I will be riding my bike through as many of these parks as I can and documenting the whole thing.
Grand departure date from Astoria, OR is set for May 17. Stay tuned for the stories and adventures I find along the TransAmerica Trail!
- PRE-RIDE PHOTOS -
Christian Ayoob
Gear List
- My Ride -
- My Favorite Blackburn Gear -
- BIKE -
- • Niner RLT
- • SRAM Components
- • 11 Speed
- • Brooks Colt Saddle
- • Wilderness Trail Bike Cross Boss Tires
- • SPD Pedals
- BAGS: -
- • Blackburn Outpost Top Tube Bag
- • Blackburn Barrier Handlebar Bag
- • Blackburn Rear World Touring Rack
- • 2 Blackburn Rear Barrier Panniers
- • Blackburn Outpost Cargo Cage
- • Osprey Manta 28
- BIKE ACCESSORIES -
- • 2 Contour Action Camera Mounts
- • Cat eye Computer
- • 2 Blackburn 2'fer Lights
- • Blackburn Central 700 Front Light
- • Blackburn Central 100 Front Light
- • Lifeproof IPhone Mount
- •
- CAMPING -
- • Big Agnes Flycreek UL1 Platinum
- • Big Agnes Mystic 15degree Sleeping Bag
- • Big Agnes QCore Sleeping Pad
- • Cocoon Pillow
- • Jetboil Flash
- • Sea to Summit Titanium Spork
- • Ziggy V Coffee Drip
- • Sea to Summit Cup
- • Black Diamond Storm Headlamp
- • Write in the Rain Journal
- • Sea to Summit Microfiber Towel
- • Camp Creek Hex 2 Chair
- • Adventure Cycling Association Map Set
- TOILETRIES -
- • Toothbrush
- • Toothpaste
- • General Medication
- • Epipen
- • Beard Comb
- • Toilet Paper
- ELECTRONICS -
- • 2 Contour Action Cameras
- • Olympus Tough Camera
- • 4 USB Charging Hub
- • iPod Shuffle
- • Ironman Earbuds
- • ECTech Keyboard
- • IPad Mini with Lifeproof Nuud
- • Extra Batteries, Memory Cards
- • Charging Cables
- • GoVolt Solar Charger
- • GoVolt Fuel Core External Battery
- • Baum Electronics Wrap
- • SPOT Gps Messenger
- TOOLS -
- • Osprey Tool Wrap
- • Blackburn Wayside Multi-tool
- • Blackburn Outpost Minipump
- • Blackburn Outpost CO2 Pump
- • Spoke Wrench
- • Chain Lube
- • Spare Chain Link
- • Patches
- • Tube
- • Leatherman Skeletool
- • Gloves
- • Hose Clamps
- • Electrical Tape
- CLOTHS -
- • Kitsbow AM Shorts
- • Kitsbow Gloves
- • Kitsbow Socks
- • Kitsbow AM Jersey
- • Kitsbow AM Short Sleeve Jersey
- • Kitsbow Tech Jacket
- • Kitsbow Tech Pants
- • Darn Tough Socks
- • LLBean Down Jacket
- • Giro SPD Shoes
- • Mavic Shorts
- • Bell Helmet
- • Tifosi Sunglasses
- • Swiss Precimax Watch
- • Big Agnes Trucker Hat
- • Vivobarefoot Camp Shoe
Christian Ayoob
- FROM: Watkinsville, Georgia
- DOB: 2016-01-01
- N/A
- OCCUPATION: General Contractor
- What was the genesis moment or inspiration for your upcoming adventure? The feeling of adventure and seeing new places. On a bike, time seems to move much slower and I would love to feel that again.
- Have you traveled by bike in the past? I have completed the Great Divide Mountain Bike route from Banff, Canada to Antelope Wells, New Mexico.
- What is your goal for the route? My goal is to diverge from the route off the beaten trail and go find adventure! I would like to be able to gather stories about my adventure in order to motivate others to get out there!
- What do you hope to get out of this journey? By the end of this journey, I hope to have collected stories, meet as many people as possible, and all around have fun. Along with doing this, I would love to have a very detailed journal and blog for others to follow and get inspired.