GOOD DECISION     NOT GREAT      JURY OUT I used an old Trek 730 hybrid style bicycle. Installed Panaracer tires with the Kevlar liner.  Added a second Kevlar belt between tube and tire. Added aero bars and bar ends to provide more hand positions. LED headlight and taillight. Big flat pusher peddles. Carried 3 extra intertubes for bicycle and 2 for trailer. Carried a patch kit.  Swap tubes on the road and patch tubes at night. CO2 inflater with 12 cartridges and a hand pump. Carried 4 extra spokes for bicycle. 100 oz Hydration pack 2 32 oz water bottles on frame 70 oz bladder in trailer for long hot runs. Coleman multi fuel camp stove with extra fuel bottle. Cabella XPG two man tent. Sleeping map self inflating. Sleeping bag. Wicking t-shirts and padded shorts. First aid kit.  10 Instant ice packs for my knees. Pack-Lite Dehydrated food for twenty days or so. Water filter and water purification tablets. Solar panel and small deep cycle battery. Nextel Picture Phone and Verizon cell phone. Extra eye glasses. Three bike bags to hang on handlebars and frame. Small 35 mm camera with 6 rolls of film. Journal and Bible NOAA GMRS radio for communication and weather reports multi tool and small adjustable wrench. Clothing. Helmet and Bike Gloves. Fleece blanket Mess Kit with knife, fork and spoon 50 feet of parachute cord 10 light sticks LED flashlight with extra batteries MP3 player and extra SD disk with lots of tunes and extra batteries Sunscreen and Chap stick Heart medication Gore Tex like rain suit Nylon long pants. Wool stocking cap Compass Matches and fire starter kit Maps, road and topographic for Arkansas and Texas GPS Should have brought with but did not Extra spokes for all wheels. Gear puller and wrench to fit it. Extra spokes for all wheels. Extra intertubes for all wheels. Extra tire. Big lesson learned on trip:  You will not go through a town that has a bicycle shop with any of the parts or tools you will need to fix anything on your bike.  What other places call a bike shop only sells 20" kids bikes at best.   You need to bring with you the tools and parts you will need to fix your bike or have them over nighted to you by someone back home.  You need to practice making simple repairs at home while things are calm.  This way when you are on the side of a major road in some muddy ditch with a driving rain you will not be stressed out when you have to change a rear tire intertube. Another lesson:  Wider tires are happier on gravel than skinny high pressure tires.  I adjusted the pressure on my tires fairly often.  I would lower the pressure on rougher roads and crank it up a little when things got smooth.  I think it helped me soften the rough ride and make better time on the smooth roads. Another lesson:  County roads turn into gravel roads without much notice. Another lesson:  Take 5 minutes every half hour and get off the seat. Another lesson:  Every hour get off the bike for 5 minutes to give your back and hands a rest. Another lesson:  Change into a lower gear before getting too far into the hill.  Coast down hills standing. Another lesson:  Always wear a helmet and padded gloves. Another lesson:  Carry at least three chap sticks. Another lesson:  Cheap motels have outside ice machines.  Refill your water often.  Ice is nice. Another lesson:  Don't take directions from anyone on foot or in a car. Another lesson:  Drink water all the time, take a drink every ten minutes at least. Another lesson:  Take time to play with seat height and angle early on to get it right. Another lesson:  Practice starting up a fully loaded bike especially on hills before you go. Another lesson:  Subway has great deals on sandwiches after 4pm.  Get one without mayo for next day. Another lesson:  You can get small packs of condiments in many places that don't need to be chilled. Another lesson:  Stop and talk to people along the way. Another lesson:  Police and Fire Fighters are very helpful ask them for help and say thank you. Another lesson:  You will start looking down more when you are tired.  Stop and rest then. Another lesson:  Walk bike over bridges.  The guard rails are only about 24" high.  You will tumble over if you hit them.  This happened to me and I almost fell 40 feet onto rail road tracks.  Your center of gravity is way over the top of most guard rails.  Watch for this next time you see one. Another lesson:  The nice wide shoulders along many roads end abruptly when you arrive in a town and when you get to an underpass.  You will find yourself thrown into traffic with little notice. Another lesson:  Cross railroad tracks at right angles. Another lesson:  Anything you fill with air will leak.  Air mattresses are king of leaks.   Another lesson:  Start early and end early.  Enjoy a relaxed evening. Another lesson:  Let people back home know where you are and where you are going. Another lesson:  If you even think you might have to go to the bathroom stop as soon as you can. Another lesson:  Check your tire pressure often. Another lesson:  Keep a journal.  It's fun to go back and re-live the day in your own words. More to come.