Thanks for checking out my blog! I am Stephanie and I am psyched to share my experience with you as I embark on a cross country tour by bike with my partner, Austin! We will be heading westward from Yorktown, Virginia to Astoria, Oregon on the TransAmerica Trail – AKA the holy grail of American bike tours… or something.

Austin and I have been dating and living in Denver just short of two years and we love every minute of this Colorado lifestyle. I am originally from Miami, where I picked up cycling after purchasing Felipe, my beloved fixie. Biking/cycling is mostly non-existent in South Florida, except among the hipsters and those living by the beach. So I’ve really appreciated the chance to get around the city on my bike here in Denver. Last May, I finally got a hold of Sinister! She’s a Surly Cross-Check, and I’m getting her ready for this 4000+ mile tour. Contrarily, Austin’s been exclusively commuting by bike for most of about seven years–ranging from single speed, fixed, hybrid/commuter, to his hefty touring bike that we still have not named. 😦 He’ll be touring on his Surly Long Haul Trucker, which is a tank, and he’s been making progress on it for the last two years.

We will be going on a self-contained tour, meaning we will be fixing our own dinners, camping, and carrying our home with us for approximately 3 months. We are so excited to be going on this journey together; pedaling through different terrains, meeting other people, sharing the trail with other cyclists, exploring the country, and being outdoors and mostly unplugged for the summer–with the exception of this blog. We hope to document the different stages of our trip, from the preparation to the trek itself. We’ll be posting photos, stories and reflections along the way and we hope you all enjoy it. If we could inspire a single person to get out on a bike or do a tour of their own, this blog would have served its purpose. Wish us luck, it’s going to be one hell of a ride!

Stephanie & Austin

*Please feel free to leave comments and ask questions if you’re curious about anything bike or tour related. We aren’t experts by any means but we are happy to share our knowledge and experiences, and also want to encourage others to start riding! Use our contact links on the main menu to connect with us.