Lake Michigan Circle Tour - Behind the Scenes

This post is the first of what will be a compilation of details on my Lake Michigan Circle Tour.  I wrote this mainly for myself so that I could remember everything even when I'm a senile old man of 102.  But in case anyone is interested in some of the finer details and happenings of my trip you might enjoy reading about it.  I'll call it a "Behind the Scenes" look at how it all came together and how it almost didn't happen at all.  What it REALLY felt like... the good, bad, and ugly of the 10 days I spent on the road. 

Not all of it is interesting but its from the heart and its how I felt or was feeling at the time.  It's funny that as time passes the memory seems to forget the hard parts and only focus on the overall accomplishment.  So sit back and relax and enjoy the trip.

Preparation / Planning

I first got the idea to ride the Lake Michigan Circle Tour back in 2010 when riding my normal training routes along the Chicago lakefront and north on Sheridan Rd.  My commute to work takes me along Highway 41 which is Lake Shore Drive and on the weekends I typically will go north along Sheridan Road which runs north all the way to Wisconsin.  During these rides I would see the green highway signs for the Lake Michigan Circle tour.  I did a bit of research online and saw that this was a pre mapped route that went not just through Illinois but Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana circumventing the entire perimeter of the lake.  I started thinking about how long it would take and if it would be possible to do it on a bike.

I started by mapping exactly how many miles it was around the lake.  I assumed a travel distance of about 100 miles per day and from my door went north to Milwaukee which was about 100 miles.  I continued around stopping at the nearest town to the 100 mile daily limit and determined that the entire route was just about 950 miles.  Doing the math I figured I would need a minimum of 10 days to complete the trip.  This minor bit of planning was all the further I would take it until the summer of 2012.  The idea was always stuck in my head but it seemed like such a daunting task that it was really no more than a dream at this time.

At the beginning of the racing season in 2012 I was working with a guy and got to talking about doing this epic ride later in the year.   Once he was on board my planning really took off.  I did a thorough and detailed mapping of the route and determined the exact towns where I would stay at the end of each day.  This took quite a bit of time because I was following routes that would avoid major highways but also follow scenic trails and also the contours of the lake.  As I got closer and closer to an actual route the miles crept up closer to 1,000. 

As the route got more developed I started seeing that the daily mileage would exceed 100 on some days while others would be quite shy of 100.  To minimize my stays in hotels I tried to stay with friends and family as much as I could.  My wife’s Aunt and Uncle live in Harbor Springs Michigan while my Aunt lives in Traverse City Michigan.  I also have a distant cousin who lives in Holland Michigan.  Knowing that I had places to stay in these towns I made sure to make those towns finishing points on the route.  Finally I completed the route that would take me around the lake in 10 days.  It would start with a short 90 mile day to Milwaukee followed by three back to back 120 mile days to get to Harbor Springs, Michigan.  From there there would be two short days before kicking up to 100 mile days to take me home.  The final planned route was 975 miles.

The 10 day time frame was really a matter of convenience and a result of remaining vacation time off work.  My planned duration allowed to me to take five days of work, using both before and after weekends, as well as the Labor Day holiday, thus giving me ten total days.  The downside to this plan was that there were no extra days built in for breakdowns, injury or any other problem that might come up.  Having no extra time for delay would mean that I would rely quite a bit on luck to make it around and in the days leading up the trip this became one of my major worries.

In early 2012 just as my plans were really taking off I suffered a major setback.  My friend Dan who was planning on doing the trip with me left the company to go work out West.  This meant if I was still going to do the trip I’d be doing it solo.  Then in July, I suffered a really bad injury while on vacation in Colorado mountain biking.  I shattered my collarbone in 5 places and cracked some ribs which required surgery.  I was out of work and off the bike the entire month of July.  Although, I was able to ride indoors on the trainer my racing season ended and so did the dreams about doing the Lake Michigan Circle Tour. 

Towards the end of July, after I had started to heal up a bit I began to think about the rest of the year.  I had already put in for the vacation time at work and aside from my partner being gone there was no reason to NOT do the ride… that was, unless I was not cleared by my doctor to ride.  I had to wait and be patient during my recovery and decided that I wouldn’t go against his recommendation if he said I could not ride.  But I also started to think that if he cleared me to ride I would have about a month to get ready and do it.  The next few weeks leading up to my final doctor’s appointment were filled with anticipation.  If the x-ray showed that I was healed enough and the doctor cleared me to ride the ride was on!

On August 6 I went back to the doctor for my follow up appointment.  He took an x-ray and as he sat there examining it I was holding my breath.  He turned around and said everything looked good and gave me the green light to ride outside again and do the trip if I was up for it.  I had to ask him again just be sure I heard him correctly and he confirmed that yes I was all healed.  I decided right then and there that I was going to go for it. The trip was on.  I remember leaving the hospital with this amazing euphoric feeling of excitement and anticipation.  The time was right and everything had come together in just the right way making it seem like it was meant to be. 

Planning the Route

After the doctor gave me the go ahead I only had three weeks to get everything finalized.  My first task was to finish the details of the route.  I had already decided on the towns but now I had to get down to the actual turn by turn directions that would take to get me from A to B each day.  I ordered road maps but they weren’t detailed enough to show all the county highways and side streets that I would be taking.  I found the best way to survey potential routes was to use the Street Views on Google Maps.  I could zoom in on a specific road and see if it was busy or if it had a wide shoulder and then decide whether or not I wanted to take that road.  Over the next two weeks I spent hours poring over “The Google” mapping out every road, turn by turn, for each day. 

Street View of Highway 2 in the UP

After mapping out only the first few days I realized that the Upper Peninsula of Michigan was pretty sparse.  Not only are there very few roads up there but there are also very few towns.  This created a problem because I had to have a hotel and a restaurant every night.  To find suitable accommodations over the first four days the route turned out to be one 95 mile day then three back to back 120 mile days.  I was concerned this would be too much but I really didn’t have much choice.  After I got out of the Upper Peninsula I could go back to a more regular 100 mile a day route.   With some slight modifications I soon had a turn by turn map of each day that could be easily stored and modified along the way.  The next question was how to take each day’s route with me.

Map of all my final courses plotted in Garmin Connect (I had alternate routs for some days)

I decided to try out the map function on my Garmin 705 bike computer.  The computer has a built in GPS mapping system but I had never used it on such a scale before.  I started by testing a map that I had created online on the Garmin website.  I downloaded the map to my bike computer and the route showed up as a pink line that I could follow.  I did a few test runs over the next few days on my way to work and decided that it would work very well for guiding me to where I needed to go.  I was still nervous using something that was still relatively new to me but I felt confident that it would work.  I transferred all my routes onto the Garmin website and then downloaded them to my GPS Device.  By the time I was done I had 10 portable Garmin Files that I could bring up on my bike computer each day and follow from door to door.  Technology is a beautiful thing!

World Bicycle Relief

From the moment I decided to do the ride I knew that I wanted to include a fundraising effort as part of the planning.  Even though it was going to be a little extra work I knew that I could use the ride to raise awareness and money for a worthy cause.  The World Bicycle Relief is an organization that I have always supported and it seemed logical that I use this ride to donate bikes directly to those in need of one.  The World Bicycle Relief is an organization that buys bikes and sends them to African country’s where populations don’t have access to easy forms of transportation.  In Africa everything is really spread out, and for children, walking 10+ miles to get to school is not possible.  The bikes allow people greater access to jobs, schools, and healthcare opening up a whole new world for them.  It was so awesome to think that with each mile I pedaled I would be helping to put a Bike in someone else’s hands. 

My hesitation was that I wouldn’t make it and that I would be embarrassed and ashamed if I couldn’t make it around.  If I went ahead with the fundraising effort I would have to make a webpage and tell everyone what I was doing.  It was scary because I had no experience with anything like this before and I didn’t want to come up short and let everyone down. I agonized for a few days trying to decide what to do.

Finally, as the days ticked away I decided, that even if I failed the money would still go to a great cause and I was not about to let my insecurities rob someone of an opportunity for a better life.  I set up a webpage and emailed my friends and coworkers.  Immediately donations started pouring in and in less than a week I had reached my goal and then some.  My original thought was to donate 10 bikes, one for each day of my trip.  But when I set up the site I made my goal 5 because I didn’t think there would be that much interest.  In less than a week I’d hit 5 bikes and by two weeks I was over 10 bikes.  The generosity of people was astounding and humbling to say the least.  Instantly the ride took on a whole new meaning and I was even more excited to support this charity and bring awareness to the WBR cause.

http://action.worldbicyclerelief.org/page/outreach/view/individual/BosmanLMCT

In the end I was able to raise over $1800 for the World Bicycle Relief and throughout the ride people came up to me and offered checks, cash, and even went on the website and donated.  It was as if everyone I met wanted to help, whether it be financial or just friendly encouragement.  It made me feel so

The Final Pieces

Bike Selection

The first major choice I had to make was selecting what bike to take.  I had two choices, my light carbon Specialized Tarmac, and my heavy steel framed Surly Crosscheck.  They each had advantages and disadvantages.  My race bike was fast, light, and I was very comfortable with the fit.  Since this had been my primary bike all year I was fairly sure I wouldn’t have any unforeseen knee, back, or other joint problems.  

2005 Specialized Tarmac (Road Bike)

The downside was that it was not very comfortable on long rides.  Bikes transmit road vibrations and flex differently depending on their materials.  Steel, carbon, titanium, aluminum all ride very differently and have differing levels of comfort and stiffness on long rides.  A long day on the carbon road bike is very tough on the body.  Conversely the steel absorbs road vibrations very well and makes the ride much more comfortable.  But that bike is heavy and slow.  I was also concerned about the added weight of the pack I would be carrying.  The surly could certainly handle this extra weight better.   The deciding factor was the next weekend when I did a short ride downtown on the Surly. I felt like I was riding with lead weights on my feet… and that was with a good strong tailwind.  I decided right then to go with the road bike.


Surly Crosscheck

Choosing the right bag and rack to hold my gear was going to almost as critical as choosing the right bike.  It wouldn’t make sense to ride a light, fast frame with a big heavy rack.  So, I planned my rack and bag for either scenario.  I had a rack for my steel framed Surley but it was heavy, and with an already heavy frame it was not the ideal choice.  I did lots of research and found a company called Arkel out of Canada that made a rack and trunk bag combo suited for road bikes with no rear braze-ons.  Called the Randonneur Seat Post Rack, instead of clamping to the frame it clamped to the seat rails making it very sturdy.  It was also very light weight and the bag itself called the Trail Rider Trunk Bag, had a built in rain cover which I liked.  It held a total of 944 cubic inches.  This was all the room I was going to have for ten days.  The minute I got the rack in the mail I knew that was what I wanted to use.  It fastened securely to the saddle rails and seat post and the bag used a series of Velcro straps to sit nicely on top.  It was perfect.  The only small nagging detail was it was EXTREEMLY small.  There wouldn’t be an extra inch to spare.

Nutrition Planning

The minute I started packing stuff into the 944 cubic inch bag I knew there was no way everything was going to fit.  Taking a page out of my dad’s Appalachian Trail playbook I decided to mail supplies ahead to my various hotels and stops so that I would only have to carry a maximum of 2 days of nutrition.  I broke each day down by hour and figured out at an average of 18 mph (which was my assumed pace) how long each day would take.  

 The first four days would be the longest by miles but as it turned out not the longest by time on the bike.  I also used historical data to determine how many calories I would burn each day on the bike.  The human body can only process a certain amount of calories per hour, and very quickly it became evident that I would not take in as many calories as I was burning on the bike each day.  Using a rough calculation I would only be able to take in a maximum of 2,000 calorie per day on the bike.  The rest would have to be made up off the bike at breakfast and dinner.  For the “on bike” nutrition I planned for 5 energy goos, two power bars, (which I later upgraded to 3) 2 cliff bars, (which I later sent home because I couldn’t stomach them) and a big breakfast bar that had 380 calories which would be a mid-day snack.  I also packed some Shot Blocks which I really like as kind of a treat or snack in the afternoon.  The nutrition planning and what actually happened turned out to be very different.

What I found while riding was all the energy bars melted in about 5 minutes so the minute I would open one I’d have melted chocolate all over the place.  The goo’s also turned to liquid in the sun so I essentially had sticky hands, handlebars, and face all day.  The big 400 calorie bars were too much to eat in one sitting and I had to practically force them down.  Almost all the nutrition I brought was horrible yet a necessary regiment that I HAD to follow to keep going.  I never stopped for a meal during the day, and instead choose to start each day with a big, and I mean BIG, breakfast and finish the day with an even bigger dinner.  I found that the before and after meals were just as important as the “on bike” nutrition.  I didn’t realize that the nutrition plan would be a 24 hour process including before, during, and after each days ride.

Supplimental "On Bike" Nutrition in Wisconsin

I put together packages of each day’s nutrition and sent them out to three separate points along the way.  Each was no more than two days from the next so the most I was every carrying was two days.  This helped to minimize the size of nutrition I would be carrying.  During the ride I found this plan worked out extremely well and offered plenty of room for other items that would prove to be just as valuable.  Like spare tubes… more to follow on that.

Just as critically important as nutrition was hydration.  Since I would be riding in the heat of late summer, cramping and dehydration were real concerns.  I have always had bad problems on long rides with cramping so on this long journey I was doubly concerned.  My cousin Tod Fenner who is an avid mountain biker in Colorado gave me one of the most critical pieces of advice when he suggested I bring a Camelbak.  Up until now I had never used a camelback other than occasional day hikes, but it turned out to be the most critical piece of gear I brought.  The Camelbak held 1.8L and I purchased two additional water bottles that each held 32 oz. so each water fill-up gave me almost 4 Liters of water.  This was perfect for about half a day and worked out perfect to stop once at about halfway each day and eat a bar and fill-up on water.

Fully Loaded Bike Ready to Go

At each fill-up I dropped a few electrolyte tablets into the bottles to replenish sodium and maintain electrolytes in the body.  However, I knew from previous hot weather rides that it wouldn’t be enough.  I supplemented with sodium / potassium tablets about every hour or 30 minutes depending on the heat and how I felt.  The electrolyte balance is the body is different for every person and since there are so many factors that can affect it it’s really hard to nail down an exact formula.  Every time I felt a twitch in my legs indicating the start of cramps I’d take a salt tab and it would go away.  With the Camelbak, bottles, and salt tabs I was able to keep hydrated and replenished with electrolytes continuously throughout the day.  At night I would fill the bottles again and keep hydrating throughout the evening to make sure I was never completely dehydrated.

Not my actual Camalbak but mine is very simialr to this one

Final Gear Selection

With weight being an ever constant concern I put together the final pieces of gear that would be essential to my trip.  Since I was using electronics for all my mapping I needed chargers for my phone, bike computer, and mp3 player.  I also wanted to bring an actual hard copy map in case I got stranded with no batteries or electronics.  I ordered state maps from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan and trimmed all the edges off so as only to carry the areas of my route.  This map trimming idea was also originally taken from my dad’s Appalachian Trail hiking.  The last few pieces of gear were a rear view mirror which clipped to my sunglasses and a reflective vest.  Both were very crucial pieces of gear as far as safety was concerned.  I got so used to looking in the mirror it felt weird not having one on after I got back.  It also gave me an added feeling of safety knowing I was much more visible to cars and could see behind me when traffic was heavy.

Me with my vest and rear view mirror

Other miscellaneous items I carried were laundry detergent to wash clothes each night, a bottle of pepper spray which the wife wanted me to carry as added protection, paper and pen for journaling, ibuprofen, sunscreen, chamois cream, bike lock, emergency medical kit, and some bag balm ointment in case I had any rash or saddle issues.  I also brought a pair of "shants" pants that have zipper legs that turn into shorts.  I brought a tshirt, rain jacket, and spare socks which I could wash every day.  To top it off I strapped a pair of sandals on the outside of the pack for getting around off the bike at the end of each day.

Bag after first day.  Only carried the book the first day.

The final pieces of gear were bike maintenance tools.  Although I never planned on having flats or mechanical issues I wanted to be prepared for the worst.  I brought a multi-tool, 2 spare tubes, a patch kit, tire levers, lube, zip ties, and wrapped some duct tape around the rack just in case I needed to throw a hail marry.  As it turned out I would need all these emergency supplies and more.

Go Time

The week before my trip I was very nervous and excited to get going.  I had decided on the bike, the rack, nutrition, route and everything I needed was ready.  But in the back of my mind I had doubts as to whether or not I could actually do it.  I never told anyone except for Weston my friend at work but deep down I wondered if I could really do it.  I kept thinking “ten centuries in a row” can I do it?  I was more concerned about the short time frame than my fitness.  My belief was that I would have knee pain, back pain, or some other injury that would keep me from finishing or force me to take a few rest days.  I actually didn’t make my hotel reservations for the last day until the week before I left because I never thought I would get there.  I don’t know why but it just seemed like such a daunting task that I never could imagine myself riding to New Buffalo, Michigan.  I thought I would make it to Mackinac or a little further but could not picture going further.  Maybe it was this mental block that made getting there (and further) such an incredible feeling.

With some doubt and a lot of excitement to get this show on the road all of a sudden it was Thursday night and I was finally packing my gear for day 1.