The best way to start is
to convince yourself you can do it and of course to accept that you are
going to embark on a series of day trips. One rest stop to another, one
day at a time, one state before the next. That’s the essential mind game.
It will all add up to a journey exposing you to staggering
landscapes, the kindness of strangers and abilities you didn’t know you
had. That’s more than bicycling. It is sociability, tradition, nature,
relaxation, smelling, commitment and so on.
Many who bicycle recreationally dream of going the distance. Few do
it, largely because of the time commitment. That’s why cross-country
cyclists usually fall into two categories — those taking time off before
college, and those whose kids have just gone off to college.
Nevertheless, there may be one more category: busy people who really
love bicycle!
