Never before have I done a shakedown ride in preparation for a bicycle tour.  I never thought I needed one.  That's because my bike always worked nicely on my day rides, therefore, naturally, I was pretty sure it would continue to do so on my tours.  

Also, I never needed any extra practice riding with a loaded bike because, for more than two decades now, I've been carrying loads of meat, fruits, vegetables, canned foods, milk, beer, etc. in my panniers at least a couple times per week.

Another also, thanks to my year-round cycling and cross-training--activities like shooting hoops, snow shoveling, dog walking, high speed lawn mowing, and constantly running up and down the stairs from the Greg Room to the kitchen and back--I generally believed I was in decent enough physical shape to conduct a bike tour.

One more also, I always know what gear to bring.  It's mostly the same old gear I carry on every tour, which is also the same old gear I used to bring on backpacking trips for so many years.  Almost everything I need for a tour, which isn't much, is packed away in a big box.

In other words, I've got it all down pat.  Tour preparation has always been easy for a dude like me who has never ventured on his bike beyond North America, and I have the same cocky self-assuredness for this trip.  Ergo, the next couple pages aren't REALLY about a shakedown ride.  I prefer to call it "A Fun Overnight Bike Ride That Just Happens to Precede an Upcoming Bike Tour." 

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Two days ago, I saw some nice weather ahead.  I said to myself, "maybe I should take advantage of the unusual 70-degree temperatures and go for an overnight bike ride.  The next day, yesterday, I said to Son of Bing Bong (my bike), "let's do this."  Then I went to the highest authority and presented my plan to The Feeshko.  She approved.  In fact, she approved so quickly that I suspect she was looking forward to getting rid of me for 24 hours or so.  Less than an hour after she approved, I turned my left ankle and fell to the floor while running down the stairs from the kitchen to the Greg Room.

My ankle had pain all night, but it felt better this morning.  There was far less swelling and bruising than I expected.  I walked with a little trouble, but rode my bike with no trouble at all.  As far as I'm concerned, the overnight trip is still on.  It begins tomorrow. 

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Bill ShaneyfeltMine that I got in college and took 10 or more years to heal completely looked similar, but a little less to the side.

I hate when that happens!
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8 months ago

Rachael AndersonSorry you twisted your ankle!
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8 months ago

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Steve Miller/GrampiesLooks like a good idea.
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8 months ago

Susan CarpenterLooks just like the brace that took me thru Puglia a couple of years ago. Should work well
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8 months ago

Gregory GarceauTo Susan CarpenterI'm back from my overnight trip now and it DID work well. Ive been following your doctor's advice and wear the brace day and night. Even in bed.
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8 months ago

Susan CarpenterTo Gregory GarceauGreat news! As you experienced, it was especially helpful when getting off the bike on unstable ground
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8 months ago

Rachael AndersonThat sure wouldn’t work with clipless pedals!
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8 months ago

Gregory GarceauTo Rachael AndersonI quit wearing clipless shoes for touring a few years ago, but the brace would still work. It's not the kind of brace that clamps around the bottom of your shoe. It goes around the bottom of your foot, so you can slip into any shoe as long as the shoe is wide enough. Keep that in mind if you ever sprain your ankle . . . which I hope never happens.
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8 months ago

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Other than my Bluetooth speaker and my beloved smart phone, I won't be carrying electronics on my overnight trip.  I won't be posting a live action journal.   For me, that means less encumbered riding.  For you, that means the unbearable suspense of waiting a couple of days to read about what happened.