Wednesday, May 25, 2011

New video and sponsor!

I have a new wheel sponsor! They are making me some very strong 40 spoke wheels! In case you do not know of them, they are out of Australia. I love their mission:


Mission Statement

Velocity is committed to providing the finest bicycle rims, wheels, water bottle cages and accessories. We strive to achieve this by providing superior service, competitive pricing and premium quality products to independent bicycle dealerships, mail order houses, wholesale distributors and original equipment manufacturers of wheels and bicycles.

And here is my first promotional video...they will get better. One of the fun things about doing this expedition is figuring out how to make all the social media work.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Expedition update 5/ 24/ 11

Washington and Rochambeau
W3R Expedition Update 5/24/11

The Cycling W3R Expedition is going well. Still over one month away, time slips by too fast and I feel the urgency of my To Do list!:)

If you would like to help feel free to email me or go to the Support page to find out what is still needed. bill@poindexterrecruiting.com

Tent: still needing a tent-someone asked me what kind-this would be ideal: http://www.adventurecycling.org/store/index.cfm/product/430_67/msr-hubba-hubba-2-person-tent.cfm

Why should you help?

That is a good and legitimate question!
In my own way, I am trying to make the world a better, healthier, and safer place.

1. I am going to map out, in partnership with the National Park Service, a safe
Bike Route
for future users of the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route (W3R). This National Historic Trail is primarily set up for people to drive on, but only small sections are set up for cycling. No one has ever biked the entire trail or mapped out a safe route-this expedition will be the first!

2. The past meeting the present! This expedtion will increase awareness of the sacrifices made for us by the soldiers and civilians in 1781 to have the liberty and freedom we so enjoy today, but sometimes take for granted.

3. The benefits of bicycling for travel and transportation; healthy bodies and minds, cleaner environment, and stronger community.

So take your pick, or maybe you are interested in my own personal story and just want to help a person who is following his passions and dreams on a adventure.

Do not forget I will be blogging while on the expedition- I will be updating the Facebook page a few times a day, and will download video.

As this is a grassroots expedition-it needs the support of the community-you! :)

Thanks to those who have volunteered time, donated gear, sponsored, donated money, and who promote this to others.

New donations:
Thanks to these new donaters!

Debbie Simpson of Mission Hills, KS
Debbie generously donated funds! Debbie is one of my good Starbucks friends!

Dana Niles of Merion Station, PA
Dana donated funds, a possible place to stay- she lives in Philadelphia, and a Starbucks Card!

Dana too came up with a creative way and a challenge to people who want to donate but are unsure how much to give, here are her thoughts:

"Hey Bill, In support of your ride I am going to donate the amount of money it takes to fill up my gas tank. In addition, I promise to limit the use of my car, increase use of the train, my bike, and my feet, and to support (ahem; enforce) the same of my kids. I encourage everyone to do the same!"

Thanks to Mark Rainey for printing off some flyers for me!

Public Relations:

Adventure Cyclings  June 1st email newsletter Bike Bits will have a small piece regarding the Expedition. And on June 2nd, a local NBC news station will be interviewing me. There are more things in the works.

I am so excited, and a little nervous too J Adventures like this make life interesting, getting out of your comfort zone and doing something that scares you. Trimming the fat off the soul...so to speak;)

Peace, Bill


Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Expedition Update 5/18

I love this! Many people are reaching out to me, offering me help for the trip. I appreciate everyone’s kindness. I am amazed by social media and how it is connecting me to people.

Still passing around the helmet for donations. :) Thanks so much to Claudia Gibson from Lebanon, NH for her generous donation.

Sorry to be asking for help on this, but this Expedition cost money. Remember the money goes toward expenses: travel, food, emergency, insurance, equipment, and media gear. Please, as this is grassroots anything will help $20, $50, $100 or what you are comfortable with donating. We still need over $6000 to fully fund it? Anyone a millionaire? I will place your name on the support page, talk to you while on the Expedition via email or phone, and acknowledge you in the book.

This is a group effort, although I am the one physically biking the W3R, everyone who contributes is part of the team.

Claudia also said something to me in a follow up email that helped me refocus on why I am doing this expedition.

"I like the kind of exploration you plan to do -- making a path (and not thru the wilderness) but from a point of view -- of a cyclist, walker, person of a previous century. Like Anne Mustoe." '

Claudia paid me a huge compliment by comparing this style of trip to the travel author, Anne Mustoe.

This ride is a big deal. Following the footsteps of those people who 230 years ago helped insure the freedom and liberty we so enjoy in America, but routinely take for granted.

I am excited that I am bringing together: historians, cyclists, National Park Service, artists, alternative transportation advocates, non cyclists, kids, reenactors, Adventure Cycling Association, and hopefully...you!

Please share this site with all the people you know!

Peace,

Bill

Monday, May 16, 2011

Update and description of my Bike Overnight with tigers and lions!

Quick update. All is good. I have been contacted by the local NBC news station regarding the expedition-so that will be good press. Here are some details about my solo S24O (sub 24hour overnight) this weekend. In preparation of the expedition, every weekend I will do a bike overnight where I ride solo or with friends to some cool location and camp overnight.
My overnight ride this weekend was to Cedar Cove Feline Conservatory in Louisburg, Kansas. I know the director, BJ, and she graciously let me camp on the property.

This place is incredible, if you have not been there, you need to go! It is a sanctuary for big cats, wolves, and other assorted exotic animals who have been abandoned, abused, and unwanted by Zoos and cannot be released into the wild because they are too domesticated by humans.

The staff there gives alot of love to these animals and I have alot of respect for them. My ride there was mostly blacktop, when I got to 215th and Misson is switch to gravel until I reached Highway 68. I took a left and rolled to Cedar Cove. My friend BJ was giving a tour so I got to wonder around and chat with all the animals: 6 tigers, 2 african lions, a leopard, a lynx, 3mtn lions, 3 wolves, bob cats, and some other assorted animals.

BJ showed me where I could camp and I was happy to see there was a fire ring there as the temp was in the low 50s, overcast skies, and a 20 mph wind from the NW. 

Once I set up camp I went exploring around Louisburg area. When I got back one of tigers was roaring and I felt like I was in some far away exotic land, not Kansas.

The founder of the conservatory came down, mowed the grass for me, and stopped by for a chat. We talked about life and his Big Cats. He even brought me a plate of food. Talk about hospitality!


From the Cedar Cove website
http://www.saveoursiberians.org/
go visit them!
 As dusk drew into night the roars subsided, and the sounds of the area came alive as did my senses. I could hear cows across the road, a horse chomping on grass in the next field, dogs barking in the distance, and there were many noises I could not identify, and the one I did not want to hear was the full sprint of a  tiger toward my tent, no, that never happened-three fences, electricfied wires, and some barbed wire insured I would be unmolested, but for some reason, my imagination still ran wild.

The night was cold, 45f, with the 20 mph unrelenting wind from the NW. I kept the fire going all night...just in case. :) I woke up every couple of hours to add a log, and I could hear coyotes in the area.

I got up for good at 530 and walked up to where the wolves were, since they did not know me the alpha male started to howl, then the White Tiger came from the field he was in next to the wolves enclosure, and started to stalk me through the fence. It was intense, and even though I was safe, I started to think about escape routes. I can better imagine what it would be like to be in the wild with these animals.They are amazing!

Rolling home, this was about 8 miles out of Louisburg, Kansas
 I broke camp and rolled home. I decided to take a alternative route home down Old Metcalf. The day was overcast, and the 20 mph would not let up making the ride home a trial. All in all it was a grand adventure!

Not sure where I will go next weekend. Stay tuned!

Also still need help with the funding. Please contribute to the expedition.
Peace, Bill

Friday, May 13, 2011

Expedition update 5/13

Posing for photo after 50 mile ride to Leavenworth
It seems my last post was somehow deleted by Blogger as they have been having tech difficulties. So here is a fresh update!
All is going well! The expedition is still set for July1 in Newport, RI.

Funding and gear: Thanks to Kelly Haas of BKV and Tiffany Hiller for their financial support! To date there has been $870.00 donated! I still need to raise over $6000 more to fully fund this expedition, I will be doing a massive push this next two weeks, so I hope you chip in, and remember every little bit helps, $10, $20, $50... whatever you can do to help us offset expenses. Thanks to Mark Rainey for donating a temporary tent. And this just in, Eric Bunch offering to donate a tent too! Thanks to Cecilia Vigilaturo for letting me borrow her flip camera.

photo with the Tin Man in front of bike shop
Those who donate time, gear, money will get a call from me while on the expedition, mention on the site, and acknowledgement in the follow up book.

Why donate or sponsor? Good question!

I am doing this trip for free to: create a thru Bike Route on the W3R(first time been done) for the National Park Service; to promote cycling for transportation and travel, and help folks remember some of the history and sacrifices made for us so we could live in this great country of ours! And I need the help, I do not have the wallet to cover all the expenses myself.


our camp site on the Missouri River
 This last weekend my friend Randy Rasa and I rode form the Kansas City Suburbs to Desoto, KS, then north to Leavenworth Kansas. We slept in tents on the Missouri River bank. The next day we rode back home. This type of adventure is called a S24O(sub 24 hours overnight). It is a great way to prepare for longer trips and a fun way to have a short adventure! I will try to do one every weekend up to the expedition!

Bill and Randy under the great mural of 1870s Leavenworth
Life is crazy for me right now. Work, expedition planning, weekend S24O trips, I am moving to new place at the end of the month, and my writing. I love it though.

I love everything I do. Oh and it looks like Velocity Wheels is going to come up with a nice set of strong wheels for the trip!

Well, that is it for now!

If you can help out,  please do, this trip is a big deal, in my small way I believe I am makng the world a better place by doing th the expedition-my mission statement says it all. I am nervous and excited all at the same time! Peace to you, Bill

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Expedition update May 12th

Last weekends trip, we spent alot of time on gravel roads.
My head is spinning like the wheels on my bicycle! :) Between work, moving at the end of the month, weekend bike trips, and the expedition, life is anything but boring...I love it!

Thanks much to Kelley Haas of BKV Direct Marketing firm for their donation of $200! Also, thanks to Tiffany Hiller for her generous donation. As of right now I am at $870 donated for the expedition! I need to still bring in another $6000 to fully fund it, so if you can find it in your heart to help, please do.


We set up camp right on the Missouri River!

Everything is still in line for the July 1st start! I am doing short weekend cycling camping trips, called S24Os, to prepare for the expedition. Here are some pics from this last weekend trip with my friend Randy Rasa. We biked from Kansas City suburbs, to Desoto Kansas, then north to Leavenworth Kansas where we spent the night camping by the Missouri River, then we rode home the next day through hilly back roads. It was a awesome trip!


We did some urban exploring in downtown Leavenworth
This coming weekend trip should be awesome as well as I will be camping in Louisburg, Kansas on the Cedar Cove Feline Sanctuary. They are a big cat rescue and I will be sleeping close to tigers, mountain lions, and they even have a couple of wolves and multiple other animals. My friend Bettie is the Director and is allowing me camp on the property.
If you would like to join me email me at

bill@poindexterrecruiting.com

Please help out if you can and be a part of something awesome!

Peace, Bill