The other day I was at the bike shop that will put my bike together. Velotech is located on the north side of College Avenue between Dovercourt and Ossington. Chris the owner is a very nice man with a witty sense of humour.
For the frame we are looking at a steel touring frame called Double Cross by Soma. The handle bars instead of the regular touring/racing speed bike handles, In support of a healthier back while on the road I will replace them with the original Cruiser handles for optimum riding position, and for the times I want to be aerodynamic, there will be a "tour de France" style elbow rest in the center of the cruiser bars.
Other details are the pedal, as they will have a clip on one side and regular pedals on the other. Like this I can choose the ride with clip or not depending on the terrain and weather conditions.

shot of me, taken with the G9

I will be updated more as I find out about all other details of my trip, stay tuned!!!

During the last two weeks I have been on quest to find my photographic partner for this life style I have chosen to lead during the next 3 or so odd years.
I had great aspirations to use a digital SLR and after much online research and talking with friends, I stumbled upon a used Pentax K10D at a local photography shop.
I believed that the K10 was going to suffice all of my need, in terms of quality, and professionalisms while on the trek.
So I did the swipe and walked out of the store like a child that got his first video game for Christmas... The K10 did indeed provide all the quality and easy to operate fuctions I expected form Pentax. I even took it to Gilberto Gil´s show at the glorious Massey Hall downtown Toronto. The advantage was that I could use my 70mm-300mm Pentax lens from my MZ-7. I fully enjoyed shooting excellent quality shot of Brazil's Minister of Culture's legendary talents. Following are some favorites:


So I thought I had found my match, but along the following days of my trial period I found that I would be always be thinking about the trip as I would be on a bicycle, logging all of the weight and volume across the continent, not to mention that it is a huge attention grabber to the under privileged class in the southern hemisphere. And that it would in fact it would get in between my contact with the real people. Would I sacrifice all that for the PRO attitude??

I started looking for options. something that would be a very close macth in quality but small and portable enough to fit in my pocket. This thought lingered on my mind for days. While I was partaking in a Photo Marathon this past weekend, and talking with a fellow marathoner at a cool-off spot. He introduced me to the glorious Canon G9... looks like a simple point and shoot, compact and unattractive. However it is a power shot, as they say. and it does almost all the real SLR function, with the exception of a few, like Bulb setting that I happen to love, but am willing to compromise for all of it's virtues as a compact PROsumer digicam...

I decided to return the K10, and shop around for the G9. Ended up paying one hundred dollar less than the K10, including an extra battery and new caring case for it. Also for around $160 there is a water-proof case that would allow for under water photography on my swim breaks from biking, if I feel so inclined to get it, I could get it on the road. For now, my task it to discover all it's wonderful function before before my departure date.

I just started this brand new blog for my bike trip around the Americas promoting environmental awareness and change in attitude toward our planet. I'd like to have a near 0% foot print while on this trip and continue there after.

As of now I'm busy thinking up how to approach some sponsors for money and equipment donations. In August I also plan to organize a big fundraiser party to get some expenses covered
I plan to start cycling southbound by late September 2008