Rosenberg, TX… the last stop before HOME…. 11/3/2021

 So much has happened over the last 19 days, that a book could and hopefully will be written.  In it I will parallel my trip across America on a single speed bike pulling a trailer compared with pulling a trailer with a powerful and fun E-bike…. (More to come on that later…). For now I want to focus on just highlighting the journey so far and later will go back and explore each individual leg of the journey in the Blog…

So as you can see here is a Google Map picture of where I have been.  And where I am now.

02/04/21- Started in Pahrump NV.

02/05/21- Left Pahrump to Boulder City, NV (spent an extra day there riding the Hoover Dam.)

02/07/21- Kingman AZ Holiday Inn, Sonic Burger, and rest…

02/08/-02/09/21- Wickieup, and Wickenburg, AZ… A long trip, I rode all afternoon and night from Kingman… Was a great trip, but a scary, going through Joshua tree Forest (Thick sticker bush all over the ground, heavily littered side roads with wood, nails, and blown out semi tires, Mountains, Canyons, and seeing and hearing Wild Coyote…

02/10/21- Scottsdale AZ.  Had to stop temporarily because I got the call to join the MSC and that job I had been waiting to hear from for a long time and it was a “Now or Never” situation…

2/14/21-10/04/21-  Went through  Training, got credentialed, went on my first deployment overseas, and after four months was relieved which is how it works with MSC…

10/12-10/15/21- Flew back to AZ got my bike out of storage, and visited my parents and sister a few more days and then pulled out on the finish of the Journey.  Rode to Eloy, AZ that day.

10/16/21- Eloy to Tucson, AZ

10/17/21- Wilcox,AZ (Stayed two days there, regrouping and resulting).

10/19/21- Rode to Chiricahua, desert Museum on Portal Road in Rodeo, New Mexico.  Long day, with 20 plus miles of rock and run off road, and when I stopped to relieve myself was met with these Huge Hornets the size of my fingers.  Needless to say saw nice cars abandoned as well…  What a terrible way for google to route people…Nevertheless, the E-Cells Super Monarch 1500 handled it like a champion.

10/20/21- To Columbus, NM and stayed at the coolest Hotel run by a man and his ex-wife called Los Milagros “The Miracles”.

10/21/21- Rode to El Paso “Pass the Ol’ El Paso”.  Stayed at Fort Bliss two nights…  At Raising Caines every day:-).  resupplied at the commissary.

10/24/21- Rode to Sierra Blanca, stayed in a Motel and was grateful for it… Owner gave me a nice Mason Jar for heating up water in the Microwave, for coffee.

10/25/21- Rode to Balmorhea, TX stayed on an RV Campground.  10$ but the lady Lou didn’t want to take any money from me…. Those Goat Heads struck again… However not on the bike tire:-)  Just the trailer tire.replaced both tires and tubes…

10/26/21- slow start but I knew I was headed for civilization and was so happy to get to the hotel… Holiday Inn ft. Stockton, where I parked it for two days…

10/28/21- Rode to Ozona, TX and enjoyed a good fried Steak at the Hitchin Post.

10/29/21- Rode to Junction, TX and stayed for the night.  I love the Holiday Inn.

10/30-10/31/21- Rode to San Antonio, and was so glad I made it.  The biked lost moving power 2.7 miles from my destination but the lights and computer continued to work all the way to the destination.:-)  Holiday Inn Next to FBI Headquarters…

11/1/21- Off again this time to “Gonzally wey loco”:-)  Gonzalez, TX the place where Texas gained freedom according to the signs I saw..  Well, it was nice, and I enjoyed my Steak Dinner at GG Steakhouse even though it didn’t agree with me and kept me up all night…

11/2-11/3/21- Rode to Rosenberg, TX.  Here now at Hampton Inn, so wonderful to be so close and almost home… the staff here are amazing and so kind.  Stephanie helped me out yesterday at Simple Simon’s Pizza by allowing me to eat and charge my battery for an hour.  That charge took me the last 20 miles to the hotel here and gave me a 109 mile day.  That is important to note being that I was dealing with upset stomach, and congestion from the road and previous night stay in Gonzalez…  So grateful for everyone who has made this trip a success.  It is amazing to think how many lives we touch on a daily basis, just going about our day.  I think if more people would realize this it would change how little they see themselves and how insignificant they think their lives and jobs really are.  WE ARESO IMPORTANT TO GOD AN TO EACH OTHER!

11/04/21-  Headed home:-)  51 miles form the boat.  Looking forward to seeing where Google takes me today:-).  May even eat some Cuban food.

The journey has been filled with so many good memories, and opens me up to so many new ideas and possibilities.  It’s amazing how people you love and have loved who may have already gone on to their reward go with you on these type of trips…  I saw my Grandmothers, Uncles, and Aunts, many times on this journey ion so many different ways.  My Grandfathers too…  Of course my Dad and Mom, and siblings, and my daughter and grandsons, but they literally are a part of the journey because I am in constant contact with them.  But my other family comes along too…just in my heart and mind and in the experiences I have along the way that remind me of them.  

So much can be said about the E-Cells Super Monarch Crown 1500.  But most important is the fact that it is a Beast.  It can handle whatever I threw at it, and it could last a lot longer than I could each day.  It just kept going and going.  The AWD mechanisms and components keep it efficient and smooth, and the dual suspension keeps it so comfortable.  I really could have ridden that bike everyday to anywhere in the world, so long as my own health and wellbeing were met.  I cannot say that about any other bike or vehicle I have owned in my lifetime.  

Back on the road with E-Cells Super Monarch 1500 AWD… A dream come true.

 So far we have traveled about 300 miles and as of the reading of 10/19/21 we will be in New Mexico.  We are staying at a hostel today and I am looking forward to saving a few bucks:-), and still having my needs met.  I am not opposed to camping, but would be great if I didn’t have to:-).  At any rate, we are having a great time.  I left Scottsdale on 10/15 and so far the bike has met all my expectations.  I twist the throttle it goes, I pedal assist it moves…. It has made the trip much more enjoyable than in 2012, although I am still doing a lot of work:-), and pulling the trailer is not a lot of fun.  I don’t know another way though, and still having everything I would need to repair and fix on the go.  The gears are working great, the motors seem to be able to handle the work, and the dual motor action is something really spectacular.  I would like to see a little bit better range, but we are still in mountain region and therefore getting 75-90 miles is a good accomplishment, in pedal assist 4 all day.  I have stopped for lunch on two of the three days and charged for about an hour.  On Sunday I did this and really shouldn’t have.  Because of that stop I ended up with about 50 stickers in my trailer tires and about 20 in my bike tires.  The bike tires have the Tannus Liner so that is great.  But both my trailer tires went flat and required me to change them, before proceeding on to the hotel.  I didn’t need to charge and should not have stopped at that rest area.  I had a check in my spirit about it, but I did it anyway and paid a heavy price.  Nevertheless, for fun I decided since I had so much charge left I throttled the last ten miles to the hotel going about 20 something miles an hour.  That is spectacular when you consider I am pulling a trailer behind me that weighs at least 100 pounds.  SO GREAT!!!  Thank you Ecells.com for the great experience.  I highly recommend you get one as soon as possible call David Cleveland today and tell him Christopher sent you.  

Today we begin again:-) Scottsdale to Houston, TX

    Well, the last 8 months have been very interesting to say the least.  I took the job with MSC as an Ordinary Seaman, and started traveling after training on my first ship.  This venture lasted from May 26-October 3, 2021.  I got off the ship (the USNS Robert E. Peary) in Rota, Spain and headed home.  It has taken a week to get home due to the circumstances of how I left the USA back in July on the vessel.  I had to leave my car in Norfolk, after bringing it back to there after a small break I took in late June 2021 to see my boat, and family.  After leaving in February I hadn’t laid eyes on my boat since rushing out right before the freeze that shook Houston Valentines weekend.  As is the normal for these adventures, I took too much stuff onboard the ship and when I found out I was being relieved, I had to ship two boxes of belongings back to the USA.  Thankfully Rota has a US Navy Base and therefore a US Post Office, so shipping was relatively painless.

    The journey was  quite extraordinary.  I caught the ship as it was finishing dry docking in Philadelphia and therefore had a great time exploring some of Philly, having a cheese steak, and just settling in on the boat.  From there we went back to Norfolk, did some sea trials and a couple of us reps out to sea locally, but was for the most part on the Navy Pier, doing shore duty.  We actually crossed the Atlantic on July 23rd and from that crossing visited Scotland twice, France, Spain twice, Norway twice, and did unreps along the way.  The mission continues, but I was relieved and therefore did not continue on with the vessel.  It was a good experience and I would have been able to stay on the ship if I had not put in for relief.  Relief means that after four months you ask for a replacement for you so you can go home for a month of vacation.  I needed this, and have other desires to fulfill during my off time, such as this journey back to Houston by E-Bike on my E-Cells Super Monarch 1500, to get into AB school, and to get Lasik so I can try out for the SRS (Surface Rescue Swimmer Program).  

   So Here I sit at the Airport here in Houston awaiting my plane to board at 0955 to take me to my bicycle and to visit my loved ones as well as check in with the program of AA.  God has been very good to me and I am eternally grateful for His Love, Mercy, Compassion, and Protection these last seven months.  I fully expect He will continue on this journey and I look forward to seeing how He is going to move on my behalf these next days as we trek back to Houston, and beyond.  

Merchant Marine??? Now what??? First...Wickenburg to Scottsdale, AZ Final leg of this bike trip...02/10/2021

    Well, as some of you know, I was in the middle of this trip from Pahrump, NV to Kemah, TX when I was called for my new career opportunity.  I eagerly went for it, and that meant not stopping the trip but certainly  postponing it a bit.  The new opportunity is to work as a Merchant Marine like my grandfather and Uncle both were.  It is phenomenal to think about getting to do that, and honestly it pays better than being a teacher.  I have always felt that I was on a mission in my work... so I am now going from being a light to the youth, to being a light for mariners and those I come into contact with around the world.  We never know how just living our lives will affect an help others, but I am certain that it does, because I am certain in a living God who orders and guides my life by His Word the Bible.  “The steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord...” Psalms 37:23.Now for the rest of the story:

     I got a great start from the Best Western Wickenburg, AZ and off I went towards Scottsdale.  I rode for an hour out of town before I stopped to check everything was still connected, and do my regular maintenance check.  I purposefully did this because I wanted to get under way an I knew if I dickered around any more it would be even later than 7AM hitting the road.  So off we set.  It was chilly but I was dressed for the occasion.  It was a pretty straightforward trip.  I google mapped the route from the Best Western Wickenburg to my final destination, marking out stops along the way.  Lunch was to be at the Starbucks close to Phoenix, and that was truly a lovely experience.  When I arrived there They were playing Loionel Richie’s “All Night Long”  which brought me back to the scared and utter long night I had just spent getting to Wickenburg.  What an awsome experience an what a way to go with the E-Cells 1500 ATB, AWD, Mountain bike.  It is a beast and capable of handling almost anything thrown at it. 

   So, I stopped after the first hour and checked out my trailer and gear.  I also checked my tires and found two huge roofing staples in my back tire. Must have happened when I ran over a pallet or something on the all night long trip the night before.  I was baffled.  What should I do?  If I pull them out then I run the risk of letting all the air out if the tubes were punctured.  I thought to myself well, lets give these liners a try and so I pulled them both out and gave the tire a good chance and ample time to deflate.  I topped off both tires with my fully electric mini pump provided free of charge by E-Cells and saddled up ...continuing the ride.  It was only supposed to take me 6 hours to get to my final destination, an it did in fact take just that much time, including my 45 minute lunch stop at Starbucks.  What a joy... I am smiling right now thinking about riding that bicycle.  I have owned a bicycle my entire life and enjoyed thousands of rides around the world, including Western China, across the USA, Israel, the USVI, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and countless places in between... and nothing feels as fun and great and brings such a smile to my face like the E-Cells E-bike does.  GET YOURS TODAY AND TELL THEM CHRISTOPER SENT YOU.

   After a starting my ride again I got oh I say a m,I’ll or two and ran up on a Sheriff and his deputies clocking peoples speed.  I was (as I always am) only doing about 15 miles per hour.  At the time they clocked me I was down to 13mph.  they got on the bull horn and joked with me about slowing it down and that they clocked me at the high rate of 13mph:-)  We all had a great chuckle, and went about our day.  You know, that was one of the highlights of the trip.  Interaction with people and especially those who protect and serve, gives me great joy an honor.  Again, our life makes a difference and as has been told me thousands of times, we may be the only Jesus anyone ever sees.  So lets remember to put on Him daily.  “I die daily” 1 Corinthians 15:31... and elsewhere His word declares that “We are Hid with Christ in God”.  Like a three fold cord which is not easily broken.  I am like a penny in the Hand of Jesus, which is covered by another Hand, “The Hand of God our Father...  That is what that means, an that is an impenetrable place of protection, care, and joy. Colossians 3:3.  From there is was one encounter after another with bikes, pedestrians, and great riding roads.  the big mountain ranges were behind me now, and it was mostly flats and on great terrain as well.  The roads are very biker friendly on the way into Scottsdale, AZ and the planners of this community really do care for the pedestrians and understand the importance of safety and recreational activities.  I am amazed at this after all these years,  Often I do wonder what would have happened had I stayed in Scottsdale, but again we have to concede fully to our innermost selves that God is everything and He orchestrates our comings and our goings.  I am grateful for this thought.  

   The best route from Wickenburg for me was taking Route 60 to 74, to Thunderbird, to 90th street and on to Scottsdale.  When I arrived at my destination I was greeted by my father and his neighbor who were out speaking about retirement things:-).  I enjoyed rolling up on him and listening to them conversing about all things retired.  In fact the entire day was just so pleasant.  One rider after another I pulled up alongside to was all to eager to speak with me about my bike and experience.  It was also a great opportunity to share with many how great the E-Cells e-bike really is.  

Well, as I stated earlier I Amon my way to training and will not be back for many months… I will finish what I started though and look very forward to sharing the rest of this trip with you as soon as I get back.  

Update:  it is now Mid May and I am on a ship that will be out to sea until at least the end of the year… I will check back in with you at a later time and look forward to getting back to riding soon.  Until then, many thanks and kind regards, christopher 

Check out Ecells.com, tell them Christopher sent you.  

02/09/2021 Part 2 Kingman to Wickenburg

 The journey started off wonderful and honestly ended wonderfully as well.  As I mentioned in my last post I got a late start from Kingman and saw that I was going to be on a long stretch of highway with no facilitates for over 65 miles… about 20 miles out I stopped at the last station for 65 miles and charged for an hour.  It was time for a break and I liked stopping at gas stations because it gave me a chance to interact with people and share about the E-Cells bicycle model and Vision.  I was able to share with three folks there about the bike and what I was doing as well as get an hour of charging.  The manager and security was glad to oblige me.  I knew I was burning daylight but I also knew that there is no way to know what lay ahead for the day and that no matter how good I plan, I can’t predict what challenges I may face ahead of me on a bicycle trip.  (Much experience and many Countries bike trips later have taught me that)….so back on the road after 2:00 pm and I rode like a champion on that long truly desert stretch of no convenience for the next many hours.  I stopped several times to give my backseat a rest and make water, but I steady rode and by reason of wind and sun and just plain tiredness it was dusk before I had put in the 50 miles that would be the halfway point.  The bike was a joy to ride and when I made it 50 miles I still had my extra battery which I hadn’t touched.  I managed to make a decision that I would stop and stay the night at the little motel and start again tomorrow.  This would ensure I make it all the way to Wickenburg and would give me a chance for some more rest. Sometimes though circumstances have a way of guiding me, and with the motel full, I had no choice but to keep riding.  Remember though I’m on an E-bike.  The challenge is not from pedaling.  That’s easy and fun and doesn’t get old.  That’s what makes E-Cells so great… the challenge is in the not knowing, the long hours getting passed by zooming loud vehicles, the elements, the expended energy and the long hours in the saddle.  

With the motel full, I stopped at the Pilot gas station and asked if I could rest a few hours, charging my batteries, and try to gather intel on what lay ahead.  The manager of the station  was happy to help and speak with me.  He lived on the property with his family because as I said East his place is way out there… he said he had passed me earlier as he was driving from Kingman and was all too happy to help me.  He even said I could pitch my tent if I wanted to.  I wasn’t sure what to do at this point but after sitting for 4 hours recharging  my physical, mental, and Spiritual batteries I decided to ride on toward Wickenburg.  It was around 10 pm when I left.  I bought some Perrier from them since they wouldn’t let me pay for the electricity and after the night clerk rang me up and gave me a hard time about hanging around so long I was off.  (Apparently the Manager didn’t inform him I had his permission, but after I let the clerk know… all was well.). What a nice family they are that run that station.  Too bad they don’t own it… they run it as if they did, and I am certain that brings the owner a lot of joy and profits; not to mention peace of mind.  Mike the Manager had told me I would come across a Joshua Tree forest and that meant I was close.  I was concerned about thorns and brush in the road which can cause flats after he mentioned this.  The last thing I wanted to try to do was change a tube in the middle of the night…I trusted the tire inserts and more importantly gave the trip over to God and I still felt peace so off I went… within 20 miles of taking off toward Wickenburg I see a big highway sign that reads beware of the wild animals and has a silhouette of a coyote… Now my mind is really racing, for you see there are many mountain lions, coyotes, and other animals that can really hurt us in a vulnerable state like in the middle of a dark highway in the middle of the night.10 more miles in I see a road killed coyote and see firsthand just how big and vicious these animals are.  I’m sad it was killed by a vehicle but was also glad it wasn’t chasing me.  I kept to the road, and stayed on the bike with the exception of two small stops to make water…

It’s during trips like this, circumstances what they are that define us as human beings.  I know I am an adventurer and explorer but during challenges like this we find out just how far we can go and just how much we can handle.  This stretch of road is as long, dark, and silent as the first half was and it winds up and through mountain ranges. It really appears as if I were never going to make it.  When I finally did see the sign for the forest I was so happy.  Still concerned as well because these trees ran up to and along side the narrow roads shoulder and at many places went from two to one lane passes.  Lots of big rigs are traveling on this road and the road is very narrow in many places along the way.  I was more frightened by the thought of wildlife than I ever could have been by the semi trailer trucks or other vehicles zipping by me in the night.  I don’t know this to be true but the truckers seemed to be looking out for me and somehow I felt cheered on by them.  Silly sounding I know, but one thing is for certain; I asked Gods protection and care with complete abandonment and I trusted that He was going to use my situation and circumstances to see me through to a place of safety in Wickenburg.  It was 5:00 the following morning when I finally pulled into Wickenburg and stopped at Mobil gas station to relieve  myself and take some sustenance .  I decided to charge the bike for 45 minutes while I was doing all the aforementioned things.  After several attempts to find accommodations I stumbled up to the BestWestern Wickenburg’s door, where a mother and daughter team took care of me, got me situated in  a room with early check in (which I really needed, as I had already been on the road that day a total of 20 hours with all of the stopping and cautious night driving…) I was truly exhausted and wanted bed… however they offered me a full hot breakfast as well which was the first time in over a year I had seen that at a hotel due to the Covid-19 situation.  What a joy.  By 7:00am I was showered, fed, and in the bed…:-). Sweet sleep…. I woke up after 2:00pm and after a few calls, I went to look around the  town.  What an awesome place and so full of adventure and things to do.  I wanted to eat my own way so I chose my fare from the grocery chain I used to work for when I was in Arizona as a resident over 20 years before… (Basha’s) and boy am I thankful for that family and company.  I rested, made calls, recharged and did some cleaning and maintenance on my bike etc.  getting ready for my final leg of the journey which was to be the following morning. After a superb nights sleep, it was my great desire to be on the road by 5:00 am, but as usually happens it was well after 7:00am before I hit the road bound for the final leg of  the journey this time (Scottsdale,Arizona).  Stay tuned for my next blog which was in fact the best and easiest leg of the journey yet.  

Ecells.com bike trip Kingman, AZ to Wickenburg, AZ Part One

 Remember the best bike company in the world www.ecells.com, tell them Christopher sent you.

First off, note to yourself, ANYTIME you buy a new bicycle there is going to be a learning curve that is needed, in order to work out things you may like or dislike about the bike.  Because we are all different shapes and sizes, and because we are dealing with fallible people and parts (Yes, that includes all of us:-) one has to take time to sort out these things and get them fixed.  For me, I found the E-Cells Bicycle to be perfect for what I want to do which is ride across the USA and experience the freedom of extra time and miles in the saddle that an electric motor affords me.  However, because I want to do this and many other challenging things with this bicycle and am putting it to the test of long distance cruising, there are things I need personally.  This is by no means a reflection on the quality and craftsmanship of the bike, it is just a fact of life for me.

Things I did to prepare my bike for a literal Cross Country trip.  

1. Broken in Brooks saddle

2.) Delta plus cell phone carrier (Keep in mind this holder blocks the back camera which keeps you from being able to video out in front of you, which was a huge disappointment; therefore, I am going to have to do something about this before trekking across Texas. When I return).

3.) a minimum of 2 Extra batteries.  (I have one extra battery now and for all intents and purposes I set out with hoping to keep the assist mode in level one, which if it were possible to do that I could have made over 100 miles on a charge.  But Mountain Ranges and big hills force you to go to assist mode three or four in order to keep up a pace of 12-14 miles an hour under mostly my own power.  That said, I could at times get 60 miles on a charge with the dual batteries that come with it and another 20-30 out of the spare battery.  But on other occasions where I had already been pedaling for hours and days, and was a little tired, I had to stop and recharge the battery packs up to three hours in order to get to my final destination for example on this trip to Wickenburg.  I charged for at least an hour to reach other destinations such as Boulder City, and Kingman.  Most Convenience stores were very kind to me; just make sure you go in and ask permission from the manager first so there is no discrepancies as it will look bizarre with a big charger plugged into an outlet and a big ol bike .  It can seem intimidating to people.  Also, I recommend an extension cord so you can park in a regular parking place and not take up room on the side walk from other passerby’s; or just pull a trailer like I do and have at least two extra batteries with you.)

4.)  Make sure you adjust the full suspension before leaving.  These video’s are helpful for the front and rear suspension.  The first one deals with both the front and rear.  The second video is helpful because it is the actual rear shock we have on our GREAT and AWESOME bikes.  

FRONT: https://youtu.be/z-JtggFcxAA

REAR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op6onk12nLs

You see, when I purchased this bike, it was a prototype from the Company and as such had no front suspension to speak of.  I saw it bottomed out the day I got it, but the technician put some air in it and it seemed okay.  I didn’t know it had a leak.  This is nobody’s fault...and I am still so grateful to get to review and talk about this amazing bike.  The Owner David Cleveland a real stand up guy, said immediately he would send me out a new front fork upon returning to the Cross Country trip and so in one flail swoop, BAM 💥 once again all is well.  This is what I mean.  We live in an fallen world so to speak.  Things made from the elements deteriorate and go from a state of best to broken in a matter of time.  It is a fact of life.  Not a show stopper.  As with every part on that bicycle or any other bicycle you will ever buy eventually all the parts will have to be replaced...  Maybe not by you, but by whoever gets it next, unless of course it is totally destroyed and recreated into a new something else:-)

5.) A pull trailer is a must if you are going to go cross country, because no mater how well you plan there will be times when you need an extra supply of water, food, and shelter, plus a way to haul your gear and extra batteries.  This is imperative for me as I have already taken the bicycle 400 miles, and when I return from my job, I will be taking it another 900+ miles.  

The rest of the items are personal to my brand of comfort, suffice to say you need to choose what you want...  You will need extra tubes, for the trailer mostly but a flat can happen although highly unlikely on the actual bike tires.  Toiletries, sleeping bag, tent, food items, etc... all these things are a side note.  But the bike comes with everything you need as is to plug and play.  The tool kit is extremely useful, and as such the trailer is a blessing, although you want to make sure not to overload it.  Here is the one I am using and a link to how to get one.

TRAILER: https://www.aosom.com/item/aosom-elite-2-in-1-double-child-two-wheel-bicycle-trailer-and-jogger-with-2-safety-harnesses-red~5664-0036NEW.html

So after arriving to Kingman, AZ at around 17:45 and getting checked into the Holiday Inn Express (which is a great place). I went to Sonic which is just a short 5 minute walk away and got some grub.  A very nice cashier there helped me who is trading in for a Management position and after ordering my food and doing a quick survey for her, headed back to the room.  I was pretty tired and wind burnt as well.  It was a very strong head wind most all day and that coupled with the AZ Sun just drains a person no matter how great the bike ride was... and it was a great ride:-). The plan was to head out early the next morning to Wickenburg, But I was tired and the backside just wasn’t ready for such a long ride.  I decided to set the Velo Plush back on for the ride to Kingman to see how it rode for 100 miles, and as soon as I got to the room, and plugged the charger in I switched back to my Brooks.  I got a really great nights sleep and got up rip roaring and ready to go.  unfortunately as is usually the case, Things start to happen in the early morning like constitutions, and wanting to get a video and blog out so I got sidetracked and didn’t leave until 12:00 P.M.  this is a problem when you have over 100 miles to go and mountainous terrain to traverse.  In the next episode (Part 2) I will describe how the next ride was a 20 hour trip and lasted “All night Long”...  Stay tuned and stay active.  Thanks.

Condensed version of my trip from Pahrump, NV to Scottsdale, AZ

 Christopher Langham goes on a

E-Cells bike trip from Pahrump, NV to Scottsdale, AZ

Ultimately we are going to ride from Pahrump, NV back to my home in Kemah, TX.  However, due to me getting the call to start my new job training, I had to cut the trip short and only go as far as my parents home in Scottsdale AZ (a 400 mile journey). The Super Monarch E-Cells E-Bike is amazing.  I have wanted to come and see what a World Class Organization looks like, and that is why I decided more than a year ago that when the timing was right I was going to go and see the E-Cells Company firsthand, and purchase the bike.  I didn’t purchase a new one; and the deal was that I would try out the bike and be the first one to put it to the test of an actual Cross country ride.  I rode it hard and long. The leg from Kingman, AZ to Wickenburg, AZ took 20 hours of hard riding, but the bike stood the pressure and made it all the way.  I have no doubt it will make it the remaining 800 miles when I return from my first deployment and finish the trip six months from now, and offer me many more good years of training and riding.  It is a great training and all purpose bike because after lifting and riding it for thousands of miles when I get on a triathlon bike I am going to be able to fly as it were and easily do the 112 mile bike ride after the 2.4 mile swim.  

The Bike Review

Like with any new bicycle you buy, there is a break in period and a need for making it your own.  For me, that meant putting my Brooks saddle on it (I rode the Velo Plush that comes with it for about 80 miles and still prefer my Brooks saddle), getting a phone mount, getting my gear ready in case I found myself in need of shelter for a night, and working out small defects like getting the suspension right.  I had no trouble contacting E-Cells at any time and they were so quick to help me with problems I encountered on the suspension, they are sending me out a new front fork, so I cannot ask for better customer care.  They set me up for success with an Extra Battery (although for a trip of this magnitude you need two), a trailer, and enough of a discount on the prototype model that I could pay cash and still have enough to take on the expense of the trip.  The bike handles well.  I got 86 miles out of it the first day with the extra battery and stopping for about an hour to charge.  That leg was arduous as it was up and down the steep mountain range between Pahrump and Las Vegas.  I fully expect to get 100 miles a day out of it on the flats of Texas, but the trip from Pahrump to Scottsdale was very mountainous and the head winds were very strong some days.  The bike rides very smooth, but once you get used to assist 3 or 4 it is difficult to go to assist 1 which I would have needed to make a 100 miles a day on that terrain.  The sweet spot was 3 or 4 depending on the terrain.  Also, the throttle is a real gift because if you barely turn it you can still maintain 11-12 MPH without peaking the wattage, and this helps you stand up and remain on the bike longer while still giving your backside and legs a break.  

The tires on two occasions had big roofing staples and steel tread form the semi’s blown out tires protruding out of them.  On all three instances, no flat and no air loss, and keep in mind I was hauling a trailer with at least 100 pounds of gear in it.  

The batteries charge in about 3 hours, but it is best to leave them on for another hour or two even after the green light from the charger comes on.  I found if I did this I got 100% charge on the monitor, and if not, after I would turn on the monitor it would read 96% or 92%.  Having the extra battery gives peace of mind and technically you could carry one on the back, (or the front rack if yours comes with one).  If you are willing to put in some extra leg work and are in good physical shape you can easily make 100 miles a day, get up the next morning and do it again indefinitely.  there is so much more to say about this bike.  I am certain it was a great investment for me, my physical, mental and spiritual health, and I also believe in this company even more than I did prior to the more than 1.5 years of research I have done on it.  I have been in the market for an E-Bike for more than 5 years, but made a commitment not to go in any more debt, and in that time I have studied and looked at many E-bikes.  None come close.  One that does come close is made in Australia and retails for over $9000 USD which is just not practical...and does not do what the E-Cells Super Monarch can do.  

The trip was fun from the moment I left the Company, and headed back to the hotel to prepare.  I got to work purchasing camping supplies, water and food, and left on 02/05/21 to Boulder City.  I stayed in Boulder City an extra day to go and explore the Hoover Dam which was just magnificent.  So much to see, so many people asking and making inquiries about the E-Cells E-Bike.  After my Online Church Service on Sunday 02/07/2021, I headed out for Kingman about 86 miles away.  I got there in less than 8 hours and didn’t stop to charge at all that day.  On 02/08/21 I headed out from Kingman at 12:00 P.M.  It was a late start due to getting video and blog work done.  I set out to large headwinds that day and I stopped and charged for about an hour when I noticed a sign that said next services 56 miles.  I went on from there and made it to Wikieup, AZ where I discovered no hotel rooms available and only a gas station.  The gas station (Shell/Pilot) allowed me to charge up for three hours and then I headed out again.  I still had my spare battery but this trip was 126 miles and was very mountainous, cold, and with headwinds.  I rode all night in spite of the wild animal warning signs and felt great.  It was so much fun and reminded me of my trip across America in 2012 when it was the hottest summer on record in South Dakota and I had to ride at night to avoid the killer temperatures and scorching sun.  I arrived at the Best Western at 06:30 A.M. on 02/09/21.  (BIG SMILE RIGHT NOW remembering how great it felt).  I had to stop about 3 miles from the Hotel and charge about 30 minutes for safety sake, but I also needed a break and to use the restroom, so all worked out well and it was a nice MOBIL gas station.  the hotel served me a decent breakfast, and I slept.  I got up about 7 hours later,  ate a hearty meal and got things together for the final leg of the journey.  On 02/10/21 with much excitement I headed out at 06:30 A.M. bound for Scottsdale, AZ.  I had another 80 miles to go and I knew the roads would flatten out.  It was on my first stop that I discovered the staples in the back tire, and because I knew I had the Tannus Armor on the inside of the tire liner, I did the unthinkable and pulled them both out (on regular tires this would have caused an instant flat).  I have no idea how long they had been in there, but I check my tires regularly, so probably since the overnight to Wickenburg.  No flat, no problem, and I kept riding.  A very funny thing did happen, I passed two Sheriff’s Deputies in their trucks who were on the side of the road, I waved to them and one of them said on his bull horn, I clocked you at 13 MPH.  We both had a great belly laugh and I kept going.  It was a refreshing encounter (and that is exactly how fast I was going on the monitor). The trip that day was amazing.  I had a great lunch packed, and I stopped at Starbucks for a break, got a coffee, had lunch, and changed out the battery.  I encountered many cyclists that Day and talked with them extensively as we rode together.  I found I could keep up with the avid racer bike enthusiasts and that without much effort due to pedal assist.  I made it to my parents house in 7 hours and that with the lunch stops and breaks in between.

The roads were very rough in the early part of the journey into Arizona, and I felt every bump due to locking out my suspension until I can get it fixed, but if the roads are good like in Nevada and Phoenix the ride is pleasant, even with no suspension.  However, I highly encourage you to get the suspension air right from day one before you set out to do any riding, and it requires the assistance of a professional, or at a minimum another person to work with you as you follow the step by step process on Youtube. You will also need a pump that can put higher than normal PSI pressure in your fork and rear shock.  The professional will have this equipment.  

The trip was and will be amazing. The bike is and will continue to be amazing. The support from E-Cells is and will remain amazing with utmost Integrity.  There are only two words to say that sum it all up: “GET ONE!!”

For more fun check out the blog at run14me.blogspot.com or on the YouTube channel at: Run14me 

Hoover Dam to Kingman, AZ and review of the Super Monarch E-Cells Bike to date.

 First off let me say the ride is great.  Anytime you get out of the normal day to day grind and get on a bicycle and head out destination unknown, no reservations needed; it is going to be a great day.  Whether it rains, snows, sleets, or hails... there is something about the freedom that comes with getting out and riding a bike.  Now with the Super Monarch 1500 E-Bike from Ecells.com you are given a new lease on the hard part of the ride that can sometimes be overwhelming.  As a Cross Country biker, having ridden from Boston to Seattle in 2012 pulling a trailer on a single speed coaster brake bike I know the grueling challenges that can come with climbing thousands of feet in elevation or trekking on bad roads with no suspension.  I know well the pain of being rocked up and down on unmanaged road shoulders, and what it’s like to need to get out of the way of a Semi tractor trailer truck barreling down on you as you try to manage the bad road conditions and keep to the shoulder.  The Super Monarch helps with this very much. It is an all wheel drive bike which means it has a motor on the front wheel and the back wheel to help you along.  It has Full suspension which means an air ride shock absorber in the front and rear to help assist on bad road conditions.  I cannot speak of that as of yet because my front fork is barreling down so I have had to lock it out until I reach a bike shop to have a look at it.  But I can talk about the battery system which is quite amazing.  Okay so everyone has heard of V=IR, yes?  If not Voltage equals current (here in Amp Hours times Resistance).  From this simple equation we can determine how many watts of power we can derive from a battery, and many other pieces of information.  So I technically we could draw about 1700 watts of power from the two Lithium Ion batteries included.  Lithium Ion is so much better than lead acid because they have no memory so you can run them down to almost zero and be able to get a full charge on them the next time.  Conversely, you can plug in with 50 percent left and the battery won’t peak out and only charge half way over a long period of time.  

So since leaving Pahrump, NV I have gotten about 60 miles on my two battery system, replaced with my spare one and received upwards of an additional 30 miles.  Yesterday for example i rode 85 miles without having to recharge, and from Pahrump to Hoover Dam I had to stop and charge for about an hour but only because Google Maps tried to take me on roads I was not allowed to be on, so this added about 15 extra miles to the trip...  Keep in mind the lower the Watt outage on the screen the longer the battery will last for example if I am only putting out 100 watts of power potentially I could ride for 17 hours on a single charge.  This is unrealistic but you get the idea.  Friction, Load, and condition all play a part.  But if you consider my work put in by pedaling, along with climbing several steep mountain ranges, and pulling a trailer with at least 100 pounds of gear, I think you will agree Thais bike lives up to it’s name.  

For the total trip of 1500 miles I am going to have to break it up into two parts.  The destination for leg one is Scottsdale, AZ and when I return from my first deployment I will go from Scottsdale to Houston, TX.  So for this trip we are riding about 400 miles which means we have about 1100 to do once we return.  We will get a better idea then on how far we can ride on basic flat roads as we travel almost the entire distance of Texas 857 miles:-).  But for now I can say this bike is everything it was meant to be and I am pleased with the purchase.  

NOTE:  This is not a motorcycle or a moped.  If you sit on the throttle and try to max it out you may only get 20-30 minutes of a ride.  I have spun the throttle out and the watts can go up to 2000 on the trip computer which means obviously less than an hour of power because there is only 1700 in the bank.  Typically though it stays at around 1000 watts which could give you as stated about 20-30 minutes of peak power.  That is not practical if you are trying to go cross country without pedaling.  And I will one day go cross country on an Adventure Motor Bike, but this is a different ride.  This bike is meant for people who are wanting to bike, stay fit, and get exercise while enjoying the great outdoors.  It is a wonderful tool in your arsenal of outside adventure tools.

NOTE:  I have ran the back battery out twice to total zero %  and still went another 10 miles, and may have been able to go farther, but I was at my destination.  This is because the front battery still had 2 green bars and is not listed on the trip computer,  Also, if you see a red battery light on the left even after charging, do not be alarmed.  It goes away once you get going back on the journey.  It just takes the computer time to register that you are back up to 100% on the batteries.  

Until Next time Enjoy the journey and get you an e-cells e-bike as soon as you can.  Tell them Christopher sent you.  

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Pahrump pah pum pum... Going from Pahrump, NV all the way to Scottsdale, AZ by E-bike...and everything...

 As we have heard many times in life “The Journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step”.  I don’t even know who coined the phrase, but it has meant something to me for many years now.  As I sit here in my Hotel room in Boulder City Nevada; I reflect on just how good God has been to me these past many months since choosing to uproot my entire life again and move to Houston, TX just so I could attend and volunteer at Lakewood Church as a fellow member of the Body of Christ.  Leaving Pensacola, FL was the hardest decision I have made in sobriety.  Thinking about the security of the job I had teaching at the Escambia County School District, the ability to drive for Uber, and Lyft on the weekends, go sailing and fishing at will, and just being close to family.  Looking back in hindsight, had I stayed, my boat would have been destroyed, and all my belongings may have been lost.  Leaving was the only sane thing to do.  However, art the time I had no idea of that, nor of the trials that lay ahead as I sailed away... the broken rudder after 24 hours, the loss of my GPS and having to only use a compass and charts to navigate, the loss of auto pilot, and running lights due to my batteries failing...  So many other things too numerous to mention... 

Yet through it all God provided.  I was able to get help in fixing the boat, even in the height of COVID-19 I was able to finish the school year and I didn’t go hungry.  I was able to see my Grandma several times more before she passed away, in August 2020.  There are many blessings and one that I am going to start writing about these next several blogs is the desire I have had for YEARS to ride long distance on a bicycle again.  This time I wanted to do it on an E-Bike.  I have been studying these bikes for years, and in particular I have had my heart set on the particular brand called E-Cells.  www.ecells.com I hope you will check them out and tell them Christopher sent you if yo are interested.  So, finally just this week I was able to save enough pennies to go and purchase one from Mr. David Cleveland and his wonderful company.  www.ecells.com. I have tried to establish a relationship with them for years now as I truly believe in them and really want to promote their product as well as get involved to the extent they will let me.  One thing I knew I could do was ride like the wind to be free again... and I wanted to do just that. 

Originally I had planned to go from the North to the South of the United States.  This is still in my mind’s eye, but the timing didn’t work out for them to get involved at the time I had the ability and time to do it, and I didn’t have all the financing available in order to buy the bike outright either.  It is important to note here that I am paying cash for everything now as much as depends on me and I believe God is honoring my commitment to get out of debt one day at a time.  The trip plans as of now are between now and next week I am going to bike from Pahrump, NV to Scottsdale, AZ.  From there the plans have to go on hold because on the day I flew to Pahrump to meet the E-cells team, a job I have also been applying to and doing the needed things for two years to get called me to hire me.  WOW... God is good.  So, That brings us to today Saturday Feb. 6, 2021:-). I am here at the Quality Inn having went to the Hoover Dam today to walk around and see the magnitude of the great work so many people did.  It is difficult to fathom all the work that went into building it such as blasting, using pick axes,  such heavy and hard labor.,. And yet here it is today bringing such Beaty and power to the majestic places all around AZ and NV.  To be able to do it on an E-Cells E-bike is just a dream come true.  It is training but not so rigorous that I get hurt or give up.  It is pleasurable and not to mention just downright fun.  It’s heavier than a regular bike, but I like that feature as it feels safer and more secure.  I also like the thought that after riding it around for a year or so, when I do get on an ultralight triathlon bike again I am going to fly fly fly...  

So I arrived in Pahrump on 2/3/21, met them on 2/4/21, made the purchase, took it back to the hotel, went to an AA meeting online, went to Wal-Mart, bought a tent and a sleeping bag, some toiletries for the journey and got some emergency food and got a good nights sleep.  Heading out on 2/5/21, I didn’t realize how treacherous the mountain terrain can be.  I forgot... from my first journey across the United States on a single speed bike in 2012.  My lips were chapped, my face was chapped, my legs ached from pushing hard with the assist up the mountain in order to conserve energy in the batteries...  It was so worth it though to reach the top of the mountain and head mostly downhill back into Las Vegas.  Google led me on four little goose chases, because although the directions for bicycling has greatly improved, many trails do not allow e-bikes (motor vehicles) and many roads have the no pedestrian or bike signs which made for a real struggle... then there always as seems to be at least one leg of the journey where I am led to a dead end or a no trespassing private road...  such is the adventure:-). So because of this I had to stop and charge the battery bank for about an hour in order to reach my final destination which was here in Boulder City.  I originally only planned to stay One day, but it has turned out very pleasant and the trip to Hoover Dam today was a dream come true.  Looking down doesn’t do it justice.  One really needs to see it by boat, so on my next visit there I am going to bring my little sailing Dinghy and sail around there... the real magnitude is noticed when looking up in awe and wonder; however looking down was pretty magnificent as well, and HOW COOL IT WAS TO DO ALL THAT ON AN E-CELLS E-BIKE:-). #JOYJOYJOY

If you are interested in my other blogs like the one from my trip across America, check them out at the links below:

www.christopher langham.blogspot.com

www.babybluebelle1.blogspot.com

There is much more to come.  you can also see videos of the adventure at my YouTube channel: christopher langham

Check out these photos and video of the trip so far.