I recently noticed a blog Mollie started the day after we got back that speaks to some lingering questions I have about bike touring, caloric intake, and weight loss.  Mollie writes:

I’ve been back for less than 24 hours and the most frequently asked question I have had is: So are you, like, really buff now? Followed by: So did you lose tons of weight. I haven’t measured my quads or weighed myself but I’m going to guess “No” on both accounts. I did, however, accumulate a gorgeous patchwork of bruises on my right leg from banging myself on my bike, falling off my bike, and walking into things. I also may have developed a low-grade addiction to oversized salty Virginia peanuts.

I would also have to admit that, no, I’m not any thinner (I was kind of hoping to get those skinny, svelte biking arms, but we only put in seven days of riding, so, I can’t be too disappointed), nor am I significantly stronger (though I went on an easy 5-mile run a couple days after our trip and felt like I could have kept on going and going and going).

Admittedly, we ate a lot of really good food.  But then, when I think back, we didn’t eat that much, especially during the day, when we subsisted primarily on cookies, crackers, and Virginia peanuts.  I don’t love the idea of counting calories; when you’re exercising all day long, I feel like you should be able to eat what you want and not feel guilty about it.  At the same time, I do wonder:  Is my bike computer telling the truth?  Did I really burn an extra 3,000 calories a day?  And if so, why aren’t I at least a few pounds lighter?

In going back through some emails I flagged for the trip–and then promptly forgot about–I found an UrbanDaddy email on the Fitbit, which is described as “a Nintendo Wii for your pocket.”  The basic idea is that it’ll track all your movements (steps taken, miles traveled, sleep time, and so on) and tell you exactly how many calories you burned on any given day.  Wonder if it works for biking?

In the weeks leading up to the trip and then the two weeks we were on the road, there were emails, tweets, and comments that slipped through the cracks.  As I am now in the process of officially (eep!) making the switch from PC to Mac (reluctantly, oh so reluctantly), I’m also sorting through old mail, merging folders, cleaning things out.  In the next few days, I’ll likely be posting about sites, experts, and gear that would have been useful to know about before our first trip.  Ah, hindsight.

American Express recently approached me to be part of their “Enthusiast” program–which basically involves linking up with bloggers whose existing interests (mine would be food, travel, and biking) relate to specific charge card rewards and benefits.

I already had a Platinum Card, which has a hefty annual fee, but which had paid for itself in rewards within the first month of signing up (I used the Platinum Travel Service when booking my honeymoon trip to Buenos Aires and was able to score an upgraded room, free daily breakfast, late checkout, and a 50-minute massage at the Park Hyatt).

American Express gave me 50,000 Membership Rewards points to play with (25,000 of which I used to purchase a plane ticket to New York) and invited me to come to the company’s headquarters in New York to learn more about making the most of my card and my points.

In return, American Express asked me to share my experiences–positive and negative–through my posts and tweets. In relationship to this partnership, I’ve agreed to the following guidelines:

Be transparent and disclose my relationship and anything I’ve received as a result of my relationship with American Express.

Be honest about my opinions.

Offer suggestions and concerns.

Clearly articulate when I am being compensated – by cash or in any other way – for consulting or other duties I may perform.

Share this policy openly and publicly.

So, stay tuned for periodic posts about how I’ve used my Platinum Card during my adventures in biking and eating.

I lived in New Orleans for a short while, from January 2007 until August of the same year.  And while I love the city, I cannot say the same for the quality of the roads.  I’m going to guess that things were bad even before Katrina, when things undoubtedly took a turn for the worse.  It’s not exactly a haven for cyclists, who have to deal with flooding, pot holes, and narrow roads.

Still, as I plan a two-day jaunt down to New Orleans, I’ve been contemplating bringing my bike along for the ride.  Luckily, I was able to hunt down this list of rides from the local cycling club.  I’m excited about the River Levee and the Lakeshore Drive routes–though the masochist in me is contemplating the alternate Red Bluff loop.

Of course, post-ride there will be plenty of good eats:  oyster po’boys at Domilise’s, beignets and cafe au lait from Cafe du Monde, and I’ll be checking out John Besh’s new restaurant, Domenica, at the newly renovated Roosevelt Hotel.  Helmed by Alon Shaya, who spent a year in Italy, brushing up on his pizza and pasta making skills, the restaurant serves up home-style “Sunday dinner” fare.

Zippy, sleek, and feminine

I was just rehashing our tour de Virginie (I’m Frenchifying it–everything sounds more romantic in French) with my father-in-law, who suggested that next time, we skip the bikes and go on scooters.  While I do have an appreciation for Vespas, I’m not sure about scooter-travel.  It’s certainly greener than getting about by car–and it sticks to our original premise:  Taking on the South, two weheels at a time.  But there’s something about getting to your destination by your own might.  Though, I do love this retro cream colored Vespa with its brown leather seat and chrome accents.

G and Mollie sport their matching Lulu Stride Jackets

Between gear we had in our repertoire, gear we borrowed, and gear that was donated, Mollie and I didn’t have too much shopping to do in preparation for our trip (though, we did manage to do some damage, including vintage-style wool jerseys from Bilenky Cycle Works). Here, a run down of what we packed (and didn’t), what we wore, and how it stacked up (in parts).

Lululemon Cool Racerback
I used this tank (in gray and cream) as my base layer under long and short-sleeved jerseys and I’m pretty sure there was some anti-stink magic happening. While they aren’t big or bulky and make a good base layer, the lack of pockets means they’re not great as standalone shirts. For future endeavors, I might swap out these tanks for a more functional short-sleeved jersey.
Verdict LEAVE IT

Ultima Jersey
I picked this jersey up in the Netherlands because it was cute, pink, and not too tight. On the road, it was too flimsy, too short, and too loose. Mollie’s Descente jersey proved to be a much better choice.
Verdict LEAVE IT

Descente Axion Jacket
At Philly’s Breakaway Bikes, Mollie and I picked up matching long sleeved jerseys (blue for her, red for me) that were just heavy duty enough to get us through our coldest day (a wet 40 degrees), but light enough to wear when temps climbed into the 60s. We loved the bright colors and flattering fit, making this one of our must-have items for any future treks.
Verdict PACK IT, teamestrogen.com, $89.99 (this version has zip off sleeves–even better!)

Novara Wulla Bike Jersey
This retro sweater-like jersey looks cool, but was too bulky to bring along.
Verdict LEAVE IT

Smartwool Ewetopia 2 Cycling Jersey
This boxy jersey was neither flattering nor particularly comfortable (though the wool wasn’t as itchy as we suspected). We also didn’t love the colors (neon green and faded red).
Verdict LEAVE IT

Nike Dri-Fit Half-Zip Running Top
I threw this in as a backup long sleeved jersey and, while I wore it, it isn’t made for biking and wasn’t ideally suited for touring.
Verdict LEAVE IT

Pearl Izumi Whisper Vest
Mollie and I both borrowed vests—hers was a puffy down one that was both light and smooshable; mine was a red Pearl Izumi cycling vest which did not match my pink Ultima jersey, but nonetheless served as an essential core warmer.
Verdict PACK IT, pearlizumi.com, $65

Lululemon Stride Jacket
Mollie and I wore these literally every day. We picked them up last minute when we were waylaid in Philadelphia—and a better purchase has never been made. They were warm and snuggly after a day on the bike and chic enough to wear around town without feeling geeky. Our only criticism is weight—every ounce counts.
Verdict PACK IT, lululemon.com, $108

One of the chefs we met up with on the road, David Guas, has a new cookbook on New Orleans-style sweets.  I wrote this blurb about it for Tasting Table.  Check it out.

On our way back to New York, we stopped by Bilenky Cycle Works to drop off our bikes–and a few souvenirs from the trip:  Virginia whiskey, peanuts, and chocolates.  The boys seemed to love their presents so much, I’m thinking of sending them regular care packages (be on the lookout Stephen, Simon, et al).  We also chatted with them about the inevitable:  What’s next for Bikes and Biscuits?  The honest answer is we don’t really know.  We’re still processing our Virginia tour and while I suspect, as the weather gets colder and the memories of sore muscles and never-ending hills grows distant, we’ll begin planning our next trip, for now, we’re fairly excited about Bilenky’s Junk Yard Race.  See video footage from last year’s race below:

Read all about it.