The bike
nbsp;</p><p>Best bike to ride the Transcontinental? Comes down to asking yourself what kind of girlfriend would follow you for 2 weeks to go skiing in freezing cold temperatures, followed by a desert trek in Morocco in the middle of summer, while having limited access to food and water and not sleeping much? Of course, the bike does not care so I’ll choose a reliable one that I am going to feel comfortable riding. After bumping into the Volagi brand, I fell in love with what the 2 founders (2 ex Specialized looking to build a bike comfortable enough for double centuries) were trying to achieve and the unique design of their bikes. One day this spring, I called the headquarters in Utah and explained my case. A few phone calls later, Robert Choi, the cofounder of Volagi bikes, granted me a substantial discount on a brand new Volagi, made as close as it can be to my measurements. After weighing pros and cons of Carbon versus Steel frame, I decided to go for the Viaje XL, a steel frame with an oversized carbon fork and their proprietary Longbow flex stay technology that diminishes road vibrations on the seat post. It is a beautiful machine, made for the long-haul, versatile enough to handle road, gravel and rough pavement. I want to use this post to thank Robert for his support. Being supported by Volagi for my First Transcontinental means a lot. </p><p>. He has thrown in a set of fenders, a Jersey, and some good luck in the box to send me off to a good start.