I first heard about the Biking Across Kansas (BAK) tour when I was researching Kansas bicycle shops, back when I was looking for my first recumbent, and remember thinking that it was something I might want to try some day, even if I couldn’t quite imagine myself being able to ride all the way across the state of Kansas.

But nearly two years later, I chose BAK as my first organized tour. It still seemed a little far-fetched, but I could finally see myself doing it. For 2006, the route was across the southern portion of the state, starting in Johnson City and ending in Mulberry, for a total of 485 miles.

BAK 2006 Route Map
BAK 2006 Route Map

I chose to do a supported tour rather than a self-contained tour, because I wasn’t entirely sure what I was getting myself into, and having someone else deal with the logistics of planning the tour, arranging for places to eat and to stay, and handling the gear, gave me many fewer things to worry about. All I had to do was get myself and my bike and gear ready.

It was January when I made the decision, and February when I signed up. Over the next three months I put in a lot of training (over 1200 miles), and procured the equipment necessary for my first bicycle trip.

It was an exciting time, and I was nervous in the weeks and days leading up to the trip. I knew I was ready physically, but it was simply the fear of the unknown.

The subsequent posts contain my journal for BAK 2006. This is more for my own recollection than for public consumption, but I’m hoping that someone else may find this interesting and perhaps useful as well.