The Equipment

I will be doing the ride on my 2004 Giant TCR carbon.

I will  carry all my belongings in a Topeak bag with expanding panniers attached to a seatpost rack
 

I will also have a handlebar bag to store the necessities for the trip down south: food, cell phone, money, mp3 player.
In order to avoid as many stops as possible I will be carrying enough food for each leg.
I will also have 2 16oz water bottles and a 24oz cammelback. 

The IDEA

Last year I participated in the Assault on Mt. Michell in NC.
I live in Ohio and I am pretty adamant about riding and not DRIVING to rides.
One of my wife's friends heard that I had gone to NC for a bike race and thought that it was a pretty long ride .......
I had driven with a friend to NC .... but the seed was planted ....
The next time I would RIDE to the Assault!

THE PLAN

I will be riding my bike from Canton, OH to the start of the 2011 Assault on Mt. Mitchell in Spartanburg South Carolina.

I will be leaving Monday May 11 and arriving either Thursday or Friday.

I am planning on riding 220-250 Km each day for a total of approximately km 1000.

I will be traveling with very little belongings and will be staying in Motels. I chose motels that have a microwave and a fridge so I can eat simple meals.I plan on purchasing food at local grocery stores and eating and recovering in my hotel room. I envision about 8-9 hours in the saddle each day! 

The Trip: 
Monday May 9: Canton - Athens, OH ~230km

Tuesday May 10: Athens, OH Paintsville, KY ~ 240km

Wednesday May 11: Paintsville-Johnson City, TN ~230km
Thursday May 12: Johnson City, TN - Spartanburg, SC ~200km, but it also includes a mountain pass! 
Friday-Sunday: Mostly rest with a few recovery rides
Monday May 16: The Assault! After the race and some recovery, I might start the ride home by riding to Johnson City (or hitching a ride from someone going north!