To be honest you don’t need much to do a trip like this, to bike across the USA.

I bought some cheap gear for the trip, but most of the things I used were old odds and ends from around the house.

I was labeled the “Hobo” of our posse. Rightfully so. I had the perfect bike…. if we were on a mountain biking trail. It wasn’t designed for bicycle touring, but it got the job done.

I used two backpacks leftover from my days in school, and I had a ten-foot security chain that was capable of towing a semi-truck. I had a cheapo 4-person tent that had sat in my parents’ garage for years. I bought a tarp and some bungee cords and I was nearly set.

I figured I would never be too far from civilization so if I really needed something I would be able to barter it somehow.

Far more important than any of these tangible items are the internal ones. First and foremost, you’ve got to have the desire. This is the root to nearly everything in life. If you really want to succeed at something, it should be something you love. If you have a firm desire to do something, things will start to fall into place. Where there’s a will there’s a way.

Second to desire is determination. If you’re like most of us, motivation will fade in and out. Some days you’ve got it, some days you don’t. Being determined and having a will of steel is what will keep you going. Whether it’s in school, at work, raising a family, or bicycling across the united states, this is the thing that will keep you moving forward.

Desire and determination are ten times more important than having the best gear or the most expensive bike. Those things will eventually get worn out or break. Pure determination will last a lifetime.