Manifest Destiny

This is Taylor Zimmerman and his bike, Manifest Destiny, an old GT he repainted yesterday. It has a nice mix of functional components. It "shifted for shit", so I gave him a virtually new Shimano freewheel and an XTR rear dérailleur. He also replaced the chain and although he grumbles a little about the old Suntour shifters, he admitted it "shifts like butter". Within a few days he is going to catch a train to the Left Coast and embark on a ride across America. For those who think this is fool hearty, I would point out that Taylor has biked a number of long distant (500+ miles) rides on lessor machines. Last year he hiked north up the length of the Pacific Crest Trail, found a bike in a dumpster and rode down the length of the West Coast.  If his money holds out after he's done with the cross country, he's going to walk the Great Divide trail before fall. Taylor only works when he has to. He has an engineering degree, so when he runs dry he does a little contract work or teaches skiing. While the Destiny may not be a classic trekking bike, if anyone reading this thinks they can out ride him, my money will be on Taylor. (This means you, Barin.) He has the perfect body and the mental focus to make him a really tough rider. There are some rumblings about riding the Great Divide Race next year. He'll be walking it to familiarize himself with the lay of the land. If he does ride it, I'll see that he gets a little help with a proper bicycle rather than riding a dumpster find.