Bicycle Touring How-To: What We Learned

Bike Touring Lessons Learned So Far: Two Days and 84 Miles

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Tom, are you saying that if you put your heart into it your body will follow? Now having just turned 50 I can realistically say that I have revived my sense of adventure and in the light of your inspirational writing will be incorporating the bike into these adventures, thanx for reminding me bud. I AM plotting the trip, when the ancient dog shuffles off. Have been doing Warm showers for a couple years. Got the gear and tried it out on a couple mini adventures one with the dog in a trailer, before he got too decrepit and camped wild.

And, funnily enough, I spent today going thru the wardrobe chucking most of the contents out. Last year I split with the missus after 26 years of marriage and 2 kids,gave my job up and moved in with my ailing father,acting as his fulltime Carer. The plan was to look after him for a short while,then sort out something with Social Services for him before going travelling…. That does not include food! Just need summat ,or someone, to give me that final shove…can you offer it me Tom? While these activities are normally lesser in scope as opposed to the usual long-distance bike races, they still make for good practice.

By joining, you get yourself accustomed to the pressure and mental stress that usually come with competitive sports. The more you get used to these things, the easier it becomes for you to manage your own training for long-distance bike riding. Too much hassle at home, too much needless worries and screens, too much fear! Booking the ferry to France this week with a friend! Well, I deleted my facebook and Twitter apps! About a roll a day to the end of the year.

Would almost-fill a pannier. I need my books and my maps. So, I hire a storage lock up. Oh ok, and my guitar. I really enjoyed reading it. Wish I could be more flexible and just take it easy like a good month of touring but, alas, we have responsibilities and limits on money, but it sure would be a lot of fun.

I also have a guidedog to consider. Anyway, you gave me a lot to think about, and I sure appreciate that! Loking forward to clearing out surplus stuff and tasks in the winter and starting afresh in the spring. I have a happy life already but the bits in here that can add to it …so much for the better! Click here to cancel reply. The truth about training for long-distance cycle touring is this: Allysse September 9, Tom Allen September 11, Brian M September 10, Jimmy Ceballos September 27, Blanche September 11, Kenny Fagan September 11, Larry Barnhill September 13, Tim Fisher September 13, Tom Allen September 13, Tim Fisher September 14, James September 25, Roger August 31, Jesse C March 13, Tom Allen March 14, Huguette March 25, Mark April 11, Pete April 20, Ron Hillberg September 14, Kelly Diggle September 14, Rob September 15, Gaetan September 16, Joseph September 17, Bram September 18, Tom Allen September 19, Elea July 16, Laureene September 23, Tom Allen February 7, Purak March 4, Cee May 8, NZ by Bicycle May 8, Markeff May 17, Terri May 18, Tom Allen June 1, And we have lift-off!

Oscar Jimenez September 2, We learned that with patience and a bit of tenacity, people can do incredible things. These improvised solutions have also become some of the most memorable moments of our trip. So along with the funny imagery to reflect on, I also learned not to doubt Boris when he has an idea about how to use a set of bungees and some string. If you have a clear goal and convey your honest intentions, people will listen and work with you — all it takes is the simple act of asking.

We are pretty far from Olympic athletes or avid bike racers — we gained most of our biking strength from being on the tour and went from being tired after 40 mile days to feeling like rock-stars after 70 mile days. At one event, one of the attendees said to us that if you can bike for 40 miles in a day, you can go cross-country on a bike.

When I was traveling for a few months in Africa last year, a fellow traveler shared a tip with me: Instead, grab a Coke, a beer, a snack and just relax for a few minutes first. Then fixing the issue becomes a much simpler and less stressful task. To solve problems well, you need to be able to gain a bit of perspective on your situation first and taking a break helps you do just that.

The truth is, sooner or later, even with spectacular scenery and the most engaging riding partners, you can get bored. Having an audiobook or a podcast is an awesome way to keep yourself engaged and actually learn something while you are on the road. A special thanks to Stephen King for many hours of listening pleasure! As our trip had a specific work purpose, we had to carry certain equipment like laptops, batteries, promotional materials, and so on.

We have a slide in the presentation that we show throughout the trip of a cyclist taking a break while admiring a beautiful sunset.

Sure, touring can be like that sometimes, but it can also be hot, tiring, and challenging — all of which can lead you to question yourself for starting up the whole business in the first place. When Anna was injured in the middle of the trip, I spent a few weeks riding alone through Iowa and Nebraska. To tell you the truth, it was scary at first — especially because these were the least populated states we have encountered. After all, how often are we really, truly alone in our lives? However, after the first few days, it no longer seemed so daunting or isolating.

What I’ve Learned From Bicycle Touring

I found silence to be enjoyable, self-reliance to be invigorating, and myself to be even more attuned to my surroundings. I consider myself lucky to have a partner who is incredibly strong-willed, good-natured, and fun to be around.

Thank you all for your wonderful support and encouragement over the last two and a half months. Reading your comments, meeting you in person in different cities, and experiencing amazing hospitality from many of the people whom we met were the true highlights of this whole trip. Great to see your final posts! Congratulations on a great accomplishment! Hope to see you two again sometime. A long way from your first stop in West Chester, PA. It has been fun watching your progress and adventures. I hope we can invite you back to West Chester to present your experiences to Sierra Club members and friends.

Five Things I’ve Learned from Bicycle Touring

Perhaps next year after you catch your breath. What an incredible journey!

These lessons are very thoughtful. I am glad you are back but I will miss your posts. Congratulations on a fantastic accomplishment. Your grandchildren will want to hear this story over and over again. Your email address will not be published. Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

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We never, ever sell or share the list. The List Blogspeditions How To. Great Allegheny Passage starting marker in Pittsburgh. At mile zero in Pittsburgh. Related Posts Prepping, Packing, Shopping: Day 10 and Done.

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