View Full Version : Bicycle tours?
Ultralight
6-15-16, 1:42pm
Hey all, I have been kicking around the idea of doing an all day self-supported bike tour (pretty basic and comparatively easy) from one end of the major metropolitan area to the other.
Anyone on here done bicycle tours of any kind? Experiences? Thoughts?
Friend here just completed the Bubba Cross Country, CA to FL, and loved it. Blend of camping and motels with food and sag provided. She has done the cross country twice and is going to cross England next year.
She is someone who had the doctors telling her they needed to amputate her right leg 10 years ago and said she considered it several years later.
Know how to fix your tires and go for it.
Forgot to add everyone but one was over 50 and average age in the late 60s. Youngest rider was 22 and he came with his mom. Oldest was in the 80s.
Ultralight
6-15-16, 2:50pm
Friend here just completed the Bubba Cross Country, CA to FL, and loved it. Blend of camping and motels with food and sag provided. She has done the cross country twice and is going to cross England next year.
She is someone who had the doctors telling her they needed to amputate her right leg 10 years ago and said she considered it several years later.
Know how to fix your tires and go for it.
Forgot to add everyone but one was over 50 and average age in the late 60s. Youngest rider was 22 and he came with his mom. Oldest was in the 80s.
Wow! That is all very impressive. My darn-near-obese fat guy self ain't ready for a cross country trip, unless it is Monaco!
My friend was not thin and has really serious issues with the veins in her legs. Lots of pain and such. Doctors told her it was not doable. Just goes to show what determination can do. "Darn near Obese" is not an excuse but the expense of the trip with Bubba probably is. Still no reason not to go on all the local trips you can. My friend now tries to ride as much as she can every day and she also works full time. A 100 mile day trip does not seem impossible to her any longer.
If you are going from one end of a metro area to another I'd do some thinking and route planning about traffic and any bike lanes. I respect the reasons, but personally if I were to put a bike tour on my list I'd be looking more at a bike ride in the country just to stay out of busy streets if nothing else. I won't go on about it, but I've done a lot of bicycling and still do. There is a skill level to safely riding through busy areas that takes some time to acquire and I still don't like it if there is an alternative. My city is fairly bike friendly and there are a lot of dedicated bike trails that will get a person many places without getting in much traffic.
Ultralight
6-16-16, 7:31am
If you are going from one end of a metro area to another I'd do some thinking and route planning about traffic and any bike lanes. I respect the reasons, but personally if I were to put a bike tour on my list I'd be looking more at a bike ride in the country just to stay out of busy streets if nothing else. I won't go on about it, but I've done a lot of bicycling and still do. There is a skill level to safely riding through busy areas that takes some time to acquire and I still don't like it if there is an alternative. My city is fairly bike friendly and there are a lot of dedicated bike trails that will get a person many places without getting in much traffic.
We have greenways that span the greater metro area -- they are paved bike paths. Though I think some merge with a few roads briefly. Also I think some go through residential areas a little too, but mostly it is bike path.
I avoid big traffic like the plague. I take often longer routes just because they are safer.
My plan is to slowly build skill to ride on busier roads -- but again, only when there is no other option.
There is a non-profit organization here that has city riding bike instructions. They ride you through the city in various traffic contexts and teach you what to do. The cost is minimal but it is supposed to be quite helpful.
I paid and am suppose to leave tonight for a cross state ride. Sounded so fun in the dead of winter....now camping for 5 nights alone sounds terrible to me.:( SO this week I am filling my days with my own tour of sorts. I am biking the same amounts around my area each day as I would have on the tour. Except I get to return home each night!
Ultralight
6-20-16, 6:57am
I am biking the same amounts around my area each day as I would have on the tour. Except I get to return home each night!
Not bad at all!
On Saturday I rode my bike on a 20 miles trip. While to a pro touring cycling this sound like nothing, but I believe this is the longest distance I have ever cycled. I rode from my apartment to Griggs Reservoir. I rode through residential areas, the streets were mostly sleepy or not especially busy. There was also a small portion of dedicated bike path.
I could load up my fishing gear and a cooler on my bike and pedal to Griggs to fish. I'd be mighty tired by the time I got back though.
On my bike make the best day ever:)
UL, 20 miles is nothing to scoff at for sure. Congratulations. Although I'm getting up into the old geezer range and things come a little harder, I'm always surprised at how fast a person can get in decent bicycling shape with just a couple or few challenging rides a week. My rear end seems to get in shape slower than my legs, but that seems to toughen up with time, too. I have a couple of panniers that I picked up fairly cheap at an outlet store, which are nice. Takes any pack weight off the shoulders and the back doesn't sweat as much. I do over half my grocery shopping by bike in the warmer days. I wear padded Lycra shorts, which look a little goofy in public places, but I get over it pretty quickly.
Ultralight
6-20-16, 7:05pm
UL, 20 miles is nothing to scoff at for sure. Congratulations. Although I'm getting up into the old geezer range and things come a little harder, I'm always surprised at how fast a person can get in decent bicycling shape with just a couple or few challenging rides a week. My rear end seems to get in shape slower than my legs, but that seems to toughen up with time, too. I have a couple of panniers that I picked up fairly cheap at an outlet store, which are nice. Takes any pack weight off the shoulders and the back doesn't sweat as much. I do over half my grocery shopping by bike in the warmer days. I wear padded Lycra shorts, which look a little goofy in public places, but I get over it pretty quickly.
You are brave to wear those Lycra shorts!
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