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2 Replies Last post: Jan 16, 2007 12:12 PM by gotanishiki  
Click to view helminger's profile Amateur
helminger
17 posts since
Jul 9, 2007
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Dec 15, 2006 5:50 PM

bike touring

my dad and i intend to bike across the country this upcoming summer. i wanted to check with my fellow active.com members to see if anyone has experience in bike touring and would be willing to share some info either via email or on the phone.

from a training standpoint, i'm pretty sure i have that covered as i recently did my first ironman. i have my dad on a general training program right now such that he will be ready by june.

but when it comes to the logistical side such as camping, routes, and what to bring, i'm not 100% there yet. we're taking a northern route, heading from seattle to wisconsin, then up through canada, and re-entering likely in upstate NY on our way to maine. we'd like to camp most of the trip, staying at motels once every 10 days or so.

so that's a little background info for you. any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

thanks,
mike
Click to view madfratt76's profile Rookie
madfratt76
1 posts since
Jul 9, 2007
1. Dec 22, 2006 10:54 PM in response to: helminger
Re: bike touring
Mike,

I just got back from a three month tour of Europe and it was incredible. My suggestion is to pack light and put everything in heavy duty plastic freezer bags so your stuff doesn't get wet. Depending on if you're towing a trailer or carrying panniers will determine alot too. I carried two rear panniers, one front map bag, and my sleeping bag, matress, tent, and some other stuff went in a stuff sack that I strapped to the rear rack. Which brings up another point in that along with my 200 lb frame, the weight on the rear tire popped about a dozen spokes during the trip and really wore on the tire. I got a class from my brother-in-law during the trip on how to replace a spoke and true my wheels and I got quite good at doing it myself considering I had never done it before.

As far as if you're physically ready for it? Uh yeah. I biked at most a couple hundred miles before my trip and covered around 3000 miles in the three months. I'd say an average of 40-50 miles a day with all the gear would be a good number to shoot for. At 50 mi/day you could do 3000 in two months.

Email me at frattingerd@yahoo.com. I'd love to hear about the trip and I'll give you some more info. If I didn't have this new job I'd consider taking the trip myself but gotta pay the bills somehow.
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Click to view gotanishiki's profile Rookie
gotanishiki
4 posts since
Jul 9, 2007
2. Jan 16, 2007 12:12 PM in response to: helminger
Re: bike touring
Have you checked out www.adventurecycling.org? My husband and I used to get maps etc. from them back when they were known as bikecentennial.

My best advice: 1)Have the capacity to carry a lot of water--water stops can be surprisingly far apart in that part of the country! 2) Have a good first aid kit with plenty of material to treat blisters and avulsions, and an ace wrap for the odd sprain or fracture (yep it happened to me) 3) Put on sunscreen even where you don't think you will need it (like on your back above your shorts) 4) Recognise that you won't always travel at the same pace or have the same energy levels & decide ahead of time how you will deal with that.

It should be a great time. Have fun!
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