Touring - New to touring

I'll soon be starting my first cross country trek (US transam) and would like to gather any last minute advice that might come in handy. I'm a bit unsure about my gear for example, and I have friends who have warned me about dogs and other animals running up for random attacks.

I'm mostly concerned about the camping situation. My budget is somewhat limited, and I would like to stay away from the pay sites without sacrificing security, if that is even possible. I'll be cooking my own meals to save some money.

I'll be riding a Gary Fisher Joshua mountain bike with upgraded components and lightweight rear suspension. I realize this isn't the typical touring bike, but it is comfortable and light weight. Also, I'll be riding slicks to lighten to resistance a bit.

I am really stoked about the trip and have been planning for a few years now. I've postponed a few times, but as a 33 year old, I'm beginning to think now or never. I'm doing the trip solo, which also concerns me because I've never been isolated for 3+ months. Friends who have done it say it is a worthwhile experience, and having done a few 5 day tours, I expect they are right.

Well, any last minute advice would be greatly appreciated. Sure wish I had found this forum a few months ago. Lots of great information here.

you will meet other cyclists going both your direction and the opposite you should talk to them ask questions about the road ahead camp sites etc. there are many places to camp free or cheep as you travel cross country, withen a couple weeks time you will be a veteran keep a positive and open mind the small towns are friendly many have city or town parks and cyclists are invited to camp free or cheep the smaller towns are best 200 to 800 people many people will be interested in what you are doing you may get invited to dinner or a place to stay

ask Joe to set you up with a on line journal so you can post your experiances as you travel public libararys are great to get e mail and post to keep in touch with friends and family we all wish you well on your journey and want to read about it.

dogs ... well some will chase you some will not you will develope a stratagy for them keep food out of your tent at all times keep just one bag on the bike for food and other oderous items ie soap tooth paste food etc so when in bear country you have just one bag to tie up a tree or put in the bear box or up the pole. racoons are also truoble some ask others about them at a \each place you camp and put your food out of reach

most of all have the time of your life this will make lasting changes to you keeping a journal is priority have fun ride safe
catfish

Originally posted by Spokes
<snip> but as a 33 year old, I'm beginning to think now or never. <snip>
Absolutely go, but you have LOTS of time. My uncle did the BIG ride for
American Lung at 70. They did it in 45 days and it included 13 centuries.
He's a tough old bird.

Do a 2/3 day shakedown tour before you start to test your bike/luggage/gear. Even if you camp in your garden you will still get lots of useful experience about what you can take or leave.

Before my first tour in early 2000, I did an overnighter testing all my gear out and the experience generally. I found a place to camp not too far from home (just in case anything went wrong). The things I learned on that trip were invaluable for when I 'went live' a month or so later.

First off, thanks for all the replies. Any advice is helpful and appreciated. Touring the transam is a huge leap for me and the uncertainties are a bit intimidating. My 150 mile tours are a weekend thing, a 4k+ mile tour will be my life for 3 months, and it's nice to hear from others who have done it. Thank you.

This weekend, I'm doing a dry run to Ocean City from Philly, fully loaded, 75 miles/day. Great idea to do this prior to the live run. Anything that might go wrong, should go wrong in on that trip, so I expect to have at least some experience and insight by the time I embark on the big one.

Oh, the dog issue. One of my biking buddies was nearly attacked by a pitbull while touring the transam in Kentucky. He thwarted the attack by pelting the dog with Halt!, and when that didn't work, he got him with pepper spray. The pepper spray dropped him in his tracks. He says he didn't even hit it directly.

It's been recommended to me to just camp in the woods, but once I hit bear country, try campgrounds. Good advice I think. The last thing I'll be wanting to hear after a long days ride is sniffing outside my tent. I'll be so tired, I think I would have to just let him eat me.

Thanks again everyone. From what I've been told, this experience will be one for the books, which is what makes the journal idea such a good one.

Spokes

Try a week biking trip first before you jump off into a 3 month deal. I also sense that you have alot of reservations. Take enough money to be able to use parks etc and even a motel room should you be caught in bad weather or just need a day or two of rest. Try going to adventure cycling site and reading some of the stories of people that have done the long trip.
Dont let others get you all hyped up without investigating all the facts pro and con.

Ride safe....Dudley

Hey Spokes... good luck on your tour and I'm sure you'll have an awesome life-changing experience.

Do you mind divulging your planned route from OC to Philly? I'm planning on doing a Philly to OC ride by the end of this month, so I'm trying to plan out a good route to get there, but I'm really unfamiliar with the roads around the shore area. Are you using the MS150 bike route?