Fifty Plus (50+) - Been doing some thinking about this summer...

Out on the bike today, doing some thinking.

Thinking of maybe figuring out how to arrange a one-week bike trip. Solo.

Thought maybe of taking the train up to Santa Barbara and biking back to San Diego. Maybe camping along the way, maybe staying at Motel 6 so I can shower up.

Need to spend some time on the touring forum, I suppose.

Something about the day got me to thinking...

Of course, immediate questions came to mind: what bike, what route, how safe is this, am I nuts, and so on. But that's half the fun -- finding the answers. (Already have one answer. I am nuts.)

I'm just doing some thinking...

Don't think about it- Plan your route and go. At least that way we could have 7 days of peace.


I would suggest a 3 day trip initially. If you have a tent then take it but Everything you carry is going to slow you down. Don't try and carry it on a backpack either Get a pannier rack and bags. Or even better would be a BOB trailer.

Only way to see if you can hack it is try it so when are you going?? You seem to do everything else on the spur of the moments so why change now.

Don't think about it- Plan your route and go. At least that way we could have 7 days of peace.


I would suggest a 3 day trip initially. If you have a tent then take it but Everything you carry is going to slow you down. Don't try and carry it on a backpack either Get a pannier rack and bags. Or even better would be a BOB trailer.

Only way to see if you can hack it is try it so when are you going?? You seem to do everything else on the spur of the moments so why change now.

The three day idea is a good one. I'll ignore the end of your post since you're clearly still in a foul mood from the idiot cyclists. :D

:D

Proper planning involves a touring specific bike. I suggest a Cannondale T2000, or maybe T800, of course there is the Fuji Touring. You could do a build up on a Surly LHT. Then there any number of custom builders. The possibilities are endless. Then there is the choice of racks and panniers. Front as well as rear. WTH get a handlebar bag too! ;)

Can you access the internet from your cell phone? An update at each rest stop with photos would keep us from missing you! :D

Phooie. How about some panniers and rack for the Cypress if you want to camp? Or, just a credit card trip with a motel. Perhaps your first trip should be a weekender. Have somebody drop you off 60 to 80 miles away-- whatever distance you like-- and pedal back on in. If you have the camping gear then great. If not, motel it. Bet you'll want to do it again. Such a little sampler ride within the next month seems one way to start. If you could find a riding partner, so much the better. Maybe a few hills, some scenery, some good eats along the way..........

Hey Gary, that's exactly what I'm trying to set up, I think it would be fun.

Out on the bike today, doing some thinking.

Thinking of maybe figuring out how to arrange a one-week bike trip. Solo.

Thought maybe of taking the train up to Santa Barbara and biking back to San Diego. Maybe camping along the way, maybe staying at Motel 6 so I can shower up.

Need to spend some time on the touring forum, I suppose.

Something about the day got me to thinking...

Of course, immediate questions came to mind: what bike, what route, how safe is this, am I nuts, and so on. But that's half the fun -- finding the answers. (Already have one answer. I am nuts.)

I'm just doing some thinking...

You can use any bike! It’s a 200 miles trip. You will ride for less than 30 miles a day!
You can walk from San Diego to Santa Barbara in one week :)

I was joking guys! Can't anybody take a joke?


Gary, I agree with the credit card route. Stay at hotels/motels. Buy your meals. It will be a lot of fun. Credit card touring allows you to use whichever bike you are most comfortable on today.

Go out there and have fun!

OK, here's another option. Multi-day big group rides, many with camping and/or hotel options http://www.bikingbis.com/blog/_WebPages/statebicycletourindex.html

You go at your own pace over quiet roads. Prices are usually quite reasonable. There's always interesting company along the way, and somebody else hauls your gear. What could be better?

I've done a bunch, and they're always a blast. If you want to consider a very nice ride in Indiana, let me know. Monobarocho (Hope I spelled that right) is doing it and so am I. www.triri.org.

Fill that camelback with beer and hit the road,you,re only young once Gary.You might also consider bringing the raincoat-cam.
Anyone know of a charity that Gary could endorse on this Indecisive Crosstate Marathon?A "save the sea urchins" jersey?

........ If you want to consider a very nice ride in Indiana, let me know. Monobarocho (Hope I spelled that right) is doing it and so am I. www.triri.org.

Yeah man, am on target to go! I have already gotten reservations at the inns. Slightly more expensive but I just didn't want to have to wake up in a soggy tent. I still have the plane reservation to book but that's it. I haven't decided which bike to take. I'm really looking forward to it.

DG..you can get a small pannier rack that fits a seat tube and will hold 20 pounds or more. Two small rear panniers, a rack bag, and a handlebar bag will take you a long ways on a credit card. You don't really need a lot of clean clothes because, even if you stink, you're not gonna' run into people who know you.

Go for it. I have toured for years, and this is the first year I will actually do it on a real touring bike (Cannondale T800). Every other year I used a hybrid and had a ball. First year I went, I used a soft cooler from Walmart and bungeed it to the back rack! That was where everything went. You can get a cheap set of panniers from Nashbar (http://www.nashbar.com), and a fairly inexpensive rack and you'll be good to go. I don't camp, I stay in hotels. I'd do a three day first, to get an idea of how everything works for you. Touring forum is nice. I hang out there once in a while. You will love it though. I am doing two this year and can't wait.

Hey DG, that sounds like a fun thing to do. Just do it and share with us the experience. I come across a guy that biked around the world, just dont have the link to direct you right now but there's a guy going to pedal across oceans. Pedaling at sea thats it. Here's the link:

http://www.adventuresofgreg.com/HPB/HPBmain.html

And here's another pedal nut:

http://www.theoceans.net/news.php?id=15797

I been thinking on pedaling out to LA on a bicycle too, camping and hotel for some soft bed and hot showers. I know it's been done before and that's quite interesting and a challenge.

This will be the best thing you've ever done on a bike. OK, or the worst. But no, it will be the best. Short tours are wonderful for figuring out yourself, and the bike, and how they connect. The train is the best. I am taking a three-day trip myself this summer that involves taking a train to my jumping-off point. I can't wait. It's a mixture of excitement and fear of tackling the unknown -- something we all should keep doing. Go for it!!

I have not bought much gear yet but I plan to ride the Wabash Trace Nature Trail in Iowa and the Katy trail in Missouri. I plan on doing an overnight ride first to check out the gear. I plan on camping.

Crazyguyonabike.com is a good place to look for packing lists.

Do it. It doesn't matter much how it turns out. It will be an experince you'll never forget and well worth the effort made.

Every one convinced you yet? 3 days seems to be better- but if you start thinking about it and planning it too much. It will get complicated. Find some pannier bags and a rack. Fit them- decide if you are camping or Motel and go.

Only other option is as Jet said- Find an organised trip where you will be out with other riders- but this will cost. So will motels and paniers but a good way to get into prolongued bike trips.

And that ride as in www.triri.org. sounds good.

One weekend do a simple out and back. That's a pretty painless way to get a feel of what equipment you'll really need.

A "supported" tour is an excellent way to acquaint yourself with touring. As a former NBTDA member tour director, I feel compelled to offer these links:
http://www.nbtda.com/
http://www.bicycletour.com/
There are many more websites but this will give you an idea....there are thousands of supported camping & credit card tours and where/when options available.
Good Luck!

Don't think about it- Plan your route and go. At least that way we could have 7 days of peace.


As Larry the Cable Guy says, "Now that's funny, I don't care what anybody thinks."

DG, pack up and go for it! You'll have fun.

Hmm. Maybe those of us in So Cal could join DG (one rider a day, say) to ferry him through our local areas?
In any case, I would suggest staying cheap motels rather than camping. Less gear to carry, more sleep at night.

In any case, I would suggest staying cheap motels rather than camping. Less gear to carry, more sleep at night.

And showers in case you meet someone along the way you want to smell less foul for. :)

I am considering an over nighter as my first "tour". Ride about 40-50 miles stay in a hotel and ride back the next day.

Maybe I should check this out. It's even my size.

Touring bike (http://sandiego.craigslist.org/bik/315575005.html)

Maybe I should check this out. It's even my size.

Touring bike (http://sandiego.craigslist.org/bik/315575005.html)

WAY overpriced for such an old beer can bike. Oddball shifters. 27" wheels. (these things are OK, but they decrease the value). If I was in love with it I might offer $200.

Do it! Do it! Do it!

Maybe I should check this out. It's even my size.


I wouldn't get it. I bought a NEW 2006 Cannondale T800 for less than that a few months ago. I have seen some Trek 520's popping up on Craigs List the past few weeks for far less than that.

Is it a 23" (58.4 cm) or is it a 56 cm?

You can buy a new Fuji Touring or Cannondale T800 for that money and have some left over for panniers.

I agree with the $200 range for the bike. And I would immediately put some decent shifters on it.

To me, touring is the ultimate bicycling experience. You get to visit places and view scenery at a perfect pace. You will find that you have all day to get to your destination, and, unless you set a rigorous schedule, you will have time to smell the flowers and absorb your environment. My longest rides are all while touring, despite having a loaded bike, because I just take my time and have nothing to get back to.

I have done two 16-day tours and about 6 shorter ones. You can't help but get some rain, some headwinds, some hills, some idiot drivers, and get lost, so there are moments of frustration. But there is also a great deal of satisfaction from touring because you survive those setbacks.

On the final day of my 2003 tour along the Rhine and Mosel rivers I remember saying to myself "whoopie, I get to go on a bike ride today". :)

If you aren't camping, you can do this on any bike. You can get a seatpost rack, handlebar bag, and backpack if you need it. 8 of us are taking the train to San Luis Obispo this Saturday and riding back to SFV in 5 days with side trips. I'm the only one with a touring bike, and one of the guys has a BOB trailer. I have gone from home to Julian and back in 5 days, you could make Julian an overnighter. If your hybrid will accept a pannier rack, that's another thought. The route you have in mind is good except going through L.A. You could P.M. Magicant on the SoCal forum for a route, he has a couple for that. Feel free to P.M. me for route slips from SB or even SLO.

If you aren't camping, you can do this on any bike. You can get a seatpost rack, handlebar bag, and backpack if you need it. 8 of us are taking the train to San Luis Obispo this Saturday and riding back to SFV in 5 days with side trips. I'm the only one with a touring bike, and one of the guys has a BOB trailer. I have gone from home to Julian and back in 5 days, you could make Julian an overnighter. If your hybrid will accept a pannier rack, that's another thought. The route you have in mind is good except going through L.A. You could P.M. Magicant on the SoCal forum for a route, he has a couple for that. Feel free to P.M. me for route slips from SB or even SLO.

I don't know why I always forget that LA is just north of me, and I truly don't want to cycle through that city. But going east means hitting the hills and mountains, and I'm not at all prepared for that. I've been riding flat urban streets for two years.

I'll start thinking about the Julian idea. It could be an out and back -- it's about 56 miles from my door by surface streets (including CA-67 and CA-78). But there are some jppe-like hills along the way. Thinking out loud here, perhaps I could do a three day trip to Julian, finding a motel half way the first day so that I can tackle those hills, and coming back the third day all the way since they're mostly downhill in that direction.

I sound like such a wuss. Maybe I'm underestimating my conditioning, because I haven't tested myself on any 'real' hills.

But I could do this on any bike which is good.

And, of course, the main reason Julian exists is: PIE! Every fall everyone in San Diego all go there for the apple pie!!!

[QUOTE=Digital Gee]
I sound like such a wuss. Maybe I'm underestimating my conditioning, because I haven't tested myself on any 'real' hills.
QUOTE]

Wuss? I don't think so. Back in the day, I thought the 15-mile ride to my girlfriend's house was such an incredible challenge that I had to spend the night.

Park at Ramona (or Santa Ysabel - get some of the GREAT bread)

Ramona (Santa Ysabel) > Julian > Cuyamaca > Laguna.

Total Est. Distance from Santa Ysabel: 26.91 miles (but some decent hills!)

Stay the night in Mt. Laguna (http://www.lagunamountain.com/)

Return.

MAP (http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp?go=1&do=nw&rmm=1&1gi=0&un=m&1da=-1.000000&1rc=A5XAX&cl=EN&qq=1ADqpk24ofCtjDNaNleDddo%252fo4zn5F5KY%252ff0rAu9OLaJGbLUtwinfzCBibHLi51KFVDuFQ9QQkyCGvd46lDqhaKAC hU3Ah%252b51XgHffopru3Urt5rq4HG%252ft12NHRJ2D91qOJe29T%252bw43KevzldS6YjUG8a6HAAaaU&ct=NA&r=f&1si=gaz&rsres=1&1y=US&1ffi=&1l=HKGFVdSlJOoD%252fxgV4EApRg%253d%253d&1g=Aqy3O8sZJlg2l%252bCDWSPJ9g%253d%253d&1pl=&1v=CITY&1n=San+Diego+County&1pn=&1a=&1c=Santa+Ysabel&1s=CA&1z=&2y=US&2ffi=&2l=&2g=&2pl=&2v=&2n=&2pn=&2a=10678+SUNRISE+HWY&2c=MOUNT+LAGUNA&2s=CA&2z=91948&panelbtn=2)

Another thought; you could take the train as far north as you like, cycle back the the SFV, and take the train home. This would avoid the crappy ride through L.A.
Just go try some hills, try to find a rythym and stay within yourself.If you have low enough gears, you can climb long grades with a touring load. Just stop if you need to and stretch. Some say you can get ready for hills by doing hard efforts on the flats.
Oh, yeah, pie is the lure of Julian, along with a couple great restaurants.

WAY overpriced for such an old beer can bike. Oddball shifters. 27" wheels. (these things are OK, but they decrease the value). If I was in love with it I might offer $200.

With the lights and Brooks saddle, if it rides well, and is as advertised, I would go to $300 for a local bike like that... and it's my size too.

I sound like such a wuss. Maybe I'm underestimating my conditioning, because I haven't tested myself on any 'real' hills.


A couple of years ago, my biggest hills were overpasses... Then I took a cycling course for fun at Chabot Community College, and a couple of the rides had real hills. I almost decided to play hookie, but found that if I took my time I could climb the hills... or at least most of them.

We're all old enough that we know there is no shame in making the attempt and having to get off and walk once in a while... especially if the reward is pie. :D

To me, the lure of touring is that when you say you are touring, it is OK to use the granny gear and take your time. If you are stuck in the role of "roadie" you have to (according to some) try to go fast, and never get off the bike.

Some people get hung up on whether you can say you climbed a hill if you stop and rest... my thought is that I climbed the hill as long as I got to the top with the bike. :)

I haven't read the rules, but I suspect that the ONLY requirement for getting King of the Mountain points in the Tour de France is to get to the top of the hill before the other riders... You're not racing, so beating others doesn't matter... but I'll bet the KOM points are awarded to the first person to the top, even if they stop and rest every 100 yards... or walk part of the mountain.

I have heard that in Cyclocross for steep hills it is the norm to get off the bike and carry it up...

So what point am I trying to make? You don't need to hold yourself to anyone else's standard, especially when racers don't have the standard. :)

Go ride some hills... It will be painful, but it could be fun too!

And if you get tired, or see a nice view, stop and enjoy the journey... it is all about the journey, and the pie.

Hmm. Maybe those of us in So Cal could join DG (one rider a day, say) to ferry him through our local areas?
In any case, I would suggest staying cheap motels rather than camping. Less gear to carry, more sleep at night.

Not a bad idea. I'd be happy to ride the Santa Barbara to say... Malibu leg.

I thought the 15-mile ride to my girlfriend's house was such an incredible challenge that I had to spend the night.
excuses, excuses! :rolleyes:

DG, I have toured on touring bikes and toured o racing bikes. It's all fun. But its not fun touring in traffic. So how about taking the train up to SB and riding out of that area for a week or so, then take the train back home. The LA/OC metroplex is not the funnest bike ride in the country. Also, make sure you go out and practice spinning up some hills. Riding a loaded bike sometimes calls for more Patience than fitness, you just go slower than normal and accept it.

Just worked this out. 3 day trip and you should be able to manage 60 miles a day. If you up that to 70- in 3 days you will have done a double century. Just like you though- You have done a metric but not a full century. To now be so near to a double century and without thinking about it- When do you go?

My last thought. My wife and I belong to the SW Michigan Economics Club. They have a speakers series each year. Some are pretty high profile. This year we had Colin Powell, Tom Ridge, and John McCain (in a month or so) to name a few. Last night we were supposed to have Mikhail Gorbachev, but he had surgery so Peyton Manning came and spoke. He summed up his thoughts on a football season, and it is totally true about touring (and life in general) when he said it's not about the destination, it's all about the journey. So, have something in mind, but just go and enjoy. Don't worry about how many miles you do or need to do. Just enjoy the trip.

A couple of years ago, my biggest hills were overpasses... Then I took a cycling course for fun at Chabot Community College, and a couple of the rides had real hills. I almost decided to play hookie, but found that if I took my time I could climb the hills... or at least most of them.

We're all old enough that we know there is no shame in making the attempt and having to get off and walk once in a while... especially if the reward is pie. :D

To me, the lure of touring is that when you say you are touring, it is OK to use the granny gear and take your time. If you are stuck in the role of "roadie" you have to (according to some) try to go fast, and never get off the bike.

Some people get hung up on whether you can say you climbed a hill if you stop and rest... my thought is that I climbed the hill as long as I got to the top with the bike. :)

Go ride some hills... It will be painful, but it could be fun too!

And if you get tired, or see a nice view, stop and enjoy the journey... it is all about the journey, and the pie.

I agree with your take on climbing those hills. As I told one of the members of our riding group - "I've never seen a hill I couldn't walk" :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

There's nothing wrong with walking your bike up a hill. I did it, once. Last year. Then I came back last week with lower gears and an attitude and I climbed every foot of that sucker. Next year I'll do it with no stops.

Well, it's been oft-reported by moi -maybe too oft-reported- that I have to climb if I want to ride out of town and the climbs -for me, anyway- are no joke. So, I have to stop -more than once- on that 2+ mile 6% hill but I stone guarantee you that, stops or no, when I hit the crest and see the SF Bay and East Bay hills in all their glory, the stops are forgotten and all I feel is victorious.

Well, my LBS thinks that of all my bikes, the Cypress is the best suited for some light touring. I ride 700x32s, which they think is about right, and it has a "good enough" granny gear, and I've already got a rack on the back to hang panniers if I get them.

So I think I will go touring with this bike when the time comes.

http://www.rudysbikes.com/RCF4/CypressSX4.jpg

[QUOTE=Digital Gee]
I sound like such a wuss. Maybe I'm underestimating my conditioning, because I haven't tested myself on any 'real' hills.
QUOTE]

Wuss? I don't think so. Back in the day, I thought the 15-mile ride to my girlfriend's house was such an incredible challenge that I had to spend the night.

Why of course you did. 15 miles is a really really long way. I mean you needed the "rest" didn't you?:D

Well, my LBS thinks that of all my bikes, the Cypress is the best suited for some light touring. I ride 700x32s, which they think is about right, and it has a "good enough" granny gear, and I've already got a rack on the back to hang panniers if I get them.

So I think I will go touring with this bike when the time comes.

http://www.rudysbikes.com/RCF4/CypressSX4.jpg


Good choice on bike but I thought yours was a faster colour (Red)

Something ate half of the spokes!

Good choice on bike but I thought yours was a faster colour (Red)

No, you're thinking of The Diego. That one's red.

http://www.pbase.com/digitalgee/image/74177200/medium.jpg