Introductions - Old Tourer Maybe Starting Again

I have done some long trips in the past and have the opportunity to maybe do a month-long tour somewhere this summer.

In 1978 I biked from Boston to Montreal on a 'Bridgestone' racing bike. I was not till Vermont that another cyclist made fun of me for having no real first gear.

The next summer I changed the gearing and did the 'bikecentennial' from Baltimore but veered off the path and ended up in Seattle.

The next year I biked from Seattle to LA.

A full 10 years later I bought a bike in East Berlin (before the wall came down) and took a very excellent and relaxed ride for a about five months ending up in Malaga on the south coast of Spain.

Now, I feel old, shy of 50, and it has been almost 15 years since my last trip, but find a month where the wife and kids and job and...... will let me go!

The encouragement on this board is good to see, any encouragement for me or recommendations for the month trip will be appreciated.

Joe

Hello joesteam, those are some great sounding tours you did. For this one, were you looking to stay in the US, perhaps venture into Canada/Mexico, or go overseas?

I've often thought that travelling up British Columbia to Alaska via the AlCan Highway would be a wonderful tour, and quite do-able in a month. I've travelled part of it, and it's gorgeous country.

Welcome to BF!

East Hill

It is funny you mentioned Canada and Mexico. My first choice was Central America, but I have been reading that solo bike travel may be not a good choice if I don't want to loose my money or life. With a partner I would feel much more comfortable.

Now I am looking into Canada/Alaska etc. This looks pretty cool, and that brings me to my other (personal) problem. I really don't like biking when its really cold. Maybe I never had the right gear? Regardless, this is where I am focusing my attention now. Maybe a mix of ferries and biking on the Alaska coast with a week or two in the Yukon....

Thanks for the encouragement!

Oh, trust me, it's not cold at the moment! If you were to leave during the next few weeks, you would find it reasonably pleasant. There would be bugs, though. Big mosquitoes...:( . I'm not saying you would be dropping dead from heat exhaustion, but it's not terribly cold.

East Hill

Hello Joe and welcome to BF.


Now, I feel old, shy of 50...
50??? You're just a kid. There are LOTS of folks on BF older than you and many of them are still "young". :)

Actually, I said "shy of 50", every year counts! But what makes me feel old is that I have not done a long tour in 15 years.

We need to help get you back out on the road then, eh?

East Hill

We need to help get you back out on the road then, eh?

East Hill

Well, I have started commuting and some longish day trips. Now I find I have a month and thinking of a tour, if I don't find a job first.

What month?

East Hill

I need to buy stuff and find a place to go. Got the 'family approval'. The longer I wait, the more I feel guilty about not working....

Okay, I'm going to step out on a limb here, and TELL you to go from Vancouver BC to Skagway, AK. In two weeks.

How's that? Do not feel guilty...

East Hill

So, one poster: Jamawani; has recommended me to do the SAME TOUR. It must be great.

You can see our discussion on: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=4807515#post4807515 in the tours section.

Wow! I did not know I was in a parallel universe there :) . I've been further up British Columbia than most Americans, and it's gorgeous up there. I've also been to Skagway and the Yukon and been mightily impressed. I think you would enjoy that very much.

East Hill

Thanks for your help! One more question....
I need to gear myself up. Here in NYC there are plenty of places, but it would be almost easier for me to do this in Vancouver (or maybe even Seattle). Do you think this may be a good idea (I would not have to break down the bike and stuff to fly out), and do you have any preferred places that I could get a good 'packaged' deal?

Thanks again...

Seattle is the home of REI. They would have pretty much anything you need. Others may chime in with opinions, and you might want to try posing this question in the Pacific Northwest regional forum.

East Hill