Advocacy & Safety - Advise for someone starting?

I want to travel, and am thinking about either walking or biking around. I've never ridden a bike before, so not sure what kind to get. Any tips?

With the information you provided I think this should do:

http://www.industrialdiamondcbn.com/bicycle%20with%20training%20wheels.gif

Are you saying you don't even know how to ride a bicycle? We need to know that in advance,how far will you be travelling round trip? What kind of terrain will you be riding on?

If it is possible, you should borrow a bike from a friend or family for a few weeks. Make sure the bike is the correct size for you and in good working order - brakes work, tires are inflated to the maximum pressure indicated on the sidewall, etc. Then try riding regularly for a few weeks, gradually increasing the mileage. When you are able to ride more than 40 miles in approximately 3 hours, you will have a good idea if cycling is for you. At that point you will also likely have a feel for if you would prefer a road tourer, a mountain bike, a cross bike, etc. and you might also have a feel for whether you want to splash out on a new bike or a used bike.

The type of bike you will have a preference for will depend upon how long you want to travel - is it a week, a month or a year? Is your traveling restricted to a small geographical area or are you going to travel the world? Will you stick to roads or do you want the option of going off-road?

You are not really giving us enough information to answer your query.

Welcome to BikeForums.

Before even thinking about getting on a bike, make sure you have a helmet. Although some people claim it isn't necessary, if you're going to have a wreck and land on your head, it's most likely to happen when you're just starting out.

I like that pink bike, it would probably suit me well, and I agree about the helmet. I plan on landing on my head many times.

If you want more information, I guess I'll ramble some.. I'm about to graduate from college, and have no interest in joining the workforce just yet. I have no destination, but I was in Oregon once, and I thought it was beautiful. I might travel there... I'm in Virginia now.

I don't like the idea of traveling on roads, but is it even possible to get around without trespassing?

Thanks for the quick replies.

I say Brill needs to give us some background b4 we can help him, does he knows how to ride a bike? that's the focus point but he ain't saying much yet.

No, I don't know how to ride a bike. I'd rather that not be the focus though, since I wont be able to travel for about three months. There's time to learn.

Just looking for a general idea so I can buy something cheap off ebay, and any idea tips on traveling that you want to throw out. I was vague because I'm not sure what I want to know.

If an inexpensive bike is your choice for learning, any Xmart bike is better than from Ebay,since quality is not your priority plus you can save shipping cost as well.As for travelling,do you mean within a town/city or cross country from state to state?

I say Brill needs to give us some background b4 we can help him, does he knows how to ride a bike? that's the focus point but he ain't saying much yet.

I think he has posted all that is necessary to get a pretty good idea of his intent and I think my recommendation is solid.

I don't like the idea of traveling on roads, but is it even possible to get around without trespassing?


What are you planning to travel on, if you're not planning to travel on roads?



No, I don't know how to ride a bike. I'd rather that not be the focus though, since I wont be able to travel for about three months. There's time to learn.

Just looking for a general idea so I can buy something cheap off ebay, and any idea tips on traveling that you want to throw out. I was vague because I'm not sure what I want to know.

If you want to find out more about travelling by bicycle (or "cycletouring"), ask in the Touring Forum.

In that case with the bike in that link, his leg can compensate for the training wheels,instead with help from another person, he can find a safe area with any hill or incline,let the gravity do the magic,good luck.

What are you planning to travel on, if you're not planning to travel on roads?

If you want to find out more about travelling by bicycle (or "cycletouring"), ask in the Touring Forum.

I found some good links in that section of this site, thanks.

But for the road question, I have no idea? I have no destination, so it seems a little silly to me to stick to roads. Although, I'm under the impression that I wont be able to get very far without being forced onto them or into private property. It seems like simply being without a home or hotel in this country is a crime.

No, I don't know how to ride a bike. I'd rather that not be the focus though, since I wont be able to travel for about three months. There's time to learn.

Just looking for a general idea so I can buy something cheap off ebay, and any idea tips on traveling that you want to throw out. I was vague because I'm not sure what I want to know.If you want helpful advice, this subforum is not the place for that.

For bike advice, ask the question in the Classic and Vintage subforum. For touring advice, ask the question in the Touring subforum. For general advice, ask the question in the General Cycling Discussion subforum.

For bad attitude and ideology, ask your question in this subforum.

First, learn to ride a bike. There's no time like the present. Maybe, borrowing a bike from a friend or relative is a good idea, as long as the thing fits you.

Next, I get the impression that you intend to tour. Check the touring forum. They've got all the answers. If you're looking for cheap, I guess we'll have to know what counts as cheap for you. You could, conceiveably, ride a nice old ten speed from a garage sale if you can make it support racks. If you're graduating from college and you intend to go cross-country, I hate to break it to you, but you're going to be on roads. If that's not your thing, then try sticking to bike paths in your town for a while.

You'll have to develop and follow a plan. I mean, if you intend to tour on your bike for an extended period, you'll have to fund the adventure.

Must be nice to have the freedom to pack up and go on a bike trip.

That's my two cents. Good luck. Ride safely.

I found some good links in that section of this site, thanks.

But for the road question, I have no idea? I have no destination, so it seems a little silly to me to stick to roads. Although, I'm under the impression that I wont be able to get very far without being forced onto them or into private property. It seems like simply being without a home or hotel in this country is a crime.

You live in a city, right? Have you travelled much around your own area, outside the city? It doesn't sound like it.

In many places, once you get off the road, you are not on terrain that is conducive to riding a bicycle ... or walking either for that matter. Nevermind being without a home or hotel ... think about making your way across a pasture, or through a forest, or up and over a mountain. Roads tend to be the convenient way to get around and through those sorts of things.

And really ... ask these questions in either the Living Car Free or Touring forums. This kind of topic has nothing to do with Advocacy.

I want to travel, and am thinking about either walking or biking around. I've never ridden a bike before, so not sure what kind to get. Any tips?


you may get the help you need in the touring forum or living car free forum. As far as long distance touring and avoiding main roads and using back roads, dirt roads and trails it would be possible with a good mountain bike set up for touring- possibly with a bob trailer rig off the back.

I started mapping a route that went from Western MA up through VT to the Canadian border using logging roads, fire roads, dirt roads and trails with very few sections on paved roads or highways just to see if it was possible. It would take some work (research and really good maps), mean a lot of miles and way more climbing than you might do otherwise to tour in this fashion consistently- but it could be a lot of fun and give you an amazing perspective of North America.

If you've never ridden a bike before and are literally starting from scratch then a mountain bike might be an easier bike for you to ride anyway. You can drop the seat all the way down and you'll be able to easily put your feet flat on the ground, the wider tires, upright style bars and frame geometry also makes the bike easy to handle for a beginner.

and it doesn't sound like you're a rider that's necessarily interested in speed and so, again, a mountain bike set up for touring might do the trick.

edit: you might check the mountain bike forum too. since your question involves off-road riding.

and it doesn't sound like you're a rider that's necessarily interested in speed and so, again, a mountain bike set up for touring might do the trick.

edit: you might check the mountain bike forum too. since your question involves off-road riding.The Mountain Bike subforum is more oriented towards current mountain bikes, though (I think). For touring what he'd need is an older rigid mountain bike. Classic and Vintage would still be the place to go for that (I think), although it couldn't hurt to ask in the Mountain Bike subforum.

There's a current discussion about touring on old mountain bikes beginning on this page (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=437438&page=3) in Classic and Vintage, although the subject deserves a thread of its own.

I want to travel, and am thinking about either walking or biking around. I've never ridden a bike before, so not sure what kind to get. Any tips?

Brill you are going to be offered all sorts of technical and other advice here when it comes to bicycles. Everyone is different when it comes to bicycles.

It comes down to this one simple thing. Comfort. Get a bicycle that you will feel comfortable riding... If you aren't comfortable, you won't keep riding. Go around, test ride some at the bike shops and decide what type of bicycle you want, if you do decide on a bicycle.

I wish you well.

...
and it doesn't sound like you're a rider that's necessarily interested in speed and so, again, a mountain bike set up for touring might do the trick.

Thanks for the advice buzzman, I think I'll try to find a crappy mountain bike to start off with.

To machka, I actually live in the country and am currently surrounded by trees. I would imagine it to be rough to get around with a bike, but with some detours and hopping off the bike at times, it looks possible... probably have to wear goggles so I don't get my eyes poked out too.

My only hesitation about not having a bike with me is that ~20 miles a day might be a little too slow in some places.

I think I'll try to find a crappy mountain bike to start off with.No need to do that. You can get a perfectly decent old mountain bike for very little money. For example, check some of the prices in this thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=437438&page=3)

No need to do that. You can get a perfectly decent old mountain bike for very little money. For example, check some of the prices in this thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=437438&page=3)

Cheap! I wont have to feel bad about breaking it when I try to dis/reassemble it!

But for the road question, I have no idea? I have no destination, so it seems a little silly to me to stick to roads. Although, I'm under the impression that I wont be able to get very far without being forced onto them or into private property. It seems like simply being without a home or hotel in this country is a crime.

If you are serious, this site may provide ideas that fit your needs and concept of travel:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/rails/

If you are serious, this site may provide ideas that fit your needs and concept of travel:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/rails/

Hahahah, I can only wish that I still could.

"Please tell me where, have all the hobos gone to.
I see no light a'burning down by the rusty railroad tracks.
Could it be, that time has gone and left them,
Tied up in life's eternal travelling sack."

With the information you provided I think this should do:

http://www.industrialdiamondcbn.com/bicycle%20with%20training%20wheels.gif

As a guy who taught himself to ride a bike at 40, I have some experience on the subject. There's no need for training wheels. The OP should be able to learn balancing without them.

As a guy who taught himself to ride a bike at 40, I have some experience on the subject. There's no need for training wheels. The OP should be able to learn balancing without them.

Yeah, but you were serious, not just talking about acting out a whim after dreaming up a "good idea" probably prompted by smoking a lot of weed.

I have a suggestion that might not go over too well. Ride a bus. You'll get to see a lot of countryside, you won't have to worry about trespassing, and you'll get to where you think you might like to go much faster.

I think the idea of riding across the country is a great one...for experienced riders. I don't think it's something you should take up two or three months after graduating college.

Whatever you decide, I hope it all works out well for you. Oh, and if you would like a hybrid of the two, take a folding bike with you on the bus!

I'm about to graduate from college,

Having a hard time grasping this.

Brill,

What is your budget? If you have $2k to spend then yes, check out the touring forums for bike and kit advice. Otherwise get a hardtail / ridgid fork department store bike, a rack, and a milk crate.

You will find a lot of inspiration and different bike gear used for what you're planning at www.crazyguyonabike.com. I also think http://www.bicycletouring101.com/ would be a good read if you're just starting out. Although Jamie, the person running http://www.bicycletouring101.com/ has a lot of kit and gadgets, he does mention DIY buckets etc etc.. He also describes your options for camping.

Learn to ride, for sure. But also get the tools and at least learn to fix your bike in the three months you have. There is a lot of information on the Internet. Sounds like you want to be self sustainable in your travels. Bike stores can be far apart, especially if you stay off the main roads.

Finally, do you camp? Can you go into the woods and sustain yourself for a couple days? If you do then pssft you're laughing even if you break down, at least you won't be miserable until you maverick your way out of whatever you get into :).

Anyways, browsing the above mentioned Web sites should show you the way. No real need to reply here since this is the wrong forum for these technical questions.

Welcome to bicycle touring!

I want to travel, and am thinking about either walking or biking around. I've never ridden a bike before, so not sure what kind to get. Any tips?

Hi Brill,

Cycling can be a good way to travel, so can walking with a backpack.

Here's an excellent introduction to bicycle camping:

http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/camping.htm

Here's a guy who took off when he was about your age, on an open-ended tour:

http://www.bikechina.com/heinzstucke1z.html

***

Bikes are not so good if you don't even have a trail to ride on. I've tried riding through forests with no trails, and it is a chore, especially with a heavily loaded bike. In most terrain, it just doesn't work out well -- though there are exceptions, and it can be done.

What tends to work better is to travel on trails or backroads (on paved roads that have little traffic, or on dirt roads, or combinations of these), and then go off the roads and trails, pushing the bike back into a more remote and well-concealed spot. It usually isn't so bad if you're just pushing the bike for a limited time, in order to get back to a good camping spot. Some of the best camping spots can be found this way. You can push or lift the bike over dead branches and other obtacles in the forest. You just don't want to be doing this all day, or for hours on end, in most areas at least. Fat tires help.

As far as vagrancy goes, you'll soon learn the ropes and get a better perspective on this. If you stay out in the open areas of the West, it's *much* easier to freecamp than it is in most other parts of the country, or near cities and towns, or in the more densely populated areas. There is a lot of open space, BLM and other public land in the West.

In some areas the cops and rangers are less friendly to people doing what you are planning to do; but in many of the wilder areas it is not a problem. You might ask around when you arrive in an area, to get a better read. You'll soon learn to discern where it's likely to be all right and where you might be fined. National Parks (like Yosemite) can have some difficulties. If a ranger catches you free camping in Yosemite Valley for example (especially with food and no bear canister), he or she is likely to be less than agreeable; and you'll probably be slapped with a large (at least several hundred dollars) fine, against which no arguments or pleading will change things for the better.

On the other hand, you'll have virtually zero problems in many other areas, assuming you play your cards reasonably well (Ken Kifer covers the essentials well, and gives a good idea of what is involved).

Once you've done the basic research, you'll learn a lot more -- and it will all become clearer -- by actually getting out there and doing it.

***

As far as a bike goes, it depends on how much you want to spend. If you want to keep the cost low, a quality (older vintage) used mountain bike is an excellent way to go. They can often be found at colleges and universities at the end of the school year. Just be sure you don't get a lemon, or one without the appropriate features (like the right braze-ons, and quality componentry that is in good condition). It would help a lot if you found someone knowledgable about bikes -- maybe a local bike shop employee, or a student who knows bikes well. These people can immediately separate the wheat from the chaff, while inexperienced people simply don't know how to judge, or don't have the right basis for it. I helped a friend in finding a good quality used mountain bike, and it was amazing how completely clueless the person was when it came to selecting a good one. There are various things to avoid, and others to look for -- and it takes some base of knowledge and experience to know what you are doing.

Local bulletin boards. newspapers, yard sales, and other avenues can help in locating something that will serve you well in your travels.

When I graduated college, I sold my bike to a fellow student who rode across much of the United States on it. It can certainly be done.

I would recommend good, solid, durable gear. It doesn't have to be expensive, just well made and reliable. Some of those old mountain bikes are great for touring.

***

The Great Divide Route might be worth a look.

There are lots of beautiful old logging roads in Oregon, and some beautiful areas in Idaho and Montana, among other states.

Dennis Coello's books are good. He has toured extensively, especially in the Western U.S.

You can also just go out an explore, and discover your own routes.

If you want to avoid roads, why not hike the Appalachian Trail? It runs through Virginia and it's a great place to journey without the need for a roof or much money.

The vietnamese used bikes for carrying supplies down the Ho Chi Minh trail. There is no need to know how to ride. It is easier to push if you extend the handle bar with a pole, so you can push with one hand on the back of the seat and the other on the handle bar extension.