Touring - Your bike touring fears?

I'm trying to get an idea of what scares people the most or concerns them the most when it comes to bike touring. I've put a poll about bike touring fears (http://travellingtwo.com/2678) up and if you don't mind participating that would be great. Thanks!

We could list some fears here too. Might make for interesting discussion.

I think my biggest fear is traffic. I don't feel safe unless I've got lots of bright yellow clothing on and a mirror.

I looked over your list ... and I've encountered and dealt with most of those things just fine.

- Traffic doesn't usually bother me.
- Finding a place to sleep at night can be a concern sometimes. I prefer campgrounds at the very least, but have made do with bush camping when necessary, and I've stayed in some rather interesting places along the way.
- The parts where I have toured solo, it has been a welcome relief rather than a source of loneliness.
- I've been ill on tour, and ill on other trips. Nothing like throwing up into an outhouse in the middle of nowhere every 15 minutes for hours on end. Nothing like ending up in hospital for 2 weeks in a foreign country with DVT. It happens. And planning a loose schedule helps deal with it.
- Planning and preparatin are part of the fun!!
- If I fail to finish a trip I've planned, it's only because I've made other plans along the way. I'm a big fan of keeping the schedule loose and allowing for deviation as the whims takes me/us.
- I've spent years riding in bad weather ... on tour and off. What's "good weather" again??
- My friends and family are all supportive.
- My route plans and other touring plans are usually quite flexible and may change as I go along, but I keep a pretty close eye on the money situation.
- So far I have taken the time off I wanted. Temp work is great!
- If the bicycle breaks down, I get it fixed. I had a fairly major breakdown on my 2004 Australia tour ... which actually turned out great! I ended up getting married to one of the characters in that story 4 years later. :D
- Getting lost is part of the fun ... you get to see things you didn't plan on seeing.

The only one I guess I might have concerns about is the safety factor. Rowan and I have been harrassed on one of our tours and that was a rather unpleasant situation which could have caused some real damage.

The work aspect of touring can be a bit of a downside ... although not really a fear.

Hi,

I miss "None" in that poll. I was robbed and injured in Zimbabwe. In Oman a car crashed into my bike. I cycled in Haiti. Was uncooled in Chile. Nothing of that scars me.

I didn't made a long tour (> 1 year). May be I will do once - but I don't know. I'm not frightened to find a job afterwards, but after years of freedom I don't want to work anymore for my daily living.

Thomas

The word fear is a bit strong, but I'd divide things into two categories:

= Before I depart. I'm getting my bike and all my stuff ready. What are the types of nagging things that I find myself worrying about
and anticipating for the trip. Some of the things you've listed would fit in that category, as would things like "do I really have the
right visa, immunizations, etc", "is Y really as dangerous as the state department says". It is also the time I'll add an extra item like
another sweater just in case. As I've gained experience and set up checklists - the scale of trip has to be at least as big or difficult
as something I've done for these fears to be very high.

= While I'm on the road. There are a set of concerns I'll watch going from day to day. Others on your list would fit more into that
category. Things like, "will those cracks in the rear rim actually cause failure - or can I make it to Z". For most of those, I'll live
from day to day, but circumstances can raise their "fear" concern for me.

I tend to be some of a planner and try to anticipate things. So for many of these things, I wouldn't put them as much in the fear scenario as something I'm going to think about - do a risk analysis in advance and think through possibilities as well as what I'll do if they happen. Hence, I might be addressing them or putting in mitigation strategies in advance. For a number of them, experience has also helped put them pretty low on the list.

I guess we're all made of pretty hardy stock here :)

You're right - maybe fear is slightly too harsh a word, but I do think a lot of people worry about different aspects of touring. At least that's our impression from having talked to a lot of tourists and would-be tourists who want to tour BUT.... (there's always a 'but')

Traffic doesn't normally scare me either (I don't live my life in fear) but if I have to pick one thing that I see as the biggest danger or worrying factor of touring then that's it and close-calls with cars have caused me the most worry overall on the road, I think.

I like the wording on your linked page better..."concern" instead of this thread where you use "fear."

My main concern would be unknown factors.

One of the big fears is dogs (I used to live in an area where feral dogs ran in packs...much more dangerous than a single dog.)

When i tour i don't line up campgrounds or accommodation before hand, i just wing it. At the end of the day I get groceries for dinner and next days breakfast and lunch. Then give myself 10km to find a super campspot. If nothing comes up after 10km, no parks, community center, curch, then it means bush camping. This is really my only fear when touring, but its more of an anxiety. After that 10km and finding nothing the thought of having to rough it kinda scares me.

My only "concern" is that I will get too old one day.But until then,I have none.

My concerns mostly involve everything surrounding the trip. I'm doing the pan am in 2011. My main concerns are
- will I be able to save up enough money?,
- will I be able to find work when I get back?
- will my girlfriend break up with me when I'm gone for 18 months?

In general I don't worry to much about trips. Things have a way of working themselves out when you travel.

Real fears that actually materialized while cycletouring:

- Fear of being rear-ended by a cycletourist
- Fear of smashing into an elk
- Fear of being washed into a river by an avalanche
- Fear of a raccoon stealing an entire bag of dinner rolls
- Fear that I am a bad cycletouring companion
- Fear of PTDS (Post Tour Depression Syndrome)

Fears that are so far just fears:

- Fear of giant spiders in Australia
- Fear of a shark attack in Australia
- Fear of jellyfish attack in Australia
- Fear that Australian spiders will emigrate to other tourist destinations

No "Eaten by Mountain Lion"? I was thinking about getting one of these:
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/3747/cougarft.jpg
Maybe that will scare the little buggers away.

I don't really have fears over touring. It really isn't that different from everyday life as a risk profile. I can get all worked up over stuff. Normally stuff where I perceive some kind of social pressure. And that can translate into various anxieties. If I keep a positive attitude, those things don't bother me. It is less about fear for me than just situations that end up feeling uncomfortable.

One fear that probably needs a separate category on the list is dog attacks... Normally those don't scare me, but they can certainly get my attention. I'm more likely to have a bad day over being angry about owners, than scared about dogs.

Obviously there is always some place that will get to you. I am very comfortable in traffic, but it would only take one bad accident, or possibly exposure to a crazy driving culture, to change one's feelings on that. And that same kind of thing applies to other risks, I have heard scary stories about feral dogs. So I would prefer to accept objective risks than higher levels of social risk. I would rather ride a mountain ridge, than Indian traffic from what I have heard.

Running low on water, finding a place to free camp each night, and losing something critical like a tire pump or wallet seem to my main concerns. I'll also admit to some concern about PTDS. It helps if I start to plan the next tour during the one I'm on.

I've found "It'll all work out" to be a reliable philosophy, assuming decent gear, sensible planning, and a bit of luck.

My biggest fear/concern when touring is a chronic injury. Luckily I haven't had too many problems, but did have to cut one tour short and take a few days off in another one.
It's my biggest concern because it's by far the most likely thing to happen to me, mostly because I have a history of injury, and have friends with similar problems.

My biggest fear is not finding a good bakery for my Sunday morning treat ( glazed fritters ).

Being caught out in the middle of no where in a lightening storm.

Some hard choices.. Stuff like tacoed wheel. Unrepairable breakdown.. that is number 1. . Next . 2 loosing control on a descent. 3. Place to stay. 4. Hit by car. 5. safety..
.. As to Reaction of family, friends.. I am proud of my bike obsession.. I like to brag about bikes... .. if they think it weird, so be it.

My biggest fear is not finding a good bakery for my Sunday morning treat ( glazed fritters ).

:lol: I can identify with that one :)

Being caught out in the middle of no where in a lightening storm.

I've been there ...

On this ride, that happened twice: http://www.machka.net/1000/1000km.htm

The first time we just hunkered down in the ditch ... the second time we found a barn to take shelter in.

Fears that are so far just fears:

- Fear of giant spiders in Australia


The big spiders are harmless ... it's the small ones that will get you. :lol:

I think that people who don't tour (i.e. parents, spouses, children etc.) are more worried about these tour-related concernes than the people actually doing the tour. It's perfectly normal to be concerned about something unpleasant happening; even being worried about it either before or during a trip.

I think it only becomes a problem if one allows that concern to keep him/her at home and not undertake a tour that he/she really wants to do and has planned for many months.

If a person rides lots in general ... commuting to and from work, riding centuries on weekends, etc. etc. etc. ... and if a person does short tours on weekends etc. .... that person will encounter situations which are less than pleasant, and will deal with them as they happen. This is part of the reason I highly recommend riding lots outside of touring in preparation for a tour.

Take bad weather for example ... I have ridden in just about every imaginable weather condition on commutes, weekend rides, brevets, etc. Because I have encountered such a variety of weather conditions, I have a pretty good idea what to wear in various weather conditions and how to deal with various weather conditions as comfortably as possible. So weather is no longer a fear or concern.

If getting lost is a fear ... go for long rides in your area on roads you haven't ridden before (out in the country), and then find your way back. Yes, you can bring a map. Explore your area ... if you see a road heading off to the left you've never ridden before, go ride it. Compare the road you're riding on with what the map indicates ... this is a great way to figure out what sorts of roads on the map might be suitable for cycling purposes. Learn how to use a compass and carry one with you. Learn how to read the sun position so you might be able to use the sun to determine approximate directions.

And when you plan a tour, plan in spare days here and there in case you take a wrong turn and have to back track, or in case the weather turns really bad and you decide to sit it out for a day, or in case you wake up sick one morning, or whatever.

I don't have to many fears when cyclotouring. I don't like getting lost, most of my tours have been on a schedule(something that I gotta stop doing) and so going 20ks the wrong way can really mess things up.
I have a new fear as well, when riding just before dark in Australia... damn kangaroos. I'm not worried about snakes or spiders, it's gonna be a kangaroo that kills me here, if anything. They jump right in front of you, every time. Im pretty sure that if I hit one doing 45k down a hill it's gonna seriously hurt.
I sometimes worry about how well I'll be recieved, but I've always found that people treat me better than I could ever expect. Just today my rear wheel fell apart, within 5 minutes I'd hitched a ride into the nearest city. That's pretty decent.

I sometimes fear having to quit a tour, but I don't mind having to quit when I feel like it's time.
as I'm writing this I've just booked train tickets to get me the hell out of Tamworth. I thought I'd picked a good time for a trip across NSW but as it turns out it's the hottest november in history, I've got heat rash, the tar on the road is melting and sticking to my tires, I'm not on schedule, and generally things just aren't "fun" anymore.
And then my rear wheel fell apart. Time to go home.
My friends think I'm real tough for cyclotouring but for a cyclotourist I hardly am.

I don't have to many fears when cyclotouring. I don't like getting lost, most of my tours have been on a schedule(something that I gotta stop doing) and so going 20ks the wrong way can really mess things up.
I have a new fear as well, when riding just before dark in Australia... damn kangaroos. I'm not worried about snakes or spiders, it's gonna be a kangaroo that kills me here, if anything. They jump right in front of you, every time. Im pretty sure that if I hit one doing 45k down a hill it's gonna seriously hurt.
I sometimes worry about how well I'll be recieved, but I've always found that people treat me better than I could ever expect. Just today my rear wheel fell apart, within 5 minutes I'd hitched a ride into the nearest city. That's pretty decent.

I sometimes fear having to quit a tour, but I don't mind having to quit when I feel like it's time.
as I'm writing this I've just booked train tickets to get me the hell out of Tamworth. I thought I'd picked a good time for a trip across NSW but as it turns out it's the hottest november in history, I've got heat rash, the tar on the road is melting and sticking to my tires, I'm not on schedule, and generally things just aren't "fun" anymore.
And then my rear wheel fell apart. Time to go home.
My friends think I'm real tough for cyclotouring but for a cyclotourist I hardly am.


Come down to Victoria ... it's cool and rainy here. :D Seriously ... it's supposed to rain all weekend, and Rowan and I have an ride in Geelong on Sunday. We'll be breaking out the rain jackets for that!!

But yes ... you've got to watch those kangaroos. Although I had more trouble with what I thought was an odd-looking chicken (and what Rowan tells me is a roadrunner) leaping out in front of me and getting in my way on a descent than a kangaroo.

I'm not worried about snakes or spiders, it's gonna be a kangaroo that kills me here, if anything. They jump right in front of you, every time.

That's another thing to fear in Australia, along with the homicidal spiders, giant octopuses, flying saber-toothed monkeys, land piranhas, rogue camel herds and the rest of the cornucopia of dangerous creatures in that country. They should just change the name of Australia to TERROR ISLAND!

I hit a 400 kilo elk in Canada and I was not seriously injured even though I knocked the elk to the ground. Elk don't jump, they only meander and I hit it when it was meandering. Being hit by a crazed jumping kangaroo would surely be fatal.

Hi Machka,

in about 3-4 weeks I want sun in Geelong. I don't want to see the Great Ocean Road in rain. Unfortunately I'm not travelling with the bike...

Thomas

Hi Machka,

in about 3-4 weeks I want sun in Geelong. I don't want to see the Great Ocean Road in rain. Unfortunately I'm not travelling with the bike...

Thomas

Well, the "experts" are predicting a hot, dry summer ......... and those in the farming community are predicting a wet summer. So far ... the farming community are right. But there is a decent chance of sun in 3-4 weeks. How long are you over here and what parts of Australia are you visiting? Just Geelong and the Great Ocean Road, or more?

I'm trying to get an idea of what scares people the most or concerns them the most when it comes to bike touring. I've put a poll about bike touring fears (http://travellingtwo.com/2678) up and if you don't mind participating that would be great. Thanks!

We could list some fears here too. Might make for interesting discussion.

I think my biggest fear is traffic. I don't feel safe unless I've got lots of bright yellow clothing on and a mirror.

Having a unplanned dismount that doesn't work well, and being stuck on the side of a road that sees very little traffic, so that you could be lying there injured until the wolves or coyotes run across you several days later......:twitchy:

I guess the question is, do you take pictures of the wolves circling with the digital camera or the film camera. I'm thinking the film camera, they will look a lot more menacing in B&W....:rolleyes:

Of course the other option, brain a couple of them with the Hexanon 200mm F/3.5, hit one with that thing between the eyes, and it ain't moving again, ever. Best thing is, it wouldn't hurt the lens, that thing is all solid glass and steel, and outweighs some of those all-plastic-except-the-chain racing bikes :D

Bears.
Big big fear. For many years.
I don't worry about too much else because anything outside of that is karma or ignorance as far as I'm concerned. And if its ignorance most likely I deserve it.
Now that we take the dog I think that helps quite a bit and next year hopefully we will be taking the other one and she's a little more defensive so hopefully we will be set.

Bears.
Big big fear. For many years.
I don't worry about too much else because anything outside of that is karma or ignorance as far as I'm concerned. And if its ignorance most likely I deserve it.
Now that we take the dog I think that helps quite a bit and next year hopefully we will be taking the other one and she's a little more defensive so hopefully we will be set.

You do know that taking your dog into bear country will just make the bear situation that much worse ... right? I refuse to knowingly camp right next to someone with dogs in bear country. In addition to irritating the bear and making a potential attack worse, there's the whole thing of what to do with the dog food as well. It's hard enough caching your own food, nevermind a bunch of dog food.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/v-g/oursnoir-blackbear/page2.aspx

Where do you live and where do you tour? I have lived near and travelled/camped/toured in the Canadian Rockies for most of my life, I've seen many bears, and bears don't particularly worry me. But you've got to be smart about it ... cache your food, make noise if you're on a trail, don't get too close to one if you see it, and never ever approach a cub.

Dogs will seek out and harass a bear and then come running back to YOU for protection when the bear starts chasing them. So rather than confronting a scared and at worst surprised bear you are dealing with one intent on killing something.

- will my girlfriend break up with me when I'm gone for 18 months?

Can you convince her to join you? For at least part of the tour?

I have a new fear as well, when riding just before dark in Australia... damn kangaroos. I'm not worried about snakes or spiders, it's gonna be a kangaroo that kills me here, if anything. They jump right in front of you, every time. Im pretty sure that if I hit one doing 45k down a hill it's gonna seriously hurt.
The closest I've come to an animal related accident on tour was in Scotland when I encountered a suicidal sheep. I was cruising down a looooooooong hill when I came across Mr. Woollyhead on the road side of the stone wall. I would have been content just to ride past but apparently I spooked him because he took off in front of me, zig-zagging back and forth. I couldn't get around him and even hitting the brakes as hard as I dared, I was gaining on him fast. Fortunately, he eventually took a hard left and I zoomed by.

The whole time I was thinking "Oh please doG, if I have to crash, please don't let it be caused by a bloody sheep!"

Agree with the others that I don't really "fear" anything about touring. That being said, I've toured enough to face most things and overcome them - so the fear isn't there any more. I used to get really nervous when night was approaching and we still hadn't found a place to sleep - expecially with the kids. But after we managed to find a safe spot night after night after night I finally realized that we WILL find a place to sleep - we never know where or how we'll find it, but we will find it.

At some point, I realized that we humans have three main needs - food, water, a place a sleep. People throughout the world understand those needs and will go to great lengths to help us find them - even if we don't speak a word of their language. So - what's to fear? Our basic needs will always be met somehow.

i fear not getting off of my butt and doing it.

My worries revolve around not being able to tour when i get older.

Can you convince her to join you? For at least part of the tour?

Ha, I've tried. She's not interested. She'll probably meet up with me a couple of times in various places, but not to cycle.

Darren Alff actually did a survey on this question.

http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/biggest-bicycle-touring-fears/

I can't honestly say I worry about too much on my bike tours. That's why I go on them! The one thing that still nags at the back of my mind though, is where I'm going to sleep at night. I've never once ended up in a bad spot. I've always had a halfway decent place to sleep, but the sun starts going down, and I start looking at every little patch of grass behind a shed as a potential campsite. I'll relax eventually.

Hi Machka,


Well, the "experts" are predicting a hot, dry summer ......... and those in the farming community are predicting a wet summer. So far ... the farming community are right. But there is a decent chance of sun in 3-4 weeks. How long are you over here and what parts of Australia are you visiting? Just Geelong and the Great Ocean Road, or more?

I think I was too stupid to write a PN. We rent a camper and drive from Brisbane via Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide to Alice Springs. We will see to lot of things. Too much to describe here. On third will major attractions the rest is filled up with 2nd class attractions like a Mt. Eccles NP. We have 38 days down under and will travel about 10.000 km.

Gruß
Thomas

So, I see that getting hit by a vehicle and safety concerns are the two biggest fears.

Nice to see that Getting Lost was not a fear at all. Getting lost can be half the fun!! :)

So, I see that getting hit by a vehicle and safety concerns are the two biggest fears.

Yup. And motorhome drivers should absolutely be required to possess a Class A license.

My biggest fear is getting too decrepit to tour. You never get too old, just too broken down.

Yup. And motorhome drivers should absolutely be required to possess a Class A license.

Motor homes are the worst. I've had more than one pass, where I could have reached out and touched them as they drove by (wouldn't it be fun to have a paint ball gun mounted on your handle bars???). Told a riding partner once, 'I'm going to quit pulling to the side of the road for motor homes, I'll ride down the center of the lane, make them pull around me to pass". Told me it's a good way to become a hood ornament.

I'm trying to get an idea of what scares people the most ......


Nope nope nope. What scares/discourages people the most is rain. Not one day; not a thunderstorm. Nope...the multiple days of cold rain we get here in the east (and in the mountains, even in the west). It can be really discouraging to a newbie to ride all day in the rain, camp in the rain, listen to the drops pound the tent, and wake up to find....another grey day ahead. Folks need to know about proper clothing, riding, wild camping and cookin' to get them thru those dastardly stretches.

roughstuff

My worries revolve around not being able to tour when i get older.

Well bek don't forget you can get lower and lower granny gears. I have gears so low ya can walk faster, but I use them because I have busted up my knees running (and pretending i knew how to play hockey) when I was younger. Then to boot on my world tour I got malaria (which attacks the joints) and took medication to cure it (which attacks the joints as well). There are days when I walk down the stairs one at a time, since I cant ask my left knee to bend and hold back my weight, even though I am in good shape.

On the other hand, i do have some back problems and cycling actually makes them BETTER! I think its because I get some weight off my back, and the stretch to the handlebars that you do to ride a touring bike is one of the recommended exercises anyway. In addition I tend to drop about 10 pounds when I tour.

I don't think you'll ever get too old to tour...I have seen some real geezers out there. I hope to be one myself someday...or perhaps I should say someday soon. :)

roughstuff

So, I see that getting hit by a vehicle and safety concerns are the two biggest fears.

Nice to see that Getting Lost was not a fear at all. Getting lost can be half the fun!! :)

Yes, I've been meaning to organise these replies into a chart. Just no time lately! I'm not surprised by the vehicle issue, but personal safety? Do many people perceive touring as more dangerous in terms of getting robbed / harassed etc than normal life? Or is it just being out of your comfort zone? Personally, I feel more safe touring in a rural area than walking home in a big city at night (I lived in London for 6 years).

I haven't toured yet, but I want to try. I will never be able to tour outside of USA for financial, family and time reasons, so my fears apply to touring in USA. My biggest fears would be wild animals, bears and wild dogs mainly, and getting sick stomach. However, both can be minimized by proper preparation and being mindful and careful.

I believe that being attacked, harassed or robbed is less of a problem. It never happened to me during my hiking, camping and day rides. Also I managed to avoid being hit by a car in NYC so that shouldn't be a major concern either.

Adam

I haven't toured yet, but I want to try. I will never be able to tour outside of USA for financial, family and time reasons, so my fears apply to touring in USA. My biggest fears would be wild animals, bears and wild dogs mainly, and getting sick stomach. However, both can be minimized by proper preparation and being mindful and careful.

I believe that being attacked, harassed or robbed is less of a problem. It never happened to me during my hiking, camping and day rides. Also I managed to avoid being hit by a car in NYC so that shouldn't be a major concern either.

Adam

Might have been luck but on my Northern tour across the US I never encountered any of those things. Never even a spirited chase that I get from time to time commuting. Motor Homes are my only real dread because of those huge mirrors and half senile drivers behind the wheel with tunnel vision.

Yes, I've been meaning to organise these replies into a chart. Just no time lately! I'm not surprised by the vehicle issue, but personal safety? Do many people perceive touring as more dangerous in terms of getting robbed / harassed etc than normal life? Or is it just being out of your comfort zone? Personally, I feel more safe touring in a rural area than walking home in a big city at night (I lived in London for 6 years).

I think it is being out of your comfort zone.

I've had a number of people express concern for my safety when I've gone off to places like England, France, Australia, US, etc. ... but they don't express the same concerns when I cycle around Alberta or Manitoba or wherever I have lived because that's "home" and familiar territory, so it's relatively safe and comfortable to go out cycling or walking. But I think you've got to look at it from this perspective ..... in England, France, Australia, US, or wherever, there are people who consider those places "home" and familiar territory, and who feel relatively safe and comfortable cycling and walking there. So if I exchanged places with a cyclist from another country, why shouldn't we both feel relatively safe and comfortable cycling in each other's country?

Of course, bad things do happen in our own familiar territory, and we know to avoid certain parts of town, or certain areas, or certain roads at certain times of day, or whatever ... which someone coming into the area from another country might not know ...... but I think this is where cycling lots and becoming familiar with your larger local area (100 km radius around where you live, your entire province or state, etc.), and travelling lots in general, helps because we can start to develop a sense for the types of areas, roads, etc. we might want to avoid.

My, without any doubt, biggest FEAR, is that my knees cant take it any more.
Imagine not being able to climb hills or tour in mountains!! Or not even being able to go on long rides:-(
It almost make me want to cry...