Touring - reconsidering - the joys of solo touring

hello bike friends,

I thank you for opening this thread. I posted curious if anyone had initiated a bike tour with another forum member two days ago. Having followed links you all posted and reading a good bit of information I have reconsidered solo touring. I am a 24 year old female and considering touring the natchez trace parkway (unfinished business from last summer have quit early in tupello MS) and then heading east to visit mammoth cave and the red river gorge in Kentucky. if im feeling really gutsy and adventurous i could take the road back west and hop on the transamerica trail and then the lewis and clark trail to oregon.

I could do this on my own? Would any of you fatherly types out there instinctively worry for my or perhaps your daughters safety? or would you approve and encourage this with the proper skills and things.

and if someone experienced and willing could guide me in roughly gauging distance and time. if i travel no less than 75 miles a day and start in natchez how long do you think it might take me atleast and atmost to get to oregon?

if you've gotten this far, thanks for being patient with a new member and a fresh new face to touring. we new comers really appreciate and gain a lot from the experienced, so thank you kindly for your wisdom and time.

I could do this on my own? Would any of you fatherly types out there instinctively worry for my or perhaps your daughters safety? or would you approve and encourage this with the proper skills and things.

A couple of months ago in a different forum I had a discussion with a young British girl whose intent was to cross northern Africa alone, if she can follow through with her ambitious plans so can you. I think 75 miles per day may be slightly unrealistic, but there are others on this forum who can provide better advice on that topic then I can. I'd plan for sixty a day with at least a one day rest out of every seven.

Hey there. Well, I did suggest soloing on your other thread, so I guess it's no surprise I think you can do it alone. You come across as someone who has her head on straight, which I think is the most important factor.

The biggest hazard of bike touring is traffic. This is the same if you are alone or in a pair, and gender doesn't matter. I guess there's a chance that you could be injured and alone with no one to help you, but most places have at least a few cars an hour, and this also doesn't really relate to gender much - many of us, male and female, take this risk.

The hazard you are worried about - people, specifically, creepy men. Well there are a few. But, not that many, esepcially in more rural areas. I can't speak for the southeast USA, since I avoid it, and I would sort of guess there is a bit more people-danger there than in other rural areas, but in the west and plains, I had almost 100% good people experiences, and the few bad ones, you just have to keep your radar on, and be smart. If someone seems creepy, assume he is and take measures to not get in trouble - like don't say where you are camping, or take hotel room if you can't find a safe feeling place to camp. Meet camp hosts and tell them you are solo, they will look out for you. That kind of thing.

Also, I find projecting an air of confidence and being totally non-sexy / non-flirty seems to help. At least, it helps me psychologically, from not feeling vulnerable.
The other thing you can do to feel safer solo is learn a little more about your bike so you can feel confident to do road side repairs.

As to pace, I am an *avid* cyclist, but am a small person. I average 55 or 60 miles/day for riding days when touring, not including the day off I take every 7-10 days. I find that the weight of my loaded bike affects my speed much more than it does for bigger people. Last summer I had an opportunity to ride loaded with a couple of guys who I normally do day rides with. I was consistently much faster than them on my road bike and consistently much slower than them on my loaded tour bike. I attribute this to the raw power it takes to move the extra mass - I have power to weight, but not much raw power.

So, if you are a smaller person, take that into account - when you hear guys (staeph1, I can here you coming) say they average xx miles / day and don't take rest days, you really need to discover for yourself what your daily milage will be. Most people say 60/day, some people definitely do a lot more, others a lot less. If you have to ballpark your pace, I would use 60 not 75 unless you are a very strong rider, even racer level.

One thing you can do to mitigate the uncertainty of your pace is don't book a ticket home until you're getting within a couple of weeks of where you are finishing, so you don't have a deadline. Also, flexibility of other parts of your plan - route, final destination, etc. - can really relieve a lot of stress along the way. If you have weather you need to wait out, get sick, fall in love and want to hang out for a week, you can.

Have fun!

oh yeah, Lewis & Clark is great

I think being on your own would be mostly psychological. Does being on your own for days on end sound exciting or distressful to you?

I've met several solo women on the road and none of them seemed to have experienced anything untoward. I met one on the Ice Fields who came solo from Denali! And they were all very friendly with me from the get go. My guess is that if you're the kind of person who is rarely "creeped out", then you likely won't be creeped out on the road either. But Valgrl's advice is sound. In fact, I follow it too!

Ditto Valygrl's advice, although I'd perhaps be more moderate in comments about 'creepy' men and the Southeast of the US.

Scottie, you asked for a fathers opinion, well as a father I would worry about my daughter going solo. Of course its doable and unlikely that you would have a problem. But I would worry. Do you have much general travel experience? I think many of the women who solo tour or backpack have other travel experience which is helpful. Be aware and have fun.

Ditto Valygrl's advice, although I'd perhaps be more moderate in comments about 'creepy' men and the Southeast of the US.

I just watched "Kalifornia" last night, FWIW.

Old NE La, now Tx, guy here who I hope would not 'creep' you out. Anyway, Google Maps is now a cyclist friendly tool for planning. Give it a try. Will quickly let you rough out routes and estimate traveling times.

Average speed for loaded touring, day in and out, is probably close to 50 per day on long tours. You'll want to take some days off to rest or for bad weather. There'll be zero mileage days and maybe 100 mile days.

I live in San Diego county where we've had a murder of a 17 YO girl and the discovery of the body of a missing 14 YO girl both within the past two weeks. Despite having a (male) suspect in custody for at least the former, the tension around here is palpable. Plus we have 4000 other registered (male) sex offenders in the county. So I guess my point is that "creepy men" are probably everywhere and the precautions outlined by Valygrl above are waranted.

As to pace, I am an *avid* cyclist, but am a small person. I average 55 or 60 miles/day for riding days when touring, not including the day off I take every 7-10 days. I find that the weight of my loaded bike affects my speed much more than it does for bigger people. Last summer I had an opportunity to ride loaded with a couple of guys who I normally do day rides with. I was consistently much faster than them on my road bike and consistently much slower than them on my loaded tour bike. I attribute this to the raw power it takes to move the extra mass - I have power to weight, but not much raw power.

I agree with what you write and can echo the above. My girlfriend is small: 5' about 105. I am 6'2" and about 205 during peak season. On road rides, she's usually waiting for me at the top of longer climbs and she can hang in flat pace lines. She did her first loaded tour with me this summer. It was nice to be the one who was usually waiting.

So, if you are a smaller person, take that into account - when you hear guys (staeph1, I can here you coming) say they average xx miles / day and don't take rest days, you really need to discover for yourself what your daily milage will be. Most people say 60/day, some people definitely do a lot more, others a lot less. If you have to ballpark your pace, I would use 60 not 75 unless you are a very strong rider, even racer level.
Valygrl, your advice is always good. I had to chuckle about, "hearing me coming" though :)

Actually, to be clear I advocate taking it easy enough to not need rest days and when you need a break I recommend trying half days instead.

I recommend that anyone who is not sure what pace works for them do the following:
Start out with easy days if on a long tour. On long tours you can make the time up later. This is better than overdoing and needing a day off right away.
Allow more days than you will need if at all possible. A tight schedule can make the whole tour more stressful in ways it shouldn't be.
Build daily mileage gradually as the trip progresses. No need for one step forward two steps back. The mileage will get easier as the trip goes on unless you train a lot more than I do and are in peak condition at the start.
Never ride far or hard enough that you don't want to ride the next day. If that happens you did too much IMO.
If you really need a rest consider riding an easy half day rather than take a day off. I find I recover better this way. I am not saying it is best for everyone, but I still recommend at least giving it a shot.
Save full days off for doing something fun, don't waste them vegging out in front of a TV or something like that. Better to do a hike, go rafting, or whatever.

I read a journal written by a girl who rode the Trans Am solo at the age of 17. (I looked on CGOAB but I couldn't find it and perhaps someone here knows where it is) What struck me first was the fact that she is a remarkable writer so the journal is a very good read.

Ride with your head on and I'm sure you'll do just fine. I like to believe that for every questionable person out in the world there are 1000 great people that wish you the best and will watch your back as much as anyone can.

Is your father going to worry about it? Darn right he will, and well he should. That's what dads do. I have two daughters, now 27 and 30, both married. Of course I'd be worried if they tried this alone. I would hope they would make their own decision, though, and not be swayed by the normal reaction any father would have.

Face it, your age and gender put you at more risk than I would be. All we can argue after that is whether the degree of that risk warrants enough concern to nix the trip. But, I'm a father and so am unable to give you an unbiased opinion. :)

Solo touring is a mind game (for lack of better words). A father figure (or anyone who cares for that matter) is going to worry no matter what - solo, duo, group, supported, self-supported - that's just how it is. Touring with someone is always nice, but finding the companion for the trip your planning is never easy (my upcoming trip is living proof of that!). Which you should do is completely up to you and your mental "strength". All that said, if you are worried about 'people back home' worrying too much over your trip, try to lay out all the details (and precautions) beforehand. If they fully understand that you've done your research and devoted x amount of time in just planning, they will feel better about your safety (that doesn't mean they won't worry, though).

We met this nice Dutch girl in Chile who was traveling South America alone for six months. Her she is in Peru. Her parents were worried sick about her she says. We met a couple of weeks before she was to return to Holland and she didn't want her adventure to end. She is 24.

Before I met her I would have told you don't do it. But since meeting her and two other women, as your father I would say, "bad people are a rare exception in this world. Go for it"

A bike trip in the US is a chance you may not again have a chance to do. Take advantage and get on your bike and go.

http://hphotos-snc1.fbcdn.net/hs249.snc1/9621_100869256599457_100000291502302_21550_558489_n.jpg

"I could do this on my own? Would any of you fatherly types out there instinctively worry for my or perhaps your daughters safety? or would you approve and encourage this with the proper skills and things."

As the father of three daughters, and with a wife who solo tours, I would worry. Possibly slightly above the normal all the time worry that goes with parenting, if you think about it at all.

"I could do this on my own? Would any of you fatherly types out there instinctively worry for my or perhaps your daughters safety? or would you approve and encourage this with the proper skills and things."

It is about the skills. If your daughter is half GI Jane, Navy Seal, and professional mountain guide, It is one thing. If she needs three other people to go to the mall, or never leaves her bedroom, it is another.

It is also about the Candy. I'm 6'1", 230 pounds and can take care of myself. But the most important thing is that most people probably don't want to have all that much to do with me on the road in normal touring garb. If you go through the usual stuff money, sex, or messing with people, I don't think there is much to it for anyone where I am concerned. That Dutch girl above is a whole other thing.

If you have to ask the question that may say something about your preparation at this stage. Also, personally, I think wilderness trips are a lot safer for someone in your situation than road trips. I've been on hiking trips, most of them really, where I didn't see another person at all. So maybe a hiking trip or MTB tour would be an option.

When it comes to taking any risk, it is worth considering whether you are doing it for the right reason. Is the thing itself worth it to you, or would it seem really pointless in retrospect should it go wrong or just get seriously unpleasant. None the less I don't think there is that much risk to a cycling trip compared to many other fun things people do without a thought.

Actually I was just thinking, these days it is normally somewhere in my mind that I might blow my heart up on every trip I go on. So I suppose everyone has something on the line...

Is it just me or is it meaningless that some woman is going solo in North Africa or another is traveling solo through South America. As mom used to say, "just because (insert childhood friend's name here) does it doesn't mean you should do it". Neither poster speculated as to the wisdom of these adventures.

But I think little Holly Graf would have no trouble solo touring:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/05/AR2010030504326.html

I would worry sick. I would also encourage you to go.

Okay, I would try really hard to be the kind of guy/father who would encourage you to go.

Scottie, thinking about this more. If I was your dad I'd be going with you. Have you asked your dad to go along?

Yes, you can do this on your own.

You know it's kind of funny that you ask about fatherly types worrying. I tour solo. I love touring solo. I have a fatherly type who worries. I also have adult kids who worry. I still go. I'm cognizant of the fact that I'm traveling solo, and as valleygrl says...I keep my radar tuned. I'm a shortass...less that 5', so in my father's mind, that spells victim. Add the fact that I travel by bicycle, and it even makes it more of a worry.

I'm going to preface my next comments by...I'm 47 years old, have 2 grown children, and 4 grandchildren, and live at a minumum 6 hours away from all of them. Yet, when I tour, I give my children and my father some semblance of my route. Simply to give them a tiny bit of peace of mind, which gives me peace of mind. Last year I bought a $200 laptop, and journaled the trip that worried them the most. That way, they could travel with me. In my journal, I never said where I was going next...only where I was last. My family knew where next was going next. They also knew that I was safe, knew when I was struggling, and knew about the amazing people that I met along the way, and knew why I loved touring.

As you go along...listen to your gut. Always. Never ever question your gut. When there's a little twinge that something may not be right...assume that something isn't right, and move on. In all honesty, my gut hasn't spoken very often, and when it has...I listened. Through life, I've learned that my gut usually knows what it's talking about...whether I'm on a bike or not.

Ride...have a blast. Your father may worry...but he'll get used to it. Kinda. If you wait to do something that you really want to do, because you are trying to find someone who wants to do it as well...you may miss out on a lot of the wonders that life has to offer.

A few years ago, I decided that I wanted to do a triathlon. My dad came to visit while I was in the midst of training for it. When I told him what I was planning on doing, he said, "Why don't you go on a big bike tour instead?" In my dad's mind, the triathlon was even worse than a tour. We'll never know what worries our parents. As a parent, I truly don't know what my kids will do to worry me.

Ride...enjoy every second.

"scottiethomas", I'm not sure how long this tour your're considering is, or how much riding you've done to prepare yourself for a tour. Although I have done many tours of one to four weeks, I'm not a daily rider, nor do I ride most of the year. Before a tour, I condition my knees and achillies tendons on a stair climber and ride daily for about three weeks to toughen my butt and legs to the grind. I have quite strong legs, so have little trouble making 75-85 miles a day average, but I push myself a bit. I start quite early, ride for about 1 1/2 hrs., take a 15-20 minute break, another 1 1/2 hrs, etc. all day long. I don't take full days off, but advise taking half days off now and then if you are riding over a week. I think having a goal of sixty, sixty-five miles/day is doable for most healthy people. I completely agree with "stachpj1", start out a bit easy, only add more miles daily, or push harder if it feels right. On my earlier post, I mentioned a rider companion having leg problems even though he was a runner; it was because he pushed too hard at the start of our ride down the Pacific coast, he didn't want to hold me back. If you have the funds, using motels when possible provides you with a safe place to sleep, thoroughly wash in safety, and is a secure place to store your bike and gear at the end of the day so that you can enjoy the sights instead of staying in camp close to your possessions. As most others have encouraged, I think you should go, just be alert, as "Crys" counsels, trust your gut, and have fun!

If you were my daughter (who's 22 and beautiful, I think) I'd be worried the whole time. However, if she wanted to go I wouldn't forbid it. Though there would be risk, it would likely be the trip of a lifetime. After all, there's risk when I tour alone, and I continue to do so.

A couple of times on the west coast route I've run into female riders unaccompanied by men, and in both cases, after awhile they fell into impromptu groups, which I'm sure would have made their fathers happier. The first time there were the two "Princeton Girls", who had graduated from Princeton that spring and a bike tour from Portland to San Francisco was their graduation present to themselves. They had never done anything like it before and were pretty unskilled. (In fact, they started out as 3 Princeton Girls, but one had crashed between Portland and Astoria and had broken her collarbone. She panicked on a fast downhill when passed closely by a semi-truck. She wasn't used to riding a loaded bike, lost control, and fell. The other two were completing the tour in her honor.) Anyway, they met up with four men in their 50's who were riding from Portland to Brookings. They all had daughters about the same age, and they felt compelled to take the Princeton Girls under their wings and escort them as far as they were going. I fell in with them and agreed to accompany them the rest of the way to San Francisco.

Maybe I'm in danger of being sexist in acting as if we males were the big protectors of the vulnerable females, but the two girls were very glad to have us with them. In fact, they offered to pay for my motel room for a night in Brookings if I would lay over a day with them instead of riding off.

What does this have to do with you? Well, CrazyGuy journals abound with stories of tourers meeting up with other tourers and riding together for any number of days. If you ride on a well-established route, you'll probably meet some other tourers, and perhaps could ride with someone for awhile. Maybe even a long while. I know in my case, even though I didn't have any sexual designs on the girls I rode with, it was nice, for me anyway, to have some feminine company, as opposed to being solo.

Just some things to consider.

Your dad might like it if you carried some pepper spray.

If you were my daughter, I would have raised you to be an independent thinking woman and it would be hypocritical for me to dissuade you from seeing the world. I suspect that being a solo female traveler has some advantages, less suspicion of you, people are curious about your adventure, and so on.

For whatever reason, americans are afraid of their own shadow these days. Use your head and don't let other people's fear dissuade you from your goals.

hand if someone experienced and willing could guide me in roughly gauging distance and time. if i travel no less than 75 miles a day and start in natchez how long do you think it might take me atleast and atmost to get to oregon?What kind of daily mileage are you doing now? Have you tried riding >75 miles fully loaded for a couple of days or for a week?
I would think that for a first tour, planning 50 per day would be better, and then each day you make it over that, is a bonus.
I would plan for one day off (or 2 half days off) per week.

Have your cell phone where you can immediately use it. Bullies and creeps run pretty fast as soon as you pull the cell phone out.

everyone, I appreciate this more than you know. I have read and re read everyone's input and would like to reply in more depth but in the midst of midterms, i am trying not to be too distracted by the utter brillance of the bicycle and how lucky i am to be alive and able to ride one across the country.

I have sent this link to both my parents via email. i actually forgot to mention how much more worried my mother will be!

you all have been an inspiration, i thank you all a million times.
i am doing it. i am actually touring solo and planning for late may =)

what an experience it will be

serendipitous and favorable circumstances are pointing me in the direction of the pacific coast tour and i have a good feeling about it. i leave on the 23 of may with a friend (an annual conference for his field of biology) for san diego who owes me a plane ticket. i'll be shipping my bicycle there, perhaps to a bicycle shop ive been looking into and will take off north to astoria oregon. id like to bike to portland, check out the city for a week or so and then fly home.

before i even considered touring, i always thought how neat it would be to... "hmm travel without a car somehow, like maybe ride a bike, yeah i could ride a bike or hitchhike along the pacific coast and camp along the way."

and 50 miles per day average with rests inbetween is much more practical.

<3 much love, hope to post more soon in response to everyones words of wisdom and important questions.

I understand that sexism is kind of like money (in that if enough people believe in the collective illusion it becomes real) but I really think that making it out as though somehow women have more to fear in traveling and experiencing perpetuates the same old stereotypes of women as weak and passive and men as active and threatening.

I mean if I made a post asking about what you motherly types thought about me touring solo I think it would be regarded as ridiculous by most everyone.

Anyway, you shouldn't require the encouragement or the permission of the internet to bike tour. It's the internet.

i am not requiring permission to tour alone but if that has been the outcome, so be it. I am sharing the fears internalized by my parents and family, and the awareness that i have fallen victim to the stereotypes of females despite my contradicting character. This site has offered perspectives from the other side of the spectrum: all ages, both sexes, mothers, fathers, and people my age. I value the experience and words of anyone but particularly in this case, experienced tourers (i know none).

it may be just the internet and the virtual realm, but the "internet" helped me successfully work through and rationalize what has been entrenched and encultruated as if i had been in a room with all these people and we discussed it in the physical realm.

it has been healing, and to me, that is what life is all about.

I don't think a bit of concern over a young woman traveling alone is sexist. Think of how many women you know who have been sexually hassled or assaulted, versus the number of men. Would that it were not so.

To scottiethomas: Doing the west coast from north to south versus south to north is strongly urged. The prevailing winds go that way. 98% of the bike tourers go that way. If you go that way you'll likely fall in with a group of tourers (most staying in the same places because they're following the route described in Bicycling the Pacific Coast by Kirkendall/Spring.) You'll likely end up feeling more secure after you make some friends. If there are people who make you uncomfortable, take a rest day. One group will head out and new group will arrive. The Oregon coast is a wonderful place for meeting other tourers - not so great if you're seeking a solitary existence.

Statistically the vast majority (something like 75%) of sexual assault and **** is perpetrated by a friend, family member or acquaintance of the victim. I do know a lot of women that have been raped and none of them by a stranger.

So really, if gendered violence is your concern, you're safer off bike touring alone than you are staying at home.

Sorry about my ****talking the internet. I do very much understand how this site offers a wealth of information that could (depending on your location) be very difficult to get to otherwise (and here I am). At the same time though the internet offers so much information that we never have to transgress our own comfort levels (in actually meeting strangers) to learn things anymore. Which is a part of why people have fears about things like bicycle touring in the first place. When "the outside world" is no longer that which is through the door but that which is through the LCD screen things get muddled.

Scottie, I am a 62 year old retired police officer (Los Angeles), now a high school teacher. I have two college bound high school daughters. I worship your sense of exploration and adventuresome spirit. I have done the West Coast route many times (mostly on a motorcycle) and even take a beach house yearly on the NCal coast. It would be a perfect first opportunity to experience bicycle touring. I strongly suggest you redouble your training regimen....You can never be in "toogooda shape" but easy to misjudge yourself by NOT having an adequate amount of aerobic/long distance conditioning.
Put in the training hours and enjoy it all....it seems you have a beautiful mind. Raydog

Ditto Valygrl's advice, although I'd perhaps be more moderate in comments about 'creepy' men and the Southeast of the US.It has been my experience that there are many (too many for my taste) in that part of the country, and creepy is putting it VERY mildly. Don't give them any indication that you are from the north or liberal (which they'll assume you are by you bike anyway). BE CAREFUL

I have a very small experience of touring on my own but it was interesting. I was on my own for about 4 days touring in Hungary and Austria last summer (my boyfriend had to go back home a few days before me). First I thought, Oh my God, I'm going to be so bored, and freaked out, and scared... But eventually I love it! I loved the freedom of going wherever I wanted, stopping whenevr I wanted, etc... I never got bored because I found lots of cyclists to talk to (I was an a part of the Danube bike path). I didn't freak out but I was just feeling much more aware of my surroundings than when I was with my boyfriend. Also, I found people in general more helpful, like if they would feel that they had to protect you.
I also did quite a bit of touring with a girlfriend of mine a few years ago and everything went fine.
As general tips, a lot of interesting things have been said. Definitely trust your instincts and don't tell people you don't trust where you're going. Also what made me feel safer was to pretend I was married, ie talk about my "husband"... Also, anytime I needed some help (like directions) or when my friend and I were looking for a field to put the tent, we would always try to ask a woman, or a couple with a woman nearby, or somebody with a child. We always avoided asking anyone to a single man...
I'm actually planning a one-month trip on my own next summer...

My Dad did the Natchez Trace and carried a gun - he was thankful he had it one night when he was stealth camping (about all you can do on the Trace) and heard a truck with no mufflers pull up full of drunks. They got out and he heard a female yelling "don't do it, he's just camping!" Of course he couldn't see anything, but had his pistol cocked and pointed, ready to defend himself if necessary.
I personally don't pack a gun on my touring trips and have never wished I did, however, if I was skeptical about a trip, you bet I'd be packing one. I know you "shouldn't" have to, but unfortunately this day and age you can't be too careful. I do have friends/family that carry one on all extended trips. It's a bummer because that's just not the way it should be.

I know you "shouldn't" have to, but unfortunately this day and age you can't be too careful. I do have friends/family that carry one on all extended trips. It's a bummer because that's just not the way it should be.

I don't know that "this day and age" is a completely accurate way of putting. Part of the problem is the hyper-growth in population, leaving a larger number (not percentage) of potential problem-people. In some cases, it's safer today to bicycle tour with technology (cell phone, gps, instant gps updating webpages) and lessening 'threat' of wild animals (not that I agree with the encroachment of "their" land - that's another topic, however) than in the past. While generally every 1800's cycle-tourer carried a pistol, but nature was a more dangerous obstacle than it is now. This is the true peak of cycle-touring though - take advantage of it! All that said, the smarter you are and the better you plan, the safer you will be. If you aren't smart about packing heat, you could very well cause more problems for yourself than if you hadn't. I can count on both hands (perhaps one for that matter) of the number of cycle-tourists who have been physically accosted while on tour (and I can't think of many, if any, in the states/Europe). That doesn't mean it doesn't happen, but it's certainly a small number. You have a chance of being kidnapped, raped or attacked walking from your local grocer to your car, but that doesn't stop you from shopping.

Have a great time scottiethomas. Be sure to journal your trip somewhere.
p.s. Leave the bazooka home.:rolleyes:

There are some excellent books written by women cycling the world alone -- Anne Mustoe and Josie Dew spring to mind. In particular, Anne Mustoe's "A Bike Ride" is a must-read. (She passed away last November -- on tour in Syria in her seventies -- she continues to be an inspiration.)

and 50 miles per day average with rests inbetween is much more practical.

Better yet, take a few days before you go, and do a short (2-3 days) tour to get a feel for the distance you can realistically cover each day, the handling of the loaded bike, the setting up of campsites and so on.

There are some excellent books written by women cycling the world alone -- Anne Mustoe and Josie Dew spring to mind. In particular, Anne Mustoe's "A Bike Ride" is a must-read. (She passed away last November -- on tour in Syria in her seventies -- she continues to be an inspiration.)

+1 on Josie Dew's books. I just got two of her books in the mail today!!
She's my heroe!

I now tour with my husband and twin boys, but before I met hubby I toured by myself. It's very doable. I had no trouble, but did a few things to prevent it.

I rarely pulled off the road to wild camp. Generally, I looked for a nice, inviting house and knocked on the door to ask permission to camp in their yard. I explained that I was out touring by myslef and that I would feel safer near people - they nearly always allowed me to camp in their yard and many times invited me in.

One night I knocked on a door and asked permission and the guy said, "No - I don't feel comfortable with that," so I continued on my way. About a mile down the road a car pulled up beside me and the man said, "I'm the man from that house back there. After you left I started thinking about it, and I figure that if my dauighter was out cycling the world I would want people to take care of her. So - would you please turn around and come back to our house for the night?" They were wonderful people!

In other words - I think you will be just fine!

One night I knocked on a door and asked permission and the guy said, "No - I don't feel comfortable with that," so I continued on my way. About a mile down the road a car pulled up beside me and the man said, "I'm the man from that house back there. After you left I started thinking about it, and I figure that if my dauighter was out cycling the world I would want people to take care of her. So - would you please turn around and come back to our house for the night?" They were wonderful people!

What a nice story.

this is the tentative route, but after a lot of researching, i am really happy with this one.

my parents read this thread and while they still are not 100 percent "go-for-it-girl," i know this made a difference. my dad will come for five days at the beginning of the tour. he loves cycling and leaves me in the dust when we bike on river road between baton rouge and new orleans.

decided i am not going back to school this fall. i'll leave mid june and will probably be on the road for 5 - 6 months.

also, I want to bike for a cause, like fewer emissions, clean alternative sustainable energy, and so must do some research to find the non profit i want to raise money for. im not sure how this will work... anybody ever biked for a cause and got sponsorships, all money raised going to that cause?

http://i39.tinypic.com/b8l85u.jpg

also, I want to bike for a cause, like fewer emissions, clean alternative sustainable energy, and so must do some research to find the non profit i want to raise money for. im not sure how this will work... anybody ever biked for a cause and got sponsorships, all money raised going to that cause?

Hi scottiethomas. It's not emissions related but one cause I've been looking at lately is Pedals for Progress (http://www.p4p.org/). They get people in rich countries to donate their unused bikes, plus a little cash, and then send the bikes to poor countries, where they make a huge difference to people's lives. So far they've shipped about 125,000 bikes! Seems like a great cause to me. They got very good reviews from a Rotary club I contacted who had dealt with them but I don't have any first hand experience. Their focus on bicycles may make them more relevant for your ride.

Scottie,
You have been presented a lot of good information so far. I would only add that planning for 75 mile days is not out of line. I am 65, weigh only 145, and usually plan my days for about 75 miles. When the tour is completed my average is around 67mi/da due to all of the short days caused by weather, terrain, whatever. I sometimes do only 30 miles if that is what seems right. I never plan on rest days either. If it is going to rain then I take a rest day since I don't like to ride in the rain. It is too hard for vehicles to see you along the road when it is raining. You have an interesting ride in the making. Good luck.