Touring - Alcoholic Beverages on Tour

I hear folks mention carrying beer when on tour. I assume that is just back to camp in the evening though. The comments made me curious about how many drink on tour and in what manner.

My observations of the folks I have met on tour is that most don't imbibe much on tour. One group of two that we met liked to carry a six pack back to camp at night. A couple others carried some more concentrated form of alcohol, and a few might have had a beer with lunch or a glass of wine with dinner once in a while when eating at a bar or restaurant. I am in the latter camp, but the drinks are rare in my case. I think I had maybe two in 73 days on the TA and none on my tour last year.

I am curious what others do. Do you drink regularly when on tour? If so what and when?

I like to tour in wine regions and I love to try out the local products. I’m also a fan of real ale, microbrews and cider so when I find a new and interesting beverage I indulge. I usually take a midday break from ridding and will enjoy a drink or two with my meal. I will also have a drink at the end of my day when relaxing around camp or while at a hotel/hostel/guesthouse.

Gordon

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I drink about as much on tour as when I'm not on tour, which is not much at all. The one exception was a 2006 trip in Ukraine/Russia. There is a custom of taking taking the wedding party along a short trip of notable sites prior to the reception. Saturday is wedding day and in some rural areas we'd see more than one wedding party along our route.

As we were cycling along, we'd leapfrogged this party a few times as they stopped to attach a lock signifying their love to a bridge (and throw away the key) or stop at a local monument. We smiled and waived and by third or fourth time they invited two cyclists to join in their wedding toasts and photo above. Somehow toasts come in threes and in best Russian we could we tried to toast the lucky couple. Their wedding photos include us and our touring photos include them.

Later in that same trip, we stayed with local friends for two weeks and again several social occasions of getting together with friends and socializing, singing and drinking. Nothing to excess but a lot more than I normally do. It was more a case of being polite with our hosts but I probably drank more on that trip than in several years combined back home.

On most tours I have a small hip flask filled with whatever single malt whiskey I happen to have available when I pack. I may carry some beer with me, not a sixpack though. Both whiskey and beer are best enjoyed in the evening at camp. Or, if there's a local pub nearby, I might visit that in the evening.

On some occasions having a beer with lunch has resulted in very slow going for the next couple of hours. It's only happened a couple of times, but the connection has been obvious enough to make me avoid drinking alcohol in the middle of a full riding day.

--J

Nope.. don't drink at all on tour. Then again I don't drink at all when at home. Maybe that has something to do with it? ;)

Did I tell you the story about Mimi at Quinn's Hot Springs?

As a homebrewer I have become a fan of local brewpubs. Always look for them as I travel through towns and love to talk to the brew-master. If I happen near a store near the end of the day that sells singles I'll grab 1-2 for a nightcap but this seldom happens. Anymore than 2 is too much weight.

The one exception was a 2006 trip in Ukraine/Russia.

mev, you toured Russia and Ukraine? That's awesome. I was in Ukraine as a Peace Corps volunteer from 2000-2003 and have been to Russia four times (study abroad and other various return trips). Wasn't really into cycling yet then, and I'm just getting my feet wet when it comes to any kind of touring, but you must have had a blast! Where all did you go?

I can imagine that you drank a bit there, especially since you spent time w/ locals. It's a drinking culture - that much is for sure!

mev, you toured Russia and Ukraine? That's awesome. I was in Ukraine as a Peace Corps volunteer from 2000-2003 and have been to Russia four times (study abroad and other various return trips). Wasn't really into cycling yet then, and I'm just getting my feet wet when it comes to any kind of touring, but you must have had a blast! Where all did you go?

I can imagine that you drank a bit there, especially since you spent time w/ locals. It's a drinking culture - that much is for sure!

Only been in former Soviet Union (FSU) twice. In 2006, a six week trip cycling from Uzgorod, Ukraine (on Hungarian border) to Samara, Russia on the Volga River a total of 2600km and a week or two at end staying with friends in Penza. In 2007, a six month trip cycling from Amsterdam to St Petersburg to Vladivostok, a total of 13000km. That latter trip was mostly on the move, though I did spend three weeks brushing up my Russian in St Petersburg at a language school and I also spent almost two weeks in Vladivostok at the end.

One of the things I really like about touring is it gets you out and amongst locals and you get a certain feel of how people live and work, particularly in rural areas or small cities since you spend the largest amount of time there. I drank in moderation, but when staying with locals or visiting it was a matter of politeness to at least join in celebration toasts and similar things.

Those both sound like incredible tours! I'm jealous of you for both. Amsterdam to Vladivostok is a monster of a tour. Must have been a blast.

I was in Mykolayiv (Nikolaev) in southern Ukraine, about 125 km from Odessa for two of my three years, in Kyiv the third. Wish I'd been into cycling and touring then - could have done some sweet tours in the summer (I was an educaor my first two years w/ LOTS of free time in the summer).

Anyway, ride on, mev, ride on. За здоровьe! :beer:

Normally I don't drink much, but I seem to drink a lot more on tour. Partially because beer is extremely cheap in the US versus in Canada, and partially because I can.

Down the Pacific Coast, I didn't drink until I linked up with a few other cyclists. From then on we would go through 20-30 beers every night between 6 or 7 people, and Baby Duck or hard liquor for whenever someone left the group.

On my own, I like a MGD tallboy and Hostess donuts at night for a quick carb fest.

Sometimes it's nice to have a cold beer after a day's ride :)

I like to sample the local brews as I travel and when the situation exists will visit a brewpub for an evening meal and sample. I did one orgainzed tour with a brewery stop mid day and that was a mistake. A bottle or two at the evening campsite is hard to beat in my book. Of course I am from Wisconsin!:-)

^Lake Louie (http://lakelouie.com/lakelouie2008_002.htm) FTW :thumb:

+1 to local brewpubs

I drink regularly, but only after the day's ride is done. Mostly wine, but beer, etc., if I cannot get wine. My featherwieght corkscrew is an essential element of my cookset. I try not to carry if need be, but I will.

I did AC's Northern Tier Tour in '99. Several of us drank a good amount of beer most days and even got downright polluted on more than one occasion. One night partying in Minot, ND with achaeology grad students who were excavating some burrial ground or something uncovered during pipeline construction comes to mind. The next morning was a long ride into a stiff ND headwind with a crushing hangover. Not recommended. But it's all part of the experience.

Normally I don't drink much, but I seem to drink a lot more on tour. Partially because beer is extremely cheap in the US versus in Canada, and partially because I can.

You ain't kidding. Last year we did the loop from Whitefish, MT through BC and AB and then into Glacier. I live in Philadelphia, PA, where wine and beer are expensive. We found some wine brands to be near twice the price as back home. In one liquor store in Pincher Creek, AB, I decided to compare beer prices. Saw a box of Molson for $20. (Exchange rate was basically 1:1). I thought "$20 for a case of Molson. That's not that bad." Then I realized it was a 12 pack.

Hmm. I pack a plastic pint flask which I'll refill with rum (on the coasts) or bourbon (interior states) whenever it gets empty. I do a few tots in the evening after eating. If I'm in town or near a town for the night, I'll stop in the local bar/pub, dine and have a few beers and chat the locals up or buy a couple of cans to take to the campsite. I'm on vacation.

I usually carry a bottle of cognac which Spinnaker, robow, VT_Speed_TR, alhanson, joel2old, and jagraham could probably testify to!

:cheers:

Next week I'm starting a tour through parts of Germany and the Czech Republic. There will be little resistance to enjoy their fine beers.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3125/2644239707_a5afd71f50_b.jpg

Ortliebs are waterproof - which means if you fill 'em with beer and ice they stay frosty in a nice ice bath all day. I've got no hard and fast rule about drinking on tour, but I have not been known to turn down the offer of a cold beer anytime after 11am!....:thumb:

That is the first compelling plug for an Otlieb yet.

I used to do happy hour while touring through Quebec, since they have beer in grocery stores there (well, like most places really, but not Ontario where I live). Seemed pretty natural. Go get the evening eats, and some beer or wine also.

I'd love to ride across Ukraine! Did you ship bikes or rent? (I saw more peoples in Kiev pedeling some nice rides last summer). Where did you start and end? Russian visas-was there a hassel at the border? Some of the highways-Kiev to Kharkiv- Kharkiv to Nikolaev, look narrow and lots of truck traffic, was it a safe enough feel? What bikes did you take? Camping? Did you stop at every Shashleek stand (Hmmmm shashleek!). Finally-what was your time frame? (Did you ride all the way or ride some?) Eta Ochen Klasna!!!!

I carry a bottle of grain alcohol...it is for the stove...and me. I love microbrews and won't turn one down if I find one. Local wines can be fun too.

Aaron :)

I drink 1-2 drinks on most nights while not on tour. This holds true for while I am touring as well, assuming there are places to get them along the way because I would not haul a six pack around!

When touring the West Coast a few years ago there was a hippy horticologist who must have taken me for a stoner. Traveling by bike, big beard, dirty appreance, ect... and he ran out to his truck and brought me back a huge fist full of green stuff (not money). I do not smoke the stuff on any sort of regular basis but when $40-$50 worth of it is just given to me how could I say no? It made for a lot of interesting nights around camp, esspecially when I was cooking! I also indulged one time in the morning right before a long day of cycling on empty MUPs. I would not have done that if I had to mingle with traffic that day!

Nope.. don't drink at all on tour. Then again I don't drink at all when at home. Maybe that has something to do with it? ;)

Same here :D

On some occasions having a beer with lunch has resulted in very slow going for the next couple of hours. It's only happened a couple of times, but the connection has been obvious enough to make me avoid drinking alcohol in the middle of a full riding day.

--J

True, sir. I found myself hitting a serious wall after having a beer with lunch one day, about 30 miles in. I had never felt that exhausted on a ride before. Drinking is for camp at the end of the day, personally.

Touring in Italy, I would have felt pretty stupid not having a glass of red wine at the end of the day. No alcohol at lunch, though, as a number of people have said.

I'd love to ride across Ukraine! Did you ship bikes or rent? (I saw more peoples in Kiev pedeling some nice rides last summer). Where did you start and end? Russian visas-was there a hassel at the border? Some of the highways-Kiev to Kharkiv- Kharkiv to Nikolaev, look narrow and lots of truck traffic, was it a safe enough feel? What bikes did you take? Camping? Did you stop at every Shashleek stand (Hmmmm shashleek!). Finally-what was your time frame? (Did you ride all the way or ride some?) Eta Ochen Klasna!!!!]

Journal for both 2006 and 2007 is http://www.bikerussia.com However, quick answer to some questions above:
- I took my bike with me. In 2006 I left that bike in Penza, Russia as "hot spare" for 2007 trip. A friend is retrieving it this year to do a trip in Central Asia (wish it could be me :))
- 2006 start: Ukraine/Hungary border end: Samara train station and ride back to Penza. 2007 start: Amsterdam, end: Vladivostok
- No huge visa hassles though in 2006 it took some fineness to get right visa stamps. In 2007 system had changed and slight fun getting into Kalinigrad but nothing too bad.
- We definitely got some challenging highways. Ukraine 2006 was still reasonable though rear mirror was helpful. 2007 worst was M-7 between Nizhny Novgorod and Kazan However, overall paved roads were reasonable. Gravel in 2007 was an adventure.
- Took a Trek 520 on both trips
- 2006 we had a tent but actually stayed indoors each night. One night however was with a guy we met at a bus stop. 2007 was majority camping.
- Yes, Shashleek! (and solyanka, pelmini :))
- 2006 was mid-June to end of July. 2007 was end of March to end of September.
- 2006 cycled everything. 2007, we caught a ride across 263km of the worst gravel (journal for that day http://www.bikerussia.com/2007/08/21/). That was not an easy choice for me to make.

It's 4 o'clock somewhere...right?

That's why I don't drink.I drink for affect and that effects my rides.



and i want to be sober if I get hit.....and have clean underwear!

never drank on tour. then again i rarely drink at home. on the other hand i wouldn't say no to a good ice cold one at the end of a long day either.

For me, a beer or two and riding all day go really well together. But I don't drink heavily at all.

Most of the time we take a single malt whisky with us, most of the time the flask is empty when we return home four weeks later.
When available we like to taste the regional wines / beers, but we tend to have an alcoholic drink every few days most of the time.

The end to a perfect touring day is a fine local micro brew and friends to share it with.

I always say that how well one eats and rests on tour, is going to dictate how well one rides and therefore how much fun one is likely to have. Diet is very important when riding consistently for a large portion of the day.

I believe that a small amount of alcohol aids in digestion. It is an "intestinal exciter", and has other dietary benefits. Plus it helps me relax. I love to have some wine with the evening meal, or around a campfire. Not much, and not every night. Just enough to compliment the food I eat.

More than 6 hours on the road. You betcha.. It's rare we don't pass up a liquor store near the end of a day's ride.. Usually either a good beer or wine.. Can't carry wine on a bike I am told . It's bad for the tannin... Beer.Gotta have it cold and fresh out of the pannier's it would be warm and much too fizzy.

This is a staple of my cookset and some think it makes a statement of some sort.

http://media.rei.com/media/vv/6dd85004-337b-4494-bd2f-f88127b8ea02.jpg

I yam what I yam, and I love to eat and drink the local cuisine while on tour!

+1 on the Ortliebs as coolers at the end of the day. Usually line it with a garbage bag.

A shot of Fireball whiskey at the top of a big climb helps make the climb a distant memory

I always take a couple of those little single serving plastic bottles of wine. A little wine buzz along the ride is wonderful, and they fit beautifully in my handlebar bag for easy access. Beer is for after the ride because it makes me tired.

Here's a picture of me enjoying one along the way just a few days ago. I am the guy on the right...

It's been a few years since I've been able to tour but previously I drank beer or something stronger on almost every day of every tour. I've found that a late afternoon stop at a local pub/bar was a great way to meet local people and find out something about the area that I may not have learned in any other setting. Plus, these encounters frequently led to offers of a place to throw my sleeping bag for the night, a good meal, and a couple more drinks. I did have to learn to be careful of those "couple of more" drinks though...cycling in the heat with a raging hangover is torture. And, of course, simply sampling local brews or wines is often a treat after a hard day.

I haven't toured (yet), but I do find myself putting away a six pack of Guinness Extra Stout after my longer rides. I couldn't think of anything else towards the end of a 170 mile ride a couple of weeks ago. What's funny is I hardly ever drink otherwise.

I doubt I could do this while touring though as riding with a hangover is pure torture to me.

On a hot day, after riding many miles on a loaded bike I'd most certainly fall asleep after few sips of beer :D So that may not be a bad thing at the end of the day, but not in the middle. Also, beer dehydrates and I'm sensitive to dehydration, I need to drink lots of water.

Sometimes the only thing that gets me up those hills is the mantra "There will be beer at the end there will be beer at the end there will be beer at the end"

Sometimes the only thing that gets me up those hills is the mantra "There will be beer at the end there will be beer at the end there will be beer at the end"

LOL! My wife tried that on me last year while chugging up a super steep grade out of the ferry landing on Denman Island, BC while temperatures were 38 deg C and hotter (there's a store at the top of the hill). We get to the top of the hill and the store is closed because the refrigeration had failed due to the heat. The next day we're told it'll be open until 1pm so we show up at noon to find out that it just closed because of the same thing the day before. Needless to say that beer is hard to come by on or around Vancouver Island during hot weather. I couldn't get a cold beer until toward the end of our trip on Salt Spring :twitchy: That Ortlieb cooler trick sounds pretty appealing next trip up VI!

If I drink on tour, it tends to be during rest days in cities, but otherwise not. Perhaps this is because I don't like the taste of beer so I'd never consider one to be a treat at the end of the day?

One of the joys of our cycle touring in Europe was to sample the local beverages. This usually meant a 500mL can of beer with tea, or a half bottle of wine between the two of us most days. We were not tempted by the numerous beer gardens along the German Mosel during the day as this means the cycling is affected.

When we tour locally, we often go without alcohol.

The picture below shows you what is possible to carry in panniers (two of us) when you want to spend the rest of your local currency on the last day of a tour, and take some cheap alcohol back...
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/pic/?o=RrzKj&pic_id=390772&v=83&size=large

Yes, I drink when on tour. Only at the end of the day, of course; but I always enjoy a couple beers with dinner. And it's a social thing; if I'm hanging out with people who are drinking, that's fine with me. If they're not drinking, well, that's fine too.

I like a cold beer or two with company of an evening.

I also keep a few ounces of good scotch that I use to toast particularly beautiful scenery or a night sky, either alone or with another.

On the Pacific Coast trip I did back in 2006, I'd call by a store & load up with a mixed pack or so of the local micro brews for the end of the day, if in the middle of nowhere :) During the day ride, I remember my wheel rims almost glowing red hot at the foot of the descent from the woodland into Pacific City when the Pelican Brewery appeared like a mirage! Fantastic location and beer to boot. I also bought some cycling socks from the pub :) Mostly though, day drinks were lemon Gatorade: not quite the same as Rogue brews ;)

Hi,

depends on the country:

Per Day:
US/Canada: none
Germany/Europe: 2-3 beers
Cuba: small bottle of rum
Southamericana: 1 beer (nearly 1 L)
Japan: Sake if I'm in a restaurant
Arabic Countries: none
Africa: none or 5-6 beers: bars close at 5 PM if no guests are in, but if guest are in it mostly a funny evening...

Thomas

I prefer per day 2 real tasteful cold beers (difficult in the US) at the evening after cycling.