Touring - My abandoned bike tour for 2011

An account of a tour that didn't quite go the way I'd planned:

www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/752600-True-Grit-The-Stoutdog-Historian-Ohio-Bicycle-Adventure-Day-One

My plan was to ride to Pymatuning on the PA border, and then take the Y route to the G route to the J route to the S route and then home. Obviously I overestimated my physical condition, and pushed my companion too far. I hadn't counted on my back going out; I'd figured my knees would fail first. Still, I'd planned on the flattest transit of of PA, short riding days, and automotive assist to get over Denton Hill.

After I abandoned the tour I spent two days recovering on an organic farm in PA, and then the next two weeks in Ohio as a guest of another Bike Forums poster. I rode day rides and then drove home.

I think if my back hadn't flared up, I'd have made it home under my own power. Or at least gotten close.

After I abandoned the tour I spent two days recovering on an organic farm in PA, and then the next two weeks in Ohio as a guest of another Bike Forums poster. I rode day rides and then drove home.


Sounds like you did a great job of turning lemons into lemonade! Thanks for sharing your report, which is actually inspiring - things always go wrong anyway, the game is to adapt as circumstances unfold.

Wow, sorry to hear about both of your health issues. Is your companion the same person who used to post as TheHistorian here? Unless I'm misremembering who you two are (very possible, maybe you are a different Neil), it sounds like you worked out your friendship issues, which is nice to see.

My planned bike tour this year was halted before it even began by work responsibilities, and I cancelled a supported tour due to a health scare, so I sort of feel your pain.

Wow, sorry to hear about both of your health issues. Is your companion the same person who used to post as TheHistorian here? Unless I'm misremembering who you two are (very possible, maybe you are a different Neil), it sounds like you worked out your friendship issues, which is nice to see.

My planned bike tour this year was halted before it even began by work responsibilities, and I cancelled a supported tour due to a health scare, so I sort of feel your pain.

I used to post as The Historian. thestoutdog is another poster here. He's OK, although his future touring plans are being made carefully to avoid a repetition of the problems. He's going to keep the mileage low and bring a CPAP machine, which should keep him OK.

Ah gotcha.

Sorry about the misfortunes, but you both gave it a shot and now have more knowledge on which to base your next tour attempt. Cutting a tour short is much better than not going at all.

I had two abandoned tours this year. Went a week on the first one when my girlfriend said "enough." Too many shoulderless roads, too many logging trucks, too much heat.

Went solo on the second one. Was supposed to be a Portland to San Diego tour, but ended up being Portland to Trinidad, CA. Too much rain on that one. I hate riding in rain, then camping in rain.

Have you got your back troubles figured out? I've had lower back issues (muscular) for over 30 years, and didn't figure out until about 4 years ago that it is completely manageable via exercise and stretching. When I do about ten minutes worth of those on a daily basis, the back troubles are non-existent. Such a relief.

Sorry about the misfortunes, but you both gave it a shot and now have more knowledge on which to base your next tour attempt. Cutting a tour short is much better than not going at all.

I had two abandoned tours this year. Went a week on the first one when my girlfriend said "enough." Too many shoulderless roads, too many logging trucks, too much heat.

Went solo on the second one. Was supposed to be a Portland to San Diego tour, but ended up being Portland to Trinidad, CA. Too much rain on that one. I hate riding in rain, then camping in rain.

Have you got your back troubles figured out? I've had lower back issues (muscular) for over 30 years, and didn't figure out until about 4 years ago that it is completely manageable via exercise and stretching. When I do about ten minutes worth of those on a daily basis, the back troubles are non-existent. Such a relief.

As I posted in another thread, I'm having knee replacement in a month. The back trouble seems to be caused by my knee problems. I expect my back will be less trouble in the future.

It sounds like you gave it 100%,, that is all that can be expected of anyone!

Good job.