Neil_B

Add the book "Roll Around Heaven All Day" to your reading list. One of the segments of the cross country trip author Stan Purdom recounts is with his brother and a CPAP machine.

Neil_B

One also needs to keep one's internal clock in mind. For instance, my job requires me to work afternoons and evenings, so I'm often fatigued by early starts for the first couple of days on a tour. Or if you are a slow riser, and linger over breaking camp, that will eat up clock time. My first camping trip on a bike tour featured three hours spent breaking camp. By the second GAP/C&O tour I'd had it down to 30 minutes or less.

chefisaac

That was the first touring book I read. I loved it.

vesteroid

Actually you made a classic blunder of not reading my post. I dont bike tour, I backpack. As such I do have to carry all food/water, as I have yet to see a store where i hike.

My point was not to suggest anyone adopt my ideas, but rather to draw a stark contrast to Peters methods, and say that there are options. If I go out overnight or for a weekend, I dont have 15 lbs on me.

I am all for each to their own, so If you have the capacity to carry 50 lbs and want the associated speed and physical requirements to do so, then by all means go ahead...I just wanted to point there was an alternative, and to really illustrate that more does not equal safer (a common misconception in hiking circles)

Peter_C

We are on the same page. Even I would carry less if it had to be on my back instead of in my trailer. My biggest areas are heavier due to cheap cost, bringing stuff for comfort that aren't really needed (by most), and carrying too much clothing for fear that I 'might' need them (warmer, cooler, etc), and lastly stuff like a camp light rather than using a flashlight, etc... If I could afford it, between swapping the trailer for spendy panniers, and better more costly gear, I bet I could drop 50-60lbs total easily, without really changing any of my habits. (35+ pound trailer, 12+ pound sleeping bag, 10+ pound tent, and so on...)

Neil_B

I've read your post more than once and I still find it hard to determine where you made it clear you were discussing backpacking. And I doubt I've made a classic blunder.

cyccommute 

I did read your post. No where...yes, I checked twice...did you mention backpacking. Backpacking...yes, I've done it...is a different animal. But it does share some characteristics. Going longer doesn't mean that you have to carry more.

indyfabz

+1. A blanket statement that one will be more tired if one has 40 lbs. of gear vs. 30 lbs. of gear ignores other factors. For example, an additional 10 lbs. isn't going to make a noticeable difference during a flat 20 miles into a 20 knot headwind in treeless North Dakota. It's the wind and the resistance created by the panniers and other gears that will do you in, not the additonal weight.

I carried a lot of weight crossing the country. My racks and bags were on the heavier side. My share of the group gear was a large (at least 4 qts. and maybe 6 qts.), heavy gauge pot with a 2" deep lid that doubled as a frying pan. My tent wasn't the lightest. And to top it off, I carried a Mamiya 645 with a metered finder, power winder that used 5 AA batteries and three lenses along with a 35mm with a 35-70 zoom. For S&Gs I put my bike on a scale at a weigh station. 90lbs. Racks, bags and gear probably represented 55 lbs of that if not more since I was riding a relatively light Cannondal T-700.

There were many days when I wansn't tired at all. People carrying less than me were tired when I was not, or more tired when I was tired. One guy in our group carried a lot of weight in his B.O.B. (bag and trailer empty weigh 18 lbs.) riding a full-suspension MTB (he had a bad back), including a huge tent made by his wife that we affectionately dubbed "The Condo." He was the strongest guy on the tour and was often fine when other carrying more weight were wiped.

The year after I crossed the country I set out on another trip, the first few weeks of which followed exactly the same route that I had followed the previous year between Seattle and Glacier N.P. I commenced the trip one day later than I had the year before and, except in two instances, stayed in the same places as I had the year before. Gone was the camera equipment and film. My tent was a good 2 lbs. lighter. While I had to carry my personal cookset, I am sure it wasn't appreciably heavier than the pot/frying pan I lugged around the previous year, and the stove and fuel bottle weighed no where near what the camera equipment weighed. Net weight reduction was probably a good 8-10 lbs., if not more. The riding wasn't appreciably easier or less taxing. In fact, my pedalling time up the 30 mile climb to Washington Pass in the Cascades was only about three minutes shorter than the year before, when I had to deal with rain and snow. I finished the day at the same place I had the previous year and was just as wiped.

vesteroid

no Niel, you are a classic antagonist

But fun none the less.

I would ride with you any day.

Rowan

This is a post worthy of stickying in the Touring Forum... the effects of weather, terrain and road conditions are all influences on how fast a tour can be done.

But one thing that often is overlooked is emotional outlook. How you or I feel when we get up in the morning, and get on the bike.

Some of the influences there can be dehydration the day before (a real problem in hot weather), how well we slept (influenced by a huge variety of outside factors as well as our own imagination) and whether we have any injuries (obvious or not).

Even touring with someone can reduce or heighten motivation.

I learned a long time ago that there are no absolutes in cycling and cycle touring. Anything can happen from day to day that turfs all the theory in the world out the window.

Rowan

Which is your way of saying sorry for taking people to task for accurately reading what you wrote.

And Neil, Machka's a big girl. She likes having a debate as much as anyone, and can take care of herself...

Neil_B

Who is "Niel?"

We can make that day happen in 2013. I need to resume riding regularly, spring is coming, and VA isn't that far from PA. PM me if you want to set something up.

Neil_B

Oh, there's no doubt Machka is a strong woman. I felt an apology was needed because I was in error, not because she had feelings hurt.

Neil_B

So Iron Chef, how are those touring plans developing?

chefisaac

Everything is going well. Would like to slip in a 3-4 day tour end of May but not sure the boss will let me take some time off. We will see. Found an oyster farmer that will let me stay with them and hoping I can spend the day learning from him.

indyfabz

Then do a weekend overnighter. It's often best to do one four your first trip anyway. I gave you a route that starts close to home and ends at a nice campground. Easy terrain. Lots of shade. Hot showers. Picnic tables at east site. Swimming lake. Food/drink sources en route and near the campground.

chefisaac

I am planning to do an overnighter first for sure. The nice thing is that I can just leave my front door, pray a little to get past the hectic traffic by my place, and then ride. The next tour.... which I hope to do, is a 4 day trip but hoping to work with an oyster farmer for a day too so we will see how it rolls.

Neil_B

Couldn't you get dropped off at another starting location?

chefisaac

I could yes. But that may be too easy.

My wife hates driving my truck so it would be less b*tching from my wife.

Neil_B

OK, if it keeps a happy home. But don't fall into the trap of thinking that you need to ride in bad areas that happen to be on your route, or start or end at your door, for a tour to be 'real.' I considered riding around Lake Erie at one time, and I had no intention of pedaling through Detroit.

chefisaac

Noted!

I do not know why my wife does not like driving my truck. Yes, slightly bigger then her car but it is an automatic. If it was a stick, I could see her not liking it since she can not drive a stick with crap.

I think if I get an early start, all should be well. I look forward to the adventure.

indyfabz

Shouldn't be an issue for Mr. Super Commuter, especially on a weekend early in the morning.

Neil_B

+!

chefisaac

Shouldnt be a problem really though it is the opposite direction of where I commute. But the same direction I go to when going to Weight Watchers which are a few hairy streets, at least on weekdays close to rush hour.

neilfein

A good point!

Keep in mind that the train is a real option for touring; you can take a loaded touring bike on it with relative ease. The biggest restriction is that you need to avoid peak hours when you have a full-frame touring bike. I'd also recommend avoiding low-level platforms in New Jersey. [STRIKE]NJ Transit has a thing now that non-folding bikes can't board or detrain at stations with low-level platforms. (i.e., the stations where you have to haul a bike up and down the stairs are low-level platforms.) Or something like that, I'm a little unclear on these rules. [/STRIKE]

Edit: The thing about low-level platforms may have been rescinded. [STRIKE]Attempting to confirm this.[/STRIKE] Confirmed. Avoid peak hours and holidays and you're fine.

But using public transit with your bike opens up a new world of touring.