cyclo-tourist envy and daydreams and motivation
06-29-15, 12:04 PM
#1
aka: Mike J.
Thread Starter
cyclo-tourist envy and daydreams and motivation
Over the weekend we were driving on a side road county highway and saw two fully loaded touring bikes heading towards us. Couldn't tell what brand of bikes they had since I was driving into the sunset and didn't want to hit anything. They were headed eastward, light downhill, possible slight tailwind, and both he and she were grinning ear to ear as they were spinning their cranks in a higher gear. My guess is they were either wanting to get to the Lake Michigan lakeshore before sunset, or were about to get home from some bike tour. I have no idea where they were from, or where they were going, but it sure looked like they were having the time of their lives.
Definitely gives one a little motivation, makes one slightly envyous, and really gets the day-dreams flowing thinking of where they were coming from, going to, and what they've seen along the way.
Anyway, just posting a random comment about a random encounter with two cycling tourers heading a different direction than I was.
Definitely gives one a little motivation, makes one slightly envyous, and really gets the day-dreams flowing thinking of where they were coming from, going to, and what they've seen along the way.
Anyway, just posting a random comment about a random encounter with two cycling tourers heading a different direction than I was.
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06-30-15, 06:48 PM
#2
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So go! Become one of them. 
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06-30-15, 07:18 PM
#3
Not to pour salt on it, but I toured past your way in mid-May on my way around the Lakes. You've got some beauty right outside your door, hop on your bike and enjoy it.
07-01-15, 09:58 AM
#4
aka: Mike J.
Thread Starter
Yep, that's the plan, starting with some local laps now that I've finally got a bike set up for the task.
BigAura, did you post a trip report anyplace? Always interesting to read about the local scenery from a visitor's perspective.
BigAura, did you post a trip report anyplace? Always interesting to read about the local scenery from a visitor's perspective.
__________________
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Life happens, don't be a spectator.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Life happens, don't be a spectator.
Last edited by treebound; 07-01-15 at 11:17 AM.
07-01-15, 01:46 PM
#5
Banned
Several hundred riders do the pacific coast every year.. ..
I just boxed up the 1st bike of someone completing a transcontinental ride..
I just boxed up the 1st bike of someone completing a transcontinental ride..
07-12-15, 02:08 PM
#6
aka: Mike J.
Thread Starter
Just got back from visiting family in Washington state and spent the better part of the week driving around the Olympic Peninsula. I'm happy to report that bile touring is alive and well as I saw a good number of cycling tourists.
Most were traveling in pairs or couples, and some appeared to be riding solo. Most were on dropbar road or touring bikes, a couple had flat bars, one had an aero bar attached. Most had rear panniers, most had handlebar bags attached, probably over half had front panniers. A few I talked to but most were seen as we drove past them and as I tried to snap a photo from the backseat of the car as we approached or passed.
Two guys I spoke with were friends from two different cities on the east coast who flew out separately and then were taking a planned tour together around the Olympics.
Hard to tell what sort of lighting they had but might be able to tell more as I go through the 1000+ photos I took of various places. Bike brands were varied, Trek, Fuji, Schwinn, Surly, and others. Some sported fenders, some didn't. Most had lowrider racks on front, maybe two were towing BOB Yak trailers. Ortlieb was the most often seen pannier, but others were is use as well. I almost bought some front roller Ortliebs from one guy on craigslist (sold before I could meet him) and almost picked up a pair of orange Ortlieb backrollers from another guy on craigslist who was selling his touring bike package but time and place and being near enough to connect never worked out. But based on what I saw others using I'll be fine with what I currently have until something shows up locally here in Wisconsin.
All told, I think I saw probably 20-30 riders so if anyone here was/is touring the Olympic Peninsula between July 2nd-10th then I might have seen you. Great motivation to get myself out there someday soon. Just tagging onto this thread since this is more of a sighting report instead of a trip report, but just thought some might find it interesting. Oh, and I also learned of an alternate cycling route around the north side Crescent lake instead of having to deal with a narrow shoulder on the roadway/highway along the south shore of the lake that I'm going to have to research a bit, the two east coasters told me about it.
Oh well, back to unpacking, then downloading and sorting photographs.
Edit: link to the trail I mentioned https://www.olympicdiscoverytrail.com..._crescent.html
Most were traveling in pairs or couples, and some appeared to be riding solo. Most were on dropbar road or touring bikes, a couple had flat bars, one had an aero bar attached. Most had rear panniers, most had handlebar bags attached, probably over half had front panniers. A few I talked to but most were seen as we drove past them and as I tried to snap a photo from the backseat of the car as we approached or passed.
Two guys I spoke with were friends from two different cities on the east coast who flew out separately and then were taking a planned tour together around the Olympics.
Hard to tell what sort of lighting they had but might be able to tell more as I go through the 1000+ photos I took of various places. Bike brands were varied, Trek, Fuji, Schwinn, Surly, and others. Some sported fenders, some didn't. Most had lowrider racks on front, maybe two were towing BOB Yak trailers. Ortlieb was the most often seen pannier, but others were is use as well. I almost bought some front roller Ortliebs from one guy on craigslist (sold before I could meet him) and almost picked up a pair of orange Ortlieb backrollers from another guy on craigslist who was selling his touring bike package but time and place and being near enough to connect never worked out. But based on what I saw others using I'll be fine with what I currently have until something shows up locally here in Wisconsin.
All told, I think I saw probably 20-30 riders so if anyone here was/is touring the Olympic Peninsula between July 2nd-10th then I might have seen you. Great motivation to get myself out there someday soon. Just tagging onto this thread since this is more of a sighting report instead of a trip report, but just thought some might find it interesting. Oh, and I also learned of an alternate cycling route around the north side Crescent lake instead of having to deal with a narrow shoulder on the roadway/highway along the south shore of the lake that I'm going to have to research a bit, the two east coasters told me about it.
Oh well, back to unpacking, then downloading and sorting photographs.
Edit: link to the trail I mentioned https://www.olympicdiscoverytrail.com..._crescent.html
__________________
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Life happens, don't be a spectator.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Life happens, don't be a spectator.
Last edited by treebound; 07-12-15 at 02:12 PM.
07-12-15, 08:57 PM
#9
aka: Mike J.
Thread Starter
