Cyclist0108

Well, as long as the necropost has given this a new life ...

In my case, I had never heard of it (as my last significant tour was back in 1992, and I gave my Trek 520 to one of my grad students in 2005). I am about to try it, as from all appearances and descriptions it sounds like a radical improvement. I've decided to go for the low-hanging fruit first, and got an ultra-light tent and ultra-light thermarest.

Initially, I was surprised to see setups with most of the weight high on the bike, and sometimes with almost all of it on the front. This really contradicts the traditional dogma that said you should distribute 40% of the load on the front, 60% on the back, and keep everything as low as possible (especially with low-riders on the front). I just assumed they would be really unstable. (I guess this evolved from the use of full-suspension mountain bikes that couldn't accept traditional front and rear racks.)

manapua_man

If only I was lucky enough to have a pension fund to begin with...

That said, going light and fast with a credit card seems like an ideal way for some people to get out if they can't take much time off. Less messing around with stuff, covering more ground and potentially seeing more things in less time.

79pmooney

I'm guilty. I am signed up for my 8th consecutive Cycle Oregon. But I don't think of it as a "tour". I think if it as: a week long ride/event, a chance to see roads, a chance to reconnect with friends and country I haven't seen before (though for the second time I will be seeing a little of a past ride this year: Oregon's only go so many roads that can handle 450 mile, week long 2000 rider events).

I get to ride my light bike and have a semi truck my 65 lb bag to the next campsite. Eat good food I didn't prepare. No dishes to clean. Costs $1000. If I do a week long tour with the comforts I need in my 7th decade of life and spend the money to get lightweight gear, food, the occasional motel, etc, I probably won't be saving a ton of money over CO.

Being this well supported also allows me to do things I wouldn't dream of riding far from home unsupported. I can ride the wild country of Oregon on my fix gear; the purest way there is to experience it on a bike. If I tried that on my own and the authorities heard (and got) what I was attempting, I'd be institutionalized. (Into either a sanitarium or hospital to replace my knees, maybe both.)

I may well do some more unsupported touring now that old faithful is back in the front stall. But how light I go remains to be seen. (Like - this body, with all it's old injuries and miles needs several pillows. That one down jacket of a previous poster wold be sentencing myself to a small hell.)

Ben