indyfabz

Now you have me wondering how I first learned of ACA, with whom I did my first unsupported tour (x-country), and a lot of other things. I started planning in '98 and had very limited access to this thing called the Internet via work. Somehow I learned of ACA and decided I wanted to ride with them because I had zero self-contained touring or camping experience. Through a small ad in their magazine I discovered Robert Beckman for my racks and panniers. Precisely where I got ideas for bikes I don't recall, but I do remember settling on a Cannondale T-700 after visiting a few LBS. My tent I purchased from a local Army Navy store. Sleeping bag and rain gear was from some place called REI that I learned about somehow.

A a newb I really think I would have worried a lot more had I had access to all the information and opinions you find on this place. There is nothing wrong with being adequately prepared, but so much information leading to so many choices has its negative side. For reading on that subject, I recommend this book:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Paradox_of_Choice

BobG

Well to add to the nostalgic turn this thread has taken, here's a hand written, air mail letter I received back in 1968 confirming specs on my first nice touring frame...






edit: perhaps this post belongs over at C&V forum. Sorry if I'm hijacking your thread Squeeze.

indyfabz

Hoard much?

On a serious note...Were you required (or did you) to write to your ACA tour participants? Our original leader did, although the letter was not hand written. The one thing I remember most, aside from the grammatical mistakes and typos, was getting the impression that the guy was going to be like the drill sergeant from "Full Metal Jacket." He had been in the Navy, and I imagined us doing jumping jacks every morning before breakfast. That was how in the dark I was about how self-contained group tours were run and self-contained touring in general. I really had little idea of what I was getting myself into, right down to having no idea what a portable camp stove looked like. I had never slept in a tent and had only set up my tent once in my mom's living room, nearly knocking a lamp over in the process. I could not believe one could bend a metal pole like that without it snapping so I put on eye protection in case it did. My imagination was running wild. In the end, the guy turned out to be the complete opposite of what I had imagined.

BobG

Yes. Leaders are required to send out a letter of introduction to participants about 60 days in advance of a trip. They are not intended to go into a lot of detail, just kind of a "Welcome to the group" tone with general group routines explained. Back in the '90s it was usually a single letter copied and mailed out to all. Now, of course, it will be sent out as an email. That creates a chain of replies with follow up questions between all, thus group members get to know each other a little bit in advance of the trip. Frank, the second leader of your NT group subsequently became a consultant for ACA and wrote up a detailed leader manual for the TransAm Tour. It includes a form letter for new leaders to model their greeting letter after.

On my '99 TransAm tour I still did not own a computer. We had a lot of 20-30 year olds in that group. I remember them giving me a lot of laughs over my type-written, copy machined, snail mailed letter!

Hoard much? Yep! I'm still hoarding that WB Hurlow frame also. Hanging in the cellar in mint condition...

indyfabz

Nice. I still have my '98 Cannondale T-700 in my basement, but it's in such poor condition it could never be brought back to life.

I didn't have a computer or personal email address back in '99. I lost my work email when I was canned at the end of April. I remember Dave P. telling me about this free email thing called Hotmail. He offered to show me how to set up an account one day when he went to the public library in some central Montana town to check his messages. I declined because I didn't really know anyone's email address. I finally got a Yahoo! account that fall and used it when touring southern Spain the following winter/spring. Times sure have changed.

The Philadelphia public library system was incredibly slow in developing public computer facilities. There were maybe 30 computers at the main branch. It was extremely rate that you could get more than 30 min. on one due to demand, and the machines were incredibly slow, even by standards of the day. When I was back on the Northern Tier in '00 I went to the public library in Sandpoint, ID. My jaw hit the floor when I saw the rows of modern computers and work stations.

BigAura

Because this thread is really about first tours, I did my first tours in the late 1970's. Here's a picture of me at my parents a couple of days before actually leaving on a 9-week tour. I was showing them my rig I'd be riding : my 8 year-old 10-speed out fitted with Kirkland panniers. My touring regular attire was cut-off shorts, addias sneakers, and cotton a tee-shirt. The izod shirt was for the visit to Mom's, a gift from her that she liked

DropBarFan

I liked the wool shorts; even though there were Merino wool jerseys available they were a bit pricey & the cheaper wool jerseys sometimes not too comfortable. Local racing club got scratchy acrylic jerseys & folks would wear a cotton t-shirt underneath heh.

DropBarFan

I was working outside ~1973 on a cold day & a yuppie jogs by wearing gym shorts with cotton thermal long-johns. Redneck co-workers chortled at the guy running around in his underwear. Now everyone wears tights as long as theyre not white!

Ridefreemc

I left Port Orange, Florida the day after high school graduation in 1979 (100+ degree heat!) and headed north to Savannah, Georgia. I had a super large rear pannier that was one piece. It had a compartment on top that had to be filled otherwise the sides would get caught in the spokes, so I filled it with a cotton blanket I bought in Mexico (another story), partially because I didn't have a sleeping bag. My tent was probably 8 pounds. I rode with leather bottom shoes that had cleats tacked onto the bottom (with toe clips). No rain gear. paper maps (no gps available at the time). Whatta ride! Oh, and the original Bell helmet that my brother bought for me.

Bell Biker - https://images.search.yahoo.com/sear...g&action=click

EDIT: I just remembered that I carried a set of dress clothes on that trip because I was to attend a wedding. Heavy pair of leather dress shoes too! Wore it all for 2 hours, had it on the bike for 3.5 days. Nowadays I carry much much less.

DropBarFan

AFAIK way back in the olden days a lot of riders used non-racing shoes w/cleats tacked on, some used leather cleats which were easier to walk on. I wonder if there are special lightweight dress suits for travelers? There have to be some foodie bike tourists who need clothes for dress-code restaurants (esp perhaps in Europe), no? In re weddings & other formal occasions we've got things covered now with this bike jersey:

Ridefreemc

Oh man! That would have saved me a ton of weight!

This would be the "new" me in my carrying preferences.