Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Touring
Reload this Page >

Stuff it...

Notices
Touring Have a dream to ride a bike across your state, across the country, or around the world? Self-contained or fully supported? Trade ideas, adventures, and more in our bicycle touring forum.

Stuff it...

Old 05-17-10, 05:51 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Quemal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: San Diego
Posts: 87

Bikes: 1982 Univega Gran Turismo 1982 Ritchey Mtn Bike 2009 Trek 520

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Stuff it...

In a few weeks, my family is having a reunion at a local campground. I am going by bicycle.

Apparently, word got around. Now, some family members want to use my space as overflow parking... One of the reasons I bike tour is to be car free.

How do I tell them to "stuff it" without being kicked out of the family...

thanks in advance.
Quemal is offline  
Old 05-17-10, 07:11 PM
  #2  
Buh'wah?!
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Charlottesville VA
Posts: 2,131

Bikes: 2014 Giant Trance

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
What do you mean "overflow parking"? Like, where you would've parked your car for camping someone else will use? Perhaps so they can use more than one vehicle?
I don't understand. It's what space you're talking about that doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
And how important is the family? Personally, I'd tell em' to shove it regardless of what they say. No matter what space you're talking about, you're entitled to it just as much as they are. Just because you happen to be more space efficient than they are shouldn't mean a thing.
-Gene-
Amani576 is offline  
Old 05-17-10, 07:24 PM
  #3  
Lost Again
 
gitarzan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Columbus, Oh!
Posts: 1,044

Bikes: Soma Saga, 1991 Sirrus, Specialized Secteur Elite, Miele Umbria Elite.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Just tell them your space is a "No Car Zone" .

gitarzan is offline  
Old 05-17-10, 07:24 PM
  #4  
aka Phil Jungels
 
Wanderer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: North Aurora, IL
Posts: 8,234

Bikes: 08 Specialized Crosstrail Sport, 05 Sirrus Comp

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 202 Post(s)
Liked 86 Times in 60 Posts
Why not tell them you were thinking of camping in their space to save money.......
Wanderer is offline  
Old 05-17-10, 08:53 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Quemal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: San Diego
Posts: 87

Bikes: 1982 Univega Gran Turismo 1982 Ritchey Mtn Bike 2009 Trek 520

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
In this campground, one can pull a vehicle into the camping space either a camper or truck. Some spaces allow two vehicles in the camping space. Some family members have several cars, and want to use my space as a parking lot.
Quemal is offline  
Old 05-17-10, 08:58 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: LLano, TX
Posts: 568

Bikes: 2009 Novara Randonee

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Charge them a parking fee. It will pay for your camping spot.
mthayer is offline  
Old 05-17-10, 09:04 PM
  #7  
Twincities MN
 
kuan's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,536

Bikes: Fat Caad Lefty, Foundry Overland.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Tell them they can have the campsite and you will get another.
__________________
www.marrow.org
kuan is offline  
Old 05-17-10, 09:04 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
Jtgyk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Richardson TX
Posts: 1,308
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Tell them you would be happy to provide overflow parking.........for their BIKES!
__________________
Hey, I'm just this GUY...you know?
>>>Team Critical Mess<<< (You mean it's not SUPPOSE to hurt?)

My nice new Nashbar Touring Build AKA "The Flying Avocadooooooooo!"
1998(?) Trek 700 Multitrack
1995 Trek 1220 AKA "Jimi"
Older Non-suspension Specialized Hardrock
Jtgyk is offline  
Old 05-17-10, 09:09 PM
  #9  
Buh'wah?!
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Charlottesville VA
Posts: 2,131

Bikes: 2014 Giant Trance

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Am I the only one bugged by car-"camping" or RV "camping"? Car camping is a little less irritating, but people who claim to go camping in their house on wheels just irritate the crap out of me.
Bike, hike, and maybe horse camping are the only real kinds of camping to me.
-Gene-
Amani576 is offline  
Old 05-17-10, 09:30 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: LLano, TX
Posts: 568

Bikes: 2009 Novara Randonee

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Yep RV camping is not camping. Things that get to me are when people bring generators to their camp sites, they show up with a cargo trailer and bring out bbq pits sinks, basically a mobile kitchen. I guess being a minimalist, it just irritates me even more.

Last edited by mthayer; 05-17-10 at 09:38 PM.
mthayer is offline  
Old 05-18-10, 05:51 AM
  #11  
Bike addict, dreamer
 
AdamDZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Queens, New York
Posts: 5,165
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I never heard of anyone camping with an RV, isn't that RVing, o something like that?

Yeah, last weekend I was on a campsite next to a guy with his wife who had a tent the size of a small garage, electric generator, portable gas grill, etc. I was like, WTF? There are fireplaces and grilles on the site. Lucky, he didn't use the electric generator while I was there, I think I'd ask him to turn that off.
AdamDZ is offline  
Old 05-18-10, 06:08 AM
  #12  
Formerly Known as Newbie
 
Juha's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Posts: 6,250
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts
+1 on telling them they can have your camp site (and sort the costs out with the campground) and get a new one for yourself. It would be a good idea to check with the campsite anyway, the charges may be different for a tent+bike versus a tent+bike+someone else's car.

If they insist, and you don't want to tell them to shove it, charge a fee for the space. If the cost is higher because of their car, make sure they pay the increase in full and then half of the remaining cost.

--J
__________________
To err is human. To moo is bovine.

Who is this General Failure anyway, and why is he reading my drive?


Become a Registered Member in Bike Forums
Community guidelines
Juha is offline  
Old 05-18-10, 07:18 AM
  #13  
It's true, man.
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: North Texas
Posts: 2,726

Bikes: Cannondale T1000, Inbred SS 29er, Supercaliber 29er, Crescent Mark XX, Burley Rumba Tandem

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
The option of just letting them park there and not getting worked up about it is still wide open for you.
truman is offline  
Old 05-18-10, 07:40 AM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
staehpj1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 11,837
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 744 Times in 554 Posts
Originally Posted by Amani576
Am I the only one bugged by car-"camping" or RV "camping"? Car camping is a little less irritating, but people who claim to go camping in their house on wheels just irritate the crap out of me.
Bike, hike, and maybe horse camping are the only real kinds of camping to me.
-Gene-
Meh... Folks can do as they please. I don't consider RV'ing camping, but if others do it is no skin off of my nose.

BTW, I consider your hierarchy a bit off. Where are canoe and kayak camping in this?

I really like bike touring, but it typically isn't exactly a wilderness experience most of the time. Some MTB camping might be, but that is probably the exception rather than the rule. If anything "bike camping" is likely to be reliant on roads and be in developed areas while backpacking, horseback camping, canoe camping, and kayak camping are much more likely to actually be out in the wilderness or at least the woods. In that way bike touring is more like car camping than more rustic forms of camping.
staehpj1 is offline  
Old 05-18-10, 07:53 AM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
staehpj1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 11,837
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 744 Times in 554 Posts
Originally Posted by Quemal
How do I tell them to "stuff it" without being kicked out of the family...
I would say you either just tell them and don't worry about it, or you let someone park in the paring spot on your site.

Just my take on it, but...
Personally, I would just do the latter. You are staying in a campground, will a car parked in what amounts to a driveway in most cases, really matter that much to you? This is after all primarily a family reunion, not a bike tour.

If you care about promoting cycling, my guess is that you will be more likely to positively influence someone to consider cycling instead of using a car if you aren't seen as the jerk who wouldn't let us park in his empty parking space.
staehpj1 is offline  
Old 05-18-10, 08:00 AM
  #16  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 8,546
Mentioned: 83 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 163 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by truman
The option of just letting them park there and not getting worked up about it is still wide open for you.
This. Or just politely decline, although I wouldn't do that . Why not do your own family a favor? I would do this for strangers!

Also, and this is in response to several posts in this thread, I really don't see the need to declare that your way is better than everyone else's way, and make sure everyone knows you feel that way. If everyone wanted to do the same thing you do, your stuff would be crowded and ordinary. THere's nothing wrong with a wide range of activities.

Where are all y'all planning to park your high horses?
valygrl is offline  
Old 05-18-10, 08:08 AM
  #17  
Is Right
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boston
Posts: 240
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I say stick to your guns- tell them you're not biking to the reunion so that they can bring another car. You ride a bike because you are trying to reduce The number of cars on the road, not to make it more convenient for someone else to drive. If they'll take umbrage to that, who cares. You can't tip-toe around people's feelings when you are doing something you believe in and that is worth doing. Family or not, nothing would ever get done if all we did was worry about what other people feel/think.

And yes, my acquaintances and family think I'm an ******* sometimes regarding things I believe in. But they get over it, and the ones that don't are not worth worrying about.
newenglandbike is offline  
Old 05-18-10, 08:08 AM
  #18  
Zen Master
 
Miles2go's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 999

Bikes: Cervelo R5 - SuperSix

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 75 Post(s)
Liked 89 Times in 42 Posts
Originally Posted by valygrl

SNIP

Where are all y'all planning to park your high horses?

Ha! In someone else's camp.
__________________
Ron - Tucson, AZ
Miles2go is offline  
Old 05-18-10, 08:42 AM
  #19  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Quemal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: San Diego
Posts: 87

Bikes: 1982 Univega Gran Turismo 1982 Ritchey Mtn Bike 2009 Trek 520

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by kuan
Tell them they can have the campsite and you will get another.
This might be worth a try. The campground also has several "Tent Only" sites, I may try for one of these.

Thanks for all the input...
Quemal is offline  
Old 05-18-10, 08:48 AM
  #20  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 101
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Man do whatever floats your boat..but I gotta say it gets alittle old hearing this stuff sometimes. Its kinda got a "holier than thou" attitude to it. If your not going to be parking a car there than whats the big deal? personally I love ridin' bikes but if someone else doesn't thats quite alright with me....I can still enjoy their company.

This whole cars are evil thing is just alittle played out....

Now if you'll excuse me i'm gonna drive my El Dorado two blocks down to the store for some smokes!
johnce is offline  
Old 05-18-10, 10:14 AM
  #21  
Buh'wah?!
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Charlottesville VA
Posts: 2,131

Bikes: 2014 Giant Trance

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by staehpj1
BTW, I consider your hierarchy a bit off. Where are canoe and kayak camping in this?
Honestly, I didn't consider those. But that doesn't mean I don't consider them real camping, especially now that I've been reminded of them.
My definition relies on how space efficient you have to be. With anything other than being in a car or an RV you've gotta be aware of what you're carrying. You have to make sacrifices and compromises based on the loads you're willing to carry. If you're willing to carry 50 pounds of camp gear, well, good for you. You worked for it, you deserve it. But if you load your entire living room up in your car/truck then park somewhere in the woods, fire up a generator and start watching TV I think you need to get over whatever your perception of camping is, cause that certainly is not.
Basically, if someone has to literally carry their own supplies, or in the case of a horse be concerned for what's carrying your supplies well being, and you're willing to camp wherever (plenty of people do that on bike tours), that's camping. That's what "roughing it" boils down to for me.
-Gene-
Amani576 is offline  
Old 05-18-10, 10:54 AM
  #22  
Fred-ish
 
rogerstg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 1,800
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Typically a family event like this happens because a few family members spend lots of their own time and effort putting it together for the enjoyment of the group. Unfortunately, they sometimes project their attitude of cooperation and accommodation to other family members. It may be that they simply see the unused parking spots as "available" to the group and assume that the OP would not have a problem with it. Probably the extra parking is needed because various family members are coming from different directions and meeting at the campground; staying with others.

I wonder if anyone is being accommodating or generous to the OP. IOW, is the OP transporting all his own or ratable share of food, beverages, ice, coolers, charcoal, grills, etc.? Or are the "evil" autos being used to accommodate him? If they are, it would seem pretty selfish to be uncooperative.

It's something to think about. Me? I'd allow a few to park, but also express my concern to the planners that I don't want to feel like I'm camping in a used car lot. That would seem reasonable.
rogerstg is offline  
Old 05-18-10, 11:06 AM
  #23  
Is Right
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boston
Posts: 240
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by johnce

This whole cars are evil thing is just alittle played out....

Man, you're so easy going! It's refreshing! Yeah same with the whole anti-war thing. it just gets old. And so what if we have to bomb some people or dump 3.5million gallons of oil into the gulf to ensure a steady supply of oil. oh and anti-pollution regulation- christ, we've heard enough already.

some americans are too uptight.
newenglandbike is offline  
Old 05-18-10, 11:23 AM
  #24  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 85
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Godwin's Law. The nazis drove cars, blah blah blah...

Last edited by icebiker76; 05-18-10 at 11:40 AM.
icebiker76 is offline  
Old 05-18-10, 11:31 AM
  #25  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 101
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by newenglandbike
Man, you're so easy going! It's refreshing! Yeah same with the whole anti-war thing. it just gets old. And so what if we have to bomb some people or dump 3.5million gallons of oil into the gulf to ensure a steady supply of oil. oh and anti-pollution regulation- christ, we've heard enough already.

some americans are too uptight.
Easy there Francis!
We're talking about a few folks gettin' together for a family cook-out/camp. Not war, not drilling, no need to get the undies in a collossal bunch!
johnce is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.