Originally Posted by
cradduck
How long was it (days and miles)?
What time of year? What kind of weather?
What is something you felt you did right (or something that worked itself out) for your first tour?
What is something you did wrong or forgot and wish you had brought with you?
My first tour was supported, BRAG, or Bicycle Ride Across Georgia, about 400 miles in 7 days.
It was in June, which is usually very hot in Georgia, but it was relatively cool that year. In fact, we had ideal weather, sunny and mild (if you consider highs in the 80s mild, but believe me, that is mild for GA.)
What we did right was going on a supported tour for the first one. My wife was new to cycling, and it would have been too much for her to carry gear as well as cycle 60-80 miles/day. Getting up early and hitting the road by 6-7 am to avoid the heat. Also, stopping every day for a nice lunch in small towns along the way. Great food at little local restaurants in small Georgia towns.
What didn't work out so well? Well, I was working as a reporter for a newspaper at the time. I talked my editor into letting me go along and writing stories every day about the trip. They made me file 2 stories each day, and it just about wore me out. At the end of each day, the other cyclists would go swimming or drinking beer or relaxing, but I had to go around interviewing people and writing articles. Several nights I was working on stories until 11 p.m.