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Old 12-15-12 | 10:04 AM
  #9  
k_randomfactor
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 141
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From: Building guns in the shadow of Appalachia
Originally Posted by downtube42
What is touring
Why tour
Where to tour
How far
Equipment - bike
Equipment - camping
Food
Overnight options
Navigation
Cost
Safety
I've yet to tour, but I've given a few "Introduction to..." presentations over the years, so obviously take this with a healthy dose of low sodium salt substitute.

-"What" and "why" can be rolled into one fairly brief topic intro, along with your personal introductions.
The fact that you are both fairly "new" to the subject can actually help, since there isn't the 'old timer' mystique attached. Also, since you have two distinct styles, one week 'vacation' touring vs overseas longer term, you automatically show there are several types of touring that folks can do. Let folks know how and why you got into bike touring.

-"Where" and "How far/long" are, essentially, the same topic. Local weekend, state/regional, cross country or around the world. Should be able to cover this, with experiences, pretty quick.

Both of those should be able to be covered in ~10-15min.

Having your personals rigs there will be a great help, but since you can do a slideshow, look around here, get in touch with fellow forum members and ask to use their photos of their rigs. Old MTBs, dedicated tourers, improvised bikes, etc. Be sure to highlight that folks don't need a loaded LHT to do fun weekend get aways.

This isn't an in depth course, so don't get wrapped around the axle on the gear section. Show some of your stuff, show photos you glean from BF. Again, ask some of the more experienced members here to send you photos of their gear, and pull (with permission) 'live action' pics, and run them in the slideshow.

-Nav, safety, overnighting (which can be rolled into the 'camping' section) can be covered pretty quickly

- With cashy money being tight, and the economy still rough, I'd also suggest putting together a slide comparing the cost of a bike tour (bikes, gear, food, camping, etc) to the average cost of a week at Disney, or a trip to the Grand Canyon, for example. Show that even though the initial outlay "may" be similar if someone is starting from zero, excepting consumables, the second tour is much cheaper since one already has the stuff. Run the comparison out for a few years. Show folks how much money they can save going this route.

-Have a handout to give folks with contact info for LBSs, especially the touring friendly ones, the ACA, any local bike clubs or riding orgs, BF, etc. If you feel comfortable doing so, put in contact info for you and your friend, since y'all will likely be the first exposure these folks will have with cyclotouristas. You will, by default, become the experts for these people, and they'll have questions.

This shouldn't be an in depth "how to". don't get bogged in the small stuff!. Use this as an opportunity to indroduce the idea of touring.

"Why" is going to be much more important than "how".

Leave plenty of time for Q&A.

Sou nds like a cool opportunity! I'd like to come sit and take notes myself.
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