If I was so obsessed about personal safety and the security of my possessions that I could not relax and enjoy my style of touring , I believe I'd find something else to do that would allow me to relax and enjoy my time.

We left our bikes cabled to a fence in a Swiss campground for a very long day as well as leaving our tent and other gear; while we hopped a train and went 300 km. to see a mountain I'd dreamed about climbing since I was old enough to read about it. It was safer than leaving the bikes at the train station. As my wife said as we walked toward town, "they are only tools". My bike is only a LHT, but her bike is a pretty expensive custom built frame, and she had no reservations. The purpose of a tour for us is to tour, not stand guard over our gear. We often leave our gear in campgrounds and ride into a nearby town for groceries or dinner. Some day we may get stung, but we've had several decades of enjoyable and relaxing travel. We are not foolish, and if a situation feels risky we take appropriate precautions.

We are all different, and perceive risk from our experiences and backgrounds. We need to do what works for us as individuals. But sometimes the benefit is worth the risk.

The snowcapped peak in the middle of the picture is the Eiger as seen from Grindelwald. The North Face is an epic climb.


That fence was our security for the bikes. The panniers went into the tent, and our netbook was secured in the campground's office.