Originally Posted by
zze86
I was planning on doing a minitour this weekend, roughly 120mi rountrip credit card. And the SO decided she wants to go as well. She has just started cycling for about a month. We did a ride for about 20mi last weekend, ~80degF paved roads, and she was fine.
The route I had planned to take is mostly limestone covered and it is projected to be in the low 90s.
She says she is game for it but I'm concerned about the heat and how it may affect her. There are plenty of stops along the way but I know from commuting 30mi roundtrip a day how the heat can suck the energy from your legs.
I'm thinking of canceling for a more friendly weekend but summer....Thoughts?
Originally Posted by
mtnbud
This isn't just any noobie. She's your SO and she wants to go! Take your time, enjoy rest stops….Find some touristy things to do! Show her you've taken time to think about how to make this ride special for her.
The "planned out" version is to have a more explicit "contingency plan", e.g. ride to point A and assess how the ride is going, at that point decide whether to ride to point B or point C.
The nature of cycle touring makes it tougher to nail everything down 100%, but that doesn't mean one can't have alternative plans and assessments.
Originally Posted by
manapua_man
I feel like making sure she knows what she might be getting in to is key here, considering that she's only been riding for a month. What does the route look like? Are there a lot of places to pull over and take a break for a while?
60mi both ways isn't bad for a beginner (IMO) depending on what the route is like.
Originally Posted by
zze86
Thanks for the opinions all. I like the unpredictability mentality of "just ride and see where you end up" but she likes to be a bit more "planned out". I do want to make it an enjoyable and memorable trip for her so that she will want to go more often so we'll talk it over and see.
Thanks!
I presume this weekend credit card, round trip ride requires some secure accommodations at the midpoint e.g. reservations at a motel; so making the whole distance becomes more imperative. Are there alternate accommodations available en route if you get too far to turn back?
FYA, I have posted to these threads on the Touring Forum germane to this one:
"
Touring alone?"
Originally Posted by
staehpj1
…Personally I wouldn't try to seek out someone to tour with and would just tour alone
unless there was someone whose company I really enjoyed who was interested in going with me.
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
I can't think of a more nearly perfect touring companion than a new bride as on our cross-country honeymoon. We had toured together previously for a few years so had a system. On that cross-country ride…
"I'm taking off on another 2 day trip tomorrow"
Originally Posted by
jeff400650
I've been doing these fun rides lately... Pick a cool town about 50 or 60 scenic miles away. Book a nice room near town. Ride there (in my case, with my dog along). And then have my wife drive there to meet for a nice, romantic night on the town. It takes her an hour or two, to drive to where it takes me and my 20LB dog to get in a leisurely 6 hours or so. Some fine dining. A hike. Shopping. Maybe live music.
Next morning, charming breakfast, etc... Then I ride home, usually a different route.
It has been great. I get two days of serious riding, and she gets fun little get-a-ways close to home. We are exploring towns near us that we would otherwise never spend a night in, except that for a cyclist, it is a day's journey.
Healdsburg, CA. a few weeks ago
Halfmoon Bay, CA. a couple weeks ago
Tomorrow, Guerneville, CA. Staying at a place built in 1905. Cabins on the Russian River.
I guess you could call it short range, luxury touring with a spousal inclusion component.
Anyone else into this kind of thing?
Or lucky enough to have a girl that will do the rides with you?
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
…I quoted your post in its entirety because I have thought about such rides for a long time. … A couple years ago I thought about making up such list for weekend getaways, as you described, and posting to the local Metro Boston thread.
We live in downtown Boston, and can go out in all directions (except eastward into the Atlantic Ocean). So for here on the Right Coast, counterclockwise around Boston, such destinations would be:…
"first tour of the year for me and my gf"
Originally Posted by
52telecaster
no she carried quite a bit.
she has ambitions for us to do months on tour. we will get there eventually.
Originally Posted by
jefnvk
Nice! Wish I had done something similar with the fiancee before the first tour,
a little shakedown run doesn't hurt anything!
are you talking about bike touring or marriage?;-)
Originally Posted by
bikemig
months on the road sounds like a great idea . . .I hope you can do that.
Originally Posted by
brianmcg123
Lol.
Wherever your relationship is headed, it'll get there quicker on a tour.