I wish to express my gratitude towards all of you bike tourers who have taken the time to write down so much information and experience to share with people like me who are thinking about getting (back) into touring on their bikes. Earlier this year I had no intention of doing anything right away, but the more I read the more I got excited about the possibility of getting things together for a short trip in the near future. My first bike touring was when I was 15 in 1973. With a friend we did a few-day camping trip in the Green Mountains, Vermont to get ready and then a month-long trip from Montreal, through New Hampshire and Maine to Saint John, New Brunswick, up to Campbellton, across Gaspé and back to Montreal, staying with several different families along the way. We just camped anywhere, even on the side of the road. Cycled more than 1600 km (1000 mi). Had a great time.

Me back in '73 the day of departure :



And then through the years it was motorcycle camping, then car camping, with several backpacking overnighters in the Adirondacks along the way. I've always ridden my bike around town, just haven't gone anywhere except for one really short trip in the early '80s.

So now back to cycling. I just took a spin on my fully loaded bike for the first time this afternoon and was relieved to discover that I could handle the weight even if my bike now drives like a heavy truck. I actually prefer the much slower steering with the panniers up front. There is only one hill nearby, a fairly short affair at not much more than 5% or so, and I've had this background fear all through my preparations that I wouldn't be able to make it to the top. I was pretty happy that I made it and even had a few low gears to spare.

Here's the bike. I've been following the recommendation to start touring with whatever you've got, and this is what I had. The black rack bag will be replaced with my Bear Keg full of food and I'll have tent poles on the top tube and fuel under the down tube. The lock will be replaced with something a lot lighter.



My saddle is the same one as in the first picture and been on all my bikes. So it's celebrating it's 50th anniversary this year.

My plan is to make several day outings of 60-80 km (40-50 mi) fully loaded and then take off for a week or so of camping at campgrounds. The planned loop is 500-600 km (300-400 mi), never more than a couple of hours from home by car so I can be rescued by family if necessary.

Eventually, I'd like to cross Canada as I've never been out west and I'd really like to see the Rockies.