Great questions for this forum. Your take-it-by-steps regimen seems very close to how my wife and I started out--to test equipment, gauge our riding ability, establish some good riding protocols and figure out whether we really wanted to tour at all! We did the car camping, then overnights from home, then long weekends from home, then 2-week tours, then cross-country.
My wife and I
started touring only 5 years ago, both past age 60, on the tandem. We've since ridden across the U.S. 2 1/2 times and down 1/2 the Pacific Coast.
Originally Posted by
JustaJoe
I've been increasing my fitness so I can tour and have the bike I believe will be great for my needs. I don't have specialized touring/bikepacking equipment: A 5lb 2-person tent, Exped Synmat, MSR Whisperlite and some other stuff from car camping. I am thinking of doing a faux tour - well, a 2 day ride on the forest service roads of Croatan National Forest near coastal NC (flat!). I will drive there in my car, load up the bike, and ride 40-50mi, camp, then ride back to the car the next day. I want to make sure this is something I can do and want to do before going all-in (e.g. not spending $1k on gear before going on my 1st real tour, then finding out I hate it). Also planning some over-nighters from my house to the 2 state parks within reasonable riding distance..
I'll send answers to your bullet points from our experience in a reply a little later