I-Like-To-Bike

Yeah, but you were serious, not just talking about acting out a whim after dreaming up a "good idea" probably prompted by smoking a lot of weed.

Commuter76

I have a suggestion that might not go over too well. Ride a bus. You'll get to see a lot of countryside, you won't have to worry about trespassing, and you'll get to where you think you might like to go much faster.

I think the idea of riding across the country is a great one...for experienced riders. I don't think it's something you should take up two or three months after graduating college.

Whatever you decide, I hope it all works out well for you. Oh, and if you would like a hybrid of the two, take a folding bike with you on the bus!

BengeBoy 

Having a hard time grasping this.

jakub.ner

Brill,

What is your budget? If you have $2k to spend then yes, check out the touring forums for bike and kit advice. Otherwise get a hardtail / ridgid fork department store bike, a rack, and a milk crate.

You will find a lot of inspiration and different bike gear used for what you're planning at www.crazyguyonabike.com. I also think https://www.bicycletouring101.com/ would be a good read if you're just starting out. Although Jamie, the person running https://www.bicycletouring101.com/ has a lot of kit and gadgets, he does mention DIY buckets etc etc.. He also describes your options for camping.

Learn to ride, for sure. But also get the tools and at least learn to fix your bike in the three months you have. There is a lot of information on the Internet. Sounds like you want to be self sustainable in your travels. Bike stores can be far apart, especially if you stay off the main roads.

Finally, do you camp? Can you go into the woods and sustain yourself for a couple days? If you do then pssft you're laughing even if you break down, at least you won't be miserable until you maverick your way out of whatever you get into .

Anyways, browsing the above mentioned Web sites should show you the way. No real need to reply here since this is the wrong forum for these technical questions.

Welcome to bicycle touring!

Niles H.

Hi Brill,

Cycling can be a good way to travel, so can walking with a backpack.

Here's an excellent introduction to bicycle camping:

https://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/camping.htm

Here's a guy who took off when he was about your age, on an open-ended tour:

https://www.bikechina.com/heinzstucke1z.html

***

Bikes are not so good if you don't even have a trail to ride on. I've tried riding through forests with no trails, and it is a chore, especially with a heavily loaded bike. In most terrain, it just doesn't work out well -- though there are exceptions, and it can be done.

What tends to work better is to travel on trails or backroads (on paved roads that have little traffic, or on dirt roads, or combinations of these), and then go off the roads and trails, pushing the bike back into a more remote and well-concealed spot. It usually isn't so bad if you're just pushing the bike for a limited time, in order to get back to a good camping spot. Some of the best camping spots can be found this way. You can push or lift the bike over dead branches and other obtacles in the forest. You just don't want to be doing this all day, or for hours on end, in most areas at least. Fat tires help.

As far as vagrancy goes, you'll soon learn the ropes and get a better perspective on this. If you stay out in the open areas of the West, it's *much* easier to freecamp than it is in most other parts of the country, or near cities and towns, or in the more densely populated areas. There is a lot of open space, BLM and other public land in the West.

In some areas the cops and rangers are less friendly to people doing what you are planning to do; but in many of the wilder areas it is not a problem. You might ask around when you arrive in an area, to get a better read. You'll soon learn to discern where it's likely to be all right and where you might be fined. National Parks (like Yosemite) can have some difficulties. If a ranger catches you free camping in Yosemite Valley for example (especially with food and no bear canister), he or she is likely to be less than agreeable; and you'll probably be slapped with a large (at least several hundred dollars) fine, against which no arguments or pleading will change things for the better.

On the other hand, you'll have virtually zero problems in many other areas, assuming you play your cards reasonably well (Ken Kifer covers the essentials well, and gives a good idea of what is involved).

Once you've done the basic research, you'll learn a lot more -- and it will all become clearer -- by actually getting out there and doing it.

***

As far as a bike goes, it depends on how much you want to spend. If you want to keep the cost low, a quality (older vintage) used mountain bike is an excellent way to go. They can often be found at colleges and universities at the end of the school year. Just be sure you don't get a lemon, or one without the appropriate features (like the right braze-ons, and quality componentry that is in good condition). It would help a lot if you found someone knowledgable about bikes -- maybe a local bike shop employee, or a student who knows bikes well. These people can immediately separate the wheat from the chaff, while inexperienced people simply don't know how to judge, or don't have the right basis for it. I helped a friend in finding a good quality used mountain bike, and it was amazing how completely clueless the person was when it came to selecting a good one. There are various things to avoid, and others to look for -- and it takes some base of knowledge and experience to know what you are doing.

Local bulletin boards. newspapers, yard sales, and other avenues can help in locating something that will serve you well in your travels.

When I graduated college, I sold my bike to a fellow student who rode across much of the United States on it. It can certainly be done.

I would recommend good, solid, durable gear. It doesn't have to be expensive, just well made and reliable. Some of those old mountain bikes are great for touring.

***

The Great Divide Route might be worth a look.

There are lots of beautiful old logging roads in Oregon, and some beautiful areas in Idaho and Montana, among other states.

Dennis Coello's books are good. He has toured extensively, especially in the Western U.S.

You can also just go out an explore, and discover your own routes.

ROJA

If you want to avoid roads, why not hike the Appalachian Trail? It runs through Virginia and it's a great place to journey without the need for a roof or much money.

AndrewP

The vietnamese used bikes for carrying supplies down the Ho Chi Minh trail. There is no need to know how to ride. It is easier to push if you extend the handle bar with a pole, so you can push with one hand on the back of the seat and the other on the handle bar extension.