If you like riding loaded bikes, who am I to stop you? Go nuts. Have fun, hooray for you !

Speed and maneuverability are a huge part of why I love cycling. Looking at the pic in the first post it appears the baggage somewhat hampers speed and maneuverability.

If this trip goes well I may decide that adding several lbs to the bike and sleeping rough would be cool but I'm guessing not. The RV/bike trip is probably more my thing.

People looking to be offended love reading declarations of universal truth into statements of opinion. Mr Deason is not someone with "no background", he's clearly a cyclist, so perhaps he - like pretty much all of us - has a pretty good idea of what he likes and doesn't. "I don't see how I can enjoy this activity" or even "I can't see how YOU can enjoy this activity" is not at all the same as "Nobody could enjoy this activity".

Oh, and about whether or not one would choose to be stretched on the rack, 1) that's not relevant, and 2) "generally" =/= "universally", and about that the less said on a family forum, the better. Suffice to say "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”

I Plan to start a thread which will make other posters fight amongst themselves .... but not here. Such a thing could never happen at BikeForums.

Just... brilliant.

Why would you agree to do something you know you won't enjoy?
And how will you manage to ride on roads when based on an earlier thread, you are scared to ride on roads?

How is an Ironman competition, freediving, or scaling Everest without oxygen fun? Different strokes.

Because it's what his son wants to do, and wants to do with him.

Don't know how you figured this. Most, including the mods, have no illusions as to his purpose here.

Okay, so is there a point to the this thread? You made statements in your post, and asked no questions with the exception of the one regarding how this can be fun, then you get all surprised when people talk about that specific point. In other words, you started a thread about nothing but poking fun at touring. Not a problem, except once you get the responses you want, you act surprised.

If you want speed and maneuverability, don't tour. Don't take the fictitious trip with your son. Or, pay someone to drive along and carry your things, then ride really really fast and be happy. Oh, then post your time every day so everyone can know just how fast you are. You may want to throw in some slalom courses during the day so you can maneuver.

If you do take the trip, have fun. Maybe then you will see why people do it.

Dude. It's not like the activities are mutually exclusive.

If that's the case, I see that as something he would enjoy.

Guess it's a matter of perspective.

The OP certainly has a gift for starting train wreck threads.

C'mon guys, OP asks "how is this fun" referring to loaded touring/bikepacking, based on his preference to ride light/fast/responsive bikes. OP then states that as a compromise they're planning to go credit card touring where he can do the tour while still traveling relatively light. And then some folks are suggesting that he wouldn't enjoy or shouldn't take the trip? It does seem like there are some gaps in comprehension ☝️

I sometimes spend my time listening to one of my sons discussing D&D, which isn't something I care about, but I like spending the time.

I get it. In your case, the subject is not something you enjoy, but the experience is something you enjoy. Do you jump onto a d&d forum and rhetorically ask how d&d is fun?

The experience with your kid is what makes it worthwhile.

Well, if I were already a player of D&D, but only the board version, not any of the computer versions, I might ask what is better about it.

And their response has been?

Again, your definition of “troll” is inconsistent with accepted definitions.

No, it’s not. How about we look at the first three posts by Mr. Deason

His initial post was a critique of some one else’s bike and mode of travel. His second post was a suggestion that the bicyclist that he critiqued in his first post should just use a car, ‘cause it’s easier. And his third post assumes that riding a loaded bike can’t possibly be enjoyable. All of this while appearing to have zero experience with the activity he is running down.

You do know that questions can be used as a statement of fact, don’t you? Mr. Deason isn’t asking the question to gain information but only as a statement as to how bicycle touring can’t possibly be enjoyed.

Yes, that can be read as an opinion but as with his thread title, he is clearly meaning his opinion to be applied to others.

By critiquing someone else’s bicycle and the way it is loaded as well as his thread title, Deason is saying exactly that. “How can this be fun?”, ”how exactly is chugging along with all this baggage fun?”, “The guy who loaded the bike in that pic needs a car.”, etc. say exactly what you said he didn’t say. Deason isn’t looking for enlightenment nor information. The article that Deason took the bicycle from details why they were carrying that kind of load for the kind of trip they were taking. Granted that kind of load is very much overkill for a credit card tour but it is just about right for a ride that takes weeks to do in an area where there are few services.

There are many ways in which Mr. Deason could have worded his thread title and “questions” in his initial post that would have been less confrontational. He could have asked “how can I make this fun?” Or he could have asked “do I need to carry this much stuff for the trip I’m doing?” Or he could have asked for help in rigging his bike for the kind of trip he is taking. There are any number of better ways of posing the question that don’t come across as a newbie acting like an expert. But he doesn’t have the knowledge or experience to ask that kind of question. That’s exactly what Kruger and Dunning were talking about (yes, I’ve read their paper).

How do you not see that the OP enjoys other aspects of cycling, but maybe not loaded touring?

I think he enjoys starting threads more than he enjoys cycling.

Maybe.

Who is the one building strawmen now? I didn’t say he had no background in bicycling. I said he is critiquing loaded and the way people do loaded touring without any experience or background in loaded touring. And saying “"I can't see how YOU can enjoy this activity?” is the equivalent of saying that no one else could possibly like loaded touring because Mr. Deason doesn’t think he’ll like it.

I do see that.
Once again, the OP pulled in multiple subjects and blurred what was being discussed in a given post. This predictably created confusion and pushback.
After additional discussion, he clarified he doesnt intend to pack like the picture he posted, which nullified many responses and discussion.

Regardless, I view something as fun if I am doing it with/for my kids as a way to bond and create experiences and memories, even if I wouldnt choose to do that same activity on my own.
This is why I mentioned yesterday that perhaps its just a difference in perspective.

I am still curious to hear how the OP is going to manage to ride roads on this trip, since in another post he clearly showed he is hesitant/scared to ride on roads. Thats a big obstacle to overcome.

Did I say troll? Can't remember. :foo: Anyway, this isn't science or law so words have context. I use "troll" as I do "cyclist" and many other terms within the context of BF. You can get over it or keep yapping about it, I don't care. :twitchy:

Where did he say that? Making up quotes to suit your agenda is poor form. Actually, it basically destroys any integrity you had.

Because you enjoy touring, you were blinded by rage right off the bat. You misinterpreted and misconstrued Deason's thread in your Post 3. You should have just left it at that.

He DID say, however,

Post 7

Post 52

Post 64

Post 101