Old Tourer Maybe Starting Again
#1
Newbie tourer/commuter
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Brooklyn
Posts: 21
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Old Tourer Maybe Starting Again
I have done some long trips in the past and have the opportunity to maybe do a month-long tour somewhere this summer.
In 1978 I biked from Boston to Montreal on a 'Bridgestone' racing bike. I was not till Vermont that another cyclist made fun of me for having no real first gear.
The next summer I changed the gearing and did the 'bikecentennial' from Baltimore but veered off the path and ended up in Seattle.
The next year I biked from Seattle to LA.
A full 10 years later I bought a bike in East Berlin (before the wall came down) and took a very excellent and relaxed ride for a about five months ending up in Malaga on the south coast of Spain.
Now, I feel old, shy of 50, and it has been almost 15 years since my last trip, but find a month where the wife and kids and job and...... will let me go!
The encouragement on this board is good to see, any encouragement for me or recommendations for the month trip will be appreciated.
Joe
In 1978 I biked from Boston to Montreal on a 'Bridgestone' racing bike. I was not till Vermont that another cyclist made fun of me for having no real first gear.
The next summer I changed the gearing and did the 'bikecentennial' from Baltimore but veered off the path and ended up in Seattle.
The next year I biked from Seattle to LA.
A full 10 years later I bought a bike in East Berlin (before the wall came down) and took a very excellent and relaxed ride for a about five months ending up in Malaga on the south coast of Spain.
Now, I feel old, shy of 50, and it has been almost 15 years since my last trip, but find a month where the wife and kids and job and...... will let me go!
The encouragement on this board is good to see, any encouragement for me or recommendations for the month trip will be appreciated.
Joe
#2
Lanky Lass
Hello joesteam, those are some great sounding tours you did. For this one, were you looking to stay in the US, perhaps venture into Canada/Mexico, or go overseas?
I've often thought that travelling up British Columbia to Alaska via the AlCan Highway would be a wonderful tour, and quite do-able in a month. I've travelled part of it, and it's gorgeous country.
Welcome to BF!
East Hill
I've often thought that travelling up British Columbia to Alaska via the AlCan Highway would be a wonderful tour, and quite do-able in a month. I've travelled part of it, and it's gorgeous country.
Welcome to BF!
East Hill
__________________
___________________________________________________
TRY EMPATHY & HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART, PERHAPS I'LL SEE YOU ON THE ROAD...
___________________________________________________
TRY EMPATHY & HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART, PERHAPS I'LL SEE YOU ON THE ROAD...
#3
Newbie tourer/commuter
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Brooklyn
Posts: 21
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thinking Yukon
It is funny you mentioned Canada and Mexico. My first choice was Central America, but I have been reading that solo bike travel may be not a good choice if I don't want to loose my money or life. With a partner I would feel much more comfortable.
Now I am looking into Canada/Alaska etc. This looks pretty cool, and that brings me to my other (personal) problem. I really don't like biking when its really cold. Maybe I never had the right gear? Regardless, this is where I am focusing my attention now. Maybe a mix of ferries and biking on the Alaska coast with a week or two in the Yukon....
Thanks for the encouragement!
Now I am looking into Canada/Alaska etc. This looks pretty cool, and that brings me to my other (personal) problem. I really don't like biking when its really cold. Maybe I never had the right gear? Regardless, this is where I am focusing my attention now. Maybe a mix of ferries and biking on the Alaska coast with a week or two in the Yukon....
Thanks for the encouragement!
#4
Lanky Lass
Oh, trust me, it's not cold at the moment! If you were to leave during the next few weeks, you would find it reasonably pleasant. There would be bugs, though. Big mosquitoes... . I'm not saying you would be dropping dead from heat exhaustion, but it's not terribly cold.
East Hill
East Hill
__________________
___________________________________________________
TRY EMPATHY & HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART, PERHAPS I'LL SEE YOU ON THE ROAD...
___________________________________________________
TRY EMPATHY & HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART, PERHAPS I'LL SEE YOU ON THE ROAD...
#5
Life is good
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Not far from the Withlacoochee Trail. 🚴🏻
Posts: 18,209
Bikes: 2018 Lynskey Helix Pro
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 522 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
10 Posts
Hello Joe and welcome to BF.
50??? You're just a kid. There are LOTS of folks on BF older than you and many of them are still "young".
Originally Posted by joesteam
Now, I feel old, shy of 50...
__________________
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
#6
Newbie tourer/commuter
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Brooklyn
Posts: 21
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
To RonH
Actually, I said "shy of 50", every year counts! But what makes me feel old is that I have not done a long tour in 15 years.
#7
Lanky Lass
We need to help get you back out on the road then, eh?
East Hill
East Hill
__________________
___________________________________________________
TRY EMPATHY & HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART, PERHAPS I'LL SEE YOU ON THE ROAD...
___________________________________________________
TRY EMPATHY & HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART, PERHAPS I'LL SEE YOU ON THE ROAD...
#8
Newbie tourer/commuter
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Brooklyn
Posts: 21
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by East Hill
We need to help get you back out on the road then, eh?
East Hill
East Hill
#9
Lanky Lass
What month?
East Hill
East Hill
__________________
___________________________________________________
TRY EMPATHY & HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART, PERHAPS I'LL SEE YOU ON THE ROAD...
___________________________________________________
TRY EMPATHY & HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART, PERHAPS I'LL SEE YOU ON THE ROAD...
#10
Newbie tourer/commuter
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Brooklyn
Posts: 21
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Pretty much now
I need to buy stuff and find a place to go. Got the 'family approval'. The longer I wait, the more I feel guilty about not working....
#11
Lanky Lass
Okay, I'm going to step out on a limb here, and TELL you to go from Vancouver BC to Skagway, AK. In two weeks.
How's that? Do not feel guilty...
East Hill
How's that? Do not feel guilty...
East Hill
__________________
___________________________________________________
TRY EMPATHY & HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART, PERHAPS I'LL SEE YOU ON THE ROAD...
___________________________________________________
TRY EMPATHY & HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART, PERHAPS I'LL SEE YOU ON THE ROAD...
#12
Newbie tourer/commuter
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Brooklyn
Posts: 21
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Your the second one
So, one poster: Jamawani; has recommended me to do the SAME TOUR. It must be great.
You can see our discussion on: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...15#post4807515 in the tours section.
You can see our discussion on: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...15#post4807515 in the tours section.
#13
Lanky Lass
Wow! I did not know I was in a parallel universe there . I've been further up British Columbia than most Americans, and it's gorgeous up there. I've also been to Skagway and the Yukon and been mightily impressed. I think you would enjoy that very much.
East Hill
East Hill
__________________
___________________________________________________
TRY EMPATHY & HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART, PERHAPS I'LL SEE YOU ON THE ROAD...
___________________________________________________
TRY EMPATHY & HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART, PERHAPS I'LL SEE YOU ON THE ROAD...
#14
Newbie tourer/commuter
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Brooklyn
Posts: 21
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
One more question
Thanks for your help! One more question....
I need to gear myself up. Here in NYC there are plenty of places, but it would be almost easier for me to do this in Vancouver (or maybe even Seattle). Do you think this may be a good idea (I would not have to break down the bike and stuff to fly out), and do you have any preferred places that I could get a good 'packaged' deal?
Thanks again...
I need to gear myself up. Here in NYC there are plenty of places, but it would be almost easier for me to do this in Vancouver (or maybe even Seattle). Do you think this may be a good idea (I would not have to break down the bike and stuff to fly out), and do you have any preferred places that I could get a good 'packaged' deal?
Thanks again...
#15
Lanky Lass
Seattle is the home of REI. They would have pretty much anything you need. Others may chime in with opinions, and you might want to try posing this question in the Pacific Northwest regional forum.
East Hill
East Hill
__________________
___________________________________________________
TRY EMPATHY & HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART, PERHAPS I'LL SEE YOU ON THE ROAD...
___________________________________________________
TRY EMPATHY & HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART, PERHAPS I'LL SEE YOU ON THE ROAD...