New to Touring
 

Hi everyone, my name is Karie. I am an avid cyclist and I am interested in getting started with my first bike tour this summer. I live in the Pacific NW, so there is a lot of amazing places to be explored. However, I need some help. Does anyone have any book recommendations that could help me get started? I am solid on long distance riding and common bike repairs, however I know there is a lot more information I need to know. So any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much and happy riding!

Karie

Hi Karie: you should check out the adventure cycling site if you haven't already. Lots of solid info and good routes in the Pacific NW.

There are also some sites on bikepacking that you'll want to check out for some ideas. Even if you don't want to go lightweight touring, it never hurts to think of ways to lighten your load.

I like this book, https://www.amazon.com/Ultralight-Bi...weight+touring

Thank you for your reply,
I am looking to go as light as possible, so I will definitely take a look at that book.

Best advice I can help you with, that took me some time to learn? Don't get hung up too much on doing things right, as right is very subjective, but do take everyone's advice on what works for them and figure out what works for you! Once you are past basic knowledge, trial and error will dial in what you need far better than reading books or listening to others.

Welcome to the forum.
You will lots of good advice and suggestions.
Some of the best advice has already been given, +1.

Enjoy yourself,

:commute:

-Snuts-

This sight has been informative to me. Get Started on CyclingAbout - CyclingAbout

Welcome! What part of the PNW are you in?

You have to decide what your own comfort level is and then be willing to change with experience. A few weekend trips will help you decide what kind of equipment you and traveling you will like. Speed and cycletouring are not mutually exclusive, but I would rather put up with reasonable extra weight in exchange for creature comforts at the end of a day on the road. I can offer one of the more popular posts on my blog to start, then ride, have fun and make the experience your own. There's no right way, just your way.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U7c3fLdrqX...617_090637.jpg

Marc

One thing that helps both skills and comfort levels are some mini-tours. There also helps sort out equipment and what works for you. Some ideas for mini-tours that I enjoyed in the three years I lived in Pacific Northwest (I was in Portland from 2009-2012):

1. The Portland Wheelman Touring Club has an annual "Columbia Gorge Explorer" self-supported ride of 4 days over Memorial Day weekend (Columbia Gorge Explorer/ Day 1 | Portland Wheelmen Touring Club). Fun route and nice chance to ride with others.

2. Amtrak Cascades line has a baggage car you can bring bike without putting into a box. Each year I was there, I ended up riding the entire distance of this line, but broken up amongst multiple weekends: Vancouver to Seattle, Seattle to Portland, Portland to Eugene.

3. One way car rental from Pasco, Washington and also from Boise, Idaho made for nice 3-day and 5-day rides respectively. Spokane would probably also work well. I came up the Columbia River Gorge and also inland via Madras, John Day and Vale.

4. State parks in Oregon were great with hiker/biker sites. Champeog was an easy ride just to get out of the city and camp overnight. I would sometimes then continue on to Salem the next day and take Amtrak back.

5. Getting over to the Pacific Coast and then short distance along the coast before crossing back again.

Firstly, WELCOME!

Secondly, I actually recommend NOT overthinking things when it comes to touring!

Before my first tour, I read every blog, message board thread, book, etc. only to realize I'm just wasting more time than necessary and the core of a tour is riding my bike and taking in the scenery. I borrowed gear from people (and still do) and highly recommend it before spending tons of money on ultralight equipment. You'll find in a lot of scenarios that a) they'll never ask for it back because they don't use it and b) it'll do just fine for the most part.

Your first thought is preparedness, of course, but as long as you are touring in a place like the USA and have a decent amount of money handy you'll get by just fine.

I REALLY recommend just strapping some essentials onto your bike and doing a overnight trip or a weekend trip Fri-Sun. Pick a place, use Google Maps bicycle mapping (at first) to plan the route, and just go for it. You will learn a TON from just doing this such as: camping gear changes, bicycle changes, physical limitations, route planning, etc. This will help you to determine what the absolute essentials are as well as help you add/cut items. Every one is different - I'm not trying to ride the lightest possible all the time because I'm on tour and would like to sometimes have a heavier, 2-person tent, for example, to increase my comfort a bit or add on more bags if I want to cook actual meals more.

tl;dr - Make sure your bike is operational -> pick a spot for an overnight or weekend tour -> gear up essentials -> go for it!

Those are probably the two most necessary things you actually need. If you are confident on your bike all you need to add to your randonnering or long distance gear is some camping stuff and maybe an extra change of clothes.

Take your time to look at books websites and ask questions here, you'll get more advice than you can deal with.....

2nd this. I'm pretty sure I do things that would make most people here cringe, but it's not for no reason.

+ 3 for this.

Welcome to Bikeforums. My advice is to poke around the touring forum here and some of the other blogs mentioned on this thread, then get out there and have some fun doing it. No substitute for experience to teach you quickly what works best for you.

The Adventure Cycling Association is a useful source, Maps (waterproof, FS) And their Magazine, to Members.

CGOAB has a lot of posting that people wrote on their tours , gear lists and All that..

The books I should have read were on the History of the places I was Traveling Thru, to better understand what I was Seeing ..





:50:

Wow! Thank you all so much for your quick responses.
I guess what intimidates me the most is touring on my own.
I live in Oregon, so there are so many amazing roads to take! It is almost overwhelming haha
I am looking at getting new racks for my bike and I will need panniers. I commute almost everywhere on my bike, so even if I don't 100% enjoy touring (which I highly doubt), I will still use the racks and panniers. Does anyone recommend any brands to look at?
Thank you :)

Most people seem to prefer roll top panniers. There are several brands. No need to go for Ortlieb panniers, just because "everybody else do".
Yes, I am a bit controversial right now. :)

This right here is the best advice I have ever read in ANY forum. :thumb:

Any bike or piece of equipment that gets you to where you are going in a comfortable manner is the thing to get. Don't worry about having the best or lightest, or fastest or most expensive. Don't worry about what people TELL you that you need, just do what works best. If a pillowcase strapped to your rear rack with bungees works okay instead of a set of panniers then JUST DO IT and dont worry... BE HAPPY! :innocent:

The only person that you should truly listen to is Bobby McFerrin before you go riding.

Contentious question to ask around here- there are a lot of evangelists when it comes to what equipment is best.

There is waterproof or not waterproof.
There is 1 big bag or many pockets.

Choose what style you like. I use 1 big bag without waterproof. Easy to pack, low cost, and I can line it with a trashbag if I want it to be waterproof.

Ortlieb, Arkel, Lone Peak, Nashbar, Axiom, and many more. Ortlieb and Arkel are very popular and offer very different style bags. Those would be a good place to start for looking at what you prefer.

If you're not wanting to drop lots of money (nice bags can run up your bill in a hurry), and can wait for a sale, I had good luck with my Nashbar waterproof bags: Nashbar Waterproof Rear Panniers. Not really the best attachment system, but for the price I deal with it just fine.

Think I paid $55 or so, on one of Nashbar's 30% off weekends.

You've got a clean slate which is great. Look at all the different styles of touring from 4x panniers with handlebar bag, to 2x small panniers with handlebar bag and finally the bikepacking setup. The direction you go will be dictated by the bike you want to use and your personal preferences.

If I was starting I might opt for an Ortlieb hanndlebar bag and a couple of Arkel Dry-lite panniers.

Is there anything about your bicycle you want to talk about? gearing etc.?
I did the same as Jeffnvk about panniers. Do Google bikepacking.
Also check out bikepacking.net . Some backpacking trips will give you knowledge about bicycle camping. Sounds like you've got the cycling part okay.
Enjoy!!

Awesome, me too. Out in Beaverton until the end of the month at least.

Yea By Now the Bike Packing gear is what super light touring people, gravitate towards

Dry bag across the handlebars and a Long Bag sticking up and back behind the saddle ..


Classic Kit is British Cotton canvas , Carradice.. they make Rugged Panniers and The popular large transverse Saddle Bag ..




...

Welcome to touring. My simple recommendations.

1) Comfort - that is the most important thing on a bicycle day in and day out. If you aren't comfortable, touring is no fun. Comfort is different for everyone.

2) Do a few weekend tours first. This will help with #1 and also allow you to figure out what set up works, what doesn't, what to carry, and not what to carry. I would recommend one of these tours be done in sub-par weather conditions. Rain, wind etc because you will run into those conditions while touring. Best to be prepared.

3) When touring, you will spend far more time off the bike than on the bike. Think about what is going to entertain you during those times. If you are going to camp, what will do in the tent when you aren't sleeping. Stuff like that.

4) And another big key, is to be able to keep you and your gear dry. Footwear is very important here, if you are touring at it's 50 degrees and wet and your feet get wet, that's not good. Good shoes, good socks and always have a pair of dry socks and slippers at the end of the day.

5) Have fun.

If you are anywhere close to Portland, my suggestion is to give the Portland Wheelmen Touring Club a look - including trying a weekend ride or two.

This gives a chance to meet fellow cyclists including potentially some with experience touring in the area and potentially even others who might be interested in touring with others. In addition, you can get more information on their Columbia Gorge Explorer ride over Memorial Day weekend - which is a four day self-supported touring ride done with the group.

There are pro/con on touring by yourself or touring with others and often this ends up being a preference thing - and no single "right" answer. However, one of the choices might be doing some rides with other like-minded cyclists.

I've been into touring for 18 years. In all that time (6 tours - 3 in Europe, 1 E. Canada, 1 Venezuela, 1 U.S.) I've only heard of one person who hated touring and returned to backpacking. So don't worry about not liking it.
Lone Peak panniers are the best. Still made in the U.S. too. Unfortunately, they now cost a fortune. As said above, don't spend a lot of time stressing about this and that. Talk to as many people as you can, listen, and figure out what you should believe. The great thing about bike touring is that there are no rules (other than you need a bike that works). Don't spend tons of money, especially if your first tour will be a short one.
Be safe.

As a solo traveler myself (14 times to Europe, only 5 of those with others, 9 solo), I can offer the opinion that traveling with others is vastly overrated!

Thank you guys again for all the comments!
I have been backpacking and I greatly enjoy it. I am pretty optimistic about my liking bike touring. In fact, I have been dreaming of my first bike tour since I was a kid!
I currently have an old german steel frame that I have been commuting on for the past four years and I am hoping to turn that into my touring bike. It is a solid bike. However, I will be starting off with just the frame, since my plan is to strip all the old components (that have not been upgraded in probably a decade or more) and rebuild it. So we shall see how that goes... gotta start somewhere!

I have been camping/backpacking/long distance rides by myself, so I am good with myself for company. I guess what intimidates me is staying safe as a lone female on the road. I grew up in a less than safe area, so it might just be past experiences that are making me paranoid, however I believe in being prepared.

Thank you again for all your kind help!
Karie

I think you'll be fine! On my 2016 tour from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine I met a 22 year old female who was touring alone from Seattle to Boston. She'd never toured before and bought her bike 2 weeks before arriving in Seattle to start the tour. She made Boston in 10 weeks and never once felt like she was in danger on her trip. At least to my knowledge. I could put you two in touch if you'd like.

You may find this link interesting. It contains interviews with a number of solo female bicycle tourists:

Solo female cyclist Interview