Too young to tour self-supported?
 

I'm a 15 year old sophomore in high school. My friend and I plan to tour the Oregon and California Coast (following the ACA Pacific Coast route) next summer to raise funds for cancer research. Originally, we were planning to let my dad follow us by car and haul our gear from town-to-town, and stay in motels/hotels along the way.

However, we're now thinking about touring self-supported, but unsure of whether or not that is a good idea. Is it safe for two fifteen year old teenagers to go on an 850 mile bike tour by themselves? We're thinking about camping most of the way in national parks. Are we "too young" to reserve/occupy campgrounds?

Thanks. Oh yeah, and our website is here if you would like some more info:
http://www.ride-against-cancer.org

Advice and tips are greatly appreciated. What do you think is the best method for us to tour the Pacific Coast?

This might be better asked in the touring forum. As for whether it's safe or not, it depends on your route, where you plan to stay, whether you'll stay with friends or relatives along the way, and how you plan to stay in touch with your parents on the ride.

This is the Long Distance forum ... mainly really long day rides or other really long events like RAAM.

You want Touring: http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?47-Touring

Dear Chris:

As much as I admire your resolve, remember - you are a minor. Nothing outside a fast-food meal paid in cash will have any legal standing. OK, hauling loads of cash can be circumvented by a debit card in Mom/Dad's name so they keep funneling funds as needed. However, you will need your parent consent for as little as a splinter being pulled in a walk-in clinic. Staff actually can not treat you. Haul your own gear all you want but have Dad follow you. Research what kind of legal documentation does he need to have to chaperon your friend, etc., etc.

Homework, people!

Good luck

SF

Minors can be treated at a clinic or ed with out parents consent...especially if the injury is a threat to life or limb.

Go back in time 30 years, and people used to do this kind of thing all the time, and no, the world was not a safer place back then (even though in in many people's idealized memories it seems to them that it was). Also, I think people in Europe would be far less concerned about people of that age doing such a thing today than would North Americans. So, I hope you're able to do this without too many people throwing too many obstacles in your way. You'll probably learn more from this one trip than you will in a year of high school. It's great that you're researching this first, and you should try to follow any reasonable advice that is given, but in the end you may just have to GO FOR IT! Don't worry too much, and figure things out as you go along. That is the best advice that I can give.

Not in my state.....

Have you thought of looking for other groups who are doing a similar trip(fundraising or not) and joining up with them?

Yeah, technically - allowing 15-year-olds to tour without supervision would break any number of laws in several differing jurisdictions. Various, authorities could hassle you and eventually cause your parents considerable grief and legal expense. I can't think of any legal way to get away with it.

I think it is possible to apply for some kind of waiver so you could go on a long ride with pre-arranged consent and "emancipation" documentation, but again, that doesn't mean Sherriff Bubba can't pull you over anyway.....

PS - I rode my first overnight tour at age 14 - without any such "official approval."

I remember reading a blog about a minorwho went from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego by bicycle ALONE. It was fascinating. I did a 1500 mile tour alone when i was 17--from Washington DC to Windsor Ontario. I crossed an international border and had no problems.

As has been said here by others, GO FOR IT. It will be a trip you remember forever, and many of the lessons learned during your journey will serve you well. I am now a grandfather and would encourage any of my kids and grandkids to do something like this--once they have shown they are mature enough to deal with it. And maturity is not something that is automatic when you reach 18 or 21. I have known many 13 year olds that are more mature than 3 year olds.

train safe-

Not entirely true. When I was 17, a buddy of mine (who was 18) and I hopped on our bikes and rode 65 miles to a campsite, as part of our planned 3-day outing. When the campsite found out I was under 18, they called my house, and verified that I had permission, but only let us stay for that night. We changed plans, and rode home the following day. This was in 1976.

how far south are you planning to go into California?

i think as long as you stay above the bay area its like a non-issue. just stay at predetermined camp grounds.

once you start getting into population zones, then issues could arise.

Moving to the Touring forum.

i would think that most campgrounds in most states would require you to be of at least 18 years of age to rent/reserve a site. of course it could also be set whare minimum age for rental/reservation is the states age of consent, which means it could vary from state to state. not quite sure. i know that in my neck of the woods you "must" be at least 18, unless accomponied by an adult/parent/gaurdian/chaprone type figure. i could be wrong too...

Do some research at the various state park websites and see what they have to say. My quick look at Washington's and Oregon's webpages found nothing about ages.

In days past, both Washington and Oregon didn't require reservations for cyclists and hikers, as long as you were just staying one night. If they had to, they'd tell you to set your tent up on the edge of an open field, not even in a formal "campsite". Things may have changed.

In the summer of 1970, 4 of us 16-year-olds did a trip from Seattle north to Victoria BC, then around the Olympic peninsula and back to Eugene, Oregon. 8 or 10 days, 700 miles or so. No hassles at all. Times may have changed a bit - camping gear is better now!

Communications are much advanced now. I think we made one, maybe two, collect calls home to check in. With a basic cellphone with web access, you could go on-line for weather, make reservations, etc.

You will also meet other riders going the same way; trust your gut instincts on how chummy to get with them, but they will be a resource to draw strength from on days when nothing is going right.

Start now with your training, and do a couple of shake-down trial rides; during your spring vacation, for example.

Lots of other resources out for touring advice, tips, just don't stay up too late checking them out.

Why don't you work on convincing your father to bike with you. Then you will have adult supervision (although it doesn't sound like you need it), and your father can share in the adventure. He will thank you for it later!

Speedo

This thread ran its course here last week. His dad solved the problem for him.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...self-supported