Howdy, folks.

Been away from the web (and this site) for several months. Just got back online again. I've been commuting tons as we are officially living car-lite.

Anyways, touring has picked my interest. My son, who is 12, has taken an increase in cycling and we both would like to tour. This is a year or more down the road. However, for this year we'd like to do some camping with the bikes, as we have several decent campsites within a half-days distance. I feel this would be the perfect "training" rides we could get: load the bikes with gear, ride to campsite, set up, etc.

Has anyone done this type of ride prior to going on a real tour?

Many thanks in advance!!

Hello Steve. I'm happy to hear that you are living "car-lite." I wish more people were doing so. I haven't posted in many, many months either; but was rebuilding an old touring bike and just posted a question when I saw your thread and thought I may be able to help. I have not tour-camped but I too would like to in the future. I do work part-time in a popular sporting goods store in the camping and cycling depts and I do camp and backpack quit a bit. There is very little difference in the type of light camping equipment used for touring and backpacking. If you have any questions about the type of gear you would need, I'd be happy to give my 2 cents worth.

I also think that it is a great idea to work your way up to longer trips the way you have suggested.

It is definitely a good idea to take little trips first. That way you find out what you do and don't need and if things actually work for you. Welcome to the world of touring! Just be forewarned...it's very addicting!

Tiff

I plan on a couple short trips like this myself this summer to get my feet wet. I fear the addiction aspect... if it's anything like commuting, I know it'll be a very serious addiction indeed. In fact, since I imagine it's like commuting, just more fun b/c of the extra miles and the lack of "having to be at work" at the other end of the ride, I think that touring will be very addicting indeed...

Lots and lots of info on bike camping all over the net....here's one: https://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/index.htm and another: https://bicycletouring101.com/ another: https://www.biketoledo.net/pages/touring.html
These are just a sampling. Check the ACA web site and also check out www.bikepacking.net - those guys are very hard core. Have fun!

That IS a real tour. And I would think that most of us here have done that sort of tour at one point or another. It is also the type of tour I strongly recommend people do before they do anything longer.

Some of the most memorable tours I have ever done were 2 day wild camping trips. Depending on the destination, most of a day's ride could be 80 miles or 25 miles. Definitely a good time, and the only option when you have to work all week. I commend you for encouraging your son's interest in cycling. I have two sons, one 2 and the other 10. The 2 year old LOVES our daytrips through the woods. The 10 year old grumbles a bit, but still can knock out a 30 mile day in the mountains and usually ends up having fun. One of the best forms of quality family time there is, I think.

+1

Nothing like a few 'shake down' rides.
Most folks over pack . . . a good leartning experience!

Yep. I tell folks to be careful about taking up cycling, because they might find it addicting. Or worse, cycle touring.

Sounds like a great way to go! The only suggestion that I can add is to pick a distance, destination, and weather that will make your son's first ride really enjoyable. I found from experience (good and bad) that kid's enthusiasm for future bike tours, backpacking or snow camping trips is proportional to the fun they had on the first one. After they get a few good trips under their belts, they can handle some pretty tough conditions.

My partner, also from experience, says for a 12 year old "you better take plenty of food"!

I'd say starting with short tours is recommended - mostly to sort out issues of what to bring. For years all of my tours were close to home - the longest only involving three successive days of riding. Usually I'd ride for a day or two, camp for a few days, then ride back home.

I live about 3 miles from a nice state park with a beautiful hiker/biker spot. Some kids I teach (6th grade) wanted to try bike camping. We rode the 3 miles, camped overnight, and rode home. A couple of parents drove over and had dinner with us. It wasn't a hard-core tour, but those kids had a great time! That's the whole point, right?

I love overnighters! It's one of the best ways to get yourself aquainted with touring, and to get to know your area better.

The comment above about weather, destination and such being important for making the ride enjoyable is spot on. Personally I won't do an overnighter if it will rain because if I'm just going for a night I want to enjoy it. On a long tour rain doesn't matter, but for a weekend trip I want nice weather, decent campground, and good food!

Sounds like a good plan. I weekend tour every chance I get,I can mow the lawn during the week.

Thanks for the great replies. I am gonna buy a pair of panniers for my rear rack of my commuter. Since I am commuting more and more every week, I can justify the expense (goes under the "transportation" catagory instead of "liesure"!!).

I already have some backpacking gear as I've done some short over-nighters. My boy will need a sleeping bag and I need a spring/summer bag as mine is rated for 20 degrees. Other than that, we have most of the stuff for an over-night, just no way of packing it on two wheels yet.

I also ordered a sample copy of Bicycle Adventures or whatever its called. That'll give some ideas, too.

Thanks for the encouragement. You should see me hanging around these parts of the forum from now on.

Here is my tour last year with my son. It was an S24O.

Another plus: If you go to a nearby destination and forget something, it's easy to call your wife and have her bring it. (My local site is so close I could ride back home to get something I'd forgotten.) To me the ride is a big part of bike touring, but so is the camping. If you take a really short ride, there's still the camping (and you'll have more time in the campground!)

I agree with Machka - if you go camping with your bikes, this IS a real tour! I started day-long rides with my parents when I was 12 -- we would pack picnics and ride the C&O Canal. Best way to shake down your rig, your gear, and your attitude (what to bring and what to leave behind) is by taking overnight rides of 2 or 3 days. I highly recommend Adventure Cycling for good information, by searching the "How To" department AND their Archives https://www.adventurecycling.org/library/index.cfm

Others here posted good sources - Ken Kifer and of course all the various blogs on CrazyGuyOnABike. Have a great summer!