i am going on my first multi-day tour in september; i am doing the lake champlain bikeways 363 mile principal route. i hope to do 50 miles a day. is this too much with all the gear im going to be taking along with me? how many cubic inches of storage capacity should i have for my gear for a trip like this? it will be "self-contained" and i will not be staying at b&b's. i am fit enough for century rides. so the 50 miles a day doesn't seem to be too much, but im not sure. currently i commute around 40 miles a day 5 days a week. i was thinking of maybe 4000ci of storage along with putting some stuff on the top of my rear rack.

I just did a 10 night 578 mile tour.
56 lbs of gear



More pics:

https://s256.photobucket.com/albums/h...view=slideshow

50 miles per day sounds very do-able.

Pannier space depends on how you pack. I would shoot for 30 pounds of gear including panniers but not food or water. I found about 3000 cubic inches of pannier space sufficient even when I over packed on my first tour.

Sounds like you're good to go. 50 miles a day will be very doable for you. a 40 mile commute every day is very impressive! let's see.. 4000 cubic inches = 65.5 liters... that sounds like a reasonable amount. I think that's what my front and back panniers add up to, which is plenty for a multi day tour. Of course, it depends what kind of tourer you are. some people can cross the country with a backpack and a handlebar bag. have fun.

You will have fun.

I'm not in nearly as good shape as you and I average 50 miles a day on tour. Of course, I have to pedal my way into shape so the first two or three days are shorter. Touring is different from training for me, partly because of the load, and partly because when I'm training I never seem to do long rides on several successived days. I might ride 2 out of 3 days if I'm lucky. When I tour I generally only take one rest day per week, and often go two weeks before a rest.

Anyway, lots of long distance tourers average lots more than 50 miles a day. You'll do fine. Have a great time!

staehpj1 is correct in that you should go by weight and not volume. Try to keep the weight down as much as possible but don't go overboard. If you have some luxury that you want to take...coffee for the morning, books to read, even electronics...plan on taking them but try to keep luxuries to a minimum. Concentrate on things that you will need first, like tent, sleeping bag, pad, cooking stuff, cool weather clothes, riding clothes, rain gear, small first aid kit, small tool kit, etc.

Once the necessities are in the bag, then look at luxuries. Keep the stuff that needs batteries or uses batteries quickly to a minimum. If you have to plug it in, consider if you really, really need it. Computers? Leave 'em at home because there's not a lot of wifi in the woods. Camera? Find a way of including it because you'll want pictures but leave the tripod and 4 extra lenses at home Ipod? That's a personal call but don't use one while riding. You need to hear those timber trucks coming I don't use one in camp, personally, because I don't want to carry a charger for it and I like hearing birds, animals and even other campers.

Distance is a personal choice as well. But don't rush it! This is a TOUR, leave the de France part at home. Go to see stuff and don't be afraid to take some side trips (short ones) to see something historic. You've got lots of opportunity in Vermont and New York. If something peaks your interest, stop and see it. If you can, schedule a rest day in the middle of your trip and make that a destination you want to get to. Fort Ticonderoga, for example, could be a place you could spent an entire day at off the bike. A little rest, now and then (about 1 day in 7), is good for you.

I'll pass by Ticonderoga on my trip to the Adirondacks next month. It's on the NYS Bike Route #9 and I'll start my loop from around there. I'll definitely check out the fort.

That cable ferry boat was pretty cool going across the lake. That is also part of the Northern Tier Route.

I think 50 miles a day average is a great distance!

Leaves plenty of time for sight-seeing, side trips, icecream, naps, frosty cold adult beverages, sitting out rain showers, meeting people, more ice cream, maybe another nap, you name it!