On ACA unsupported trips I'd always find at least one person of the 15 or so participating that I'd want to ride with. When hooking up before the trip through ACA Companions Wanted, I'd always start with the understanding that if things didn't work out we'd go our separate ways with no hard feelings. It helps for group cohesion that there is at least one mutually compelling reason (for example remoteness of the route) for people to stick together. For two times with the later, I first stuck with my original companion until I had to bail 1000 miles into the trip due to a family emergency, and the second time unconsciously sifted the initial 14 person group down to one other person who I finished the 3000 mile trip with (GDMBR).

All else being equal I'd prefer to travel with someone else, but certainly not at the cost of travelling with someone I was learning to detest.

in the end, its like all social meeting situations, its hit and miss and all depends on who meets who. luck I guess lots of times.
When I rode down the West Coast, I was alone, met a father and son team with whom I spent a few days with, got along alright but didnt want to be together all the time. Soon after, met a German fellow on his own, we got along really well and ended up spending the next few weeks together. Kept in touch later and even visited him in Germany once when my family were over there to visit some of my wifes European cousins.
Years earlier, while on my own in France, I met another German with whom I spent a few days cycling with, we kept in touch over that winter and ended up doing another France trip together, which went along quite well.

thats life, meeting people, some we get along with, others we dont as much, or not at all...

I heard this the other day, "The only ship that won't sail is a partnership." If you meet someone you want to ride with, OK, do it for a while, but when you want to go one way and your "partner" wants to go another, or stop, or go faster, or go slower; it's a lot easier to tell someone you've met that it's been nice, but "seeya down the road" than it is a partner (especially if you are sharing gear).

After decades of travel, I have to agree that it is better to travel with people you meet along the way and part ways when needed. Going with someone you "have to" be with can be very stressful. Also, with casual friends from the trail you often split up for a while and reunite later. That's why it's nice having a cell phone on tour.

It's not only that, unless your friend is a seasoned tourer, there's also a pretty good chance they'll flake out, either right before the trip starts, or at the first sign of difficulty. I used to organise day rides here on the Gold Coast, and I lost count of the number of times I had people interested in a Saturday ride on the Wednesday, only to flake out on the Friday. It wasn't such a let down for me, as I was happy to do the rides by myself anyway, but I'd be a but put out if I've just paid $3,000 to fly to the other side of the world, and the person flakes as soon as we arrive at the destination.

As it is, I prefer touring alone anyway. Sure, it's nice to meet people on the road and share experiences, but ultimately I like the freedom of going my own way, doing what I want on the tour, visiting the places I want to visit, feeling happy, sad or in between when I feel like it, stopping for a break when I need or want to, and the list goes on. I live alone for the same reason, and one day I'll post a thread about how wonderful that is.

Besides, one thing I've noticed about touring alone is that it's much easier to interact with people you meet on the road, or to have a chat with the locals, or whatever. While people who tour in a group can build a great camaraderie within that group, it often makes it difficult to have interactions with people outside that particular group. In the end, I prefer having those interactions when I tour, and I'll catch up with my friends when I return.

I have observed the same, but not without exception. Small family groups seem to interest people and open lots of avenues for conversation and offers of hospitality. When traveling with my daughter and a friend we were assumed to be a dad and his two daughters. That seemed to be the perfect group for meeting people. We actually met more people than we would have alone or when it was just my daughter and myself.

this came up in another thread, but I'd like it filed as good advice! :)

"DO NOT use gasoline in an alcohol stove!"

i (50 yr. old male) toured cross-country earlier this year. started in florida on my own, and met up with a partner (female) (via the ACA companions wanted ad...) in cave-in-rock, IL. met up with a third travel partner, unplanned, in kansas.

it was clearly obvious to me that we were FAR more socially 'acceptable' and 'accepted' as a group, ESPECIALLY / BECAUSE a woman was included, than i was traveling alone. folks were far more interested and willing to socialize with us. my take was having a woman along lent an air of safety and credibility than one or two guys alone. i don't mean to sound sexist on this; just my observation traveling across the USA. no complaints, her mere presence as a woman in the group made for a much more fun adventure wherever we stopped !!!!

truthfully, i'd feel more comfortable hosting / socializing with a group of touring cyclists with women included than without; scruffy guys, smelly and unshaven have that vagrant look about them !

Finding a touring partner short of your spouse is next to impossible. I can't find any one who will tour with me on weekends not alone 6 or more months!!

My wife has been sedentary for the last 25 years and only this last summer she started trying to do something more then sitting in a recliner. I told my wife for the last 30 years since we've been married that when I retire and going to tour the USA and she can either come or stay home! I think she thought I wouldn't do it. Then in 07 I bought a touring bike to begin the process and then I bought another one 4 weeks ago. Yeah I know, I can't ride two touring bikes at the same time; but the first one is so nice I decided not to ruin it in all sorts of elements so I bought a used touring bike to do the trips. Then along with a few weekend trips, books I've collected, web sites I've booked marked, gear that I've bought, she's got to know I'm serious. So we did discuss if she can't get in shape to ride was to have her go ahead in a motor home, set up camp, and wait for me to get there. We also discussed getting a touring tandem so she can relax whenever needed, but in order for that to happen she has to be in some sort of shape to handle that.

I still have 5 to 7 years before I retire and the trip to happen so I'll see where she's at.

http://e-basil.co.uk/gallery/albums/...eIfSerious.jpg

I understand the concept of a beater bike for areas where a nicer bike may not be safe but refusing to tour on a touring bike because you don't want to mess it up seems silly. (Maybe I'm just jealous since I have no touring bikes and you have 2)

First of all, another thank you to all of you who've answered. I've picked up some incredible tips just from this one posting.

As for a touring companion...and I'm absolutely brand new at this, so take it with a LARGE grain of salt...I made my cross-country plans with the assumption that it'd just be me and having someone want to travel with me would be a bonus. I placed an ad with Adventure Cycling and was pleased to get several responses. I now have at least one traveling partner. Since we're not leaving until August, we have time to iron out most issues for the trip and get to know one another a bit. I'm pretty flexible, but we're both traveling completely self-sufficently so that if one has to break off, no matter why, the other isn't left stranded.

I can't wait!

Cheri

I too thought it was silly!! I went to Derby England in 07 and was personally fitted, and had the Vincitore custom build with all sorts of options. When I received after I was back home I was stunned by how it turned out. I'm not scared to ride it because I ride it a lot especially on road trips over 75 miles. But when I started thinking about attaching panniers and letting all sorts of weather and road debris etc potentially scratching up such a fine looking bike I got worried. So I bought a 86 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe for $100 that is in mint condition with only about 150 miles on it and will use it for extended touring. But I could change my mind after I retire in roughly 6 years and start touring across the US and decide to use the Mercian. I'm weird that way. But for right now I'm leaning towards protecting the Mercian and using the Schwinn...but it may turn out that the Schwinn being in mint condition could be the one that needs protecting? See, I told you I'm weird.

Nah, you're like many of us, having more than one bike. No reason to justify it either. We do because we want to, end of story. On the other hand, think how much more you'll like it if every time you look at it you think of the places you've been and smile. :thumb:

yup, weird but at least you admit it...chuckle.

ci can sorta understand, I can appreciate things as beautiful objects and want to preserve them. At the same time there is such a tactile pleasure using something well made, and lets face it, we are not on this earth forever, so what teh hell, go ahead and use it if you love riding it, your experience will be more enjoyable. Not to say to take care of it, clean it when needed, pay special atention to the drivetrain as you tour, but thats what it was made for.

kinda like racing a Jag E-type or a Ferrari GTO, beautiful pieces of metal, but some guys (who can afford it) race em cuz thats what they were made for and love, being at speed and making wonderful sounds.

Awesome!!!!

I use the Mercian, I'm just not sure if I want to abuse it. I have a small classic car collection and a couple of the cars only get driven about 20 times a year for each in the summer, but their old and I want to preserve them, but I also drive them to car shows etc that could mean driving them across country, so I'm not afraid to drive them. Really the only time then don't get driven is late fall, winter and early spring.

Most guys that own the type of cars you mentioned never drive them, they just sit in a garage year after year. I can't do that, I have to drive them even occasionally every year because their fun to drive.

well rek, I never expected to meet a petrol head on this forum! I grew up across the street from a British Car garage when I was a kid in Ottawa, Canada. Hung around there all the time, so therefore know what a bugeyed Sprite looks like, or the diff between a XK 120 and a 140. I have "feet in both worlds" so to speak, grew up doing outdoor things (hiking, canoe camping, bicycle touring) yet have always loved cars and have followed motorsport since I was a teenager. Had motorcycles, raced a bit, and have been to tracks such as the Montreal F1 track (F1 and Champcars) Brands Hatch, Silverstone, and LeMans.

I understand completely what you are saying, the heritage of an older car is important not to squander, so I do get what you are saying for the Mercian. I really do. What I can say is that HOW you are with your bike is so important. My 20 yr old touring bike is still in quite nice shape, scrapes were always from someone else moving it at mywork or at home (I commuted with it for ages) and if you are not a hack (which I doubt you are, some people though....) you can tour on it and not abuse it any way. Yes, a bit of rubbing of the racks or whatever, but this is nothing major, its just paint as youknow.

btw, about racing older cars, I was of course thinking of Goodwood, in England. An old track last used in the late 60s or early 70s where each summer they put on races of cars of diff eras and diff forumulas--it is ablsolutely fantastic to see and hear. the range of sublime cars and engine notes is just fantastic. Check it out.

cheers

This is why I like having a Trek 520 as my touring bike, an un-painted titanium bike as my road bike, and a pickup truck as my vehicle. I used to have a fancy sports car, and I felt like it owned me. I'd rather just use my stuff, and if it looks used, so be it.

Next year I'm going to get a carbon road bike, and I'm already weirded out about how I'm going to feel about the first scratch.

DJB; I use to be into small British, Japanese and Italian sports cars but most of them nickeled and dimed me to death. The worst was a MGA that was like driving a piece a glass, I never knew how the Brits could race those to complete a race!! My other British cars were a Lotus Europa JP Special, Jenson Healey, and a Triumph TR6. The TR6 was the most dependable of the bunch. But all those cars suffered from the doom of Lucas wiring, but besides the TR6 the others suffered from poor metallurgy thus things broke and broke and broke; stupid stuff like the MGA fuel pump being under a floor board behind the passenger seat that picked up road debris then ever so often the car would stop running due to dirt getting into the points (contacts) in the fuel pump; so you would have to clean the points on the side of the road and off we go. I go line by line with problems but there isn't enough space and would still forget a lot of it!! Moss Motors and I were good friends. And the small Italian sports cars weren't much better except for the Alfa Romeo Spider Quadrifoglio seemed to be alright. Some day I'm either going to get another TR6 or another Quadrifoglio to play with. Some things I didn't mind tinkin with like adjusting and sync the dual carbs was fun on the older cars, but mostly they were nightmares.

Valygrl; The Trek 520 is a decent bike, much under rated. Next year I too will buy a unpainted Motobecane TI road bike from Bikes Direct because they have the best deal. But I agree with the unpainted Ti and not getting scratches.

I have some nice classic cars but I don't park them in parking lots at malls when I drive them; but I do drive them about 20 or so times a year to car shows mostly (due to insurance limitations), and I'm full aware of the risk of an accident but I'm not one to just let a car sit in the garage for years.

My current collection consist of 58 Plymouth Fury 2dr Golden Commando, 63 Studebaker Avante supercharged, 67 Ford Galaxy 500 conv, 72 Chrysler NewPort (my main winter car) and built 79 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 (my main 3 season car). The 3 oldest are in mint condition and are kept at a friends place who has 18 classic cars stored in a climate controlled "barn"; the other two aren't really classics yet and so are kept at my house. My wife drives the newest vehicle in the fleet, a 98 Ford F150 with no power options! We wanted it that way because modern cars and all their power options break and we wanted to avoid that.

I know I'm a little late to the party but my tip is to enjoy ice cream as much as possible. I try to get in a good cone once a day.

dear wreckmiata, shall pm you as to avoid boring the rest to tears....

My favorite tip so far!!! ;)

My tip - enjoyment only exists within your limitations. as soon as you exceed them, your enjoyment evaporates pretty quick. Of course, the real satisfaction comes from realising the more you do, the smaller your limitations become.

"Light seeking light doth light of light beguile."

[use it or lose it: journey less with advice, and more with your own awareness]

Living in Colorado I've had occasion to question that. (Yelling in frustration "Oh fercryinoutloud it can't keep going up!" :)

Just be careful not to catch sight of yourself in it. After a few days on the road that can be quite upsetting.

Anyway, my one piece of advice would be...if you're riding with a cycle-computer, put it on a setting which isn't constantly changing or if possible, shut off the display altogether. Otherwise you will find yourself (OK, I find myself) watching the darn thing constantly, checking off every 1/10 of a mile and missing all the good stuff you're riding past.