Your best piece of advice
 

I have to confess that I absolutely love coming to this forum. In a short space of time, I've laughed, I've learned and I've been amazed at some of the stories. So, this may have been covered before, but here's my question: if you had one golden rule to pass on to a first time tour taker, what would it be? Or, what's the absolutely best tip you like to pass on?

Cheri

"what goes up must come down" :)

A well built rear wheel is more important than the type of shifters you use. ;)

Take an overnight trip with all your gear before taking it all on a long bike tour.

Don't overplan and don't put off a tour because the weather isn't perfect or you're waiting for the perfect bike, or you're not in perfect shape. Just get out there.

Read this forum and crazyguyonabike.com before embarking on a major tour.

use a mirror.

Listen to Raybo's advice above.

Zip-ties, plastic bags and duct tape. Don't leave home without it.

My advice is to "just do it". Use the gear and bike you have or can afford and go. We rounded up the stuff we had, bought a few items we were missing (like racks and panniers), bought airline tickets, and headed out on the Trans America Route. We didn't even bother with a shakedown tour, but if we had not been experienced backpackers we probably would have.

Definitely don't fall into the must have "the ultimate build" trap. This same gear head trap seems to be there for the bike, the racks, the panniers, and pretty much all of the gear. Do watch the weight carried, but you don't have to go crazy with expensive stuff. In fact a lot of my favorite gear is pretty inexpensive (stuff like Nashbar or Performance waterproof panniers and front racks, and a Blackburn EX-1 rear rack).

I knew staehpj1 couldn't keep it to a single line :lol:

Try to keep the bike as well balanced as possible, don't throw everything on the rear unless your load is light

Get some good lights even thought you don't plan on using them.

Always keep the rubber side down!

Just do it.

Start slowly and taper off.

Don't rush it.

Be sure to take several credit cards and a satellite phone and maybe a pistol and grenade launcher.

Make decisions based on what works for you, not necessarily what works for others. Unfortunately, it takes a couple of tours before you know for sure what your preferences are.

you'll never have to recover from taking it easy

Chuck the itinerary
 

Don't overplan, and don't be afraid to change plans, stop, explore, ride less than you thought you would this morning or ride more than you thought you would when you threw a leg over the bike this morning. Take lots of pictures.

+1

You know me too well :)

All of the above(great advice for newbies) plus spin,spin,spin. Oh, and don't leave food in your panniers for the raccoons to steal.

Take lots of pictures!

10 Wheels, I see you have a Texas flag on your front wheel. Check out what I put on my touring rig.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/...1db89657_z.jpg

There it is. FINALLY!

Reread these suggestions! Log some miles or those other thingies.