What are the dangers or challenges of bicycle touring?
 

Generally, I have a very trusting, can-do disposition. I think most people are decent and the worst that can happen probably won't; however as my departure date nears, I'm getting a little scared. My biggest worry is finding somewhere to camp every night. That also entails complete darkness and strange noises in the night. I'm probably be creeping myself out in the beginning. With that being said, what do you perceive as dangers to be aware of or challenges that first time bike tourists may not expect?

i.e.
rabid dogs
thugs and thieves
ticks, mosquitos, spiders and other pesty insects
heat stroke or other injuries from overexertion
traffic accidents

All of the above. Same kind of stuff that could happen when you cross the street or play with the dog. You just won't be at home.

When you pedal off, be sure and take your common sense with you. When riding, be visible, be predictable. Plan ahead. Stay hydrated, stay clean. Be open to meeting new people. Know how to make simple, basic repairs to the bicycle. If wild camping, start looking for the spot couple of hours before dark.

It'll all work out.

Yeah, that.

Really depends on where your traveling at. I had some crows eat all my food, that pissed me off, but no big deal. Fear of the unknown is what really scares people. I can assure you the following things while on tour will happen:
1) You'll get really tired/hot/cold and miserable at some point
2) You will wonder WTF you are doing, you could be sitting on a beach somewhere
3) You'll have a uncomfortable night (or 3)
4) You'll have a close call with a car
5) You'll have somebody yell at you
6) You'll have forgot something at home you should have packed
7) You'll run into a situation that is going to stress you out

Last but not least...

8) You'll realize how much fun your having and you can't wait to do it again.

Wont be all roses your first time out, that I can promise. But you'll come back with a new outlook on things and will have learned to deal with all those 'what ifs'.

Don't forget seagulls. They can root around in your panniers and open packets of cookies.
Scorpions can crawl into your shoes
Bears like to eat everything.
Moose dont like you camping in their stomping grounds.
Jagulars can drop on you from high branches.

Part of the fun of cycle camping is gaining confidence in your own abilities. If you start out with small trips you will find out that most of the "dangers" are merely hazards that the wary traveller can cope with.

On my last big trip, my biggest concern beforehand was ticks but in practice they were a minor irritant.
Finding a campsite can be challenging at times so I started looking well before dusk. You learn to stop earlier than you want to if there is a good site, or to make do with a less than good site if you must but would never use a less than good site that had serious potential danger, eg flooding, rockfall, treefall.

Didn't we just do this?

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-cycle-touring

And I believe we came to the conclusion that you'll experience the same sorts of things on tour as you do when you cycle at home ... because you'll be going from your home to someone else's home.

One important aspect of "danger" that has been missed here and in recent threads is a lapse of judgement that occurs when one is fatigued. If one is dragging, one may not fully or correctly assess a traffic situation. I have seen tourists after a long, hot day teeter in high gears across uncontrolled intersections where cars and trucks are bearing down full speed, their drivers seemingly oblivious to the cyclist crossing the road ahead of them.

The difference between touring and being close to home is that you have usually no experience during the former with the roads or levels/types of traffic. If one is as complacent on tour as one is while riding near home, one is crusin' for a brusin'.

Hopefully cyclists aren't complacent when they ride at home!!

Cyclists can be fatigued when they ride at home, especially if they do monthly centuries or randonneuring events. And they may need to put some extra focus into their cycling as they near the end of those rides, even if they think they are familiar with the roads.

Road conditions can vary at home as well. Construction or weather conditions can change a once-familiar route, and events or seasons can alter the traffic levels ... sometimes quite unexpectedly.


By cycling lots at home, and in a wide radius around "home", cycletourists can develop skills they can use elsewhere ... in bicycle handling, paying attention to what they are doing, and judging the road conditions and traffic. Oh, and hopefully by doing a lot of riding at home, when they go on tours, they aren't riding in high gears!

Good point. I know of a local guy who was riding across the country who nearly got himself killed. If I remeber the story correctly, he was at the end of his day and saw his motel on the other side of the road. Without thinking, he turned left to cross the road. When he did, he turned right into the path of a semi.

If you are gone for a long time, you should fear never wanting to go back to work--unless you don't need to work.

All the crazy things your thinking about will melt away withing a 1/2 mile riding on the tour. The anticipation can drive you crazy, but it's also fun isn't it?

That's what I was looking for, the down side of bicycle touring. I know if it were all roses, rainbows, and unicorns...it would be more popular.

I have a few family members who worry about me a lot...and that worries me. I mean, what if I'm being completely naive about everything and maybe I should be more worried. Part of what gets me is the uncertainty of my sleeping situations.

happened the other day when I was rode up to the local mountains. On the way back, I was just so tired that all I wanted was to be back home soon. So I didn't take any breaks and I ended up having a lot of trouble focusing and staying balanced...went on to the opposite side of the bike lane on a downhill curve and heard someone yell, "Hey! watch out!" Taking breaks is important for your body as well as your brain . Didn't realize that before.

The cycling part doesn't worry me as much. I've put around 1500 miles on my bike since I bought it last fall. I'm more comfortable riding now than driving. What gets me more is the time off the bike...camping, animals, insects and spiders, strangers, etc.

yea, I guess this was discussed. I almost never go past page 1 or 2. Sorry for the slightly redundant thread. For those like me who never really go passed page 1 or 2, here's the best bit of advice I found on that thread.

Sure, things can happen and sometimes problems occur during a tour, but it's easy to compensate for many of the potential risks.

• Bad traffic — A little planning can usually put me onto a safer route. The traffic problems, with few exceptions, are in urban areas and there are always alternate routes there.

• Mechanical breakdowns — Most breakdowns are annoyances, nothing more serious than flat tires or the occasional broken spoke or broken chain. All are easily fixed. The most serious mechanical failures I've encountered have been brakes which failed in an urban area and a crank malfunction. The brakes were fixed with a minor adjustment. I managed to cobble the crank together until I reached the nearest bike shop, where I had it fixed quickly.

• Wildlife — Bears are the most dangerous wildlife I can expect to encounter when I'm touring and yes, I have encountered a few black bears along the way. Common sense is important here.

• Dehydration — Yes, it's a risk on a hot summer day, but it's also possible to carry a bit of extra water. No problem.

• Weather-related problems — I can't control the weather, but I can ensure I've got the clothing and camping equipment I need.

• Thieves and vandals — When I'm on a tour, I spend almost all my time on the bike or close to it, with the bike in sight and locked.

albert - sorry if you already mentioned it and I missed it - but, where are you touring? Will you be blogging it online? Would love to follow your progress.

The worry is normal. I get butterflies before every tour. You've read about what to expect, and once you hit the road it will all fall into place. It's true, it isn't all roses. If it were, I wouldn't enjoy it nearly as much. It's the contrast between the difficult times and the euphoric times that I love. Just go, use what you've learned, and learn more along the way. It's a fantastic experience.

my biggest challenge is not to disappear from home and family for weeks at a time, lol !

Long tours are 90% mental-10% effort. I'm more worried about 2 legged animals than 4 legged ones.I have a hard time predicting the actions of 2 legged ones at times.

I find on long trips,the thought of riding 1000,2000,3000+ miles is overwelming at times.So I don't think about the big picture,I just deal with it one day at a time.I might ride 30 miles one day and 130 the next.I'm no spring chicken anymore,so I listen to what my body is telling me.

Don't make plans that you can't keep.Don't micro manage your trip.Give yourself some extra time,everyday.Sh*t happens,and it always happens when you absolutely have to be somewhere at a certain time.

By nature,I'm a pessimistic person.I like being that way,people always suprize me with their kindness and generosity on the road and in campgrounds.If I was an optimist,I would expect it.The kindness of people when I'm out touring gives me hope for mankind everytime,then I have to come home.

1. Ride more.

2. Do a weekend tour ... or two, or three ... it will give you some experience with being outdoors and particularly being outdoors in the country (camping, animals, insects and spiders, strangers, etc.). It sounds like you're a city person for whom life in the country is a little bit alarming. So get out there for short periods of time and get used to it.

I'm following ACA routes...the Sierra Cascades northbound from its southern tip at Tecate, Ca up to Crater Lake, Oregon...to the coast at Crescent City and all the way down to the Mexican border again. First-time, solo, and self-supported. I think I'm going to to keep a traditional paper journal and then transfer that over to crazyguyonabike. I might drop in here at points but I sort of want to take this as an opportunity to disconnect. Thanks for the advice.

Oh no, I used to go camping a lot when I was younger, but that was car camping with family. Very different. I've gone with my friends, also...but again...completely different. I'm going on my first S24O in about 2 hours. From there, I'll probably start with some weekend trips to the local mountains. But I know the best preparation is just riding more and camping more. Nothing to it but to do it, right.

Yup
 

You got it!

I find the most fearless guys that can camp anywhere and are not bothered by things that go bump in the night are the guys that do it often. If there were, in fact, really creepy things out there staring at you while you set up camp, the guys that are veterans would be the ones saying not to. Quite the opposite as we all know.

There is a fine line between being excited and nervous.

Flow with the go....you'll figure it out.

By the way, I think you'll really like that ride. There tends to be mosquitoes at Crater Lake, bring repellent. How do you plan to get from Crater Lake to Crescent City? I would highly recommend NOT taking hwy 199, there are some beautiful sights to see but its a sketchy road.

When are you going to be in Crater Lake and/or Crescent City?

Thought a lot about dangers and fears while on the road and put it into words in this essay:

http://pathlesspedaled.com/2009/12/the-great-fear/

what we've learned is that it is never going to be as bad as you think. had no problems with dogs. had no problems with thugs or thieves. just be smart. stay calm. feed yourself and keep a level head.

Russ

A deep pothole that filled with water, at night you will never notice until it came too close to advoid.

Nickw, to your excellent first post, I'll add........nothing. Been there and done all that, including the crows that ate my oatmeal. Not to mention the coons that will steal every morsel.