New Respect
 

I've done quite a few weekend tours and a couple 6 day tours since high school, 40 years ago. Young legs and lungs made it easy. Now, in early retirement, I've decided to go farther and longer. I set out May 7 for a two week ride up and down Vancouver Island. May 10th, after 3 nights and days of rain showers and cool temperatures I decided to turn for home.

I have new respect for those with the guts and determination to stick it out, come what may. Now back home, I shudder as I watch the poor weather forecasts for the north island and am glad I made the decision I did.

This isn't the last of it. I'm determined to try it again, but only after more training rides and in the summer when the weather is better.

Cycle touring might take you out of your comfort zone. But it isn't meant to be a sufferfest. If you are not enjoying it in those sorts of conditions, no-one is going to take you to task for turning around and heading for home.

You are determined to try it again. No-one can ask more of you.

Well said.

You are not the only one to head for home or cancel a bicycle trip this spring! The rain, wind, and cold put a halt to my vacation ride, just couldn't get motivated for those conditions. Guess it will be a summer of shorter trips.

Sometimes I hear people blame age for inability then I see 70 year old men participating in an Iron Man. What's the difference?

I canceled a tour for a slightly sore knee once. The knee wasn't bad, but it was obviously not getting any better with riding. I rode to a nearby small town with a railroad stop and pondered the situation. Finally I decided to take the train home, which meant a 15 km leg of riding at the end. That 15 kms was enough to keep me about 2 weeks completely off saddle before I could ride again. Had I pushed further before deciding to cancel, I'm sure there wouldn't have been much riding for months.

I agree, bike tour is not supposed to be a sufferfest. Just make sure you're fed, hydrated and reasonably rested when you consider your options.

--J

An iron man event isn't a multiday or multiweek tour.

But yes, there are people out there who break the stereotypical role society has set for them.

I think skilsaw's post was really about not being in the same shape as he was as a teenager, when he was able to flip off those sorts of conditions.

I wonder what thoughts would be if he had ridden for the three days, found a nice town with some good entertainment and based himself there in some hotel or hostel accommodation for some exploratory rides on the days when the weather wouldn't have been so bad.

That, of course, raises the issue of flexibility on a tour... but that really is something that has been discussed in other threads.

In the early summer of 2009 I bailed northbound on the Trans Am at Lander WY when weather forecasts where I was planning to be for the next 10 days promised continuing cold and rain. I hadn't seen much of the scenery through Colorado and wouldn't see much through Yellowstone and points north so it was easy to talk myself into packing up and flying home. I flew to Calgary later in the summer and started another tour, during which I experienced much better weather.

You're in retirement, so you can return home and try again later. You've got the freedom to be flexible with your schedule.

But if I were in that situation, and had booked two weeks off work to do that tour, there is no way I would have returned home. That would leave me with a great deal of regret.

Perhaps I'm not so much a cycletourist as a traveller who travels by bicycle (and other methods of transportation as desired). I would have done exactly what Rowan suggested ... book into accomodations somewhere, and travelled around the area by bicycle, rental car, train, or whatever. I tour to see stuff, and there are many ways to accomplish that goal.

Yeah, you're fine, riding in the rain sucks. Consider it a learning experience, and the lesson is that when selecting routes and timing, weather is a very strong consideration.

Touring is supposed to be fun. If you are not having any, call it a day. The only person you have to satisfy is the one you see in a mirror.

Whats there to prove? Like safari said, touring is supposed to be FUN.
Not some kind of grind it out at all cost. Heck I'll go ride a 1200k brevet for that!

If I'm not having fun, I'll pack it in early, Darn skippy I will.

And I'll not think twice about it!

Yes, touring is supposed to be fun, but on those shorter tours, it's not always possible to sit out a bad day. It's imperative to get to the end point at a specific date. How I compensate is by planning at least one extra day into each week of a tour. I know my limits and I know how many days I can go before I need a rest, but I'll add a little more off-bike time into the plans. That way, if something goes wrong or if I simply have a day when I don't have the energy to push ahead, it's not a problem. I can still finish the trip on time.

It is when I run one...

it's easy to keep the torso warm enough but if the knees are cold and wet for miles it's bad, bad news for me.

skilsaw, It's not so much that I hate riding in the rain, it's the road splash from cars that I detest. I'd have returned home also, there's other interests in my life.

Brad

pure torture is how i would describe a tour that done nothing but rain.(France 2010)
guess i'm a fair weather tourer but i do like to see the country in all it's glory, rain is the pit's worse still cold and rain time to bail out.

What Rowan said (nice one Rowan)

When were you in France last year? We were there in September and even though it looked like rain many mornings, we only got one good soaker at the end.

I hate riding in rain. I will, if I have to but don't find it fun at all. There's only as long as I can ride cold and wet.

Ive always said i could tour 5 days a week, with weekends off , for a lifetime. Thats said, there have definitely been plenty of times in Tours where i was not having a good time. It happens, though it does make the better times all that much sweeter. And honestly, id almost take any rainy wet touring day over sitting at my desk.