I'll also add that the idea of a "cross-country" tour ... whether it is across Canada, Australia, or the US (I'm naming larger countries here) ... doesn't really appeal to me. Especially if I would have to stick to a particular route.

I could see doing something like that as a challenge to get across quickly (like maybe a PAC tour), but if I wanted to really tour a country, I'd want to have the flexibility to go wherever I wanted to go.

And that might involve hopping on a plane, bus, or train to get to another part of the country ... or cycling northward for a bit, and southward for a bit ... or staying in one spot for a week and doing a hub-and-spoke tour from there. I figure if you've got the time off, and you've got the finances to fund your trip ... take that time to go places you want to go, see things you want to see.

I have bad days due to wind, rain, sun, legs that will not shut up but I don't recall ever being bored, even on long flat "boring" sections. I find myself "exploring" my immediate neighbourhood as a I trundle along. Really quite interesting what one sees and discoveries at a slow pace battling into the wind and rain

Andrew

Boredom has never been an issue, even here.

OT question: What do you do with your bike and gear when you go off and leave them? I often ride into the city and leaving my bike is a concern. I can lock it up, but someone could easily take my pump, seat bag, Brooks saddle, etc. How do you deal with leaving your stuff somewhere?

Tend to hide in a bush, just lock it up and/or don't visit cities

Andrew

They could also cut the cables and the chain then strip your bike of the levers, brakes, derailleurs, stem, handlebar, pedals and possibly the crank in a couple of minutes. Luckily, most thieves are too stupid to operate an Allen wrench or to realize that a backpack full of components is virtually untraceable and can fetch and tidy sum from eBay, Craig's List, etc.

I don't spend much time in cities but ...

If I'm in a city, I stay in a hostel (or motel or something) ... so if I go off and explore the city, the bicycle stays locked up in the hostel or wherever, and I take the train and/or walk. On the odd occasion when the bicycle does come with me to explore a city, I just ride around ... and then walk the bicycle in certain places when I want to have a closer look at something.

If I stop at a cafe, I try to pick one with an outdoor dining area so I can sit next to my bicycle ... that's whether I'm in a city or much smaller town, or out in the middle of nowhere.

I was camping when I did the Great Barrier Reef tour and Fraser Island tour. In those cases, we asked the people at the campground if we could park the bicycles in a shed or something while we were gone. That was no problem and we had a great time.

I've done hikes in the middle of the day on a tour, and in those cases, I walked the bicycle up the path a little way, and then locked it in the bushes. In most (possibly all) of those cases, the hikes were in very rural and somewhat remote locations. There weren't many people around.

I've stopped to swim in the ocean several times, and in those cases, I just roll the bicycle onto the beach.

My first significant tour was from Perth to Adelaide via Esperance. A large part of it was over what is colloquially termed the Nullarbor Plain. People who drive cars across there think it's a totally boring trip. For me, on a bike, it was fascinating.

The road traffic was interesting (from huge bits of mining equipment, to large luxury boats to various campers and RVs), the people were interesting (including a guy running across the country to raise money for a charity), and the stops were interesting (camping out, camping in, exploring history). One of my favourite moments was being metres away from a very big wedge-tail eagle as we eyed off each other...

As to what to do in the city, usually, we are staying somewhere, and use their facilities to lock-up, then walk, or go by bus, train or ferry... or take the bikes with us and lock them, but never move far away from them. I remove things like the pump, computer and bottles, and take the handlebar bag with that stuff in it with me. None of the bikes we use for touring has quick-releases on the seatposts.

The irony of this is that Machka's bike was stolen from one-metre away from our tent while we were inside asleep in what was reputed to be a quiet, crime-free country town -- which led us to leave it unlocked. It was a tough lesson.

If you get bored when touring the only solution is less cycling and more beer.

Thought provoking question.

Don't think I've ever been bored on a tour. Been tired, frustrated, concerned, sick, wet, cold, hot, and homesick. Never bored. OTOH, I've never ridden across Kansas or the loneliest road in the US.

Since returning to cycling, boredom hasn't been an issue. A typical day tour with the bike club is around 45-80 miles and the group goes at a pace that leaves me completely drained by the end. During the ride I'm usually too busy cussing my legs for failing to get my arse up the next hill to be bored

I have listened to audio books at times. Usually though, no, not bored. I just love books and audio books work for when I cannot read. It can be done safely. There are headphones that do not cover your ears, but instead go in front or behind and use bone conduction to deliver the sound, leaving your ears open to hear traffic. Just keep the volume low.

I don't get bored.The morning and evening routines get boring after awhile,but the riding part is the whole reason I tour.I love what happens in the middle,even if it's a 100 miles of desert.

There are always animals,bugs,road kill,crap on the side of the road,I can practice singing without bringing people to tears,eat beans for breakfast and fart for hours,see how long I can keep my mind blank,....

If I do start getting bored,I just remind myself that I could be at work where EVERYBODY'S is in a big hurry...Things look much brighter after that thought.

excellent post

When I get bored while riding I usally concentrate on my pedal stroke. This is the same thing I do on the rollers in the am. Keep my knees aligned and concentrate on each stroke. I have gotton up plenty of hills using this plus it helps me get my pedal stroke right. Honestly the number of people I see on bikes riding with their knees sticking out instead of square to the handlebars confounds me. I can fell MY knees scream at the sight.

Some of my favourite areas for touring begin and end where I live. Every town along the way has its own unique character and charm. Each one has a quirky coffee shop or restaurant. Each one has a special park or town square. Each one has something setting it apart from anywhere else. Not all places are equally enjoyable, but there are stories I'll take with me from every stop along the way.

I keep a journal with me and I'll make sure to write about the towns I visit — not just how they look but how they feel as well. If I ever get to the point where the towns all start to look the same, it's time for me to get off the bike and spend a bit of time learning what sets one place apart from the rest.

In my opinion, Kansas and Nebraska are states best seen at ~10 mph or in excess of 100mph. Seeing things from the Interstate in a car is perhaps the most boring way to see them. I've enjoyed cycling across both and particularly seeing subtle changes in landscapes, water, etc. I've also cycled across US 50, dubbed the loneliest road, though it is far from lonely and again somewhat varied. I really enjoy cycling the western deserts with wide open vistas. Somehow the arid climate and minimal vegetation leave all the geology out for all to see and riding through it gives very interesting variables. The loneliest road is a bit of a misnomer(*) but even in one of the largest stretches between settlements the 80 mile gap from Eureka to Ely crosses four different summits (https://www.mvermeulen.com/nevada/index.htm).

I've traveled some more "boring" roads than US 50 such as circling Australia and crossing Russia. However, even then I'm not as likely to be bored when on the bike than when I've been in a small town for a day or two and pretty much explored everything in town.

I've done a few week-long tours. I usually carry a couple of small, light-weight electronic games, mainly for evening-time entertainment...Yahtzee and Sudoku. And I always keep a journal.

I have a notebook to scribble my thoughts down for my blog, a kindle packed with books. Fortunately for the long stretches of boring road, I have my husky for company. He's not great at conversation, but he doesn't whine at me if we're not pounding out 100 miles a day either. I'm very much a 'meandering' cycle tourist. Zig-zagging from old 11th century church to castle.

I am someone who rarely gets bored but I was talking with a guy who has crossed the country and done other long tours and he has a system that might appeal to some people (just not me): at campgrounds his usual m.o., after getting established, is to cruise past all of the sites searching for the loudest one. When he finds it he introduces himself and says it's almost certain he gets invited to the party. We were comparing our methods for touring and I said I was 90% a stealth camper. He countered with the previous reason for not being one himself. To each his own.