Neil_B

Wouldn't you have to suggest who is the hand in the sock? I helped get someone banned from Clydesdales a couple of years ago, but we had to identify both the sock and the hand filling it.

indyfabz

One of his threads ("What route?") shows as being started at 2:21 a.m. on 5/3.

chasm54

No,really, this is BS. Multiple threads have been predicated on the OP doing this solo. Now, after this has been hoghlighted, he is suddenly, meekly, compliant in the face of parental opposition. I'm not wasting my time on this anymore.

njkayaker

Bizarre.

I don't think the typical motivations for creating a sockpuppet exist in this case.

Get a grip, people!

===============

The time zone is a per-user setting. You can change it to whatever you want.

BenzFanatic

I'm new here so I especially don't want to offend anybody, but encouraging this kid to take a cross country tour by himself is down right irresponsible. We all need to remember that 16 is not what it used to be. While the kids nowadays have a greater awareness and act more mature than they are, they are more helpless than ever, and this is supported in every teenager I meet, as well as many of BikeX's posts.

I have read through most of Bikex's threads and it is definitely fishy. I have seen fake people trolling forums like this numerous times in the exact same fashion. He has stated he doesn't have permission, has no experience, dislikes camping, yet repeatedly says "I am riding for charity," even though he has no sponsors. Just sayin'.

BikeX, if you are real, keep up with biking, but you will have more opportunities than you can imagine to tour in a couple of short years when you are more prepared both as a biker and an adult. The fact is at 16 you have no rights except the right to life, no matter how much people tell you otherwise.

njkayaker

No "suddenly". It's been clear for a while that his mother disapproves of these trips (though that was easy to miss).

(I do, though, dig the air of conspiracy!!)

chasm54

No, you missed my point. I knew his mother was opposed, but this is the first time he's indicated he'd take any notice.

alan s 

If a 16 yo kid tried to tag along with me on a cross country trip, I'd drop him on day 1. Can't imagine anything worse than some unprepared kid pestering me on a long tour. Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Good luck kid, if you are what you say you are, which is doubtful.

njkayaker

Ahh.

You (we) knew his mother was opposed (to riding alone overall) because he mentioned it. He couldn't have mentioned it if he hadn't taken any notice of it.

He hasn't displayed a general ability to look at complications in any depth. The "mother" thing is just one instance of that.

njkayaker

???

No one is suggesting he "tag along" with some stranger.

Bizarre.

alan s 

In all likelihood, the point of an adult accompanying the OP is so the adult can pay for the cost of the trip.

alan s 

Who said "stranger?" What is "bizarre?"

Neil_B

See post #94, in which Niles H. the youth-liberator suggests the OP use "online resources" to find people to ride with. Odds are anyone he meets online is going to be a "stranger." And look at #95, if only so you can guess the movie quotations....

Bacciagalupe

While I don't agree with the nightmare scenarios, I do think most parents today would not agree to their 16 year old kid being accompanied across the US by a total stranger they met over the Internets. Just a guess....

I also noticed that Adventure Cycling will not allow unaccompanied minors onto one of their tours. Other tour companies may or may not have the same policy.

I say "TransAm 2014." Spend the next two summers at that college prep camp, learning the ins and outs of cycling, saving up money and/or actually working for a charity.

Neil_B

That, and the pesky problem of his being underage and not being able to do many things adults take for granted.

indyfabz

Maybe this will help:

Joey: Wait a minute. I know you. You're Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. You play basketball for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Roger Murdock: I'm sorry son, but you must have me confused with someone else. My name is Roger Murdock. I'm the co-pilot.

Joey: You are Kareem! I've seen you play. My dad's got season tickets.

Roger Murdock: I think you should go back to your seat now Joey. Right Clarence?

Captain Oveur: Nahhhhhh, he's not bothering anyone, let him stay here.

Roger Murdock: But just remember, my name is ROGER MURDOCK. I'm an airline pilot.

Joey: I think you're the greatest, but my dad says you don't work hard enough on defense.

Joey: And he says that lots of times, you don't even run down court. And that you don't really try... except during the playoffs.

Roger Murdock: The hell I don't! LISTEN KID! I've been hearing that crap ever since I was at UCLA. I'm out there busting my buns every night. Tell your old man to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes.

njkayaker

The only scenario that makes any sort of sense (and the only scenario that people could reasonably be discussing) is if the kid and the adult agreed to travel together.

The "try to tag along" and "I'd drop him" stuff is bizarre.

This doesn't make any sense either. What adult (other than friend or family) would take responsibility for the kid and pay for him too?

Connell

I have to say, this is one of the more entertaining thread sequences we've had for a while. Although I fear Nilesxcountry has flirted with over-playing his hand somewhat in the last couple of days and most people have caught on.

I'm looking forward to seeing what he comes up with next though.

njkayaker

One could criticize the suggestion to find people to ride with.

But that wasn't what I was commenting about.

The person that was found would be somebody who agreed to travel with the kid.

Thinking that "tried to tag along" or "I'd drop him" has any part in such an arrangement makes no sense. It's bizarre.

njkayaker

Ooh, I see what you did there! Nice! Stirring the pot and adding spice!

Neil_B

I picked the wrong week to give up taking the Touring Forum seriously....

tom cotter

Interesting thread with many hot button topics.

Assuming the kid is real, I'm going with this: There is what you know you know, what you know you don't know and then there's what you don't know you don't know. Assume that most of the collected wisdom of bicycle touring is in the third category. Add in this: what you don't know can hurt you and you have my opinion on your upcoming tour.

There is nothing wrong with rock climbing in flip flops, it's just not a smart thing to do.

You can kayak the Bering Sea wearing only a bathing suit, it's just not a smart thing to do.

You can sleep along side your food in a big safe tent in bear country, it's just not a smart thing to do.

You can bike across the country in your street shorts with no gear, it's just not...

What you don't know can hurt you!!!

njkayaker

Anybody who agreed to be responsible (presumably, for no pay) for a minor who they don't know would be crazy. And, given the level of inexperience of the minor in question, they'd be even crazier to do it.

Sachelis

+1

Connell

This.

We aren't just talking cycling companion here. We're looking for someone who at the drop of a hat, will be willing to compromise their own tour in order to take on physical and probably financial responsibility for someone else's, apparently clueless kid.

First you would have to ask who would want to do that, then you would have to ask why they would want to do it.

Way too high on the horse****ometer.