For me the idea of touring came a long time ago.Back in the 70s when I was a kid,me and my friend Bobby Renfro bicycled everywhere together.We had seen an article in a magazine about a group of cyclist riding self contained across the country and that was enough to get us bit by the touring bug.That's all we talked about whenever we were together.Unfortunately Bobby never made his trip acrossed America.When he was 13 he died of leukemia.I did a little loaded touring back in the late 80s but never anything big.I got out of bicycling for a long time and then last year bought a new bike and everything I needed and started riding again.I did a little over 1300 miles in 4 states last month and I bet Bobby was with me the whole time.

I've been cycling since I was 6 years old. My parents were into cycling so I grew up with it.

As a family, we did heaps of day tours and hub-and-spoke tours all over western North America, but when I was 17 my father did a 3-day tour from Jasper to Banff. My mother, brother and I were in the car providing support for him, but I rode with him on the last day and I decided then that I would do that 3-day tour myself one day.

"One day" came in 1995 when I cycled the same route in 3 days, with my now ex husband driving support along the way. I continued to expand my cycling, continued with day tours and hub-and-spoke tours, got into racing for a few years, and then randonneuring (and did Jasper to Banff in part of one day, instead of 3 days, as a portion of a 1200K randonnee ).

In 2003, I did a little bit of hub-and-spoke style touring to train for the Paris-Brest-Paris, and then headed to Europe with bicycle, panniers and all. I did the PBP, and then a friend from the UK and I toured Wales for 6 days. I think that was my first experience with real loaded touring.

When I was a kid, I went everywhere on my bike.

When I was 13, I would take my single-shot shotgun and the 4 shells ( that is all I could afford at any one time), and ride the 8 miles out of town to "good" pheasant hunting.

About a year later, with the help of a friend's dad my buddy and I built a tandem. Our first trip on it was a 40 mile trip. We had a mechanical problem, and had to have one of our parents pick us up. I'm still not sure where we thought we were going.

It just kept building from there.

The first really long ride I took was started by just putting a pair of panniers on my bike, and heading off on an 1100 mile venture. That was over 38 years ago.

I just liked riding, and fortunately still do

Grew up in CO and did a lot of camping, backpacking and some cycling though not overnight.

Started touring when I went to college. I found myself in middle of large urban area (Boston), without a car and a bicycle was an ideal way to get out of town - to camp in the woods, to explore Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, see coast of Maine, etc. Compared to CO, New England was much more compact and easy to ride to other states. Did a lot of riding and shorter touring in college with longest trip being 9 days (including one rest day) and 1184 miles up through Montreal, Rivier du Loop, Houlton and back down the coast.

Still rode but did a little less touring once I graduated and moved back to CO. However, a few years out finally did my first ride across USA. That was 20 years ago and since then most every year a few weeks of bicycle touring and about every five years a long multi-month tour.

When I was fifteen two of my riding buddies went on a three-day tour. My over-protective parents wouldn't let me go with them. That sort of stoked my determination...

I didn't actually get into it until my twenties, when I took some time off work and spent the first four days riding over 300 miles to visit some friends. I can still remember how good I felt on the climbs on the fourth day.

Then some of us don't catch the bug 'til we are near retirement age.

I borrowed a mountain bike to get in condition for hunting in CO when I was 64. The rest is history, albeit not a very long history. Many tours down and got more planned. Had I discovered cycle touring when I was 24......

On Tuesday 16 September 1997 I set off on an adventure from Perth, Western Australia, to Adelaide, South Australia, a little over six months after having a heart attack. The bike was a cheap hybrid, my gear was cheap and clunky, and I was new to the game so my arse hurt like blazes until an LBS guy took pity on me in Esperance and put my seat at the right height and levelled it out for me.

The trip was one of my life's great experiences and set me on a much greater journey in cycling that involved a lot of touring in the traditional and randonnee forms in various places around the world.

Used to bike everywhere as a teenager. When I went to college, from northeast Ohio to central Ohio, I decided to bike.

There was no bikeforums.net (or internet), and no bike shop in my town. Nor did I know anyone who had been bike touring. I just had to wing it. Got a Wald rear basket set (the rack + baskets as one unit, none of those fancy folding baskets), bought a small dome tent, took my grandfather's military-issue, wool sleeping bag because it was the only one in the house that folded up small enough to fit on my bike, and got a little igloo cooler.

By today's standards, compared to my current set-up or the set-up of almost any other bike-camper I know, it was pretty ridiculous, but it got the job done... mostly. Nothing about the set-up was light-weight, other than the fact that my baskets could only hold so much; the dome tent leaked; the sleeping bag, while compact, was not warm; the cooler was hanging off the back of my Wald basket set and spent a day rubbing the wheel, and by the time I realized it, I had worn through the outer shell and halfway through the insulation; and some kind of sleeping pad would have been a great idea, but it was not an idea that I had until someone later told me about inflatable pads;. Still, it was a good time. It was only 3 or 4 days, but it was fun enough that I decided to try again the next year.

The next year I still hadn't invested in any special gear. I did add to my supplies a mesh hammock. I was not as clever as the current crop of hammock campers in that I had no bug netting, no tarp, and no under insulation. It was more comfortable than the ground, but anything beyond a light rain meant that I'd get back into my leaky tent. And I was even colder on those nights I slept in the hammock. I had planned on biking around Ohio for a week or two and then working my way back to school in time for classes, but after a few days, I was tired of sleeping cold and/or wet. I headed to school early so I could sleep in a bed again.

Over the next decade or so, I slowly adjusted my camping gear to focus on comfortable, warm sleeping, since that seemed to make or break my camping experience. I did not, however, focus on portability. It was all car camping for several years. My last car camping trip involved a large tent, queen-sized air mattress, heavy sleeping bag, extra blankets. Camping was getting more comfy, but the bike was no longer part of the equation (unless I brought the bike with me in the car). I still loved the idea of bike camping, but I didn't see how my current level of comfort could be maintained on a bike, and I couldn't see returning to the days of cold, wet camping with only a thin pad between me and the ground.

It wasn't until I found bikeforums that I learned that someone smarter than me had successfully turned a hammock into a tent that could be both warm and dry (and bug-free). That was the missing piece of the puzzle for me. If I could sleep warm and dry and have a tent small enough to carry on my bike and not toss and turn on the hard ground, I was ready to try some bike camping again. It had probably been 15 years or more since my last, overnight, bike trip. I don't have the time off to do any serious, long distance traveling on my bike, but in the last couple of years since getting my Hennessy Hammock, I've done several overnight trips and a couple of short, multi-day tours with more on the horizon. Real racks and real panniers and other lightweight gear choices have made a difference as well, but for me the key was a decent sleeping set-up. I don't know that I'll ever get to go on an extended tour, but just knowing that I can do a self-supported trip has been great.

Fresh water swimming was a bike ride away, and camping-hiking in the Scouts
.. in 50's and early 60s
+ wanting to see some of Europe.. Between the Cities & Train Stations..
.. opportunities came in the 80's &90's.

52 years ago a school buddy and I went on a tour during Easter break. We had no idea on what to take, what clothing to wear, or just how much water we would need, but even though there was a lot of pain involved because we wore cotton jeans and our canvas strapped packs on our backs, we had a blast. Didn't try it again for another 30+ years, but have enjoyed it ever since. I started again because I couldn't find any reliable people to frequently backpack into the mountains or canoe into the wilds with me, and my Family worried too much every time I headed out solo. It was the only other challenging interest I could enjoy solo in the outdoors.

Ondc I realized that you didn't have to be a granola-eating bearded bomber with a Bell V-1 Pro Helmet and cotton tube socks to do loaded touring, I begged to be downsized, bought a touring bike, racks, panniers and some camping gear, took a 62 mile test ride fully loaded, crossed the country on ACA's self-contained Northern Tier trip, rode home solo from Maine then rode to Ocean City, NJ, in a charity event carrying all my stuff, not exactly in that order. I bought the bike in anticipation of begging to be downsized.

damn, you don't?!?

Anybody want to buy a V-1 helmet and tube socks (slightly used)?

Wanderlust has been handed down to me from my mother. We used to travel all over the place durring winter break. Mom was a high school librarian so we had winters off As I got older and joining the Army I was once again traveling all over the place. While I never really have been "overseas" as far as I know (my unit landed in many areas that couldn't be ID'd) I have been all over the states and Alaska. While in Alaska for 10 years I saw many bikes on tour. I think that set the seeds for what was to come. While living in Anchorage I happened to be stranded in town all day awaiting my vans breaks to get fixed. I was stranded there all day and was going stir crazy. So I walked up and down different areas and while in the downtown area I came across a bike shop. I figured if I could find a used bike in my size I'd buy it and ride around town. I opened the door and there in front of my was an older steel framed bike that fit me perfectly, and for $75 I was out the door This was the first bike I had in about 15 years, I dropped biking when I got my driver licence at 21... yes I know bad boy... After a few years and moves later the damage to the bike was going to cost more than getting a new one. So I donated it to my wifes church after getting my current Trek 7100. When I got my Trek I started riding ALOT more or at least tried to. I soon started remembering the touring bikes I saw in AK and the idea started sinking in. I did some searches and found Adventure Cycling Association's website and requested more info. I've been a member for many years now and I'm fully addicted. Two years ago or so I was diagnosed with insanly high blood pressure and all the problems that come with long term high BP. Not being one to accept taking meds to cover a problem I went about changing my lifestyle and diet to fix my issues. I have all but given up driving, heck I have only been in the car 4 times in the past 3 months My weight is almost down to acceptable lvls for my frame and my BP is on the border of normal and high(ish) vs "your eyes will explode soon"... the nurse freaked when I asked if I could ride my bike in, I felt fine, my wife made me call the oncall nurse about my BP one number ast 190 and the other was like 320 something... but I felt fine

After that insanity I cut out bad food and started eating right and riding my bike everywhere. Touring was just another way for me to focus on staying active and satisfying my wanderlust. I enjoy the tme it takes and all you can see when on the bicycle. It cures me of my issues and stress Now I'm paying off a dedicated touring bike 2012 Disc Trucker

First bike tour was around 1970, me and 3 buddies of mine loaded up our single speed cruisers and road out to somebody's farm on the edge of town, probably 12-14 miles one way. Spent two nights and rode back. AWESOME been touring in one form or another ever since. Did a transcontinental back in 1977, and many shorter tours since then.

Aaron

It seemed like the most practical thing to do with a bike, you can commute to work or school, explore your surrounding, grocery shopping, do it as a hobby, camping outside.

It just came with the times. Took me years to get into touring straight.

Nope... I still have mine.

Aaron

I grew up in Southern Mississippi. I don't remember much of my cycling habits younger than age 10 or so, but that's certainly when it kicked off. So many summer days or weekends, I'd toss a sandwich and soda bottle (sometimes filled just with water) into my basket and take off. Sometimes I'd even leave before the parents woke up. I'd come back home in time for dinner. The answers to my mother's 'Where were you?' horrified her at first. Hearing her 10 year old daughter had ridden 20 miles out to a remote place and 20 back. After that first summer she just smiled and told me to stay safe and be home in time for dinner.

As for touring, I sometimes dreamed of touring cycling across country, but life and my intense dislike aggressive drivers put me off.

Then I moved to Sweden. Drivers who are polite to a fault, miles and miles of ancient churches, villages, forts and runestones with newer churches thrown in. Beautiful scenery and mild temps with the ability to camp just about anywhere. It just screams for touring.

I rode with my bell V-1 this past week...I wasn't trying to be especially retro but I had just moved and this helmet was the first one I found in the boxes.

A member of our cross country group actually had a V-1, wore tube socks and sneakers. No beard, but he did have a mustache. Some will tell you that all stereotypes have some loose basis in fact.

The closest thing to the bearded bomber of the group was somewhat of a nudist/exhibitionist. He had a tendency to walk around bathrooms naked. That apprently did not go over too well at a religious camp we stayed at one night.

I did my first trip in 1978 and loved it,and have been doing it ever since.It's like backpacking except you can actually go somewhere.

3 DWIs and lost my license to drive. Started riding bikes and kept getting farther and farther from home... Next thing you know I've got a loaded monster and am in the middle of nowhere and loving it.

Rode my first bike in 1957 but wasn't what I'd call an avid cyclist until around 1992, when I started bike commuting to work and riding for fun on weekends. Loaded touring was my ex-girlfriend's fault. She talked me into strapping a couple of backpacks on the rear rack of my mtb and riding from Phoenix to Tucson on an indirect route through the mountains in 1995. Best vacation I ever had. Didn't do another loaded tour until I retired in 2008, but have done 5 more since in 9 different countries.

I grew up on a bike. We rode everywhere, it was a passport to adventure. First tour happened on a whim. I was a ski bum in Mammoth, CA and a buddy had a touring bike and panniers. I asked to borrow it and took off with a road map and an idea. Ended up doing about 1200 miles over the next few weeks before I ended up back home. What an amazing sense of freedom that was. Didn't tour for a long time after that, but ended up racing as a Cat 2 on the road and track, and even tried racing mountain bikes. Did a few years as a bike messenger in LA and NYC too. Not sure why, but I got away from bikes for about 10 years, but am now riding and touring again. A few years ago I was thinking about that first tour on the borrowed Specialized Expedition. The longing to hit the road again was so strong, I found that same bike on ebay and bought and rebuilt it to tour on. Can't imagine not spending the rest of my life getting in a couple of tours each year.
I was taking my wife on her first tour this summer from San Francisco to Long Beach, but that is on hold since she separated her shoulder and can't ride right now. Looks like we'll do some short, easy overnight tours instead.

I wonder if those things have a service life or not. I kept mine more as a curiosity, than to use. I also have my first hairnet helmet that we were required to wear when I started racing in 1973.

Aaron