Machka 

Short tours are great for those of us who can only spare a few days from our busy schedules to spend on a cycling tour ... or for those of us who want to do a quick exploration of the area where we live or an area we want to learn more about ... and for those who want to test equipment, bicycle setup, etc.

When you go on a short hub-and-spoke tour, overnight tour, weekend tour, long weekend tour, maybe even a week-long tour, or something similar, tell us about it here.

Where did you go? What did you see along the way? Would you recommend the area? What sort of accommodation did you use? What kind of bicycle did you ride? Did you learn anything new?

What short tours do you have planned for 2013?

Cyclebum

Big Bend in far south Texas end of January. Deserts, mountains, rivers, southwestern culture, no rain.

Tour buds in BB.



Salton Sea, Slab City, Salvation Mt., from Phx in late March, maybe on USS bent if I can figure out how to steer it. Desert in bloom, great wx.



Salton Sea. Quickly adapted to the USS. Good ride.

Rochester to Portsmouth, NH in May, Erie Canal Path, to finish 2nd x-country.



Lots of rain in NE in May

Utah in Sept.

Retirement is fun, but time does pass awfully quick.

QueueCT

Last year was all about aborted tours, whether due to work commitments or lousy weather conditions. So, this year has the same 2012 tours on the calendar:

June, P'tit Train Du Nord with the family on our tandems. Four leisurely days riding the trail at 35-40 miles per day (great for our soon to be six year olds). This one was cancelled last year due to work.

September, CT to DC speed tour through the NJ Pine Barrens and across the Delmarva. Did the first 100 miles to NJ in 2012 then aborted due to significant thunderstorms, tornados and 50+ MPH headwinds the next day. I had to make my daily mileage and wasn't going to ride until midnight to do it.

DCwom

As with QueueCT, we had to abort or GAP plans last summer, we plan to retry the GAP this year with the last mile completed! QueueCT I'd like to hear more about your tandem plans on the P'tit Train Du Nord, we also tandem tour and the P'tit Train Du Nord is on our to do list.

KZBrian

I'm planning on the Pedal Across Lower Michigan tour (PALM XXXII) this year. https://www.palmbiketour.org/

I have been on two previous PALMs. Great planning, great people!

gif4445

Live in SC Nebraska. One week trek to Breckenridge CO for my first tour in 2011 ( https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/..._id=10146&v=7z ). Took a 2 week tour to the Black Hills and back last September ( https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/..._id=11208&v=G9 ), For 2013 I need to go even further and thinking about either Glacier National Park or Grand Canyon, depending upon time of year and weather.

Machka 

As a part of our big tour, we did a short hub-and-spoke tour in the Albany, Western Australia area. That is an area we'd like to return to. There is a path all along the beach ... both beach and path are lovely. And the roads in the surrounding area look good for riding. The ones we rode were good.

In addition to cycling, the beach and water are incredible. We had a couple good days of swimming there.

We've been camping, and the weather has been good for that.

We were a bit surprised to find that the Albany area wasn't as busy as we expected, given that it is school holidays. But perhaps it is just far enough away to be less attractive for a weekend getaway.

liamof

One of my favorite 50 mile tours is from Novato, Marin county where I live thru Sonoma county and Camp in North Napa Valley near Calistoga. The camp ground ( Bothe Napa Valley State Park) has a Pool and a great way to beat the heat. Usually stay two nights and use it as a base camp to do some tasting and visiting the sites. For a short trip its breathtaking.
Liam

DropBarFan

Thinking about DC-Richmond VA & back mini-tour with my new Surly Disc Trucker--not too hilly AFAIK or remote, maybe some historical stuff to see.

@ QueueCT, Delmarva peninsula is great for touring (as you've probably heard)--nice roads, most have wide shoulders & low traffic. I assume you're going to cross the Chesapeake on the Bay Bridge--how are you planning to cross? I had to use the local van taxi service ($20)...tried to hitch a ride but that didn't work.
https://www.kentislandexpress.com/

Machka 

Next up ... we have tentative plans for a weekend hub-and-spoke tour in the Mt Hotham area later in February. If we are able to do that one, it will include a lot of climbing!!

crazy cheste

Last summer I went on a overnight trip to Mohican State Park in Ohio. I planned to go to a primitive campsite and it would require a quarter mile hike through the horse trail. It was a lot of fun, but it had it's struggles. I had no idea how tough the trail would be to hike through with a bike. So when I get to the trail head I had to cross a large creek. It required me to take my shoes off, and when I got to the other side I could not set my bike down since I had a B.O.B trailer attached. So i walked the rest of the way barefoot. 30 minutes later and only walking quarter mile I arrive to the campsite.
It was time to get to work so I pitched the tent and started to work on the fire. But I had to get the matches first. To my disbelieve I forgot the matches at home!! I even recalled grabbing a pack of matches to throw in the handlebar bag. But I Left them on the table in the garage.
It screwed the rest of the night so I just went in the tent and read the book I brought along.
Leason learned= Double check your gear before heading off.

Clarabelle

We organized a three day ride on the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes in Idaho. Although it was only 70 miles, we broke into 3 days because some riders (14 total) were children and some were new to distance riding. We camped along the way, so my wife and I moved tents etc with two cars then would ride back to meet the rest on our tandem. One of the families was from Sweden, and they had a ball. It is a gorgeous trail with lots of wildlife, including moose, and several interesting small towns. The mining tour in Wallace is very entertaining. Highly recommended ride.

Late this summer, we plan on riding from Paulina Lake (south of Bend, OR), along the Twisted River hwy, through Prineville, OR, and ending at The Cove State Park. My Brother is going to leapfrog us with our pop-up trailer so we will be staying in campgrounds with that. I've driven along the Twisted River Highway but never biked. It is very picturesque. We will be riding our tandem which we've come to love.

Long range goal? I'd love to bike part of Europe before I'm too old to do such things.

Clarabelle

Reminds me of the time we set off on an eleven day hike along the Boundry Trail in Washington. Just as we reached our jumping off point, we realized that we hadn't packed our hiking boots. We ended up buying boots in Winthrop before taking off.

tom cotter

For those planning to ride the Delmarva there are bridge alternatives. The ferries at Tangiers island and Delaware city give some additional planning options. The Three Forts Ferry, Connecting FT Mott in NJ with Ft Delaware in Delaware gives non bridge crossing access to the upper Delmarva. For Jersey thru riders it gives more routing options thru Jersey. There is excellent riding near the bay on rural back roads in Salem and Cumberland counties in Jersey or for those looking to make miles there are several options to move you north/south via the heart of the Pine Barrens. On the De side I like Rt 9, but it is shoulderless. Still, it's rural. There are excellent roads to Middletown and beyond. Pretty area on both sides of the river! BTW, The Delaware Bay is the Delaware River this far north.

The Tangiers Island ferries put us right in the heart of some of the best touring roads on the Delmarva. It's out of the way for those looking to do a straight shot to DC from Jersey, but for those who can make it fit, worth the extra distance.

KirkBeiser

I did a 160 km 2 day trip as the first of my weekend hike and bikes. I'm planning on spending 2+ months in Hokkaido hiking and biking around but I need to be stronger. This isn't much of a bike photo but this entry level ($150ish) is about to be replaced by a new bike (maybe Surly). This bike is a KHS stock mt bike with Shimano tourney gears. Alright as a town bike (won't get stolen) but lacking for touring.


Deengorge bicycle trip, Taiwan by abacus07, on Flickr


Maolin, Taiwan by abacus07, on Flickr
Taiwan is still rebuilding from Typhoon Morakot 3.5 yrs ago.


red base jezebel, Maolin, Taiwan by abacus07, on Flickr
I wanted to see the purple butterflies (winter migration) but had to settle for this guy.

soapscum

My first post here. Seems like as good a place as any! I live in Seattle and have a lengthy list of short trip nearby that hope to make this year. Topping the list is a trip to Vancouver Island, via the San Juan Islands. It would be nice to parley that into a longer tour of the Marine Circle on Vancouver Island but I'm not sure I'll have that much time this year. Other short trips: Key Peninsula, Port Townsend... and more overnights closer to home. I'll likely have to pare back my ambitions a bit; my wife and daughter, while both cyclists, are decidedly NOT the touring type. Looking forward to spring!

Shawn
Seattle, WA

dpdemos

Have an overnight planned for this month to Warm Springs, Ga., where F.D.R.'s "Little White House" is located. Camping in the state park, taking in a museum, and eating some local food. This is a trial run for me. Hopefully, some more overnight destinations to take in some history, get some exercise, and depart from the routine.

April 9, 2013 - We finally did it. A 70 mile round trip from Newnan, Ga., to Warm Springs. Some monster hills on the way down, but coming back, we let the DOT take out the acuteness of angle by riding back on a State route. Everybody gave us plenty of room.

My Jamis Aurora did well. Loaded, it probably came in at mid to high 30s in weight. I was pleased with the way the Continental Cyclocross Speed (700x35) tires performed. I'm 6'5", 300 lbs., and they felt like a thinner road tire.

The people and sights you encounter touring give a refreshing departure from the routine ... well worth the effort to get out and explore. My mind is starting to think about the next such trip I can plan.

phillybill

Probably something on the Delmarva area and Lancaster Penn Dutch country ( show the kid the original family farm)

Machka 

So ... where are you off to this weekend?

Or do you have a short tour coming up in the next month?

tourer78

We are in Nannup, Western australia this weekend christening our new mountain bikes. Great day today on the munda biddi and timberline trails including a swim stop at the Barrabup pool in the middle of the forest. Great weather and riding. Happy travels!!

Machka 

Nice!!

Machka 

We're on a sort of hub and spoke tour near Lake Eildon, Victoria ... we're came out here this morning and were thinking of doing some cycling, but opted to swim instead. Just a bit hot, again.

We're camping tonight, and if all goes well, we'll do some cycling tomorrow morning.

2travelers

This weekend? Still riding on our trainers and dreaming. Just had another 5" of snow here in Wisconsin~ seems we are now stuck in a bad weather pattern. I did just get my Brooks B17 in and my wife's B17s should be here today so we can at least work on breaking them.
Keep rinding

Machka 

We did indeed get in a ride today ... 28.37 km.

Our camp spot was right next to a rushing river, so we slept to the soothing lullaby of the sound of rapids. That worked for me. And it was kind of nice to be back in the tent again ... especially since the campground was in such a pretty area and it was so quiet (aside from the sound of the water).

We packed up, drove to a little town just up the road, and then went for a ride. When we started, it was about 28C, and by the time we finished it was over 33C. Very hot today.

Then we spent a couple hours near a creek ... wading in it, sitting next to it, etc. It was cooler there.

Machka 

Photos from last weekend's mini tour ...