I am complete newbie when it comes to touring but with my recent purchase of my disc trucker and reading these forums I decided to use the bike on my vacation for a small tour of Martha's Vineyard. My original vacation plans were to fish during the Vineyard derby and thought that it would be cool to strap a rod rack to the bike and see if I could catch some fish while "touring" the island.

My first tour was only 20 miles but I went from Edgartown to Vineyard haven searching for fish along the beach and I can say that being on the bike takes the fishing experience to the next level. I was able to find small little places to fish that are not accessible via car and I did not have to fight for a parking spot.

I had so much fun I will someday go on an extended tour maybe first starting out with a credit card tour and then eventually moving to a longer tour.

Here are some photos I took.

Yes, Martha's Vineyard sure is a great place to take your bike for a "trial tour." Was that 3rd photo taken from the ferry terminal to Chappaquiddick?

I'm a short-hop tourist, myself, so I can tell you that there are many day and overnight rides in the New England area that are comparable to your Martha's Vineyard experience. I am a particular fan of Connecticut's Long Island Sound coastline and the many little islands it embraces. If waterside travel is what you are looking for, consider planning a ride anywhere from Narragansett, Rhode Island to Greenwich, Connecticut. After so many years of zipping through Connecticut and Rhode Island on I-95, I can't believe how much I missed before I started taking my bike - instead of my car - up there.

Welcome to touring. Remember that, even though you'll read lots of awe-inspiring, jealousy-inducing posts from people who are planning cross-continent and round-the-world tours here, there are plenty of us having a great time doing overnighters and 2-3 day tours within 100-200 miles of home. Have fun!

Great! MV figures in to my cycling history, as I grew up riding and wrenching on the Atalas that my parents got in 1973 for a tour of the Vineyard.

Welcome to touring. I too like the local tours. Nothing like heading right from your doorstep with a tent. Even better is heading home.

Tom, the third picture was at the Edgartown town dock which is right next to the chappy ferry.

Forgot to mention that the panniers were full of fishing gear, waders and wader boots.