davidsave

So I always hear stories of riders finding other riders on the road, and I've always wondered how it happened, since it hasn't yet to me.

indyfabz

If you ride ACA's TransAm route during popular times it would be odd not to run into people. I met plenty of people on the TA, both going my way and going in the opposite direction. In '11 I encountered at least 9 people heading west while I was heading east, and that was in only 2.5 days. Later during that trip, and not on the TA, I met at least 6 people between Anaconda and Phillipsburg, MT. In '00 I also met numerous folks in the span of two weeks on the TA. Crossed PA last September and met a Swiss woman who was riding across the country. Last year, during a three day in NY, PA and NJ, I met a couple heading from FL to ME. Shoot. I even met a few people touring in Andalucia, Spain. How much touring have you done?

spinnaker

Ride almost any popular route and it is going to happen. Pretty simple.

I met up with a rider in the Redwoods National Park. The conversation turned to Warmshowers (we were about to end our trip at a Warmshowers host in another day or two). The tourer told me how he had given up on Warmshowers and prefers camping or hotels. So out warmshowers host is about to take us to the airport and guess who shows up at his door? Yep the guy that didn't like Warmshowers. Just happen to work that way. We never mentioned the host.

And you do not only run into people on those routes, you tend to run into some of the same people multiple times.

staehpj1

It varies widely with location and season. Where have you toured and how far/long?

On the Pacific coast I saw other riders pretty much everyday and multiple times at that. On The Trans America I usually saw another bike tourist at least once every few days. In both of those cases I made friends that I saw often and got to know fairly well and camped with. On the Southern Tier I only met a hand full of other bike tourists the whole way. On some less established routes sometimes I met no other riders or only very seldom did.

Machka 

Yeah, you've got to ride in an area with lots of cyclists. Try Europe.

staehpj1

Absolutely. Location is a big part of it. It also depends on how long/far you are riding and how many hours per day you are on the road. If you are out for a multi month tour riding all day long every day you will likely meet at least one other cyclist somewhere on your tour pretty much anywhere in the US. At least that has been my experience.

andrewclaus

Like finding love and friendship, it will probably happen when you are not looking for it!

fietsbob

Popular touring routes ... In Hostel overnights, & Commercial Campgrounds.. a more common European business ..
even car-Tent camping is more common .

Machka 

If you follow the Harvest Trail and backpacker routes through Australia you'll have a good chance of meeting up with other cyclists and travelers of various sorts. Hostels can be a good place to meet people.