Anyone here do any Touring?

[Warren]

I'm posting this thread becuase I'v been thinking about doing some touring this spring, and wanted to know if anyone on here has ever done a real long ride.

My plan is to ride to Colorado this coming spring. I'v never done any rides over like 75 miles but I enjoyed thoes rides alot and thought it would be cool to try and ride somewhere. I work at a bike shop and I'm always talking to people who have done longs ride like that and it just sounds like so much fun.

I don't have a bike for it right now but the plan is you slowly build one up a nice touring bike this winter.

So I just have a few questions for anyone who has done something like this or has done any touring. First, I'm been thinking about a trailer, but I think I'm just going to run front and rear panniers, just becuase I'v never used a trailer before, and it seems like it would add alot of weight. whats are your thoughts on trailers? are they worth not having the weight on the bike?

Second, north or south? whats do you think would be a nicer ride out to CO?

I can't think of anymore questions right now but I'll probably think of more since this trip isn't till spring.

and any information about what parts to use woudl be awesome too. like do I run a 700x25, or do I want to run a bigger tires since I don't know whats the roads are goig nto be like, or will I be fine with a 25? anything liek that would be awesome to know now

any help woudl be great, I'm goig nto be doign alot of research this winter becuase i'm a noob wen it comes to touring

Thanks

Seth

AIM:BeepFriginBeep

[heckler]

I haven't toured in...well, decades, but I used to do quite a bit of it. Went on two AYH tours: 30 and 42 days as a kid. Did some on my own after that but not prolonged.

I started with only rear panniers, and perhaps a handlebar bag. I would neve rdo that again. The weight is way top-heavy and handles horribly. Adding low-rider front panniers makes a world of difference. Not only does it keep the front wheel on the ground. it doesn't do much to mess with the steering (whreas a handlebar bag slows things down!).

I now own a BOB trailer and hope to tour with it once my boys grow just a bit bigger. Yes, there is a drag thing from the added weight but it allows you to climb out of the saddle-something that just doesn't work well with a full load on the bike. It does change the handling- hell, you are dragging a trailer, but doesn't seem to make it as sluggish as a loaded bike. I have NOT tried a high speed descent with major corners with the BOB.

You will have to ask somebody else about routes. When were you thinking of going? Summer is HOT down south. Well, OK, it is hot everywhere...

Final bit of advice? pack light!

[Warren]

right now I'm planing for this spring after I get out of school. so it's going to be hot either way. I need to start reading up on touring the US and see hat people like more.

yeah I can imagen trying to get out of the saddle on a climb with a fully loaded bike most be kinda hard. someone from my work is going to buy a trailer pretty soon, so maybe i'll see if I can take it out for a ride one day and see whats it's like to pull it along fully loaded.

thanks for the tips

-Warren

[9.8m/s/s]

Warren,
Did the GDR about 6 years ago now. I also have a cousin that has done the Northern Route across the US, so I can probably anwser a good amount of your questions.
First, get the trailer. Your bike will ride a lot more like a bike, especially on bad roads. I had no problem getting mine up to 46 mph on dirt and 54 mph on road. Not something you would even think about doing on a panniered bike. As long as you keep the weight below 75lbs you should be fine. (Above that and the trailer will start to steer the bike at speed.)
I rode the BOB trailer, as did 90% of the people I've talked to who've done long stuff. I highly recommend it.
If your doing Colorado in the spring- Watch out for the weather at the higher elevations. Storms blow in in the mountains every day at around 2:30. Be off the top by then. I got caught in a thunder/hail storm one day and it was extremely scary. Also, you might be riding snowpack at that point in the year. Plan accordingly.
The tip above packig light is the best thing you will here. But, no matter what, you will sent half of your gear home after about a week.
Check out adventurecycling.com for more tips, and feel free to ask any questiobns that might pop into your head.

Finally- Big comfortable wool socks and a wool hat for camp. Nothing better.

[9.8m/s/s]

Also- A full camelback wrapped in a midlayer makes a great pillow, and a two liter soda bottle wrapped in duct tape beats a nalgene in price and durability (plus you have duct tape to peel off and use). Oatmeal and peanut butter and jelly make a great, cheap breakfast. Honey makes everything taste better, and pop tarts may become your new best friend. Once you've boiled water- pasta will cook itself without any additional heat (save's tons of fuel) if you just lock the top on and let it sit. Shorts with removable liners will be your best friends at laudromats.

[catbbq]

A small tarp makes a good ground cover and you can pull it over you if it rains. Much lighter than a tent.

[heckler]

A small tarp makes a good ground cover and you can pull it over you if it rains. Much lighter than a tent.

But doesn't do much for mosquitos! I had dumped my tent on one trip and suffered through a HORRIBLE night of being eaten alive as a result. I got on the bike the next morning, long before sunup as the only way of getting away from the little buggers.

[catbbq]

But doesn't do much for mosquitos! I had dumped my tent on one trip and suffered through a HORRIBLE night of being eaten alive as a result. I got on the bike the next morning, long before sunup as the only way of getting away from the little buggers.

your better off. blood is heavy.