Considering that this blog devotes itself to the topic of bicycle touring, this just might be the defining question.
What follows are some thoughts of mine on the subject, and a bit of why I consider myself one. I don’t claim to be laying down anything profound here. I’m certainly not the ultimate authority on much of anything. But this is how I see it. I’d enjoy your thoughts in reply.
First approximation: A cycle tourist is someone who wants to go somewhere by bike. Usually that somewhere is somewhere else, and not too close to home.
Folks tend to divide into two camps regarding journeys. One group is interested only in the destination, the journey is a necessary inconvenience, to be dispensed with as quickly as possible, with the least effort. The other group is much more interested in the journey itself. For them the destination is mostly an excuse to take the trip. I suspect that all of us fall into each of these groups from time to time, depending on the journey, the destination, and the reason for the trip.
But I’m talking about a certain internal tendency. What is your default state regarding trips? Do you want to take your time getting there? Do you like to turn off and explore interesting looking byways? Are you the type who goes out and gets lost intentionally? Then you are more of what I think of as a tourist. At least that is more of the personality which would be compatible with cycle touring.
The tourist, it seems to me is what my home folks used to call “fiddle footed.” That is a person who gets restless in one place, a person with feet that need to go somewhere else. These are folks who, like the bear in the song, go over the mountain, “just to see what he could see.”
It helps if you like to ride a bike. I mean, really like to ride! We are talking here about the character who, at the finish of a ride, while putting the bike and gear away, is already looking forward to the next ride!
For people who possess both traits, touring is one natural outlet. A combination of Wanderlust and love of cycling will make a good basis for a tour.
Other traits are required for the successful tourist. Most that I have known are fairly gregarious folk, pleased by camaraderie, and yet they are not afraid of solitude. Long hours, spent solo, on lonely roads are a pleasant change from every day clatter. But long hours spent riding with good friends (even if just met) are a delight. I know this sounds contradictory, but who said humans are simple?
The tourist knows that adversity shared is adversity diminished, and joy shared is joy augmented.
The tourist is highly adaptable, and very self reliant. Usually he or she is an inquisitive soul.
The serious tourist doesn’t take himself too seriously.
She knows that training is important, but the key to endurance is perseverance.
A tourist is convinced that most of the problems encountered in life are solved, or improved, if one just gets on the bike and keeps moving.
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