The Touring Corner ~ What kind of bike do I need for touring?

Today's title poses a great question!  And the answer is, “It depends…”

It depends on you.  What’s your cycling background?  What are your capabilities?  What fit and comfort issues do you have on the bike?  What kind of touring do you intend to do?

At one level, bicycles are tools.  Yes, there is a lot of emotion that can be attached to them, but basically, they are tools.  Tools are defined by the job they are intended to perform.  Tools fall into some broad general categories.  Some are very specific. A Park Tool Co. MLP 1.2, for example, does exactly one thing, disconnect SRAM type master links.  A hammer, on the other hand is fairly general.  It’s made to hit things.  It can be used to hit a large variety of things..

Until very recently, most road bikes where strongly influenced by racing.  These are the Park Tool MLP 1.2 of the bicycle world.  They are pretty specific.  They mimic professional racing forms.  Want to put a basket on one?  Where?  How?  Fenders?  You’ve got to be kidding!  Positions were aggressive, stretched out, deep.  Handlebars were well below the saddle height.  Top tubes were relatively long.  Wheel base was short.  These things work for racing, but not so much for hauling a lot of stuff.  Further, most people are not comfortable spending a lot of time in that extended aggressive posture.  So let’s look at several types of bikes that are intended to be used for Touring.

Interestingly, there are bikes that are built for “light touring,” and others for “loaded touring.”  These machines are extremely versatile.  Pack your gear and go.  Don’t pack the bike and it’s still a great grocery-getter, or commuter, or just a good fun comfortable ride.  Or a great rainy day “training” bike

Loaded:  These are the Winnebago RVs of the cycling world.  Bikes designed for “loaded” touring are built with heavier, reinforced frames.  They are designed to haul the tourist, and 50 to 100 pounds of gear, over good roads and bad, and to keep doing it.  They tend to have longer wheel base, long chain stays, a heavier frame, slacker angles, and a more relaxed posture.  (Relaxed posture = more upright.)  Usually the top tube will be relatively shorter, and the drop from the saddle to the height of the handlebar will be significantly less.  They have more clearance between the stays and forks, to allow room for wider tires and fenders.  They will have a generous number of threaded eyelets to allow mounting accessories.  They will be heavier than their racing oriented counterparts.  Another important point; the Loaded Tourist will have a lot of gears, with special attention paid to very low gears for climbing and pushing heavy loads into the wind.

If you want to see one example of the type, look at the title block of my Audax Ride blog at up at this blog's masthead.  There you will see my trusty tourist.  For another example check out the Long Haul Trucker™ on the Surly website HERE. 

Light Touring:  A light tourist shares a lot of traits with it’s “heavy” cousin.  The difference will be that a "light tourist" will be (wait for it) lighter than a loaded tourist.  Incidentally, "lighter" is a relative term.  It won’t be as strong as a Loaded rig.  Possibly the geometry will lean a little more in the direction of “sportiness,” quick handling, sometimes with a bit more in the way of high gears for faster cruising.  These bikes are designed with a sort of dual purpose.  They work well for more casual touring, shorter distances with lighter loads, usually over shorter times.  Their other excellent function is as a utility bike.  Light tourists make great commuters and errand runners!  One outstanding example of the type si the Surly Cross-Check.  While not specifically designed for touring, its design parameters match up almost exactly with most light tourist needs.  To see look at the Surly website HERE 

Additionally, most of the major bike manufacturers now have offerings that are called “endurance bikes."  Some of these are suitable to the light tourist’s purposes.  However, it should be noted that many are lacking in eyelets for accessories such as racks and fenders. Also of note, most do not have ample clearance for wider tires.

CAUTION!  If you are new to the touring world, do not start looking for a touring bike yet.  This article is mean as a starting point.  We hope it will get you thinking.  Keep reading as we continue the series.  There’s lots more to come.

The Touring Corner ~ The Beginning (Part2)

Last week we proposed the concept of  starting one’s touring somewhat cautiously.  This week we’ll take that a bit farther and go into some detail.

Presumably, if you are at all interested in this idea, then you are intrigued with the concept of using your bike to get to someplace else.  But first off, do you enjoy being on your bike for a long time?  Does the idea of taking time to eat up distance sound right to you?  If so, good!

            Please notice, we did not say that you have to be doing that kind of riding.  But it is important that you want to.  If you aren’t doing longer rides already, then I suggest that you start…  However!  Please do not try to “eat the elephant in one bite.”  Here’s a way to increase your riding endurance.

·      Begin where you are.  (look at your regular riding habits.)

·      Keep a log.  Record your rides, dates, times, distance, and a bit of commentary about conditions and routing is enough.  If you aren’t doing this already, start!

·      Begin increasing the time you spend on the bike, but do it gradually.

·      Increase your regular rides by small amounts each week, and add one day that is devoted to a longer ride, say four to five hours.

·      Build up gradually!  Not more than a 5% increase for any one week, and no more than a 10% increase for any one ride.  (This is where that log comes in handy.)

As you are getting your legs, lungs and back side in condition, you can start thinking about were you might like to go.

Incidentally…    Touring almost always involves carrying some “stuff” on your bike.  Not a bad idea to start doing that.  This is another activity that can be started off small and easy.  You don’t have to run out and buy a utility/commuter/touring bike.  Just start using the bike you have now.  Run errands on it.  A backpack or messenger bag will work to do the hauling.  A trip to the library, the hardware store, the post office, or even light grocery shopping is a great way to begin.  (Hey!  Maybe starting a once a week commute might work too!)

Yes, it’s easier to carry more stuff on a bike that is purpose-built for that.  But we’re starting off slow and where we are.  (Remember?)  Truth is, for shorter distances, it’s quite possible to carry moderate amounts of stuff in packs or bags.  That allows you to start experiencing hauling stuff around while riding on almost any kind of bike.

The Touring Corner ~ Beginning (Part1)

This week we’ll address the question,  How do I get started? 

I would like to share a little story.  This is a bit of history.  Bear with me, it’s relevant.

Think back to the era when the American continent was being explored.  Do you remember that a lot of those stories were about disasters?  Expeditions that never came back.  Starvations and privations.  People wandering around in the wilderness for half of forever before being rescued.  Does any of that ring a bell?

Well, here’s an alternate story.  In 1670 the Hudson’s Bay Company was chartered.  This company still exists, in a greatly modified form, today.  They explored most of what is now Canada, and did it very successfully.  They opened trading routes, established frontier outposts, and did all of this with a great deal of success.

            One of the key factors in that success was the “Hudson’s Bay Start.”  It went a bit like this.  When an expedition was being planned and mounted, all the provisions would be gathered, along with all the canoes and all the people.  Everything would be loaded up, and then the group would set off.  But they would not go far!  The first camp was merely a “pull out,” frequently still in sight of the fort.  Then the expedition would have a meeting.  Were they overloaded?  Were they carrying things that were not needed?  Was something missing that was needed.  Did everyone understand their duties?  In this way, if serious deficiencies were noted, the expedition could turn back and correct the problems before becoming irrevocably committed.

            Back when I started doing tour type riding, I could have used that advice.  Instead, I got in over my head more than once.  I thought I was doing good planning and preparation.  I took off with overloaded, under-prepared bikes, determined to do a journey that was too long and too hard for my condition and equipment.  This makes for good stories, but bad experiences.

The moral of the story is simple.  Don’t tackle the big stuff at the beginning.  Do your learning (and make your mistakes) close to home!  You’ll learn to improvise and adapt, but it’s a lot easier to learn the big lessons and still be able to bail out.

To be continued…

The Touring Corner

I've begun a series in my weekly e-newsletter.  We're examining the subject of Bicycle Touring.To make this just a bit more accessible, I'm re-posting each week's article here.

Just what is “Bicycle Touring”?  That’s a simple question, but it’s not all that easy to pin down.  Use those two words together on the majority of our fellow citizens and you’ll probably get a blank look.  Sometimes you get a reply something like, “Oh, you mean that Tower dee Francy thing?”  And yes, it’s called the “Tour de France,” but that’s a race.

            Mention bicycle touring to an average cyclist and you probably conjure up images of folks crossing the continent on bikes that are loaded down with huge bags.  And yes, that most certainly would be touring.  Although that activity is usually described as “self-supported touring.”

            Does it count as “touring” if you sign on with one of those lovely guided outfits?  The operator shleps your luggage, prepares your meals, has guides on bikes with you, and usually has a SAG van following along in case someone gets tired.  (Think Bike Ride Across Georgia. Also known as BRAG.)  But, these are tours too.

            One might think that touring would involve a destination.  However, Randonneurs consider their events to be touring.  But those events start and finish at the same place.  Does that disqualify them?

            That last brings up a philosophical point.  What makes a “tour”?  Is it necessary to have a destination that is the reason for the trip?  Or, like the Randonneurs, is the journey the destination?

            What about “credit card touring”?  For that matter, every year in June a bunch of serious crazies race across the continent.  It’s called Race Across America or RAAM.  It most definitely a race, but it accomplishes that trip across the country that is pictured in the minds of those who visualized the fully loaded bicycle.

            In the Spring of every year, I invite folks to accompany me on a one day, 125 mile ride.  We do it self-supported, and Randonneur style.  We accomplish this trip in one day.  Does that qualify as touring?

            Seems like there might be as many definitions of “touring” as there are “tourists.”  The common elements are a human on a bicycle, a route, and a destination.  Basically, touring is about going somewhere, and doing it on a bike.  And, yes, I do believe that the route and the experience of traveling it, are a big part of the answer.

Here are a few other interesting questions about the activity:

I like the idea.  How do I get started?

What kind of bike do I need to do touring?

Tell me more about this “credit card touring” thing.  How does that work?

Tell me more about this “self supported” thing.  How does that work?

What is this “Randonneuring” thing?

Hey!  What’s up with this bikepacking stuff?

Riding across the country sounds interesting.  How do I go about that?

Short tours? Long tours?  Regional tours?  Transcontinental?

In future editions, we’ll be discussing these topics.  It’s going to be an interesting and fun journey.

AUDAX RIDE AND TUNE-UPS: THE STRUCTURE

In response to several requests, we’re going to take a bit of time here and go over some important specifics about the Audax 200K and the Audax Tune Ups.

Let’s get the money thing out of the way first.  For the Audax Tune Up  rides, you will need to pack snacks, or bring a bit of cash for food along the way.  There is a fee for the Audax 200K.  We’ve tried to keep this down to a minimum.  The fee covers your lunch (at a resaurant) and water at the other stops, and a post ride sandwich snack.  We don’t yet know what the exact amount will be this year, but it is unlikely to be a lot higher than in the past.  In recent years, it’s been $27.00 per rider.  We’ll let you know exact amounts soon.

Ride structure:  We will ride each of the Audax Tune Ups in the same fashion as the Audax 200K.  That is to say, we will stay together as a group.  Some will find the pace somewhat relaxed. Others may need to stretch a bit to hold it.  In general, we try to hold to a 13 to 15 mph rolling average.

Yes!  There will be stops along the way.  Here’s the profile:

            Tune Up I:  35 miles.  One stop, approximately mid-way.

            Tune Ups II and III:  45 miles.  Two stops, one at approximately15 miles 

and one at approximately 30 miles

Tune Ups IV and V:  65 miles.  Two planned stops, at approximately 15 and

40 miles.  One optional stop at approx 55 miles.

All break-stops are kept to a minimum time.  We attend nature’s call, refill bottles, snack, and then roll!  There is an exception to that.  On the 65 mile Tune Ups, the second stop is a “lunch break,” and will be a bit longer.

Audax 200K:  Optional stop at approximately 15 miles.  Planned stop at approx 35 miles.  Planned stop at approximately 50 miles.  Lunch break at approx 65 miles.  Planned stop at approx 82 miles.  Planned stop at approx 105 miles. 

We hope this is helpful in your planning and decision making.

The Audax 200K ~ Starting to Begin to Get Ready

This month, we do the first of the Audax Tune Up Rides.  This one is sort of the “ice breaker.”  Remember, the Audax 200K is a self-supported ride.  One of the aspects of the Tune Ups is preparation for that.  These rides give us the opportunity to ride in “Audax Style.”  They are also a chance to begin the process of riding with the “necessities” of self-supported style.

            There is a bit of a contradiction here.  A Tune Up in February, for a ride that will take place in May.  One could, reasonably ask,  “How much will I learn for a warm weather ride, while it’s still freakin’ Winter!?”

            I can hear my father saying,  “It builds character.”  To which I will add, “Yu might be surprised at just what you will learn.”

            Seriously, it is good to start getting the mind into the frame of planning and selecting gear and equipment.  The ride in the group is excellent practice too.

(Just by the way...  You will find the dates for the whole Tune Up series, and the Audax 200K, to the right in the Tour Calendar gadget.)

Preparing for the 2016 AUDAX 200K

Folks, it's time to begin.  The "road to an Audax 200K is ahead and waiting.
In order to make this information available to the widest possible audience, we are repeating sections of our "weekly" emailing here.  We hope you find this helpful.  Please do enjoy!

AUDAX RIDES:  Possibly the first question that occurs, is “Just what is an Audax Ride when it’s not all dressed up for church?”

The simplest answer is that it is a group touring ride, over a predetermined course, with pre-arranged stops.  The somewhat unique thing about this style of riding is that it is a group ride, where the group stays together.  No one is left behind.  It is not a competitive event.  If anyone has a problem the whole group stops and works the problem.  It’s a slef-supported ride, but ride in mutual support.  The motto is “One for All, and All for One!”

 

Other important info on the Audax Ride:

·      200 K means 200 kilometers.  This is approximately 125 miles.
·      Yes, it’s a long ride, and YES if you start preparing now, you CAN do it!
·      Over the years that we have been doing this, roughly half the people who successfully finished fit the following profile:

o   They’ve never done a long ride before

o   They haven’t ridden 45 miles before the 45 Mile Tune Ups

o   They haven’t ridden 65 miles before the 65 mile Tune Ups

o   They haven’t ridden 100 miles before the 125 mile ride!

o   They did all of these things and had a great time on the 125 mile ride!

·      This is the stuff works!

 

So you might be asking,  “How do I start getting ready for this?”  The answer is simple.  Start riding your bike at least three to four times a week, for at least 1 to 2 hours at a time.  (Hint: the Bicycles Unlimited Spin Class would be a good place to do two of these rides every week.)  And, to clarify, that 3 to 4 rides per week could be 3 each one hour rides and one two hour ride.  Yes the weather is challenging.  Trainer work counts, and there are god riding opportunities.  You don’t have to ride hard, and distance isn’t the object.  Time in the saddle is the critical factor at this point.


NOTE:  If you are interested in receiving my semi-weekly email, the TOME, please contact me at Bicycles Unlimited 770-486-9252