THE TOURING CORNER: Short tours? Long tours? Regional tours? Transcontinental?

Some of the above could mean different things to different people.  Let’s start with a bit of definition.  

Short Tour:  Let’s be reasonable. And say this is anything that could be comfortably done in a two or three day weekend.  Say between 100 and 200 miles.

Long Tour:  Let’s say this is something that could be done in a “normal” vacation, anything from a week to a month.

Regional Tour:  Usually this would be a trip across some region of the country, involving multiple states.

Transcontinental (Transcon):  All the way across the country, east to west, or north to south, or anything of that magnitude.

Obviously, none of those definitions are rigid, or received wisdom.  They are just general guidelines.  I’ve done a trip that started in Delaware, crossed into Pennsylvania, then into Maryland, and back into Delaware again.  Sounds impressive, but that trip was only a bit over forty miles.  I know of a location where it is possible to Start in Maryland, visit Virginia and West Virginia, and be back in time for lunch.  But I think we get the picture.  Multi state doesn’t necessarily mean long, and there are places where doing an out-and-back in the same state is an epic.  Texas and Alaska come to mind.  It’s really more about the distance and time involved.  The idea is to have some general bounderies to talk about.  This is important as things change (sometimes radically) as we consider longer types of rides.

Training for Short Tours:  This isn’t too hard.  One works on riding the bike and building time and endurance.  At the same time, it’s a good idea to ride a bike that you will tour on, and load it as if you were touring.  Let me make this point                absolutely clear!  There is a huge difference between doing a 50 to 100 mile ride on a 20 pound bike, and the same distance over the same terrain on a 50 to 75 pound “loaded” rig!  Train on the heavy bike!  Commuting and utility cycling is a great way to accomplish this.  And, no, it’s not strictly necessary to ride a fully loaded bike all the time…  just most of it.

            But do keep this in mind!  You can train yourself up to handle a two day tour, or a week long tour.  The thing is, it’s not possible to train up for a month long (or longer) trip.  For the long journeys, you can only get into sufficient shape to begin.  After that, while under way, you will ride yourself into condition.  The first week will be grand, but you will be getting tired.  The second week will suck.  Then you will slack off a bit.  By the end of the third week, you’re into it.  After a month, you’re made out of lumber.

Packing… Just what should be carried on a tour?

            While you are training, you can be refining what you pack.  What and how much depends on your preferences, how far you’re going, the time of year.

            Folks who do bike tours tend to fall into one of two groups, the over-packers and the under-packers.  Interestingly, both groups have the same problem.  No matter how much you pack and how carefully, you will, invariably leave something behind…  And it will prove vital.  No matter how frugal you are with your load, you will, invariably, carry something completely useless around with you.  In both cases, you will survive.  Your ingenuity and adaptability will allow you to work it out.

THE TOURING CORNER: Self Supported Touring

The title for this week’s topic conjures up what many people think of when hearing the words “bicycle touring.”  Also known as “Loaded Touring,” and sometimes as “roll your own,” or even “heavy touring,” this style is about traveling by bike and carrying all you need with you.  The “loaded touring bike” is the Winnebago of the bicycle world. 

            Before we delve any deeper into this, a quick digression is in order.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone do a “pure” kind of any type of touring.  I know light tourists and credit card types who pack abit for emergencies, and every “self supporter” I’ve ever known has confessed to the occasional hotel stay, or a bit of “couch surfing.”  The essence of touring is the tour, and the key skills and traits of any good tourist are improvisation and adaptability.

            So what is self-supported touring?  It’s about loading a suitable bike with all that’s needed to keep the bike running and provide for the tourist’s daily needs.  Think about that for a moment.  This is not a style that lends itself to racing type bikes.  The machine for this stuff is designed to carry loads.  Make that heavy loads!  Consider a list that includes only the top categories.

·      Tent

·      Sleeping bag

·      Sleeping pad

·      Cook stove and fuel

·      Camp dishes

·      Clothing

·      Tools

·      First Aid kit

·      Spare parts

·      Lights

·      Book, computer, or other writing equipment

·      Camera

Add in water and a bit of food, the racks and bags that support it all, and the load can easily be between 60 and 100 pounds.

There is an old saying, “You can do three things on a bicycle, Have fun, go fast, carry a lot of stuff.  Pick two.”  Self Supported touring is not about riding fast.  It’s about being out on the road, traveling, and being self-sufficient.  Loaded touring is essentially a trip from one campsite to another, repeated until the journey’s end.

      About the bike:  Touring bikes are built to be tough.  Start with a rugged strong frame.  That frame will have a lot of eyelets and attachment points.  It will be equipped with a driveling that has a lot of gears, and some seriously low ones.  (Think about climbing a mountain pass on a 70 to 100 pound bike.)  Wheels will be stout and built to be strong.  Tires will be wider and tougher.  The fit will put the rider in a more relaxed and upright position.  This is not a lightweight bike.  The basic machine, complete but without racks, fenders or other accessories, will probably weigh in around 30 to 35 pounds.  This isn’t an Arabian, it’s a Clydesdale.  But this beast will carry the rider a long, long way.

      Loaded, self-supported touring is not for everyone.  Loaded tourists tend to travel solo, or in very small groups.  Many folks would read the above and shudder.  But others will be drawn to the idea of traveling in solituted, relying on one’s own resourcefulness, and being the powerplant behind it all.  If the idea of covering ground on the open road, camping along the way, and providing for yourself as you travel sounds good, then you might want to do more investigating. 

Resource: Adventure Cycling  

HE TOURING CORNER: Credit Card Touring

In a way this is a minimalist approach to cycle tourism.  The credit card approach is at the opposite end of the spectrum from the fully loaded, self-supported, tourist.  The type of bike isn’t important, but the credit card tourist can be mounted on just about anything.  Here’s an extreme example of the type.

Bill plans to be in San Diego.  He does a bit of research and calls a bicycle shop there.  He arranges to rent a nice road bike for a few days.  After arriving in San Diego, Bill picks up the bike.  He is carrying a very light backpack, with a change of clothing and a few sundries.  He has made a reservation at a B & B about 50 miles north of San Diego.  Bill takes off on the bike, seeing the sights and exploring his way up the coast.  He spends the night at the B & B, where he has access to all the amenities.  On the second day, Bill rides further north, enjoying the scenery and the day.  This day will be a “loop,” bringing Bill back to the B & B for a second night.  His third day will take him back to San Diego, by an alternate scenic route.  Along the way, Bill has purchase what he needs.  He has even arranged to ship a couple of items home.

            Credit Card tours are usually shorter in length and time.  The single largest benefit is the freedom from carrying a lot of stuff, and the flexibility to be very spontaneous.  This type of touring can work just as well in one’s back yard.

THE TOURING CORNER: Trailers!?

Previously we have spoken of the influence of competition on road bike design.  Generally speaking this type of bike is not really suitable for touring.  However…

That said, some kinds of touring can work well on a race oriented bike. For quite a few years, I’ve used such a bike for a four day event.  I’ve loaded up my trailer, hooked it up behind a pretty aggressive bike, and pulled it 65 miles to a Bike MS weekend.  That combination allowed me carry enough stuff to do the weekend.  But once I got to the event, I dropped the trailer and had a nice, light, fast bike to ride in the actual two days of the event.  Once the event was over, I reloaded the trailer, hooked it up, and pulled it back home.  That worked well, but I would not want to do an extended tour with that setup.

            That last was a personal preference.  For a lot of tourists the trailer strategy works and works well. So let’s discuss for a moment the pros and cons of trailering a load.

            The first consideration is the “infrastructure cost” of a trailer.  Infrastructure is the stuff that supports what you are doing.  When we speak of “infrastructure cost,” we are not comparing purchase prices, but rather the weight and energy required by a given system.

EXAMPLE:  Two liters of water may transported in two different systems.

2 bottles and 2 cages:  weight less than one pound, attached to the bike frame

Hydration Backpack:  Weight approx 2.5 ppounds, carried on rider’s back

In this example the backpack has a higher infrastructure cost.  There may be other factors to consider, which make the backpack a good choice.

Trailers have a higher infrastructure cost.  Assume the bags are about equal in weight.  Trailers will weigh in at 20 pounds, or more.  Most racks weigh less than five pounds.  In addition, a trailer adds to the length of the vehicle and usually increases the handling effort.

I’m not arguing against the use of trailers.  Every tour is different, and every tourist has different requirements and objectives.  For instance, shorter riders require smaller bike frames.  Often this makes it difficult to mount racks on the bike, and the bike, when packed out, can be very unwieldy.  Also, trailers can have great utility outside of touring.  A grocery trip can be a lot more productive if it’s done with a trailer’s greater load volume.  The trailer can also allow a much greater range of bicycle choices.  (See my example at the beginning of this article.)

Two wheel vs. single wheel:  Two wheel trailers are more stable, but they have more drag and a wider track.  Frequently traffic considerations will result in a two wheel trailer will dropping the right hand wheel off the road, causing a tricky handling problem.  Single wheel trailers are less stable at low speeds, but they are not as wide.  In both cases parking can be a bit of a problem.  Of note, the B.O.B. Yak™ solves this in a handy way.  It’s a single wheel trailer, but it is designed so that the rig can be “jackknifed” to park, and then becomes stable.  This eliminates the need for a kickstand.

Other concerns and considerations:  How does the trailer connect to the bike?  Some use clever modifications of the rear wheel skewer, others clamp to some part of the bike frame.  There are significant pros and cons to each of these attachment strategies.

THE TOURING CORNER: Racks and Fenders, why?

Let’s take the rack question first.  Racks provide a place to attach and carry stuff.  Yes, it is possible to carry stuff in back packs, but there’s a problem with that.  It’s a matter of energy management and balance.

Yes we said energy management.  You see, if you are touring by bike, you have to provide the energy that moves the bike.  If you pack a bunch of stuff on your back or body, then you are also providing the energy to hold that stuff up against gravity.  Doesn’t seem fair does it?  Put the load on the bike.  Let the bike be your beast of burden.

And what about balance?  It’s a matter of physics.  Basic stability.  If you want an object to be stable, you want to get the mass as low on the object as you can.  If you are carry the weight on your back, it is a good two to three feet higher than it could be in a bag that is hung on a rack.  For touring purposes, you even want to consider the order in which you load things in a bag.  Basically, you want to put the heavy things on the bottom, and the lighter things on top.  Nuff said?

Now let’s look at fenders.  Here’s the thing about fenders, you only need them when it’s raining.  Here’s the other thing about fenders, sooner or later it is going to rain.  Rain isn’t that big a deal, if you are close to home.  You can always ride home, get out of your wet and nasties, shower, and dry off.  But suppose you are a good bit farther away from home?  Also, suppose it isn’t all that warm.  Wouldn’t a set of fenders be nice?  From our experience, the likelihood of encountering rain on a tour is pretty good.  Obviously it depends on how long the tour is, but again from experience, we can derive the following rule.  On any one week tour, you are guaranteed to encounter at least least 24 hours of rain…  Maybe more…  Maybe a lot more!!  So, the answer is, plan to put fenders on your touring bike. 

What kind of fenders?  We strongly suggest getting good ones, and get the permanently attached kind.  We’ve messed about with the quick mount/quick disconnect types.  They leave a good bit to be desired.  They don’t provide enough coverage, and they seem to always be shifting to a position that benefits you the least.  Besides, you’re planning to tour, right?  So what are you going to do, carry the fenders with you and install them when it starts to rain?

Two more things on fenders:  Once you’ve decided what kind you want, go ahead and order a second complete set of hardware for them.  Place this in a bag on your big.  That should be a bag that stays on your bike.  Trust us!  The time will come…  The other thing is that all of the currently commercially available fenders, even the best ones,  lack coverage in an important area.  None of them seem to come with mud flaps!  We strongly recommend that you modify your fenders by adding mud flaps.  This will keep you a lot drier and more comfortable when it gets wet.

NOTE:  For an article on constructing fender extending mud flaps, go to my Audax Ride blog here.

http://audaxriders.blogspot.com/2011/11/projects-i-gotta-get-this-thing.html

Before reading the article, look at the picture in the title.   Notice that I’ve done exactly this mod.  See how low the flap is on the front fender?  I don’t get any spray from the front wheel on my feet.  Now read the post for instructions on making the same highly practical and inexpensive modification for yourself.

THE TOURING CORNER: What kind of bike do I need to do touring?

Today's title raises 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 http://audaxriders.blogspot.com  There you will see my trusty tourist.  For another example check out the Long Haul Trucker™ on the Surly website at http://surlybikes.com/bikes/disc_trucker

Light Touring:  A light tourist shares a lot of traits with it’s “heavy” cousin.  The difference will be that a light tourer will usually be a lighter bike.  It won’t be as strong as a Loaded rig.  Possible 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 sual 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, their design parameters match up almost exactly with most light tourist needs.  To see look at the Surly website http://surlybikes.com/bikes/cross_check

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, and 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: The 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: Just what is “Bicycle Touring”?

See that title?  There are two parts to it.  The first indicates that this is a feature.   Posts with "The Touring Corner" as a title will be...  About bicycle tour!  The second part of this post's title brings up 

today's topie.

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.