THE TOURING CORNER: Just what is “Bicycle Touring”?

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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.