{"id":887,"date":"2011-07-05T03:06:25","date_gmt":"2011-07-05T07:06:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.worldbiking.info\/wordpress\/?p=887"},"modified":"2016-12-30T12:36:56","modified_gmt":"2016-12-30T17:36:56","slug":"how-to-succeed-at-bicycle-touring-why-cyclists-fail-and-6-tips-how-not-to","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.worldbiking.info\/wordpress\/2011\/07\/how-to-succeed-at-bicycle-touring-why-cyclists-fail-and-6-tips-how-not-to\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Tips for a Successful Bicycle Tour"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The idea of \u201csucceeding\u201d at bicycle touring probably sounds strange to you.\u00a0 After all, a bicycle tour is supposed to be fun.\u00a0 It\u2019s not a job to be judged and evaluated.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s just say success is doing what you set out to do.\u00a0 You set out to cycle from Boston to New York, you cycle from Boston to New York.\u00a0\u00a0 You say you want to bike the length of the Americas, you bike the length of the Americas.\u00a0 You get the idea.<\/p>\n

Of course plans change, opportunities arise, and circumstances alter the course of events.\u00a0 That\u2019s fine, flexibility\u2019s important, too.<\/p>\n

But–and I think you\u2019ll agree with me–if someone spends months, perhaps years planning and saving for a long-distance bicycle tour and somehow doesn\u2019t succeed in doing what he set out to do, now that\u2019s sad.<\/p>\n

giving up<\/h3>\n

Sometimes radically changing your plans or even tossing in the towel is the best thing to do. On the other hand, giving up can sap your confidence and discourage others.<\/p>\n

Worst of all, giving up means you missed out on all the potential pleasures of your planned bicycle tour.<\/p>\n

my personal experience<\/h3>\n

In all honesty, I\u2019ve wanted to give up many times since my husband and I set off in 2006.<\/p>\n

Once, I was even so fed up with biking Africa that we flew to India to do some easy cycling and chill out for 6 months.\u00a0 We radically changed out our plans. \u00a0It was the right thing to do.<\/p>\n

In early 2008 oppressive heat in Kwa-Zula Natal made me hate bike touring. As we cycled East Africa I was often plagued by a deep loneliness and sense of disconnection.<\/p>\n

A dull route and long periods without rest lead to more thoughts of quitting as we cycled Mexico in late 2010.\u00a0 Winds almost got the best of me as we cycled Patagonia just a few months back.\u00a0 Tensions with my husband have often lead me to question if two on tour<\/a> is sustainable over the long term.<\/p>\n

After almost five years on the road, I\u2019ve discovered a few minor adjustments that can mean the difference being giving up and forging on.\u00a0 Here are a few simple tips that will greatly increase your chances of a \u2018successful\u2019 bike tour.<\/p>\n

Tip 1<\/h2>\n

Ride your ride and nobody else\u2019s<\/strong>. I spent the better part of four years getting down on myself for not being a super-tough cyclist.\u00a0 I\u2019d berate myself for being a wimp.\u00a0 Why couldn\u2019t I be more like Al Humphreys<\/a>?\u00a0\u00a0 He\u2019d never complain about a 10-hour day in the saddle or sleeping in a ditch and missing a shower after a long, hard ride.\u00a0 Jeff Kruys<\/a> never whined about sleeping rough and those long, empty stretches of road in South America.\u00a0 Rob Lilwall<\/a> wouldn\u2019t get grumpy about a little wind and cold weather.\u00a0 The team from Pikes on Bikes<\/a> wouldn\u2019t be griping about a measly 3,800 meter pass.<\/p>\n

Finally I realized I was chasing somebody else\u2019s dreams.\u00a0 It\u2019s taken me a long time to accept that I\u2019m no super-athlete who willingly withstands great hardship.\u00a0 I\u2019m up for a challenge now and then, but dammit, I like hot showers.<\/p>\n

Not comparing your ride to anyone else\u2019s seems pretty obvious, but I\u2019m certain there are others who struggle with this.<\/p>\n

Finding the right rhythm, your personal<\/em> right rhythm, is the key to staying happy on a bicycle tour.\u00a0 Some go slowly, others race around the world.\u00a0 One\u2019s no better than the other.<\/p>\n

Tip 2<\/h2>\n

Get the seasons right.<\/strong> Again, this seems pretty straightforward, but I know of several cases where lack of planning around climate patterns has wrecked a bicycle tour.<\/p>\n

There was the couple who set off in September for Africa via Eastern Europe and the Middle East.\u00a0 It was no surprise when a few months later there were dispatches from Ukraine complaining about frigid weather and horrific cycling conditions.\u00a0 Sadly, the couple returned home by train, never even making it as far as Istanbul.<\/p>\n

Had they left in say, April or May, cycled across Europe in the summer and arrived in northern Africa in the cooler winter months, I\u2019ve no doubt they\u2019d have made it all the way to Cape Town.<\/p>\n

Climate conditions play a big role in the enjoyment of a bike tour.\u00a0 Sure there\u2019s the odd cyclist who embraces the challenge of biking Scandinavia in the dead of winter<\/a>, but most of us prefer more moderate conditions.\u00a0 It\u2019s up to us to make that happen.<\/p>\n

Granted if you\u2019re planning a world tour it\u2019s tough to always hit the seasons right, but at least give climate conditions some serious thought.<\/p>\n

Tip 3<\/h3>\n

Set a budget and stick to it.<\/strong> I know I risk sounding like a nag here, but if you blow 3-month\u2019s budget partying with new friends in Bangkok, there\u2019s nobody to blame but yourself when you have to fly home early.<\/p>\n

If your plan is to cycle from the UK to Australia, it\u2019s not too difficult to figure out how long that will take and how much money you\u2019ll need to save.\u00a0\u00a0 The internet is filled with bicycle touring blogs and people who are open and willing to share information about the cost of traveling.<\/p>\n

There are plenty of cyclists (mostly solo guys under 30) who manage to cycle the world spending less than $300 per month.\u00a0 They camp wild, dine on pasta flavored with Maggi cubes, rarely treat themselves to a beer or an ice-cold coke and would never dream of checking into a hostel just because it\u2019s storming outside.<\/p>\n

Depending on your financial situation, bicycle touring may entail certain sacrifices in regards to comfort.\u00a0 If you\u2019ve got limited funds (and let’s be honest, most of us do), it\u2019s probably best to set yourself some budget rules in the beginning lest you be tempted into soft beds and evenings out on the town.<\/p>\n

Tip 4<\/h2>\n

Splurge once in a while<\/strong>.\u00a0 Isn\u2019t that a contradiction with Tip 3?\u00a0 Absolutely not.\u00a0 Splurge ONCE IN A WHILE.\u00a0 Don\u2019t make it a habit or it\u2019ll break your budget.\u00a0 My personal splurge is ice cream.\u00a0 It\u2019s my pick-me-up at the end of a tough day when I\u2019m grouchy and irritable.\u00a0 A simple ice cream cone can literally transform me from a raging madwoman who\u2019s threatening to pack it all up and return to the cubicle into a contented cyclist who\u2019s looking forward to tomorrow\u2019s ride.<\/p>\n

Maybe ice cream isn\u2019t much of a splurge for you.\u00a0 Perhaps you need to check into a comfortable hotel or dine out at a fancy restaurant.\u00a0 What\u2019s important is that you forget all about the budget once in a while and just do something that picks you up and pulls you out of a rut.<\/p>\n

Tip 5<\/h2>\n

Find the right partner<\/strong> (and maybe that means going solo).<\/p>\n

Nothing will ruin a tour quicker than an incompatible touring partner.\u00a0 Be brutally honest with yourself and your potential partner before setting off.<\/p>\n

Can you really function with another human being by your side 24-7?<\/p>\n

There are some notable exceptions (revolution cycle<\/a>, riding the spine<\/a> and cycling silk<\/a>) but the fact is few friendships can withstand the strain of bicycle touring.<\/p>\n

Couples usually fare better, but I can think of more than one big breakup brought on by a bicycle tour.<\/p>\n

My advice?\u00a0 Take a few test tours with your potential partner under tough conditions (maybe purposefully run low on food and water, cycle an especially unpleasant stretch of highway, camp rough, seek out climate extremes) before committing to a major bike tour.<\/p>\n

Tip 6<\/h2>\n

Invest in a quality bike and gear and plan for replacement parts.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Again, this seems pretty logical, but I continue to be amazed at how many cyclists skimp on the essentials.<\/p>\n

Before setting off, we thought $2,800 was an absurd price to pay for a bicycle.\u00a0 Way too expensive.<\/p>\n

Now, I think forking out the money for a quality touring bike was the best decision we ever made.\u00a0 Our Kogas have got almost 100,000 kilometers on them and, although showing signs of wear and tear, they\u2019re still going strong.<\/p>\n

There are lots of quality touring bikes on the market.\u00a0 You certainly won\u2019t go wrong with a Surly, a Santos or a Thorn Raven.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a keen bike mechanic and have the know-how to build your own touring bike<\/a>, all the better.<\/p>\n

A word about quality replacement parts.\u00a0 They\u2019re hard to find outside of Western Europe, North America and Australia.<\/p>\n

If you do find things like Schwalbe Marathon tires or Shimano XT parts in developing countries, they\u2019re expensive.<\/p>\n

We try to plan ahead and have packages of replacement parts sent along the way.<\/p>\n

This is not all that difficult.\u00a0 The Poste Restante system works pretty well in most countries.\u00a0 Just have your package addressed like this:<\/p>\n

Joe Smith<\/address>\n
General Post Office<\/address>\n
Poste Restante<\/address>\n
Nairobi, Kenya<\/address>\n

That\u2019s all there is to it.\u00a0 Then you just show up at the post office, flash them your passport and pick up your package.\u00a0 We\u2019ve used this system for years and haven\u2019t lost a package yet.<\/p>\n

You could also have packages sent to a contact from couchsurfing or warm showers.\u00a0 We\u2019ve tried this, to,o on multiple occasions and it works great.<\/p>\n

To sum up, get a good bike, decent gear and plan for replacement parts and you\u2019ll be a whole lot happier on the road.<\/p>\n

Tip 7<\/h2>\n

Balance out cycling with other activities.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s surprisingly easy to get burned out on bicycle touring if you\u2019re on the road for a long time.\u00a0 Biking suddenly loses its zing and you might as well be back at the cubicle.<\/p>\n

Too much biking will make your brain rot. \u00a0We all need mental stimulation.\u00a0 There are three things that keep me sane and balanced on the road.<\/p>\n

1. \u00a0 Podcasts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Podcasts<\/a> have made a huge difference in my life.\u00a0 Really.\u00a0 I feel more connected with the rest of the world and I\u2019m able to tune out when faced with an unpleasant situation.\u00a0 Plus I learn all sorts of interesting things and am entertained while I pedal.\u00a0 If you\u2019re not already a podcast junkie, at least give them a try.<\/p>\n

2. \u00a0 A computer<\/strong><\/p>\n

My own<\/em> computer.\u00a0 Again, silly as it seems, this has been life changing.\u00a0 If you\u2019re cycling as a couple I strongly urge you to consider two computers.\u00a0 It\u2019s not extravagant.\u00a0 You will greatly reduce your number of arguments.\u00a0 You will gain independence.\u00a0 You can wallow in selfishness, watching the movie you want to watch, checking out the blogs you\u2019re interested in, journaling, editing your photos, doing what you want without waiting for your partner to finish up what he\/she is doing.<\/p>\n

For me, going back to one computer is about as enticing as using the same toothbrush or sharing underwear.\u00a0 A computer gives me a creative and, for lack of a better word, intellectual outlet.<\/p>\n

3. \u00a0Projects<\/strong><\/p>\n

You may also want to consider planning your tour around a theme or project.\u00a0 Mel and Kate are exploring environmental conservation as they cycle the silk road<\/a>, Anna and Dave took a look at Permaculture in Afric<\/a>a, Christy and Adam are on a charity bike ride<\/a> around the US with the mission of spreading health and happiness through the gift of a bike. Pete Gostelow gives presentations at schools as he rides through Africa<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The point is, they\u2019re all focusing on something besides just riding and checking out the beautiful scenery. They\u2019re balancing out all the physical with a little mental.<\/p>\n

That’s it<\/h3>\n

Those are my tips for a successful bike tour.\u00a0 While there\u2019s nothing earth shattering about any of them, \u00a0taking into account these simple truths will help you keep going on instead of giving up.<\/p>\n

Remember: Life\u2019s better on a Bike!<\/em><\/p>\n