The Food I’m Craving Now

Food is an important part of any bike trip, and with a lot of time to just sit and think, it’s easy to become obsessed about food when traveling by bike.On every bike trip I’ve ever taken, there has always been one particular food item that I crave more than anything else. And that one item always seems to change from trip to trip.

For example, on my first tour down the coast of California I was craving ice cream like crazy. Whenever I had an opportunity to purchase an ice cream cone or half-gallon of ice cream, I’d stop get it! I’m an ice cream-aholic Read more

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How To Come Up With A Budget For Your Bicycle Tour

I just received an email from BicycleTouringPro.com reader, John Herr. Here is what he said:

I may have already asked you this, but how do you figure out the cost for your trips. Everybody talks about everything having to do with a bicycle trip, except how to figure out how much the trip the will cost. Thank you.

                                                                                                    - John -

This is a really good question and something I want to cover in more detail later, but in the meantime I thought I could use my current trip to Aruba as an example and show you how I planned out a budget for this short 10 day adventure. Read more

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First Day Depression

It happens every time. I get off the plane in a panic, rush to put my bike together, sprint to the hotel, and then have a total meltdown. Suddenly, the plans and ideas I once had about my bike trip vanish and all I’m left with is fear and doubt.

On the first day of my bike trips I always think to myself, “Can I really do this? Am I ready for this? I can’t do this alone. This isn’t as much fun as I thought it was going to be. And why  in the world do I keep doing this to myself?” Read more

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An Introduction To My New Bike Friday Folding Bike

My new Bike Friday folding bike arrived in the mail yesterday and I immediately whipped it out of the box and started putting it together.

It took me about a half hour to get the bike out of its suitcase, read all the instructions, put it together, and get it out the door for my very first ride!

My new bike is a Bike Friday New World Tourist, and my plan is to use this bike for my upcoming trip to Aruba. Read more

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How Bill Mason Changed My Thinking

It was my Uncle Tom who first introduced me to the artist, author, filmmaker, and world-renowned canoeist, Bill Mason.

Mason’s filmmaking struck such a chord with me that I wrote a paper about him for a film history class I took while in college.

When the professor was handing the graded papers back in class, she kept mine till last and told me she wanted to speak to me after class was over. Boy did I think I was in trouble! But as it turned out, she just wanted to praise me for such an inspirational piece of work. Read more

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The Anxiety That Builds Up Before A Biycle Tour

When you first start planning your big bicycle adventure, you’re filled with excitement. It’s great to think about the roads ahead… the possibilities… the fun. The planning stage is a wonderful time for any bike tour and you should enjoy every minute of it.

But as your tour grows closer and closer, those feelings of joy and excitement may rapidly change to feelings of fear and anxiety.

Suddenly, you’re thinking about everything that could go wrong. You’re thinking about your obligations at home. You’re thinking of the time you will be spending away from your friends and family. And more than anything else, you begin to doubt your capabilities and the success of the tour itself. Read more

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A New Bike Friday For My Trip To Aruba

Less than one hour ago I purchased my very first folding bike - A Bike Friday New World Tourist.

I also purchased a rear rack for the bike so I can hold my panniers. And in addition to all this, I purchased a suitcase and trailer for the bike as well.

 With this setup, I will be a totally self-contained traveler. Read more

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Why Would Someone Who Hates The Beach Go To Aruba?

Seventeen days from now I’ll be traveling to Aruba for a week of fun in the sun. But what you don’t know about this short getaway of mine is that I absolutely hate the beach! I hate swimming, I’m scared of sharks and jellies, and I can’t stand getting sand between my toes. So why in the world would a guy like me spend a week in Aruba?

The answer is simpler than you might think. Read more

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Bicycle Touring vs. Bicycle Camping

The following guest post was submitted by Bob Morgan.

As I prepare for my epic ride on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) I have responded to many contacts from people who would like to join me on this 2,700 mile bike-camping tour. Some of them have had a taste of “credit card” road touring and a few have participated in extensive supported tours, but very few have done any self-supported bicycle touring… and even fewer have bike-camped along the way.

There is a big difference between these two types of touring. Sleeping in hotels and sleeping on the ground at night are two completely different things… and being prepared for a bike-camping expedition is of key importance when traveling a route such as the GDMBR. Read more

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The Dumbest Thing You’ve Ever Brought With You On Tour

Over the years I’ve done a lot of experimenting on my bike trips. Every trip has been different and I’ve brought different items with me on each of my tours.

After nearly eight years of bicycle touring, I’ve learned what I need to bring with me and what I should leave at home. And even though I’ve learned a lot over the years about some of the unnecessary items you might be temped to take with you on a bike tour, I’ll likely bring some more stupid things with me in the future. Read more

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