10 Things I Learned From My First Bike Tour
September 5, 2008 by Darren Alff · 8 Comments
When I left home in the summer of 2001 to ride my bike from Eureka, California to the Mexican/American border, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. As far as I was concerned, this whole “bicycle touring” thing was an entirely new concept – maybe even an entirely new sport? I didn’t know how I was going to travel over 1,000 miles on my rusty old mountain bike, but I did know I would figure out a way to make it happen!
After 30 days of cycling down the Pacific Coast of the United States, I learned a lot – both about myself and about what it takes to pull off a successful bicycle adventure.
The following is a list of ten important lessons I learned while on my first bike tour. Read more
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How To Pack Your Panniers: An Inside Look
August 12, 2008 by Darren Alff · 6 Comments
Currently, the most popular article on the site here at BicycleTouringPro.com is an article simply titled, “How To Pack Your Panniers.” The article features a detailed breakdown of everything I carry in my panniers and also includes a 30 minute video where I physically show you the contents of my bicycle touring bags.
Since writing that article, I’ve received a lot of feedback and questions. My goal today is to expand further on the information I provided in that first article by showing you exactly how I place my gear inside my panniers and by pointing out two very important things you should consider when packing your panniers for a bicycle tour. Read more
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An Interview With World Traveler & Documentary Filmmaker: Brook Silva-Braga
August 3, 2008 by Darren Alff · 5 Comments
When Brook Silva-Braga left his job as an Emmy-Award winning TV producer for HBO to spend more than 11 months traveling around the world, his co-workers didn’t know what to think. Carrying 5 pounds of clothing and more than 30 pounds of video equipment in a backpack, Brook would spend the next year traveling through 26 different countries and 4 different continents… recording his journey on tape as he went along.
Upon his return to the United States, Brook moved in with his parents and spent the next few months editing his footage into the award winning film, A Map For Saturday. Read more
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How To Pack Your Bicycle For A Long Distance Tour
July 16, 2008 by Darren Alff · 3 Comments
As part of my three part series on how to pack your bicycle for a long distance touring adventure, today I am going to be discussing how to actually pack your bike with your panniers and other belongings.
In part 1 we discussed how to pack your handlebar bag. In part 2 I gave you some tips on how to pack your panniers. Today we will be discussing how to actually go about packing your bike with its panniers and all the other gear needed for life on the road. Read more
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Getting Your Parents’ Permission To Go On A Bicycle Tour
June 24, 2008 by Darren Alff · 1 Comment
No matter what your age, telling your parents that you are leaving on a bicycle tour can be a difficult and scary task. Your parents surely care about you and worry about your safety, so when you fill them in on your plans for traveling long distances on your bicycle, your overall well-being is going to be one of the first things that pops into their minds.
I was seventeen years old and a senior in high school when I first told my parents about my plans of cycling down the California coastline. As you can imagine, they were less than thrilled. They probably thought I was crazy… and I know they were hoping I would forget about the idea in a couple months. But I didn’t forget about the idea! In fact, my dreams of cycling from Oregon to Mexico became that much stronger as the months progressed.
So how did I go about convincing my parents that I could not only make my bicycle tour happen, but also convince them that the ride would be a good idea? And how can you do the same? Read more
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An Interview With The Crazy Senior Citizen & Hearty Heart Attack Victim Who Rode Their Bikes Around The World
June 23, 2008 by Darren Alff · Leave a Comment
In 2002, Pat and Cat Patterson (age 62 and 48) left their home in Oxnard, California and spent the next four years riding their bicycles around the world. When they completed their tour in 2006, they had ridden through four continents and 57 different countries.
Pat and Cat met in 1993, later married, and ran a real estate company in Southern California. Then, in 2000, Cat suffered from a heart attack. But rather than play victim, Cat’s heart attack only pushed her more to get out on her bike and ride.
The plan for the big bike tour was born and rather than tell the rest of the story myself, I’ve gone ahead and asked Pat and Cat to share their story with you. Read more
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My Interview With “Bike Friday”
June 22, 2008 by Darren Alff · 2 Comments
I recently had the pleasure of traveling to Aruba with a Bike Friday New World Tourist folding bicycle. I posted a few short articles (here, here, here, and here) about my new bicycle and received quite a bit of feedback.
Some people wrote to ask me about the bike and how it handled. Others wrote to tell me that they already owned a Bike Friday and that they absolutely loved it! Some even sent me pictures!
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Should You Blog About Your Bicycle Tour?
June 13, 2008 by Darren Alff · Leave a Comment
As technology improves, the traveling cyclist continues to increase his arsenal of high tech devices that allow him to both keep in touch with the outside world and stay entertained while out on the road.
Today, I want to talk about blogs and how you can use them to document your bicycle tour(s) and keep in touch with people while you travel. Read more
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An Interview With Ted Schredd – Author Of “The Cycling Adventures Of Coconut Head”
June 4, 2008 by Darren Alff · 1 Comment
After returning from a canoe trip in Western Canada, my Aunt Christi and Uncle Tom presented me with a gift: A book titled, “The Cycling Adventures of Coconut Head: A North American Odyssey
On the cover of the book were two nude cyclists, smiling at the camera, with a big blue bar covering their exposed body parts.
To some, this may seem like a strange and somewhat inappropriate gift to be given by your aunt and uncle, but to me, this was a classic Tom and Christ present. Over the years my aunt and uncle have presented me with a number of strange and wonderful gifts… and this book was certainly no exception. Read more
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Selecting A Mirror For Your Bicycle Tour
May 20, 2008 by Darren Alff · 7 Comments
A mirror is an essential piece of equipment for anyone traveling by bike. Having the ability to see behind you is of great importance, as it is something that could potentially save your life!
I’ve met people in the past who have been hit by a car, attacked from behind, and pushed off the road by a passing RV. But the reason I don’t have a story like that is because I refuse to get on my bike without a mirror.
A bicycle traveler should be constantly aware of his or her surroundings. Without a mirror, you’re putting yourself at risk and increasing your chances of catastrophe out on the road. Read more
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