Introducing The New BicycleTouringPro.com Blog!
April 2, 2008 by Darren Alff
I’ve been running the site at www.bicycletouringpro.com for a number of months now and I’m very pleased with how things are going. I started the site thinking that hardly anyone would ever see it - let alone care about it’s content. But since it’s release in late 2007, the site has really taken off!
The idea for the site came about when I thought to myself, “I’ve been asked the same questions over and over again about my bicycle adventures. Why don’t I write down all the answers to those questions and post them on a website?”
So that’s exactly what I did!
At the time, my friend and college roommate, Brandon (last name withheld), was planning a bike trip and he wanted my help. We talked for a number of hours on the phone and it was him that passively gave me the idea to create the website.
Since that time, over 15,000 people from around the world have visited www.bicycletouringpro.com and more than 700 people have joined the mailing list!
Best of all, I’ve received hundreds and hundreds of emails from people in all walks of life, thanking me for taking the time to write up what I know and share it with them. I really appreciate every kind email I receive. It brightens my day and makes me want to work that much harder on the site. So if you’ve taken the time to write to me and say hello, share an idea, or tell me how much you like a particular article I’ve written… THANK YOU! I TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR KIND WORDS!
I’ve learned a lot over the last couple months and I’ve admittedly made a few mistakes. As time goes on, I will get a better grasp for what you (my readers) want to learn and how you want to receive that information. I am constantly working to make the site better and I hope that you will help me through these improvements.
Some people have written to me saying how much they love my videos and the audio interviews that I do. Others have criticized me for these exact same things and asked me to return to more conventional styles of marketing. It seems that you either like my personal voice and natural goofiness… or you don’t! And while my goal from the beginning was to make my website a very personal thing between myself and my readers, some people just don’t like that approach.
So what I’ve decided to do is this:
I’ve decided that there are going to be two different parts to the website at BicycleTouringPro.com. The first part will be the articles and tour accounts part, which is what you are seeing now when you visit www.bicycletouringpro.com.
The other part of the website will be my personal bicycle touring blog, where I will write about myself, my travels and my take on bicycle travel related topics. This will be an area where I share my personal stories from the road, show you how I’m preparing for my upcoming tours, and even give you some tips and tricks for making your future bicycle adventure(s) a success.
The reason for making such a change is simple: I want to give out solid information and how-to articles on preparing for and executing a bicycle tour. I also want to have a personal voice and be able to share my thoughts, feelings, and ideas about bicycle touring.
With this new setup, I hope to accomplish these two goals. Those that want the “how-to” information can stay on the site at www.bicycletouringpro.com and read the articles in the “How To” section. And those who would prefer a more personal look into my bicycle travels can visit the blog at www.biycletouringpro.com/blog.
So there is it! My first entry on my very first web log (blog).
That’s all for now! Stay tuned as I keep you posted on my upcoming trip to Aruba. I’ll be showing you exactly how I pack for the trip, what I am taking with me, and every step I take along the way.
And remember… if you have a question for me on how you can make your bicycle touring dreams come true, don’t be afraid to send me an email: contact@bicycletouringpro.com.
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I think your plan sounds very good and should please anyone who wants whatever it is you have to offer. Just remember — you cannot please all the people all the time ;’-)
My dilemma is not feeling “ready” for a planned 10 day tour at the end of July. I have been an avid cylist, but have not done much (almost none) biking in the past 6 months or more. I do lots of other exercise, but am worried about my upcoming trip which will include a lot of elevation gain and anywhere from 40 to 60 miles a day. I am 66 years old and in good shape, but worry about this trip!! Any tips? or plans to offer?
Thanks for all you work. Nancy
Hi Nancy,
I wouldn’t worry too much. If you are in good shape then the training you do between now and the trip in July will be plenty. I do several multiday rides a year and really enjoy some down time from the heavy bike training I do most of the time. The most important issue is to enjoy yourself and you can’t do that if you overtrain. So gradually add biking to your training schedule and if you build up mileage and time in the saddle you will be ready both mentally and physically.
Good luck and have a great time, Pat