Ever taken a bicycle tour?

Where to? What kind of bike? I did a solo ride on a full-suspension Gary Fisher Sugar from Minneapolis to San Fran. Took the high route through MN,SD,ND,MT,ID, and into WA. Then I followed 101 down the coastline to CA, where I followed hwy 1 to San Fran. Rather unorthodox set-up; I zip-tied a plastic milk crate to a seat-post rack and crammed it full of camp gear. I had a small pannier hanging off either side of the crate. Just looking for people to share their routes, set-ups, and experiences........

I've done bike touring and most of them one, two, or four day tours. Two panniers, and a trailer is all I use. I also sell bike touring trips and I can recommend places for you start investigating bike touring as well. The best choices are Adventure Cycling Association, Crazyguyonabike.com, Bike touring 101, Bike Touring, WarmShowers.org, and my favorite "Gordon's Guide" which I will send you a link to it.
Dive Bomber Travel
fleutz@yahoo.com

I have never toured on my own other than within my state. I participate in several organized tours every year, beginning in May with TOSRV (TOSRV.org). I like centuries or double centuries.
Went on a metric century (100km) last year with 8 friends. We weren't ready to stop riding after just 62 miles so we rode it again and still finished within the time frame of the ride.

I did a solo ride from Georgia to Upstate NY in 1987. I took routes 11 & 15 pretty much all the way to Binghamton, NY. Then headed east on route 7 the rest of the way. I didn't camp out; I stayed in motels along the way. After being in the saddle all day, sleeping on the ground didn't seem like it would be much fun. Plus it was less gear I had to carry. I did my ride on a Trek 620. I had pretty good weather along the way. The first day it was 85 & sunny in Knoxville, TN and I hit a little snow on my last day in Onteora, NY.

My worst day was in Virginia on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was cold and rainy all day. I didn't realize it at the time, but there is nothing on that road except scenery. After I hit a diner for breakfast, the only other thing I had all day was some water at a ranger station. When I finally reached civilization again in Waynesboro, VA, I was soaked to the skin,and probably borderline hypothermic. When I got to the hotel, I asked the clerk for a room, but he said they were all full-up. But then I heard a voice in the background say "Oh, he's on a bike, give him a room". And all of a sudden there was a room available! The worst part was my glasses were all wet and fogged up and I never even saw the girl who got me the room!

The next day, my rear derailleur conked out. But luckily there was a good samaritan who saw me wandering around walking the bike and he got me to the local bike shop so I could get back on the road. After those two bad days, I was considering giving up and taking the train home. But luckily I didn't pass any train stations or rental car places that day so after a day on the bike I was in a good frame of mind again.

It was the best vacation I ever had and the most memorable, too. If n ot for family and other obligations, I would love to do it again (maybe someday!)

I mostly race, not tour, but did go around Lake Michigan solo in 1975....