Newbe summer plans

[Hartmame]

I think I'm far enough along in my bike and gear collecting to start looking at what bicycle trips I want to try this summer. I'm starting out on the small scale. I've chatted up the idea of touring with family and friends and got a few nibbles mostly for bike over nights and no one seems keen on camping. A couple of my sisters seem interested in taking their kids with us just up the trail and renting a camping cabin. One of them has a bad back so I can't really fault her. It's a start. Friends seem like a more adventurous group. They don't seem to mind doing an all day ride but want the comforts of a hotel or B&B rather than a campground. Either or both of these trips seem like a good start. I hope they workout.

[Crankin]

My opinion is that while I actually like camping, I hated the tour I did that was cycling and camping. I want the comforts of a B and B or cabin after a hard ride. Of course, it's just me, but I don't sleep well in a tent, even with a great mattress pad and sleeping bag, which made it miserable to get up and ride the next day.

[Tri Girl]

Definitely a good start!! I find that planning the trips is almost as exciting to me as actually taking them. I do not, however, have people to go on bike trips with me. I have one friend who has done 2 overnighters with me, but she's in PA school now, so I have to count her out for the next 3 years or so.
I've also done a week-long cross state bike ride with a large group (800 or so). It's a camping tour, but they haul the bags. I don't mind camping for that, although I will admit that getting up extra early and packing up the tent can be a pain- but not carrying all my gear is a bonus. I usually don't sleep well camping, but I'm always so tired at the end of the day I sleep quite well.

I wish my DH would tour with me, but he finds the idea tedious and boring (he likes to ride too fast to slow down and take the time to tour). :rolleyes:

Good luck with your touring/overnighting plans. You'll have to report back when you finish some of them and let us know how it went!:)

[Hartmame]

Ok, so no testing camping equipment, it's not the end of the world. I'll be testing out so many other things, ie my resolve being the biggest thing! I'm excited about the adventure and that is really the reason touring appeals to me.

[Slowspoke]

I rode my bike across Michigan a few years ago. Did the whole camping thing, but it was a supported ride. I'd like to do a nice camp tour carrying a load. I am starting my sister out this year, breaking her in and she doesn't know it! We are going to do a 35 mile rail to trail, stay in a hotel and ride the trail back this summer. Not exactly a long ride but it will be long for her. If I train her right, we will be doing week longs next year! ;)

[Dog]

LOL...sounds familiar. I have some friends that I ride with every year. We usually do at least one organized weekend ride (STP, RSVP, RAPSody) and then some casual rides on the islands in the area. I've been trying to get some of them interested in trying an easy tour ride and a couple of them are showing some interest in an easy overnighter with me this summer. I'm crossing my fingers!

[shootingstar]

Last time we cycled and camped with our gear..was over 18 yrs. ago.

Maybe I could camp for 1-2 nights on hard ground. But now I've been cossetted for cycle touring that we do on our own, that I like a bed after a long day of cycling with my panniers...meaning 5-6 hrs. of cycling all over the place with some stops along the way. When it's several hrs. of continuous rain while we're cycling on the road, I really want ...a bed and a roof.

Certainly when we cycle toured in Europe 2 yrs. ago, neither of us even thought of camping at all.

[Sky King]

Tour de Credit Cards can be super fun too. A middle option is to look for campgrounds that have little cabins for rent - those can be great as they have electricity & a bed and the campground shower and bathroom. We have never been disappointed.