My bluff just got called!

[emily_in_nc]

Hi MomOnBike!

My husband and I took a 9-day self-supported tour in NY state last fall. It was amazing! I'd never done anything like that before - just a supported tour (Bike Virginia), which, as Denise aptly points out, was a very different experience. I've never toured solo, but after doing the tour with my husband, I do think that I could manage it. The desire to do it is half the battle, and you've already won that part!

We used front and rear racks and panniers, which worked very well indeed. We stayed at Mom and Pop motels along the way, never a problem there. They all let us take our bikes into the room. We washed bike clothes daily in the rooms and hung them to dry, though we brought enough for several days of riding since the weather varied a lot during our tour (some days shorts and short-sleeve jerseys; other days tights and jackets). We brought lightweight knit clothes for off-bike time. We figured out all our routes in advance using Adventure Cycling and NY state maps and had made up cue sheets for each day. Only got lost once or twice!

You can read about our adventures here if it would help in your planning and/or inspiration!

Oh - one more thing....in order to prepare for the amount of cycling on the tour, we had done several metric century rides, and about a month before the tour started doing back-to-back longer days - up to 5 days in a row of 25-60 mile rides. We also did a two-day out and back mini-tour over a weekend of two 75 mile days, stayed in a motel at our destination. We filled up our panniers with everything our our planned list to take, even tho we'd only need a fraction of it on a two-day tour. It really helped give us confidence that we could do a longer tour!

Best of luck...keep us posted!

Emily

[DeniseGoldberg]

Hi MomOnBike!
You can read about our adventures here if it would help in your planning and/or inspiration!

Emily -

I just popped over to your bike tour site and noticed the picture at the Fly by Night Cookie Company. That place absolutely rocks - wish where was one on every tour. Actually, every day of every tour would be nice! My only regret is that I only took a picture of the sign - just like you. I wish I had a photo of the cookie spread!
--- Denise

[CorsairMac]

You Go Girl!! yeah it's 800 miles give or take. Yeah you'll be alone - but a) you're never really alone even when it feels like it! and b) all the things everyone else said. If you don't make it the whole way - ya don't! In the overall scheme of things it's the never doing it that hurts more. (did that make sense? ) I think one of the things I've seen here more than anywhere else and it's why I come back - none of us seem to be the type of people that are afraid to try anything at least once. We might hem and haw around a bit, maybe need some support from our fellow women, but the fact that we even "mentioned" it here means we've already Thought about it!....heck we've even pretty much decided to Do it!!.......we're just making sure it was an alright decision and that we're not alone!! I don't ever want to be one of those people that dies thinking "gee I wish I'da done........."! and to have a DH that is so supportive......how lucky is that! Gives me hope that maybe yet I'll find the right one for me!! so once again: You Go Girl!! and don't you Dare leave us out......we'll want all the details!

[fasteryet]

I'm with the "go for it" group, which seems to be everybody but your brother. Not having any experience, except for a few overnight rides as a teenager, I can't offer much advice. Some sort of conditioning schedule would be advised, as well as trying out anything new -panniers, rain gear, bike shorts, whatever, before you go. Don't forget detailed maps, and maybe get any LBS numbers along the route, in case you have more than just a flat.
Too bad she wasn't moving to NJ, I'd love to ride part of the way with you!

[spazzdog]

OK TE-er's...

Who lives between daughter in Minneapolis and MomOnaBike in Nebraska?

Who knows anyone who does (and that rides). Lets help build a little route with occasional company on the road (and maybe a home cooked meal) for Mom.

spazz

[nuthatch]

Aww, that's a great idea, Spazz! I'm a little too far east in Chicagoland, but if MomonBike wanted to take a detour, she's welcome here!

[snowtulip]

Mom On Bike,
What a great opportunity, what I find amazing is that you have taken this task and turned it into an adventure (must remember to apply this thought process to my daily life). I've heard that satellite phones are fairly cheap to rent and it might give you peace of mind being able to call someone if you get in a pinch. Enjoy!