I started touring at age 50 with my husband on unsupported short journeys, 1000 miles, give or take a couple hundred depending on how much vacation time we have. The comment I hear most often is "I could never do that". I hear it from people my age and from young people. I used to say "sure you could - just start with short distances and work up to it or it's just a daily bike ride but you end up at camp instead of at home". It's all attitude at any age. When I hear the comment now I am tempted to say "You're right, you couldn't do it". Most touring bicyclist we encounter are retired which makes them over 62.

Does anyone else out there tour? I read mostly about racing and commuting (I get to work on my bicycle too), but bicycle touring offers a whole other way of "being" which really has nothing really to do with the bike except that it is the vehicle that allows you to connect with the most basic feeling of being alive. It is something that cannot be achieved on a week long supported ride (at least in my experience).