Quote Originally Posted by tulip View Post
Doing a 4,000 mile tour with beginning cyclists with inexperienced leaders somehow doesn't seem like a very good idea.
Well, I'm all for it. They will sure learn a lot in a hurry. They'll be experts by the end. I did a 744 mile trip solo, and had never done anything like it before, and I learned a whole lot. Some things would have been easier if I'd had someone experienced with me, but what an adventure it was!! Though at the time "adventure" wasn't quite the word in mind.

The most important lesson was that 50-60 miles per day is a reasonable expectation. Even if you have biked a century once, don't expect to go 80-90 miles every day with a loaded bike. Wind, hills, road conditions, physical, and mental state all play a big role in how far you can go.

There's a fine balance between lightly traveled roads, and roads that go anywhere useful, such as past a water source.

Missouri has awful roads. But I hope you come through Missouri anyway, and I hope your route takes you near me.

To get in shape--the most important thing is that you ride EVERY DAY. It is not as important how FAR you ride. Even if you can only get in a 5 or 10 mile ride, or even less. Do some longer rides too but get those daily rides in.

I love that you and your group are doing this. Keep us posted on how it turns out!