Overnight bike touring

[rebeccaC]

have a great tour ridebikeme!!!!

I do day rides by myself a lot. Some of my routes have other women riding alone too. I’ve enjoyed the adventure of camping multi-day rides by myself for a number of years, especially in Europe. On a few of those rides I’ve also come across another single woman rider to ride with within the first few days. I found a lot of women riding alone on Ragbrai when I did that with some friends. When camping I usually carry my hammock, which can be used as a tent when needed and has a rainfly, bug net and is less than 2 lbs.

I’ve done self-defense martial arts for a number of years as a confidence builder with the physical ability to quickly cause injury if I need to. Although I don’t think about it much I’m sure that it helps mentally and emotionally when I’m riding alone.

[shootingstar]

Good range of responses so far. During the first 8 yrs of returning to cycling, my partner and I did cycle tour with our own gear and camped 50% of the time on several multi-wk.long bike trips..trips he made up. I trust him alot because he is a well-informed cycling advocate and has strong knowledge of bike routes for several major Canadian cities and understands which roads to avoid, etc.

I could not imagine myself attempting to camp on my own because dorkus me, simply didn't even know how to put up a tent before I knew my partner. Camping in various wilderness parks where I live..means truly dealing with the reality of bears, etc. I think I could attempt an 1-2 day overnight bike trip that would blend in cycling, sea ferry ride and onto bike routes in Vancouver Island and some of the islands. But it would have to be hotel, b 'n b. More urban cycling instead of just wilderness cycling for days and days. There are some freakin' isolated areas ...and really, I wish that Canada wasn't so friggin' big at times!! Meaning lack of services for 100-200 km.

Do consider the reality of how to deal with going to the washroom on a big expanse of prairie ...with no trees. Just going 50 km. ouside of the city where I live, that's what it is.

I don't have great wayfinding skills...which amuses dearie to no end.

In all the cities where I've lived, I've cycled long distances by myself quite often. I don't mind it..I feel quite safe at any time during the day, because they are routes I've learned to stitch together after cycling them with dearie. I also know where I'm riding, that I'm not far from services, people to ask for detailed directions, etc. I don't ride at night solo often for just fitness/recreation...Night riding only happens for work commuting.

[Sky King]

I actually know several women who have done multi day tours by themselves. We had the pleasure of interviewing Leana Niemand this summer, she has been traveling for 7 years, primarily by herself.
Personally, I have yet to do an overnight or multiple overnights by myself - the opportunity just hasn't presented. I am also someone who enjoys riding with a few others, simply because I enjoy sharing so
the attraction of going off alone for extended periods of time isn't there for me.

Regardless, I think it is good to always be aware and be prepared. With today's ability to "keep in touch" via internet, phones, spots, etc. I think riding alone isn't "as risky" as a decade or so ago.

[cosc]

I do solo overnight biking trips with organized rides most summers and enjoy exploring new countryside and meeting people with like interest. On some rides I'm blessed to have my dh or ds ride with me. I like having a route planned and marked (with sag support) each day. I always feel safe -even tenting - which I enjoy after I get the tent up. There are not many bicyclist in this area and not many roads to bike on so new territory is an adventure. My hubby is a farmer so during our cycling season he is mostly too busy to cycle.
A few years ago I did a week self-supported camping tour by myself. I did a lot of planning with option B's for backup. My dh picked me up and we went on together to ride the beautiful Minnesota bike trails. Yes I would go solo touring and enjoy the trip but enjoy and worry less with a companion along.
My dh and I have biked the transamerica across US self-supported, so I learned a lot about camping from my hubby. Bear country camping is a hassle and would not want to do that alone.
If you are thinking about overnight bike rides definitely do it with friends first to see how you enjoy it. Credit card touring is very easy if you plan and have the funds for the expense.

[shootingstar]

We haven't camped for our self-made loaded bike touring trips for the last 15 years...just found it tiring to spend time tenting and decamping after cycling 100 km. each day for several consecutive days with our own loads. It left us very little time to explore the area where we stayed since we usually wanted to shower, have dinner, etc.

I hear all the details, triumphs and little troughs for long distance bike touring when dearie goes on solo bike touring trips for several weeks for the past few years. There is a reality why I seem to cycle solo lots: he is not always in town while on such trips, I have a full time job while he has been retired for awhile. Initially I used to feel sad about this but when cycling became my main form of transportation for myself, my attitude about riding solo changed: I had to do this for myself. For my own long-term mobile independence and health. Alot of my friends except for the friend in the start of this thread, just cycle occasionally on very short trips around town (which is ok) but seeing one another means talking at length when we don't see each other often. Hence, it's impossible for us to talk deeply and for several hrs. while cycling.

Wishing ridebikeme, cosc great solo cycling adventure. Please share soon. i knew in person a well-known VAncouver cycling advocate...65 yr. grandmother who cycled-camped across Canada, as a retirement gift to herself. She is a gracious woman and was instrumental in leading some of the VAncouver-based efforts on cycling instructure improvements.

[Crankin]

I felt the exactly the same way about camping and riding, ShootingStar. If I were to stay at one campground and do rides out of the campground and stay there for a week or so, that would be fine. It was the setting up, breaking down, etc. that both DH and I disliked. I'm at the stage of life, though, where I can afford and look forward to staying in a B and B. We've met so many interesting people traveling this way. We rarely stay in hotels, unless we are in a huge city and there's a lot of choices.

[ridebikeme]

Well, it was certainly a short trip, but one that was a lot of fun! I think like many of you, I ride solo most of the time, my schedule doesn't always fit with some of my friends. But, I will admit that I do enjoy riding with others.

Trip.. some great miles, always a challenge to get over Dixfield Notch with a full loaded bike, but I enjoy the challenge. New England is such a great place to ride, and something that I never get tired of. More details will be on the shops FB page(chasecyclery). And "no" I never get tired of taking down the tent; it's just part of the adventure.

Have a great fall everyone!