cycle-touring kids & their loaded panniers

[shootingstar]

Wow. I just finished skyping with dearie who has been riding part of cycling route last few days and today that follows the Rhine R. in Germany. Route is approx. 700 kms. and goes to Swiss border.

He was amazed to see along the route, several times, children approx. 9-11 yrs. old, cycling on their own bikes..with their own loaded panniers. They were obviously with parents/adults also touring.

His words to me: "It would put us (adults) to shame to see these little ones huffing and puffing away on the path with their loads. Ok, maybe that big pannier was stuffed with a teddy bear or pillow.. but still.

So, come on TE...let's go bike touring! If they can do it...so can ...you.

[Grog]

Where do you want to go?

[bikerHen]

My sister and I would be up for a tour around Vancouver.
Plan it and we will come. bikerHen

[MomOnBike]

I'm talking about a Vancouver-to-Key West tour in the next couple of years. Does that count? As soon as Younger Daughter graduates from that Big Expensive University That Everyone Has Heard About And Nobody Can Afford, I'm outta here! I'd take companionship for all or parts of the journey.

In the meantime, I'm up for shorter rides in the middle of the country, assuming I can get time off from the jobs. The Katy Trail and the Mickelson Trail are do-able . . .

[Grog]

I can do a bit with you from Vancouver.

I'll start another topic because that's something I've been thinking about, but I really wish I could talk my partner into touring. He's not ready to picture himself on a touring bike yet, alas. But he loves supported touring.

[shootingstar]

But he loves supported touring.

Well a person still looks "sleek"/sportif without the..clumsiness of baggage with supported touring.

Ah, he ought to join my partner, to shake off the cobbwebs of touring geekdom.. It's cycling-weightlifting ...he really ought to talk to my partner. Those mountain passes....he actually finds Rogers Pass in Alberta Rockies easier than other passes with pannier loads.

A different form of digging deep inside yourself into the unknown. You know, cycling with loads, for 6 hrs. in pouring rain and no rain shoe covers in Quebec (3 yrs. ago)... This was in June..my feet were numb white and cold. Thank goodness it was a Route Verte route... it would have been more agonizing with splashing pouring rain and logging trucks ...about 10 years ago..not far from Wakefield.

[Eden]

He was amazed to see along the route, several times, children approx. 9-11 yrs. old, cycling on their own bikes..with their own loaded panniers. They were obviously with parents/adults also touring.

His words to me: "It would put us (adults) to shame to see these little ones huffing and puffing away on the path with their loads. Ok, maybe that big pannier was stuffed with a teddy bear or pillow.. but still.

ehhhh I started touring with my mom at around that age (probably 11-12 ish). I certainly did not carry a pillow and a teddy bear... I carried all of my own clothing, my sleeping bag and pad, and part of the food/cooking kit. My mom did take the tent, so I never had the heaviest load, but I did take my share. Kids are tougher than you think they are.

[shootingstar]

ehhhh I started touring with my mom at around that age (probably 11-12 ish). I certainly did not carry a pillow and a teddy bear... I carried all of my own clothing, my sleeping bag and pad, and part of the food/cooking kit. My mom did take the tent, so I never had the heaviest load, but I did take my share. Kids are tougher than you think they are.

What distances did you cycle at that age?

[Eden]

What distances did you cycle at that age?

If I remember correctly we kept it around 30 miles per day.

[Crankin]

When we did our supported tour in and around Quebec City 2 years ago, we saw many families touring on the Route Vert with huge, heavy bikes loaded panniers, etc. I was amazed. I would like to try this someday, but I don't know if I need *another* bike. Besides my road bike, I have a hybrid (Jamis Coda) and a mountain bike. My husband has a Bike Friday, but it's the road bike model. We could probably do a local tour or short one on the Jamis' but I think the flat bars would bug me.
We've thought about trading in the BF for 2 touring Bike Fridays. What's another few thousand dollars at this point????

[Triskeliongirl]

You can tour on a road bike friday, its all marketing hype. Yes, you can put tires as wide as 2" on a NWT, but you can go 1.35" on a road model which is plenty wide even for packed dirt.

I toured from chiapis to guatemala on my bike friday pocket rocket pro. The only issue may be whether he has a model that accepts a front rack (all accept rear racks, pocket rockets have both, pros just take rear), and how much weight the bike accepts vs the rider plus luggage weight. You guys are small so unless he has a pocket pro petite you'll be fine.