first solo tour

[Slowspoke]

I decided today that I am going to do a 95 mile tour on a rail to trail for my first solo. It looks like a nice scenic ride with a few nice little towns along the way. I have to decide if I want to do this in 3 or 4 days. There are 4 segments to the trail, so it makes it easy to find places to overnight, with stuff to do along the way. Four days may feel like not enough riding for the day, so I may do 3. Either way, there won't be any big milage days. I have all the gear I need. I think I won't cook along the way, just bring some easy food and plan on stopping at restaurants when I need something more.
So now I need to set my date and figure out how I will get back to my car. It won't be too bad, my nephew lives in the town I will finish in! Bonus, I get to see my nephew and his adorable son!

I know I need to load my bike and do some riding with it loaded, but what else may I need to consider for my first time out? (I am an experienced camper/hiker so that part will be easy.)

[Sky King]

that sounds fun. Not to state the obvious, but be sure to take tools in case you have mechanicals between towns. I take a multi tool, chain tool and of course tire levers, spare tube. I also always have duct tape - I wrap it around a pen. Also a notebook or sketch pad, headlamp, ipod, flip flops - the normal backpacking stuff.

[Slowspoke]

Yep, I will remember all those. The more I look at it, the more I think a two day ride is in order. Forty or Fifty miles a day is totally doable for me.

Here is my second hurdle. My DH is VERY apprehensive about me taking off on my own. We were married last Sept. and I have to remind him that I am completely capable of looking after myself ! He would be much happier if I brought a friend. I may, but I like to ride on my own, at my own speed and take breaks when I want. I did a six day tour with a friend and while we had a great time, she was very focused on getting from point A to point B and didn't really like the idea of stopping to smell the roses! i just don't like to tour that way. I feel like we missed some fun along the way, just so we could get to our next destination.

[Reesha]

That sounds perfect, slowspoke. Make sure to take pictures so you can show us!!!

[Tri Girl]

Sounds dreamy!! 2 days is totally doable.
I completely sympathize with the worrying DH. Mine won't "let" me (and I use that term not like I need permission, but he strongly prefers that I don't) go on an overnight tour alone. He is a pessimist who thinks of all the things that can go wrong. I tend to be a flighty optimist who sees the possibilities (and yet I'm a realist who knows dangers and when to flee).
I hope he gets OK with you going alone. Maybe if you checked in every X hours to let him know you're OK??

[shootingstar]

Let us know how the trip went when you go.

Tri, I know my dearie wouldn't have a problem if I went cycling solo overnight for 1-3 nights, on routes that I have some general idea. He knows my geospatial skills aren't the hottest compared to his. So his concern would be me getting lost at the wrong time. Which has happened ...

I haven't done it yet. And it's my own mental game in my head that's stopping ,not him.

He's always thrilled for me to go off cycling solo for the day 60-80 km. rides which I have done by joining bike routes together..

[obinja]

Well, yer certainly smarter than I am. My first tour was 1,000 miles. From the Missourri/Kansas state line to western Colorado. Yu think yer slow, this ride took me 30 days. And I bloody well loved every minute of it. Except when I was getting vertigo coming across the high plains cause there was no real horizon to speak of.
Anyway, my advice? Less is more. I'm going to Europe in the fall and heading south to Morocco from France. I'm ditching the front racks and bags and going to a lighter handlebar bag and just taking less stuff altogether.
I'm an experienced backpacking guide and I am also into comfort. I'm gonna leave the thermarest chair home too and maybe even the thermarest. I read about a guy who uses bubble wrap.
Anyway, keep us posted....

[AppleTree]

This sounds like a wonderful, relaxing journey, I can't wait to read your ride report, be sure to post it.

My DH is very much like yours, always imagining the worst case scenario, no matter what...I've gotten used to it, and he doesn't usually harsh my mellow much anymore...

[natnatmorie]

Just a question, what is the best set-up for long distance biking on and off road?

[Sky King]

Just a question, what is the best set-up for long distance biking on and off road?

how much "off" are you thinking. We call that adventure cycling

I just put Grand Bois Hetre tires on my Rivendell and had a blast on Saturday - 30 miles on pavement 6 on dirt.

the Surly Disc LHT is getting great reviews as an on/off road, the bike hermit is riding one with Schwalbe Big Apples for our Owyhee Bylands Tour June 1st.
We have some nice blog posts on our website if you want to learn more.

other bikes we have helped set up for "combo" touring - Surly Pugsley, Surly Ogre, Salsa Fargo, Surly Troll

[Suze]

You won't forget it, as an experienced camper, though so was I and I forgot ... toilet paper. Real freedom came after I found a place to buy some!

And, I'd love to hear more about France to Morocco....for how long, when, how are you getting to Morocco, solo? I'm hoping to get back to southern France (Pyrenees) in September, and one of my cycling dreams is about riding in Morocco some day. I'm new to this forum, well to all forums and don't know how to associate my response with your response, above.

[Slowspoke]

This has not been a pleasant summer. My dad passed away on June 7. My DH went into the hospital a week later for 5 days and is now home on IV antibiotics and we are in the process of moving! yikes.
I painted our new house and am packing and loading most of our stuff myself. DH can't lift more than 10 lbs for 6 weeks. I haven't been on my bike since June.

So here is my plan. August is mine. I will swim every day. I will ride where ever I want, and before I go back to work, I will do a short tour. Plans change, chin up!