bicycle touring

So I got a few vacation days that I need to use up when bicycle touring suddenly came to my mind.
Now I've ridden a bit around cities, and I've backpacked, but I've never done bicycle touring. Not hardcore camping all the way type, just a combo of staying at people's homes, hostels etc.

So I started doing some google searching, and found some sites like bicycletouring101 and crazyguyonabike.

However, I want to hear from those of you've done it: which sources did you find to be your favorite? 
Did you do a test ride somewhere nearby with all your gear before heading out? If so, where? 

Also, destinations...I'm looking for somewhere very different from Chicago scenery :-) Usually I tend to go for the off-the-beaten path places when traveling, though as this will be my first trip and I'm not a bike mechanic expert, I'm thinking of going somewhere that are used to seeing cyclists and with shops in case my bike falters along the way. Oh, and I plan to do this trip sometime in May/June, so temperature will definitely be a factor in choosing my destination

Of course, I'd love to hear your stories in person too.



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Permalink Reply by Glenn on March 29, 2010 at 5:47pm
I joined Adventure Cycling Association. Its a great resource for cyclo-touring/camping. I love it.

As for testing gear, I enjoy a decent ride fallowed by camping in the yard or local woodsy area and a nice calm ride the following morning. Sweet and simple. I normally don't test stuff though. Just use it.

For destinations; the list is nearly endless (helpful right?). Really there is just too much information out there that can help you.
How many days are you thinking?
Do you mind roads or just trails?
How many miles are you thinking?
I'd possibly check the "touring" group or the new "pitching a tent" group.
Permalink Reply by Adam "Cezar" Jenkins on March 30, 2010 at 1:32am
+1 on Adventure Cycling. Also, I hope Bob Kastigar chimes in on this thread as I know he has a ton of experience as is evidence by his cgoab journals.

His journals could give you some great ideas for ride starting and ending in Chicago.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on March 30, 2010 at 2:03am
I got a postcard recently for a couple of bike tours that are certainly off the beaten path from here. They are offered by Parks & Trails New York (518-434-1583). Cycling the Erie Canal is an 8-day 400-mile tour (7/11-18) along the Erie Canal. A year ago I was in Niagara on the Lake, Ontario and ran into a couple of cyclists who were wearing jerseys from this tour. They were very enthusiastic about their experience. Upstate New York is beautiful, mountainous country, but the canal path (2/3 of the ride) is fairly flat. The same organization offers the Great Hudson Valley Pedal, 6 days, 200 miles (8/10-15).

These may be more than you're looking for, but I thought I'd share the info in case it's of interest to anyone.
Permalink Reply by BalloonBiker on March 30, 2010 at 3:16am
I'm getting starting doing some touring and would eventually like to do a very long trip. Unfortunately, I don't have vacation days to use up, so mine right now are rather short.

Crazy guy on a bike is a great resource for ideas. Also if you are looking to stay in people's homes, there is a site called warmshowers.org that specializes in linking touring cyclists with places to stay.

As for testing out your gear, I think that is a good idea. The Pitching tent group would be a good way to do that. You could also try some local overnight rides (using the metra to slingshot you out to some different areas) and do a B & B or something.

If you are planning on traveling to a destination and then riding, just remember that shipping a bike can get very expesive, amtrak is less expensive, but it would take longer to get to your destination.
Permalink Reply by Amy Y on March 30, 2010 at 6:03am
Yeah that was my dilemma. I really wanted to do somewhere like Norway or Chile (admittedly Chile maybe outside my ability now), but not sure how much shipping would be. I was thinking of just using my road bike, butI dont know how good it is at carrying loads. I also toyed with the idea of renting a bike from the destination if it is a popular bike touring area, which maybe actually cheaper than shipping my bike, though the fit and everything else would be up in the air.

I looked through the ACA, some good options if I decided to stay domestic. Also, please don't yell at me for asking this...what is usually the age range for their non-family trips?

I am thinking 7-10 days, maximum budget is $1600, $1000 for domestic including airfare.
Permalink Reply by Duppie on March 30, 2010 at 7:00am
Roundtrip to Norway will likely cost you about $1000, including shipping your bike ($700 airfare, $300 shipping your bike). I not sure about the cost of living in Norway, but $600 for 7-10 might be possible if you camp.

As far as your bike goes, a road bike is generally considered less than ideal, But it might work as long as it eyelets for racks and fenders (and the space to install fenders). Oh, and you might want to stay away from carbon. I know that excludes most road bikes, and if that is all you have access to, you might consider renting a bike wherever you are going.

Amy Y said:
Yeah that was my dilemma. I really wanted to do somewhere like Norway or Chile (admittedly Chile maybe outside my ability now), but not sure how much shipping would be. I was thinking of just using my road bike, butI dont know how good it is at carrying loads. I also toyed with the idea of renting a bike from the destination if it is a popular bike touring area, which maybe actually cheaper than shipping my bike, though the fit and everything else would be up in the air.

I looked through the ACA, some good options if I decided to stay domestic. Also, please don't yell at me for asking this...what is usually the age range for their non-family trips?

I am thinking 7-10 days, maximum budget is $1600, $1000 for domestic including airfare.
Permalink Reply by BalloonBiker on March 30, 2010 at 7:12am
If you aren't going to be camping, you probably don't need all that much stuff. You'll want to have a rack to carry your stuff as a backpack will get tiring very quickly.

Fenders are nice, but not really necessary, though if it rains you'll wish you had them.

Shipping your bike can get very expensive. I was just looking at it and on some airlines it can be $200 each way. Amtrak is pretty affordable and if you stay here, it is definitely an option.

Of course renting a bike can be very expensive depending on the destination.

Good luck planning your trip!
Permalink Reply by Amy Y on March 30, 2010 at 8:05am
hey Jamie can you tell me how you find out the shipping rates?
Permalink Reply by Michael A on March 30, 2010 at 8:20am
You can look on each airline's website, it is not just the rate of shipping you have to consider getting that full sized bike box to and from the airport (A bike box does not fit in a lot of cabs, especially in other countries) You also have to partially disassemble, pack, (pray it makes it damage free) unpack, reassemble and then repeat this process for each destination. I have found it possible to ship a bike to a bike shop in that area who will receive the package via ups, and have your bike ready for you when you get there. Also look into travel by bike packages, they can arrange the shipping of your bike.
Permalink Reply by Duppie on March 30, 2010 at 8:21am
Here is a discussion on shipping your bike domestically by Fedex

Here is United's international bike shipping policy

Here is United's domestic bike shipping policy

I guess prices have further gone up since I last shipped a bike across the atlantic....

Domestically, shipping your bike using Fedex is a lot cheaper than using an airline, and it allows for door-to-door shipping as compared shipping airport-to-airport using an airline. Downside is that it takes a lot longer


Amy Y said:
hey Jamie can you tell me how you find out the shipping rates?
Permalink Reply by BalloonBiker on March 30, 2010 at 8:22am
What they said above...

You'll probably want to go to get some advice on assemblying and disassembling the bike. The pedals are easy, though you need a special tool, I hear the handlebars aren't too hard to turn, but I've never done it myself. There is another discussion on here about packing a bike for travel: http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/2211490:Topic:14494
http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/experience-with-shipping-a

Hope that helps!

Amy Y said:
hey Jamie can you tell me how you find out the shipping rates?
Permalink Reply by BalloonBiker on March 30, 2010 at 8:38am
Oh, I edited my reply while you wrote yours.

What's the date on this article? It mentions a program being ended in 2006...is it still current?


Kevin Conway said:
Here's a one stop airline/shipping chart from League of American Bicyclists http://www.bikeleague.org/members/bikesflypolicies.php

jamimaria said:
I don't know of a specific chart for all of the airlines. When I was looking to fly last, I just looked at the airline was a planning on using. They list prices for oversized baggage. I believe most airlines do the same.

Amy Y said:
hey Jamie can you tell me how you find out the shipping rates?

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