Have many Questions on Touring

vr40 said:

[font=Arial]Hi There[/font]

[font=Arial]Noob to Touring here... rofl[/font]

[font=Arial]Ok lets start off with what i have,[/font]

[font=Arial]Recumbent Vision R40 2002 oss [/font]
[font=Arial]Moutain Wheel 26 Inch Primo Comet 26x1.50 tire BMX 20 inch Primo Comet 20x1.95 tire[/font]

[font=Arial]{1} what is better to use on Touring ? Trailer Or Panners ? Or Both?[/font]

[font=Arial]{2} My weight is around 217 9 foot 6 guy...Bike weight is around 30 pounds....[/font]

[font=Arial]Question: what is the safe amout of weight i can put on the back wheel befor i blow a tire or break a spoke?[/font]

[font=Arial]{3} Ok so if you lived in Kentucky and wanted to take a Tour ?[/font]

[font=Arial]And you have all the time in the world...were would you go? Explain why you go there...[/font]

[font=Arial]I like to go along the east coast down along VA......North Carolina......South Carolina.....mabe Georgia @nd Florida Not sure yet??[/font]

[font=Arial]{4} Has anyone gone $Broke$ from touring ? What did you do when that happen? My biggest fear is geting hungry on a tour.. [/font]

[font=Arial]{5} Having a full loaded bike, does people seem less or more friendly to you? [/font]

[font=Arial]Explain what they say and do when they see you pull into there towns...Anyone have some good storys about this one?[/font]

[font=Arial]{6} Im just not sure what to bring with me on the Tour??? [/font]

[font=Arial]Anyone have a list of what to bring on the tour? Please help i seem to want to take way too much![/font]

[font=Arial]{7} Wearing cotten clothing on a tour is it bad thing to do?[/font]

[font=Arial]Im not sure when i be going but...If anyone is looking to hang out with old man...then let me know.[/font]
[font=Arial]Who knows??? I might just ride right into your town or city... hehe [/font]

[font=Arial]Hope you can help with some of my questions..🙂 [/font]

[font=Arial]Take Care, [/font]
[font=Arial]Tom[/font]

Adventure Cycling Association would be a good first stop:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/
1. Talk to Vision about mounting panniers and how much you can carry based on your weight, wheels, and tires.
I would avoid a trailer if it is possible due to the additional weight, handling issues, and aerodynamic drag. However, if it can't be avoided, there are some good cargo trailers available.
2. See the maps and books available from http://www.adventurecycling.org/
I like coastal riding, but weather & fog (marine layer) can be a challenge. Riding the Great Lakes in less inhabited areas can be real nice, like southern shore of Lake Superior, both sides of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan,
and then the Maritime Provinces of Canada, West Coast from San Diego to Seattle and the San Jaun Islands, etc.
If you hop off this Continent, New Zealand is also great.
3. You can spend at almost any level you want, but good preparation and some local practice can help you sort those things out. I had some equipment failures once in Eastern Montana. I got a ride to a bicycle shop and did some work for them to cover my costs and help me get some additional spare parts and ship the high cost parts to the manufacturer for "free service". The more you can learn what it takes to be self sufficient, the better chances you have of not getting "stuck". Your rear wheel is very standard and thanks to BMX your front wheel is more easily repaired/maintained/replaced.
4. Most people are intrested in a positive way about fully loaded touring. You can share your positive experiences with them and give them hope. You can also listen to their travel stories and advice. I look at it as a bicycle ambassador.
5. Read some of the books listed on http://www.adventurecycling.org/ ... you may find some at the library. You will need to build your own list based on your needs and your experiences. I suggest lots of weekend camping/tours where you refine the list. One think I really like is a nice tent with footprint, height, and rainfly that can stand strong storms. However, some places these are not needed or even desireable and a hammock is the best solution.
I like to have good detailed maps available as well as a compass. A waterproof carrier for maps is a very good idea. A waterproof place to put your current map for riding reference is also a good idea.
I like my Ortleib Light Rollover panniers and Tubus racks.
I also like my Princeton 3 LED flashlight for finding things in the dark.
I always carry more fresh safe water than I need. I use the Camelback system and keep a couple of spare-filled bladders with me.
6. I don't like the way cotton feels when I am sweaty or am rain-soaked, but I like it when I am stopped and in a dry campsite.
7. There is a page in Adventure Cyclist magazine where you can seek riding companions. You can also post your plans here and see if you get people interested in riding/touring with you... and/or inviting you in/over to share a meal and some experiences.
My expereince has been that if you are interested in others along the way, you will have more fun and likely have some who will want to join you on a "leg" of your ride.
I once had an older couple ask me in for lunch. They were both 50+ year bicycle riders. She offered to do my laundry because it was mostly dirty and sweat or rained soaked. He wanted to ride with me to my next camp site. We agreed to an arrangement where he rode and she did my laundry. At the end of the day I cooked them a camp meal and she drove in with my clean laundry in time to join us for dinner and pick up her husband and his bicycle to return them to their home after some more stories, advice, and a wonderful meal shared with "perfect" strangers.
I am sure other will share when they have a chance.
Let us know what plans develope.

Tom,

Daveornee's suggestions are pretty much right on. however, one thing you haven't mentioned is how self-supported you're planning on being. also what are you expecting out of this trip comfortwise, meaning do you want to enjoy the ride or enjoy the end of the day. if you've got the bucks to stay everynight at a hotel or youth hostel, you can do both. if you're going to be camping though, you've got to make trade offs.
i tend to go minimalist. i use a down bag that weighs a bit over 1 1/2 lbs. ; a bivy sack that has a single pole that weighs about 2 lbs. ; a silicone treated fly at about 8 ozs., and a very thin sleeping pad. it saves a tremendous amount of weight and is perfectly fine 9 nights out of 10.
in the summer, having a cotton t-shirt that you can soak with water can be enjoyable, but other than that and a bandana, i stick to synthetics. essentially 2 extra t's, 1 extra pair of shorts, and some nice rain gear. oh yeah, some extra underwear and sox. they are easily washed in any restroom and bunjee corded on your panniers are dry an hour or so down the road.
i have no experience with recumbents, so don't know about the weight distribution over the back wheels as opposed to a road bike. if you're worried, use some front panniers as well. definitely forget about using a trailer. i bought one back in the 70's for my 1st tour and never used it again. too much weight, too many handling problems, and too problematic in city traffic.
people are generally very friendly towards bike tourers. like dave, i've had many people invite me to either stay on they're property or at their homes over the years. the worst experience i've had people-wise was some drunk teenagers out cruising in either s. carolina or georgia throwing beer bottles and fire-crackers at me.
never gone broke "from" touring, but got back from 1 tour with just 25 cents after having lived the last 4 or 5 days or so on only granola and water. the 25 c was if i needed to phone someone to bail me out.
beside your usual tool kit, a couple of yards of duct tape, big-ass needle and some braided thread, a few of those plastic cinch tie things, and some wire have gotten me through many emergency breakdowns. also, swiss army knife with the "works". 1st aid kit to treat road burn and a few trauma pads and some tape.
don't forget your camera! hope this helps