(I) So. You're thinking about bicycle touring.

Got a more specific question, suggestion or recommendation? Use the form below to send it along and i'll get to it pronto!

Before we start. To me a 'bicycle' tour is one which exceeds 3 weeks in duration and 1000 miles in length. Most of my comments and recommendations are geared toward those who plan to ride for a prolonged period. Still..even if you are riding for just a few days you will find much material here useful.

Well...why tour by bicycle?

Because cycling

is healthy. It is excellent low impact aerobic exercise which burns gobs of fat calories while you enjoy the countryside instead of staring at a blank wall at your local gym.
tones your thighs and abdominal muscles. I lost 5 inches on my waist this tour. If you are a strong rider or racer you'll get real sexy calves, too! [I didn't :( ]
is environmentally benign. You don't chew up the road, pollute the air or generate greenhouse gases (unless you fart alot.)
is far more efficient than hiking or even walking. You can coast downhill! Would a rock climber want to do that?

Oh but roughie what about the rain and the traffic and maintenance when bike shops are so far away and...and...eech!

Rain? Did someone say rain?

to beat the rain, select good raingear and, even better, choose your touring times and places to catch the dry seasons. I talk about raingear in the next section, and climate info is distributed throughout the site. Not all rain is unpleasant and unwelcome; and drippy days can add a flair to the scenery as shown here in Switzerland.

to beat the traffic, head for the hills! Thats where the farms, fields, forests and fun is. A good local map with hill shading will take ya 90% of the way. I address this issue throughout my site, also.

most bicycle maintenance is simple and requires just a few tools. Fix a flat, be true to your rims (Even more true than you are to your spouse. This was easy for me, as I have no spouse.), protect your bearings and you'll be OK. Tools are discussed in part III, the Compleat Bike. Go there now if ya want.

But roughie I am a wuss! How should I get in shape for a tour?

Actually cycling, like many aerobic activities, is quite muscle specific and the best training for touring is just that, touring! That is why short tours can sometimes be quite a painful experience for your back, butt and thighs. Riding for a while will tone up the hamstrings and other muscles you need to ride, but it will take time. Still the news is not all bad..
Before you go you can improve your stamina. The best exercise I have found is to run stairs.
I have been running stair laps ever since I smashed a kneecap in a cycling accident over a decade ago. (I lost an argument with the curb on a sidewalk!) It is really intense exercise but i have found nothing else even comes close to providing your legs with the explosive push you need for short steep hills as well as the sustained effort you need to climb alpine passes. Find a small football stadium or indoor basketball facility; or run the stairs in a building that is 4 to 8 stories in height. Run up taking two steps at a time, and 'jog' back down one step at a time. Start at 10-15 minutes, and work up to a maximum of forty minutes over the next two or three months. Stay at 40 minutes until you are within two weeks or so of leaving for your tour.
A stairmaster is a poor substitute but will work in a pinch. Simple reason. On a stairmaster you never go 'down' (although the effort level can be adjusted. So your knees never develop the muscles needed to 'hold you back' (the ones you feel when you walk down a steep hill). Thus the muscle buildup is unbalanced. If you use toe clips when you ride (i do not...just a pet peeve) you'll be glad your legs have those muscles in good tone.
Running stairs has worked wonders for me. I end up laughing my way up big climbs like the Great St. Bernard or the Karakoram Highway! It lowers your pulse rate (mine is under 60), and greatly increases your lung capacity (i have 40% more lung capacity than the average 46 year old). It keeps you on the balls of your feet, which is what you push the pedals with. Short of cycling itself, there is no better preparation for a cycle tour.

What about the cost?

Only wilderness backpacking is cheaper and even there the cost of specialized pre-packaged foods can be nasty. I would guestimate $15 dollars a day on a world tour...a bit more in North America and especially Europe, less in Asia except for the cities. My major expense was food..my appetite becomes phenomenal when I am riding (its phenomenal anyway) and it becomes even greater in colder weather when i add more yummies to keep me warm. 'Lodging' comes in at number two...you can save alot by wild camping..I say more about this in my section of living on the road.
Keep in mind that if you travel with one other person (groups can be a bit awkward) you can save alot on food and especailly lodging since you can split motel or campground costs.
Of course, being an economist i must say your GREATEST cost of a long bike tour is an opportunity cost--what you could have earned had ya been home working! For me the costs were even greater than THAT, since I put most of my stock portfolio into cash and missed amassive bull market the last few years! (arf...) On the otherhand you unemployed bums can say ya got off cheap. But to be serious, the out-of pocket costs will be close to $20 a day.
a related issue. Should you buy medical insurance I did NOT. In the USA insurance is expensive; one that covers you overseas, often even more so. If you get really sick (dead, even!) you'll have to fly home to the US eventually (if not immediately), so your domestic policy will cover you when you arrive. On the other hand, for less serious things (medicines, minor operations, bumps bruises, treatable infections and such) medical care is cheaper overseas and you can just pay out of pocket. For non US citizens, where insurance is less expensive the situation could easily be reversed: check with your medical insurance program.
In London and many backpacker haunts in Europe you will see ads "for backpackers insurance" that covers all sorts of things, including theft and yes, repatriation in the evnt of illness or death. If you are under 26, these may be very worthwile policies to buy for the peace of mind they give you. Policies vary: check with the various providers.

Questions from readers.

Still thinking about touring? Got another question related to pre-trip jitters and preparation? Send it along and i'll answer it down below! Use the form provided or email me at nagaisan@hotmail.com