Comments on: First bicycle camping trip (S24O)

By: joe

joe — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 06:40:23 +0000

Hey! I’m about a year and a half late on this, but I found your post while googling “bicycle camping”. I’m from Bloomington (now living in Champaign, IL -via New York City) and it was a nice surprise to see pics of Musgrave Orchards and old 37. Having lived away from b-town for a few years, I’ve come to realize how distinct and recognizable the landscape is–even without your description. I really enjoyed reading your write-up. I’ve been planning to do a similar trip out here (also on a road bike).
Anyway, best of luck on any future adventures (and wish me luck on mine).
Take care!

By: Jeannette

Jeannette — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:02:09 +0000

The trial run is great advise. We are keeping gear down to a minimum (sheets instead of sleepingbags,etc)and we are planning to leave around 6am to allow for plenty stops to rest.Thanks again.Hope my pictures will be as good as yours.

By: Apertome

Apertome — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:29:27 +0000

Thanks all … Jeannette, that’ll be tough. Are you carrying a lot of gear? I’d suggest some trial runs with the bikes loaded down before you try to make the trip. This will let you tweak any problems beforehand and see if you think it’s doable.

By: Jeannette

Jeannette — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:48:42 +0000

Very inspiring.I came across your report while trying to prepare for a trip from home to a mountainbike race.Only about 45 miles one way,but I will be going with my 17 year old son and 8 year old daughter(both mountainbike racers) and we have to go through the Berkshires.We’ll see who hold up best.Might not be me.My husband is doubting that we can do it.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:39:56 +0000

Congratulations on completing your first bikecamp trip! The first few are learning experiences; you’ll soon figure out what to take, how to pack, etc — this seems to have gone well for your first trip. Way to go!

By: Pete

Pete — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:06:45 +0000

Great report. One of my unofficial goals for this summer is to take a similar trip. Reading stuff like this inspires me to keep working toward that goal. Thanks!

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:51:59 +0000

What a great report. I took the opportunity of looking at your roads on google maps, surveying the whole area. I’m pretty jealous of your area up there. Here in L’Ville we have fewer parks and fewer empty roads to choose from. I think, though, that your entry has inspired me to consider a S24O. I don’t have all the accoutrements, but I do have the Surly LHT to carry it. Keep posting great stories, and if you’re ever in the mood for a Kentuckiana adventure (road or mtbike), let me know.

By: John

John — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:14:35 +0000

Fun wasn’t it? Part of the adventure is when we have to make do because something we really wanted is nowhere to be found. We always seem to get by.

Brandon, my Erie Canal riding partner and #3 son will have all his touring gear procured within two weeks. His birthday is this month and he has a registry at a LBS. The only thing left on the list is the seatpost touring rack. He and I will do two S24O’s before leaving for our nine day bike ride on July 18th.

I have read a couple of times that if we are doing light tourning to use front panniers. The people who have done that say is better stabalization.

Brandon and I have two choices of campgrounds which I have written about recently. Myles Standish State Forrest and there is also a capmground on the Cape Cod Canal.

If we keep going at this pace, maybe one or both of us will do a cross country trip and cross paths.

Great job writing up this one. There will be more, I’m sure.

By: MRMacrum

MRMacrum — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:32:46 +0000

The first trip is always the most interesting. I will say you were much better prepared than I was when I went bike touring the first time. I had a blue tarp for a tent and some blankets rolled up tight. A pot from the kitchen and some eating tools. It went ok, but like you I learned quickly what I should do differently.

I envy you this first trip. I remember discovering things about myself I never really paid attention to. I remember the satisfaction of being self sufficient and how that bolstered my confidence. I remember how reliant I was on everyday things I could not use because I did not have them. Solo Touring is a trip only some people thrive on. I miss it.

Your firewood trip reminded me of a trip I took with a buddy on an off-road tour. We had been out for 4 days and decided that it was time to unwind. So we stayed in one spot for 2 nights. The day we did not travel we spent riding over a huge mountain in the woods to a beer store on the other side, Bought a 30 pack of Pabst and I crammed all but 2 into my huge Jannd messenger bag. The 15 mile trip back up and over that mountain was tough. But we had a grand time that night. A ranger found us the next morning pounding the aluminum cans into flats so they would pack out better. He was scratching his head over how we had all this beer so far in the woods and no vehicle.

If you really get into it as I did, think about a trailer.

Excellent breakdown of your trip. The Rogers Barn pic is great.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 05:56:20 +0000

Fun! It really makes me want to… continue spending the night in a motel, actually. I’m not sure I could camp AND haul a bunch of stuff a long distance at the same time, at least not yet.