Advice needed for first time tourers :)

[pshore]

Hey,
I am new to cycling, and am planning to do my first trip on a bicycle.
I will only have 20 days to complete this trip.
Together with me will be travelling my brother and dad, who is not as fit as I am, hence we will be going really slow, I guess not more than 50 miles a day.
This would make 1000 miles total for the whole trip.

Sounds like quite an adventure! Fab.

20 days is a lot of cycling if you have never cycled that much before. Definitely go for a shake down mini trip, even if only for one night. That way you can learn and make changes before the main event.

I have only done a couple of trips myself, a 3 day and a 7 day and I discovered that after 6 days, a day off would be very welcome to get a break, do washing, chill etc.

Also, make sure there is some flexibility in your plan. You never know when a mechanical breakdown, or injury might happen, or perhaps a must-do once-in-a-lifetime activity. Spare days, a paper map and nearby trains can help enormously.

 

[andym]

Excellent advice there. You can always leave your kit at the campsite and go for a circular ride if you decide you don't want a day off.

Edit: and don't forget to allow for those days that look easy but then when you get out there you find yourself facing a headwind/sidewind from hell that's threatening to blow you off the road.

 

[Wardy]

Wild camping(i.e. not on a camp-site) is illegal in England and Wales

What, even if Farmer Giles agrees to your using one of his fields?

 

[HelenD123]

What, even if Farmer Giles agrees to your using one of his fields?

'Wild camping' and 'free camping' are often used interchangably but camping with Farmer Giles' permission falls under the latter. If you have the guts to ask you can find all sorts of places to legitimately camp for free. I've camped in someone's back garden and also behind a pub, both in Canada though but the principle applies here. I've also been offered a free bed for the night a few times by strangers I've got chatting to.

 

[Arch]

With regard to distance covered in a day, do think about why you want to tour - is it purely to do the riding and see the scenery, or do you want to explore the area as you go? If the latter, then looking round a new town, maybe a museum etc can eat up half a day, so maybe allow for some days when you only aim to do 30 or so - if you find interesting stuff along the way, you have time to explore, if not, you can have an early finish and relax a bit.

I've only toured with hotel or B and B stops, and find that 50-60 miles in a day is plenty, allowing for cafe stops, lunch etc, and getting to your end point in time to chill a bit before dinner. (You'll notice, I rate eating pretty highly!)

 

[andym]

What, even if Farmer Giles agrees to your using one of his fields?

that's tame camping

 

[HelenD123]

that's tame camping

 

[zexel]

Bravo to you!

For newbies, total mileage and days cycling maybe a bit over optimistic I would say.

To learn more than any of us can tell you (or have forgotten) is to do to 50 miles for two consecutive days (eg, 100 miles over a weekend).

You will learn so much believe me and you will be able to modify your expectations accordingly.

Let us know how things progress.

Good luck with it all. IMO one of the most rewarding things one can do.

 

[Dave Davenport]

Bravo to you!

For newbies, total mileage and days cycling maybe a bit over optimistic I would say.

To learn more than any of us can tell you (or have forgotten) is to do to 50 miles for two consecutive days (eg, 100 miles over a weekend).

You will learn so much believe me and you will be able to modify your expectations accordingly.

Let us know how things progress.

Good luck with it all. IMO one of the most rewarding things one can do.

You still wouldn't be replicating touring, it's the whole thing of packing up in the morning / navigating / sight seeing / setting up at the end of the day / doing the washing / finding food etc. every day that dictates how far you travel over a few weeks. Not to mention the beer & wine consumption factor!

 

[zexel]

You still wouldn't be replicating touring, it's the whole thing of packing up in the morning / navigating / sight seeing / setting up at the end of the day / doing the washing / finding food etc. every day that dictates how far you travel over a few weeks. Not to mention the beer & wine consumption factor!

I was putting aside the touring aspect. Fundamentally can they physically cycle that mileage (replicating sitting on the saddle for 5-6 hours a day) let alone with the additional weight of touring. They're going to need a pannier just for Sudocreme!

If one can't sit on one's saddle the rest is inconsequential!