I've never been on a tour

[fatblokish]

But I've done a bit of touring.

The thing is, when I've been touring, the destination has always been the goal. Snowdonia back in 1981, LEJoG the following year. A few trips more recently to visit friends in France. It's always been about getting to the destination, never have I set myself the target of going out for a week or so with the aim of reaching the place where I began. Even on the return leg the same holds true.

And this troubles me. It means that I always count down to the destination, every mile ahead is an degree of separation to navigate, every hill an obstacle to overcome. It is almost as if the arrival is better that the journey, and the bike is foremost a means of transport rather than an end in itself. Naturally I enjoy the view along the way, the wildlife, the interaction with locals, escaping the mundane etc (all of which are absent if driving or flying). But these are not the motivation.

So what motivates you proper tourists to go round in a big loop?

 

[ufkacbln]

It is touring

I had an ambition to cycle from Portsmouth to... Portsmouth.

I achieved this and have cycled the English Borders crossing at the C2C, Firth and Forth, and along the south Coast

It was a series of one way trips, as that suited me and the opportunities. For Instance the first time I did the South Coast from Portsmouth to Redruth / Helston was a job move.... The face of the Users at HMS Osprey when I put in a mileage claim for the trip by bicycle made it worthwhile

 

[psmiffy]

Motivation is about the only thing I don't pack when Im on holiday cycle touring

 

[MichaelW2]

Setting goals and achieving them, overcoming challinges, achieving maximum performance, proving that I can beat even myself, these are not part of my touring baggage.
I prefer pretty mountain passes, nice cafe stops, getting close-up with nature, meeting people, navigating, discovering and exploring new places.

 

[Hill Wimp]

My motivation is it's a holiday. The last tour i did with @hopless500 last July was purely about enjoying Holland and Belgium, the food, drink and sights. We did have a few particular places we wanted to visit most notably the start of the TDF in Utrecht but other than that it was all about the pure enjoyment of cycle touring. It wasn't about speed or distance just good old joie de vivre and being on a bike.

The fact that we could try almost every single beer Belgium had to offer had nothing to do with it

 

[RobinS]

For our tour starting next week we are starting Plymouth - Roscoff, to get home most easily we need Hook of Holland - Harwich. What else is there to do except a huge loop for twelve weeks in between? We have some vague plans, down the Velodysee, across to the Med somewhere, up through the alps etc, but the idea is just to go where we fancy, stop where we fancy, at whatever speed we like, and enjoy ourselves. Success is measured in enjoyment not in miles covered every day.

 

[Bodhbh]

It's a fair point about the loop. I've only ever done one tour in a loop and that was around the coast (which seems different somehow). Generally, I prefer to start and end somewhere different. Not sure why, maybe it's an anti-climax to end up where you started.

 

[RobinS]

Not sure why, maybe it's an anti-climax to end up where you started.

But surely the whole tour starts and finishes at home? A "one way trip" is just doing the return leg by another means of transport! Our cycling element goes from Roscoff to Home via Hook of Holland, but the trip starts when we get in the car to go to Plymouth.

 

[snorri]

So what motivates you proper tourists to go round in a big loop?

Just as there is no such person as a "real" or "serious " cyclist, there can be no "proper" tourist. Different people get different kicks out of touring.
For me, I suppose the motivation is the escape from normal daily life, no phone or emails, exploring new places, chatting with strangers, so many things.

 

[mythste]

Sounds silly, but not having a garmin/speedo/tracker of any kind! I'm certainly no "tourist" compared to some of the beasts on here but I look up and see more when I'm not wondering what my average speed is - and before I know it the miles have fallen away and I've had much more enjoyment out of the ride.

 

[Blue Hills]

actually myth, I find that now I have the Garmin on the bars rather than the speedo my riding has relaxed considerably - the main screen doesn't show the speed. And as I know I am unlikely to have to stop/lose time to check the map I don't subconsciously race to the next junction trying to make up time. Also as I am pootling or resting I often check for local POIs/historical stuff to go and pootle and have a look. Pubs/churchyards to go sit in.

 

[ufkacbln]

Sounds silly, but not having a garmin/speedo/tracker of any kind! I'm certainly no "tourist" compared to some of the beasts on here but I look up and see more when I'm not wondering what my average speed is - and before I know it the miles have fallen away and I've had much more enjoyment out of the ride.

My wife's first "Tour" was the Bristol-Bath cycle track!

We had decided to look at touring so had a "trial run"

Fully loaded bikes by train to Bath, camped overnight, packed bags, cycled to Bristol for lunch then back

Unloaded bikes, set up camp and went home next day

It was a "tour" that gave her the confidence to do the C2C later that year

 

[jay clock]

+1 for liking a point to point. I find satisfaction in getting somewhere under my own steam. Circular routes don't appeal as much.

 

[jonny jeez]

For me, so long as I am not returning the same day, I am touring.

Destination, miles, speed are all irrelevant.

The tours I most enjoy require me to travel home by another means. I hate retracing my steps and dislike the feeling of a circular route. I like to just go, in one direction...until I stop.

 

[psmiffy]

Im having trouble getting my head around the dislike of circular tours - circular tours are point to point - its just that the start and finish are in the same place