Hi, i am new to touring and don't even have a bike yet! i currently have a Trek road bike. I've been road biking for about 2 years and learning about bike maintenance along the way. I currently live in Chiang Mai, Thailand but i am planning on going to work in Vietnam for 6 months and so my first bike trip will be from Chiang Mai Thailand to Da Nang, Vietnam, like a practice 1 month trip for the main event... if i don't find a touring bike before i go to Vietnam i will take the Trek road bike and backpack and stay in guesthouses which will be tough but i am sure will be an eye opener too, then hopefully source a touring bike and gear in the 6 months i am in Vietnam...
My main trip is, after i complete my teaching, i want to bike for approx 6 months from North Vietnam, possibly north Laos, Yunnan territory China, if i can through Tibet, Nepal and to India... i plan to camp along the way, stay at occasional hotels, couchsurf and rely on peoples generosity as i go... i plan to take a small cooking kit with me too. I have experience camping, wild camping, lots of world travel backpacking and daily road bike trips too but touring is a new one for me and seems like a combination of all the things i love.
I have 9 months from now to learn as much and prepare as much as i can from choosing a bike, to any advice for such a route and also any links to other sites/blogs of similar journeys. I would appreciate any advice, tips or even to hear from anyone in the area too.
My main trip is, after i complete my teaching, i want to bike for approx 6 months from North Vietnam, possibly north Laos, Yunnan territory China, if i can through Tibet, Nepal and to India... i plan to camp along the way, stay at occasional hotels, couchsurf and rely on peoples generosity as i go... i plan to take a small cooking kit with me too. I have experience camping, wild camping, lots of world travel backpacking and daily road bike trips too but touring is a new one for me and seems like a combination of all the things i love.
I have 9 months from now to learn as much and prepare as much as i can from choosing a bike, to any advice for such a route and also any links to other sites/blogs of similar journeys. I would appreciate any advice, tips or even to hear from anyone in the area too.