Am I mad, newbie tourer

[Tyre Lady]

One day when am done with my journey, I will come back and ask Ivor Tingting for tea.
Would be interesting to see if he can make me negative or me make him positive

[simonhill]

In fairness, we get these sort of posts regularly. Lots of advice, with the OP sometimes taking umbrage because of pre conceived ideas - then nothing.

It would help if these first timers came back at the end of their trips and reported how it went. Unfortunately they rarely if ever do.

Does nothing equal wonderful time had or does it mean plan abandoned.

Some scepticism is probably unavoidable.

[yutkoxpo]

Maybe a sticky at the top something like "So you'd like to do a bike tour?"

With suggestions that the new poster supplies the basic info such as:
Do they already own a bike? What kind? How much do they cycle?
Solo, Couple, Group, supported or non?
Where do they want to go? How far? How long? When?
Where will they stay? Camp? B&B/Hotel, Hostel, Other?
Cooking or no?
Any other specifics such as nationality, health conditions etc.

Maybe some general info on what daily distances are practical - run a poll (perhaps combined with weight carried)

And highlight some of the previous threads where there is some good information.

I can understand a bit of scepticism, but it's not really fair to be sceptical of new posters. At least give them a chance to earn some scepticism!

You could even go so far as to hide a message in the sticky that explains it must be used in an opening post to show that the new poster has actually read the sticky!

In fairness to the OP, there is a "tone" from some of the posts. I'm fairly sure that tone wouldn't exist in a face to face conversation. Maybe we could all try a little harder to imagine a face to face convo rather than the cold typewritten kind?

[mjr]

Some people are just astonishingly rude even face to face, so maybe it'd be better to imagine you're writing a letter to the editor of a reputable publication.

[Ivor Tingting]

One day when am done with my journey, I will come back and ask Ivor Tingting for tea.
Would be interesting to see if he can make me negative or me make him positive

But you haven't started your trip yet. Many plans are made with totally unrealistic expectations and preparations, but I might be wrong on this occasion. It hasn't happened before but there is always a first. It would nevertheless be churlish of me not to wish you good luck.

[horizon]

Some people are just astonishingly rude even face to face, so maybe it'd be better to imagine you're writing a letter to the editor of a reputable publication.

I think this thread was OK. What the OP wasn't expecting perhaps was a huge blast of well-meant, positive but passionate replies based on real (and one presumes sometimes painful) experience. The OP touched a deep nerve; and the reponse was "been there, done that, now let me advise you how to avoid what I went through!".

[Ivor Tingting]

Maybe a sticky at the top something like "So you'd like to do a bike tour?"

With suggestions that the new poster supplies the basic info such as:
Do they already own a bike? What kind? How much do they cycle?
Solo, Couple, Group, supported or non?
Where do they want to go? How far? How long? When?
Where will they stay? Camp? B&B/Hotel, Hostel, Other?
Cooking or no?
Any other specifics such as nationality, health conditions etc.

Maybe some general info on what daily distances are practical - run a poll (perhaps combined with weight carried)

And highlight some of the previous threads where there is some good information.

I can understand a bit of scepticism, but it's not really fair to be sceptical of new posters. At least give them a chance to earn some scepticism!

You could even go so far as to hide a message in the sticky that explains it must be used in an opening post to show that the new poster has actually read the sticky!

In fairness to the OP, there is a "tone" from some of the posts. I'm fairly sure that tone wouldn't exist in a face to face conversation. Maybe we could all try a little harder to imagine a face to face convo rather than the cold typewritten kind?

FWIW I think for the frequency with which these posts seem to arise it would be really good to have a set of questions requiring posters to provide basic information about an intended tour and the abilities of the participants, type of bike(s), whether they even have a bike, etc. This would save a lot of time or unnecessary unpleasantness and bickering amongst those replying. I would suggest a template be placed as a sticky at the top of this forum with the title "So you want to go on a bike tour .......... Please provide some basic information by answering a few short questions below to enable the forum to make an adequate and informed reply. Thank you". Simples.

[Tyre Lady]

One day when am done with my journey, I will come back and ask Ivor Tingting for tea.
Would be interesting to see if he can make me negative or me make him positive

But you haven't started your trip yet. Many plans are made with totally unrealistic expectations and preparations, but I might be wrong on this occasion. It hasn't happened before but there is always a first. It would nevertheless be churlish of me not to wish you good luck.

Cheers Ivor. I defo am a dreamer & have been told repeatedly that am unrealistic but somehow stuff has worked out. Sometimes am not well prepared (like in 2 weeks time) but am gonna go for it & will get cycle fit as I keep going. If my butt hurts I will cycle standing up, if I have a puncture and cannot get the darn wheel off in the rain, I will walk the bike to a door however long that might be and knock. Look forward to bagless tea when am back

[nirakaro]

I fear Tyre Lady may have unintentionally misled us through an excess of modesty - this seems to be someone who knocks off marathons/ultramarathons by the dozen. I suspect it won't take her long to find her cycling legs, and then leave us in the dust.

[Vorpal]

If it helps the determined newbies...

When I was a teenager, my brother and I sometimes set off on our bikes with nothing but sleeping bags, fishing gear, a tent, and a desire to be someplace removed from 'civilisation'.

We once rode 70 or 75 mile from home with nothing but sandwiches and pocket change, without thinking about getting home again, or that it would get dark and we didn't have any lights (or an evening meal!)

We managed to survive a number of mad adventures like that.

I've also ridden myself fit, touring. I did that the summer after I graduated uni. Although I rode my bike to and from uni, because of being busy with studying & exams, I had not ridden more than 5 or 6 miles in one go since the summer before. So, I was completely unfit when my brother and I set off with a friend of ours on a tour. We only planned 30 miles per day starting out, though!

[Tyre Lady]

I fear Tyre Lady may have unintentionally misled us through an excess of modesty - this seems to be someone who knocks off marathons/ultramarathons by the dozen. I suspect it won't take her long to find her cycling legs, and then leave us in the dust.

Once upon a time I was really fit but am not as active as before hence reasonable fitness. Am only able to knock off the marathons/ultras because as @Vorpal says - am determined to finish. Don't do much in between.

However when you push yourself beyond your comfort zone, the struggles can change one's own limitation and the comfort zone also changes.

Also if ya read my blog posts, have attributed UK Cycle Forum to helping me understand much more about cycling. Still learning and got 2 weeks to go since it looks like there will be an extension on Brexit!!!

[mjr]

Also if ya read my blog posts, have attributed UK Cycle Forum to helping me understand much more about cycling.

Not as much as I read the forum. Hope you got the name right on the blog

[Tyre Lady]

Also if ya read my blog posts, have attributed UK Cycle Forum to helping me understand much more about cycling.

Not as much as I read the forum. Hope you got the name right on the blog

Just checked - yah I did call it Cycling Uk Forum. Brain sometimes operates back to front

[Ollie732]

I'm a tough skinned *******, haven't taken anything personally, the topic heading opened me up for some hard hitters and have had some good pointers to take away and work with, I work in the equine industry (you gotta be tough skinned) and realise everyone's experience and views are different (you can ask what colour a horse is and get 10 different answers)
A sticky thread at the top would be a good idea, don't think a pre screening protocol would be fair, we all have to start somewhere.
I'll come back to you all and tell you all how it went (ill be back before then too )
It's nice to see there are people even crazier than I on here, and it's nice to hear from seasoned veterans.

[Ollie732]

If ok, I'll keep you all updated on progress equipment etc.
After a summer break, dug bike out (which is a hard tail specialized mtb ca year 2000 and will be changed) only 20 and 30 mile days training over this week out on the road, before I had to leave for work (I work abroad) and at the moment would have happily got back on for the 5th day running
(this might be the wrong thing to admit on here) but bought a turbo trainer and set it up in the garage for both of us to get saddle time in (3 year old twins at home so the wife can train after bed time)
Saw the excellent link about bike fitting you, pleased that I had my saddle set up at almost the correct hight and it confirmed my suspicion that my handle bars are a tad lower than should be. Other half's bike is totally not right for her (was bought by her dad as a birthday present) and on our short list is a Specialized Vita comp for her, undecided for me right now.
So many questions, wondering dedicated gps system that I can upload route from ride with gps or to use smart phone alone but realise any (or most) mention of kit there will be a difference of opinion to what suits different people best.
Back to back and tours away are planned too...