Tracy Flucke from We Bike, Etc. joined us on “Wisconsin Tonight” to discuss one form of bicycling that is gaining popularity -- bicycle touring. Basically it is taking off on your bicycle for an extended ride.
You can leave and return to the same place (loop tour) or start and end in a different place. The tour can be for one day or multiple days
When Peter and Tracy’s children were little, they did a two-day tour to Shawano and back on the Mountain Bay Trail with another family. They stayed in a hotel for the night – kids got to swim and eat pizza – fun time for all. Keep it simple!!
Bicyclists can carry all their gear and supplies with them or have someone else carry for them – sag vehicle—where that person in the car carries the gear and meets the bicyclists at their daily ending point.
When Peter and Tracy did their cross country trips, they carried all their supplies on the bicycle and did not have a sag vehicle – typically carrying about 50 lbs.
Multi - day touring – do it in phases:
- First time out, just do an overnight and return to the start the next day
- Decide where you want to go and stay for the night
- Bicycle to a friend or family members home and spend the night with them, great way to visit with friends and family
- Do a credit card tour and stay overnight at a hotel, B & B etc.
- Camp – pack your camping gear and plan to spend the night at a campground – Peter and I actually did our first overnight camping tour after bicycling to his brother’s house in Fond du Lac and putting our tent up in the backyard – great way to make sure your gear is ready to go
- When you are comfortable with a two day tour keep extending it a day at a time and before you know it you will be doing a week or two with no problem
Others can join Peter and Tracy the weekend of June 3 – 5, 2016 for the Adventure Cycling Associations National Bike Travel Weekend.
Plans are to leave Friday, June 3rd and they encourage others to come along and ride with them far as you want, one hour, all day, two days etc.
Click here for more information about We Bike.
