Just a quick poll. I'm infinitely fascinated about the diverse background people come from when it comes to touring. Personally, I have noticed a renewed interest in touring with people in my age group (late 20s-early 30s). Not quite the "next fixed gear" craze, but when I explain it to people they nod their heads like they're really interested. So, just a quickie poll on the left.
Apologies to precocious teenagers and octogenarians.
Does anyone else feel a renewed interest in touring or is it a case of "you see what you want to see?"
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10 comments:
I'm 32.
I've always been more interested in touring and bike-camping than any other cycling activity. But I've also enjoyed backpacking quite a bit, and perhaps am a-typical.
Love your site. I have been cycling many years and love touring.
Dunno about a renewed interest, but I do have a few friends (same age bracket - mid 30s) who tour.
I am almost through with the 40's headed for the half century mark (2009) I have toured of and on for over 30 years and ridden even longer.
Touring to me is a way to slow down and take life at a more realistic pace. Equipping it with Caradice bags and other vintage/classic (style) equipment is the icing on the cake. :-)
Aaron
I'm interested in it, only because sites such as your have raised awareness.
29. Getting into touring. It's yet another way to spent time outside having some adventure.
I've always wanted to tour since I was very young but never could afford a bike that could actually stay together or knew anyone to show me the ropes of cycling or touring.
In my 20s I started to do short daylong tours but didn't really started going on longer tours until my mid 30s. Now within the last five years and now into my early 40s that I finally have the chance to get to do what I dreamt about doing as a kid and go on week and two week trips. My wife and I are now planing on month long or longer tours.
As someone else did earlier I could also point out that sites like these have also added inspiration.
35. As a teen, I dreamed of touring and living a car-free lifestyle, but I allowed my parents to talk me into the "necessity" of a car. And lo, with the expense of a car came the need for a full-time job. Which came with an ever-spiraling car-expense-career-expense-car-expense-career feedback loop.
Maybe there is an increase in interest for touring. I wouldn't know; I don't personally know many serious cyclists. I think the general interest in cycling is increasing, and as a function of that, there is a minor increase in touring interest. The real telltales will be a serious swelling in Adventure Cycling's membership, and a wholesale return by large bike builders to building proper touring bikes.
I've always been a happy camper and got into cycling about 4~5 years ago (albeit more seriously around 2 years ago). So touring only seemed like the next step and I actually did my first small tour on my second year. A S24 two years later. And this year I did an 800km solo trip. This has been the best one I've done so far. Although that S24 was great too, this one was more demanding, more challenging and more rewarding. I plan on continuing to tour frequently and also start doing more S24's. (I'm in my mid 20s)
just found your blog and i have been going through your post's, very nice photography and writing. I am 26 and was on tour when you posted this. Two years ago i started riding a fixed, moved to a road bike, started racing, got really into cyclocross, and feel like I have almost "graduated" to riding touring and portuer style bikes. I went from trying to have as little on my bike as possible (no brakes, lights, bar tape, or braze-on's) to seeing how to put 4 water bottles on my frame, making panniers and welding my own racks. short 4-6 day tours are my favorite. Usually from Portland to the coast with eugene and routes through the willamette valley. I can't really think of another way to travel 500 miles more inexpensively or more enjoyably.
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