A few years back I built up a new bike for my wife as a surprise. It was a Surly Cross Check with Jack brown 33.3 tires, Nitto Albatross bars, a small wald basket, ladies Brook's B17, etc. Very classy build. Black frame, all silver parts. I was hoping a nice, well fitting comfortable bike would promote more riding together, which it has to a degree. We've done a few longer rides together and last summer did our first overnighter, which she loved. She's always said that long distance touring probably isn't her thing, but after we've completed a couple motorcycle tours and backcountry hiking trips together it seems she's developed the urge to transition to bicycles... maybe all my cycling adventures have inspired some self-propelled wanderlust too, who knows.
Point is, we're sitting on the couch earlier in the week and she says "I want to take two weeks off next summer and go on a cycling tour with you". I felt like I was electrocuted! That's basically my dream. So here's my questions. I'm well aware of the fact that what I like to do on a tour isn't what a lot of other people would like to do. I look for single track and dirt roads, don't mind rough terrain and not showering for a week. I like doing 100-200km in a day. I love the idea of spending five hours climbing a mountain and then screaming down the other side as fast as I can possibly go. If we did that, I don't think she'd ever tour with me again... For those of you who've toured with your spouse, or with friends who aren't as nutty as you in general, what worked? What advice do you have for daily distance, elevation, road surface, etc? I know this will be highly individual and vary widely based on personal preferences, age, appetite for adventure, budgets, etc. For reference, my wife Cindy has done some 100km rides and enjoyed them, but I think that would be a bit much for day after day mileage. She likes gravel roads, but not trails. Enjoys hiking up mountains, but is nervous to attempt cycling up one. She's always been hard on the brakes all the way down any hill, but she's since acquired her motorcycle license, so all that 100km/h time in the saddle is sure to help alleviate the fear of speed. Thus far the best idea we've come up with together is going to Newfoundland and touring the western edge. It's a 450km one-way ride that crosses Gros Morne National Park, where we would stop to hike for a day or two. 450km isn't enough distance for 2 weeks in my opinion. I'd like something closer to 750. That way we can have some 100km days, some 30km days, a few rest days, etc. So maybe doing this 450km route plus something extra. Camping mostly, with a hostel/B&B every 4-5 days to stay fresh, mentally and physically. I think it'd have a nice mix of rolling coastal roads with light traffic, no high-mountain passes but still some climbing, and some good spots to stop for a day. Any advice is welcomed! -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
