Re: [RBW] Re: January is long and I miss my bikes

[Leah Peterson]

I do think you’re right about this, Ted. I AM a people person and I think it might get pretty lonely out there alone. I would be the type to cut my trip short. I love looking back at my photos and video from the trips with my son; they were so special because HE was there. I need to find some new bike camping pals STAT. My buddy up in GR has a whole pile of these type of friends. Last summer he texted me from the road; he was riding around most of Lake Michigan and they were slogging it out doing 100+ mile days in 90 degree heat. I thought it was so cool he had several guys to do it with, also, please do not invite me to that. I do not want that kind of punishing itinerary; I want to see gorgeous things and stop for food and drink.  I did just plan a 3 day route in the upper peninsula that would take me from Sault St. Marie to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. It’s got one 80 mile day in it and the area is pretty remote. I think I need a partner for that one. I find the planning also to be overwhelming. It’s hard to know what places are truly like just from the internet. My inaugural ride to Niagara Falls ended up on 55 mph roads with little to no shoulder and we swore never again. It was on the “Great Lakes Seaway Trail” and it was a misnomer, let me tell you… On Jan 21, 2026, at 7:50 PM, Ted Durant <teddur...@gmail.com> wrote: On Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 8:24:53 PM UTC-6 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote: I’ve thought of setting off alone. But I wonder if that’s safe or will even be fun. Part of doing these trips is having someone to enjoy them and relive them with. Plus, how scared would I be alone in my tent at night when the animals come out? What if something happens like a mechanical or a crash?  That's a big question, for sure. I've just spent 6 days in LA thinking about how much I enjoy biking and sailing, and how that means I'm stuck for fun for a few months. A natural winter activity is to start planning the fun that I'll have when the weather allows. Whether you'll enjoy a bike camping trip solo is a great question to ask. As Paul Fournel says in _Need For The Bike_, "Hell is the rhythm of others." And, yet, few people really enjoy being alone for extended periods. I am an introvert, sometimes cripplingly so, and yet the couple of times I have done solo bike trips I have cut them short. I was a lot younger, then, though, and I've been thinking about planning something. As I think about it, I think that the best approach will be to try some solo S24O's, and see whether I enjoy those. But, as I'm not as young as I used to be, I'm not sure I want to actually do a camping trip. We'll see! Great winter topic, Leah! (apologies to those in warm climates and/or on the other side of the Equator). Ted Durant Milwaukee WI USA -- You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/YbDx-IuQKtk/unsubscribe. To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/0390d959-ca04-4828-9a2a-ae2dd4558783n%40googlegroups.com. -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/5604DADA-5CC2-4659-81B4-71B62AC113F8%40gmail.com.