Bike Touring Advice

[enzomatic]

this does sound awesome. About the trains, a friend of mine recently trained up to portland with her bike, she said it was really cheap since she had her own box. I'm sure we can find a bike box at the shop to use. Another option is to get a bike bag, then mail the bag back home when you arrive. I would be interested unfortunately while summer is when I have a lot of time, I'm not getting a lot of paychecks. Still down for the Santa Barbara ride though.

[Raina Schwarze]

Gus: borrow as much of the gear needed as possible.  Most of these things you're only going to use occasionally.  Start out with borrowed gear and you'll learn what it is that you'd like to own and aquire those things over time. 

For example, panniers can be expensive, but I have a pair that I would let you borrow so long as I wasn't using them at the time.  Steve Ma borrowed them.  Lucas and I have a killer camp stove/pots 'n pans.

One last piece of advice I'll impart on you is to make sure that you've got a rockin' sleep-setup.  As someone who lives an alternate lifestyle (no, I don't mean gay), I've realized that all else is bearable when you've got somewhere comfy to sleep.

[Gern]

Sleeping:
I sleep best in a hammock. Pulled really taught, head slightly higher than the feet. Caribiners to keep it closed up, and a simple tarp over me to stay dry, held in place with spring clamps - "grip clips".
I can remember only being forced to sleep on the ground once, Grand Canyon Campgrounds South Rim; there are were no adequate trees!

Bike:
I Love my Surly Big Dummy! I realize it isn't the bike for everyone, it is heavy.

Big Sur Area:
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park & Tassajara Hot Springs!! Love em.

[ShaneQuentin]

she said it was really cheap since she had her own box. I'm sure we can find a bike box at the shop to use.

I used your mom's box.