Hello! We're Roland and Julianna. We're bicycle tourists. We believe in the kind of travel that lets you get in touch with the world around you. We believe in bicycle tourism because our life is happiest and most meaningful when we immerse ourselves in the beauty - the sights, the smells, the sounds, the feels - of the world around us. In a way that only bicycle tourism provides. We're bicycle tourists because we believe in being good to our bodies, and being good to the planet. We're here on RU-vid to share our adventures with you, and to hopefully get you excited to get out of the house, get out of the car, get off the cruise ship, and really experience this incredible world. There’s a limitless amount of great experiences waiting. Let’s ride!
Where did Julianna get her sun hat for her helmet. My husband and I both need one like this. We live on the GAP Trail in PA and we love to ride…we have great helmets but need more protection from the sun. Can you provide more information for us to help us out. We really enjoyed your video and are looking forward to watching more of them! Thank you!
This was so helpful thank you so much, I just found your channel yesterday and am so glad I did! my husband and I are getting closer to having an empty nest and have been dreaming of bike touring for years and I have just started getting back to planning again recently because as you said there is a lot to think about and it is so fortunate that we have this platform for people like you with experience to be able to share it with others it is so valuable. Blessings to you and yours 😊
I love this video! The info I'm missing though is, for example on the KT trail, is there lodging available along the way? Or does one need to camp ? I'd like to know if there are towns along the way with motels every 20 miles or so.
Unfortunately that kind of detail is too much for me to fit into a short video, and facts on the ground are always changing. Each trail has links to websites where more detailed and current info can be found.
Vous avez raison pour inverser le sens de votre parcours. Le vent descend la vallée du Rhône et remonte la vallée de la Loire. Pour le canal du Midi, çà c'est au bonheur la chance car il circule dans les 2 sens. Les grands viaducs ce n'est pas pour l'autoroute mais le TGV, un coté vers l'Espagne, l'autre vers Marseille.
I live by the GAP in PA. In Garrett, PA they are planning a bike route from the GAP to the Flight 93 National Memorial Park. When it is done. It should be beautiful.
If your knee is going to hurt, the Katy trail is not the worse place. Thanks for description of that trail, it was the most complete. I enjoy your videos, and love how you two get along. Thanks.
I did a organized 25 gravel ride last Sunday in Grinnell, I thought I was in shape until mile 13, The hills were relentless. Thanks for making my inner complaints legit. Those hills are no joke.
An unfortunate reality is that the City of Tucson and Pima County are two very separate entities. The Chuck Huckleberry Memorial Loop is maintained by the County (which enjoys a much more robust budget than the City). The streets in town are maintained (or rather, not maintained) by the City which struggles at times financially. BTW, if you ever get down this way again, you should check out the Pima Air and Space Museum and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Don't come now, though. It's routinely over 100* during the day here this time of year.
Awesome!! I ride a Cutthroat and LOVE IT!!!! So responsive and comfy! Been watching your trip across US. Absolutely love it!!!! Keep up the great work!!!
Thank you for positive encouragement and explanation in a lump summary, how to prepare for a Bike Tour. I discovered this activity back in 2016 and at that time learned much of how to prepare, what to bring, and what to expect through a young man named, Darren Alff; "Bicycle Touring Pro" who unfortunately, gave it all up last year. He had been Bike Touring for over 20 years of his life. I have yet to participate in a short trip (as you mentioned around 2 weeks or so). My hometown is San Diego, CA but since October of 2021 I have been residing in Las Vegas. We are going through the Hot Season which will last until the 2nd - 3rd week of September. There are bike paths, BDR routes, dispersed camping locations here within Nevada and also knowing that our neighbors are the following states: Utah, Arizona, California, Idaho, and Oregon. Lots to choose from. One thing for sure and where I know AI is beneficial; A bike rider can hardly GET LOST wherever they may roam. A good Bike GPS always guides where the bike rider needs to go.
Yes, I remember Darren Alff. Put out a lot of great content. You're right about GPS. Everything is so much easier now than, say, fifteen or twenty years ago.
Nice overall view of Bicycle touring and unlike many channels covering this kind of touring, i like the fact you're both not 20 somethings full of energy but an older Couple who still have the zest in getting out there and is encouraging for me to soon do the same.......I got the touring bike to do it, mostly now retired.....so all I gotta do is get some camping gear and head off into the wide blue yonder. I'll just do some 2 and 3 day overnighters to start....it's winter in Australia now and except for the winds, all the snakes and creatures are asleep and we have no bears to worry about.
Its a tough thing. I wish I'd done this in my 20s. But then I was spending all my energy on making a career, and then making a family. Now that we're retired we have the time, but you know, it's a lot harder now than it would've been 40 years ago. And getting harder every year!
Hope Roland won’t mind.... Some wonder ( like me) what happens when you have a critical mechanical in the middle of nowhere ? Whether you’re an elite professional endurance racer or an ordinary cyclist makes no difference if you have a tire wall damage beyond repair, you are stuck. It happened to Sofiane Sehili on his way to collect his new german competition rig between San Francisco to Reno and the incident is documented, check Bombtrack bicycles YT channel, title of the video reads “Welcome back Sofiane”. American kindness at its finest ! 🥰
You know, that would've been a good section. Sometimes you're forced to ask for help from kindly strangers. We've certainly had to do that. It was a watershed moment for both of us, who are proud and self-reliant. I've also walked many miles for help. It's tougher here in the US, where towns and mechanics can be far and few between.
I always appreciate that you don’t make the rides always look easy. You say and document the difficult things too. My husband, kids and I have done some touring and it isn’t always easy, but it is well worth it. Thank you for your wonderful videos. They are inspirational.
I "failed" on my first trip last week, expected to have to walk at parts i didnt expect the route i picked to be so bad. I did see people have done it although are recommend to get a ferry across a body of water although the road is a dogey road on the other side. I said fuck it all push it through, how hard can it be. Turns out my arms where dead and crawling through at a snails pace carrying up and down rock stairs! Lol. Although i did enjoy the time out it wasnt easy and took myself as far as i could but its a lesson for next time ! Listen to recommendations 😂
Thank you Allison. While we're on the road we go with the flow, but it does take a fair amount of planning beforehand, to make sure you're not making climbs that are way above your abilities, or planning around weather. But there are always challenges, and that's why you can look back on it as an adventure, not a breeze.
A lot of sage advice here, folks. As a 54-year-old touring cyclist riding an old-school 80's-style flat-bar bike, I'll vouch for everything this video covers.
Salut Roland, So many points raised in just 19:05 minutes. Yet, there’s one particular point, I’d like to emphasize, it’s the importance of getting acquainted with the rules and regulations of the country/ies you are planning to travel. Let’s start with the 1968 Vienna Convention on road traffic which defines bicycle road worthiness. For the record, the US are a signatory to the Vienna Convention but never ratified it. Genuine question, is there something which defines bicycles road worthiness in the US ? As far as European countries are concerned, the Vienna Convention has been ratified by most (all ?) but it is not seriously enforced in many countries, Denmark being a noticeable exception. Since rear blinking lights didn’t exist in 1968, no regulation apply AFAIK. Per Germany's StVZO bike light regulations *no* flashing bike lights on either the front or rear of a bike. Ditto, NL and Austria. There’s a StVZO Reg which regulates front lights beam pattern (the aim is to avoid to blind other bike paths users and even other road users ( 🚗 🚛 🏍). I have no idea if it applies retroactively to bikes sold before that Reg came into force ? Then, old incandescent light bulbs “powered” by bottle dynamos hardly glowing in the dark never were an issue. Worth noting that European societies, in many ways, americanize, not necessarily a bad thing. Wrong time-wrong-place-Move-on-Nothing-to-see is no longer socially accepted. People, should an accident occur, do seek answers, rightfully so, and in court if needed. This works two ways, it protects cyclists but it’s only a question of time (if it’s not already the case ?) before some car driver invoked a distracting blinking light or that a bicycle wasn’t road worthy as a justification for having hit a cyclist.
Your knowledge of the law is impressive. I would hazard a guess that there are zero federal laws in the U.S. regarding bicycles. Zero. Local and state governments may have some regulations, but we have what I would call wild west rules. Do what you want until you hurt somebody. The regulations in Europe often chafe American's independent and lawless sensibilities, but I surely appreciate the reliability of the system, and the safety that comes with it. Interesting tidbit on flashing lights. We were shocked when a German police woman stopped Julianna and reprimanded her for her flashing lights. In the U.S., flashing rear lights are considered a mandatory feature (unregulated, of course!) of riding on roads.
Ooops ! I should have remembered that incident mit die Polizei. Well, that’s no different in the Nederlands, I’d recommend you made a mental note about that, as well as in (unsurprisingly) Austria. Ah, knowledge of the law.... Good pupil syndrome, perhaps ? Then, how are you supposed to stay on the good side of the law, in particular abroad (I am far less concerned on home turf) if you have no idea of the law ?😉 Next, brace yourself, I am looking forward to discussing “Primitive camping” vs “Dispersed camping” vs “Designated campsites” your side of the pond. Spoiler : if you think that the US system is complex, wait until we compared it with Europe 🤪 You have gotten to “know” (virtually )me, I ain’t gonna miss an opportunity to demonstrate that the US compares favorably with 🇪🇺, should the opportunity arise.
And I always defend Europe. Hard to compare the camping laws between the two. The US is full of public land, and wild places. It's much harder to "wild" or "primitive" camp in places with population and land ownership similar to Europe, as in, say, the northeast. But, yeah, much better camping and many more options here.
Most of my cycling in France was done over 40 years ago with my loved one, on road bikes. I see that today, cyclists have so very many more protected routes, the roads are better, and the motorists are expert at accommodating cyclists. The French are fantastic, food incredible, and the experiences are really life-changing. Thank you for your series.
I really enjoyed the series on your bike tour of France. Great photgraphy and Incredibly well put together, a very professional job. Thank you! 👍🚴♀👍🚴 The thing I liked about it the most, was how much you two enjoyed it, and especially Roland's appreciation of all put before him. I've started work on persuading my wife to have a go (that will probably bring the rain that the farmers need) - work in progress!
Good luck with that! When I suggested bicycle touring to Julianna (at the time, just a road cyclist), she told me flat out, "that sounds like absolute hell". I'm still not sure how or why she changed her mind. so glad she did (and so is she).
Some thoughts / tips from a European with a "bike cave". I use campsites and hotels. The basis is campsites, but sometimes the city is just beautyfull, or it is too wet. If you are looking for a route in Europe, look at the site of Eurovelo. This is an organisation of cycling enthousiast in the whole of Europe. The routes allways have lots hotels and campsites along the way. And low on traffic🇪🇺🇳🇱🚴♀️👍
I have done a few of these trails and can agree with you- but I do love the Virginia Creeper Trail and The Greenbrier River Trail. (It’s quiet-but lovely)
I and my wife live here in the middle of the Driftless Region and I thank God that we have the privilege to ride the Lanesboro / Root River Trail every year (and the many excellent bike trails in Minnesota) and even though I was just riding it a few weeks ago, watching your videos brings tears to my eyes, because even though I live here and it's easy to take it for granted, I do see it for what it is, and your narration (and the music) is like listening to someone reading my mind.
Wow, thanks! That really makes my day! Nothing better than hearing it from a local. You have so many great trails to choose from. I also really love the Sakatah and the Cannon River Valley as well, hope to do more in your fair state some time.
Sounds like a great plan! I would caution, however, that the section between St. Regis, Montana, and say, Valentine, Nebraska, is a VERY long way from being completed. or even started, for that matter. With research you can find quiet roads to fill in the gaps, but the Great American Rail Trail is a vision, decades away from being completed. here are a couple of routing videos we've done, hope they help! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-W6XM042jrL0.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-K_7h-z9JRh4.html
@TheBicycleTourists Yes, I remember one of your videos. You basically flew out of Montana. I don't Blame you very dangerous. I'll avoid that completely hopefully
Great video - again! We watched it in Cahors where we are in the midst of a 2,000 km bike tour of the Bordeaux and the Dordogne. You are right about “you can do it”. This is our 4th self-supported, credit card tour after about 6 commercial tours and there is no comparison. Doing your own is head and shoulders better. All your advice is excellent. The only thing I’d add is we are in our 70s and I had very little experience biking so we have used e-bikes for all of our self-supported tours. I simply wouldn’t have been able to ride 60+km every day for 6 weeks without e-assist. This year we shipped our bikes over from Canada and will keep them in Europe permanently, rather than continue to rent e-bikes. That’s how committed we are to bike touring. Everything you said about the joy of experiencing a village or region on a bike, the endorphins you generate from the exercise and the chance to simply be in nature for hours at a time is so true - bike touring is the most restorative and enhancing activity I can imagine. Thanks for spreading the word - your videos are terrific.
Thank you so much for your kind words. We have recently begun contemplating our move to eBikes, as Julianna's back may not allow her to ride much more without some assist. Also, we tend to favor routes with fewer hills, and I think it would be nice to open that up a bit. For example, exploring the Dordogne, very hilly but spectacular, as you are obviously aware. I also like your idea of having bikes there when you need them. May I ask how do you store them?
@@TheBicycleTourists We shipped our bikes to France via BikeFlights which was a fantastic service. Pricy but luckily for us, we and our bikes were in SoCal at the time and it was significantly cheaper to ship from there, rather than from Vancouver. After 55 days of riding our own bikes we are break even with the cost of renting and the quality is siginificantly better . We shipped them to a bike store in Bordeaux who received them, serviced them and we had to buy new batteries as you can’t ship the Li ion batteries via air. Our final destination on this trip is Nantes and we have found a TREK bike shop that will store them for us until we return in September and will service them so they are ready for our next tour. We have friends who cycle tour with Reise-Muller bikes they brought over from Canada (as oversized baggage, buying batteries here) and they have never had problems finding bike shops that will store the bikes and service them. They just did a massive tour, including the Pyrenees, finishing in San Sebastián - way too much elevation for us, and have left their bikes at a local R-M dealer. Our default plan, if we can’t find a willing bike shop is to find a small commercial storage unit which are as ubiquitous here as in North America. Small motorcycle sized units are quite popular in France so that seems to be a good option if you can’t find a bike shop. We highly recommend bike touring with e-bikes. Hills simply aren’t an issue any longer and in Provence last year, we weren’t bested by the Mistrals of which we had quite a few. With the e-bikes we anticipate bike touring for many years to come!
Your letter has encouraged us to discuss the eBike transition. Not quite ready yet, but soon, simply to be able to, say, tour the Pyranees, or the Alps, or the High Tatras, or even the Dordogne, regions that would be brutal on our bikes but doable on eBikes. Thanks for all your info. We're fortunate to have so many options these days!
I don't have a percentage, but easily most of the route is rideable as an off-road trail. WE took to the roads because of trail conditions, but I understand they are working on the rougher sections. I think we did 20% on quiet country roads, few issues with cars.
I find this very informative. Yes, I have those fears. I think doing this alone would be hard, so a riding partner is a must. Since my wife isn't into it, I'll probably find a good friend. All in all, this sounds like fun, maybe one day. Thank you Roland!
Im glad you didnt have any safety issues when you came into Columbus via the Camp Chase trail. The Hilltop / Valleyview area before you got to the Scioto trail, I myself would never ride that stretch of trail. There are just certain areas in the states that i wouldnt ride w/o a firearm.
A wonderful way to kick off the weekend. 💜 Well done with great info. The bandage on your face @ 15:30 was concerning. I hope everything went ok! A bike incident?
I absolutely LOVE your videos and watch them on the train during my commute to/from work. They put me in a happy place. I have done some bike touring and 100% agree with everything Roland said in the video. You do not have to be an athlete… all you need to do is start with a sense of adventure, do some planning (best to have a loose plan since it is more about the journey and the wonderful, colorful and interesting characters that you meet and the hidden gems of beauty that are off the beaten path that most people will never have the privilege of seeing), and do some reasonable training. Since cardio really helps get you up those hills, I would say that a three month 5k run training program would put you in a pretty good place but you could still have a good tour even without the 5k plan. The other suggestion that I have is to bike tour with someone that shares your sense of adventure. Roland and Julianna both exude this wonderful positive energy that enhances their experiences and makes the videos even more enjoyable!
Thank you so much Joseph! I have to say that the training DOES get harder every year. I've never been much of a runner (back and shin issues) but I always envy those who do it well. And while I would do this alone any day, having Julianna as a partner makes me one lucky guy!
Love the video. I have no plans on bike touring long distances. I purchased my bike October 2023 after 50 years of not riding at all. I spent the next 7+ m I nths testing both the bike and myself. Intook b a three day bike ride along the Great Alleghany Passage Trail around Meyersdale PA ( two days and 79 total miles) And one more day 25+ miles around Hancock Maryland It was enjoyable, for me.
I too have ridden the Allegheny passage and the C&O Canal toe path. It is a wonderful and beautiful ride. I loved every single second of the ride. It took 5 days to ride from Pittsburgh to DC. We did it in 5 days but my suggestion is to take 7 or 8 days and make more frequent stops than I did and to soak in the sights and historic areas.
Hey man I did same thing! I finally bought a bike at 55 years of age and started doing some trips! GAP is great trail and I've stayed in Meyersdale along the way too! 😂
Another informative video. Even if you’ve ridden for awhile Roland always has new information that can help you be a better cyclist! Friday is pizza and wine night for Laural and I. Now it’s pizza, wine and Roland/Julianna👍.
This is one of the best videos I have watched on radio trails. Thank you so much. We have ebikes so we need to charge every day. We try and find trails that have campgrounds near the trail. This video is a great starting place to bike some very beautiful places. We plan to bike the Hiawatha in late August.
Thank you Christine! We are fortunate to have so many trails here in the US. Enjoy the Hiawatha! If you haven't already, you might want to check out the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes while you're there.
Since repairs, the I&M/Hennepin Canal corridor in IL is much more passable. There are some trouble spots in times of high water but easily bypassed on low traffic roads. The Ottawa-LaSalle-Peru areas have much to offer. About 175 miles across the state utilizing the two trails.
That's great to hear. I've heard some not great reviews of the trail, so that is good news. I would love to ride the whole Grand Illinois route someday.
