Bicycle Travel > General Discussion
Bicycle Touring vs Backpacking
oldgroundhog:
What are your thoughts on the advantages of bicycle touring over backpacking, or vice versa? I've hiked the Appalachian Trail and made several Pacific-Atlantic cycle tours. I'm frequently asked which is best and why? I have my thoughts on the subject, but was wondering yours? So if you are both a backpacker and a cycle tourist, what do you say?
DaveB:
I guess I don't understand why one has to be the "best". They are such different modes of travel and offer such different experiences that they should be treated on their own merits. The closest comparison to backpacking would be MTB touring and, even that, is very different.
John Nelson:
Backpacking is pretty-much a 100% nature experience. Bicycle touring (on roads) is a mixture of nature and civilization. Backpacking allows you to get away from it all more completely. Bicycle touring allows you to travel greater distances and see more. Backpacking is good if you are nervous about sharing the road with traffic. Bicycle touring is good if you want to meet people and experience rural life.
Do both.
staehpj1:
--- Quote from: John Nelson on December 07, 2012, 07:50:01 am ---Backpacking is pretty-much a 100% nature experience. Bicycle touring (on roads) is a mixture of nature and civilization. Backpacking allows you to get away from it all more completely. Bicycle touring allows you to travel greater distances and see more. Backpacking is good if you are nervous about sharing the road with traffic. Bicycle touring is good if you want to meet people and experience rural life.
Do both.
--- End quote ---
John hit the nail on the head.
I removed my first reply because I misunderstood and read backpacking as bikepacking.
ezdoesit:
--- Quote from: John Nelson on December 07, 2012, 07:50:01 am ---Backpacking is pretty-much a 100% nature experience. Bicycle touring (on roads) is a mixture of nature and civilization. Backpacking allows you to get away from it all more completely. Bicycle touring allows you to travel greater distances and see more. Backpacking is good if you are nervous about sharing the road with traffic. Bicycle touring is good if you want to meet people and experience rural life.
Do both.
--- End quote ---
+1
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