HELP! Are me and my girlfriend ready for this tour?

[Badz]

So here's the deal.  My girlfriend and I are currently staying at her sister's house in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.  We're in the middle of a cross country trip (primarily using buses... and walking) and we decided to bike from here to Tallahassee, Florida.  To do this, we plan on using the Atlantic Coast route and the Southern Tier route.  I have a used road bike I picked up for $50 and she has a new mountain bike she got at a thrift store.  We have a baby trailer we're attaching to my bike to throw our packs in, camping gear etc.  We're in shape but we're not cyclists.  Neither one of us has rode more than 10 miles in a day.  It's hot as hell here and we're really hoping if we just stick to the routes (Atlantic Coast and Southern Tier), we can just take our sweet time and not run into too many problems.  We have no time frame and I'd be happy with covering only 20 miles a day.  We are crazy, adventurous people but we're not sure if we're getting in over out heads here.  I've talked to the local bike shop guy and he seems to think it's possible, if not ideal.  Are we being naive and foolhardy or is this something we can do if we prepare properly and just take it slow? 

I'd really appreciate some input from you guys because her sister and her husband keep trying to talk us out of it, but if it's doable, we'd really like to try it!

Thanks,
Brian

[aRoudy1]

Hmmm.  Young, adventurous, no timetable; the worst that could happen is your bikes break down so you continue on hiking or bus riding.  Go for it!

[Badz]

Thanks a lot.  I've spent the past couple hours pouring over this forum and tabbing back to Google Maps to check out the routes.  It seems more and more doable by the second.  The only thing that concerns me is there are some stretches with no shoulders, but I assume there's hardly any traffic there.  A great trick is to drag the orange guy on google maps to any location on any road and you can check it out. 

[awbikes]

You won't be the first or last to accomplish a ride like that (with highly questionable) bikes. As you are young and fit, other than saddle discomfort which will decrease with time, your bodies will adjust just fine. It is important to have the local bike guy at least look at the bikes and insure the fit/size is workable and that there are not any immediate and noticeable mechanical issues. Reasonably serviceable tires are important though and the ability to repair flats. All said and done at your age and with your travel experience I would DEFINATELY do it.

We will be interested in your success so please keep us informed. As there is no substitute for youthful exuberance and the sense for adventure I know many of us will be just a little envious.

[valygrl]

Why not head north and get out of the heat?

[csykes]

I wish I had done something like that when I was a lot younger with few obligations!  Be sure to carry extra water if you head into the deserts during the summer.

[nlsteve]

I concur with those above.
As long as you are OK with expecting the unexpected and rolling with the flow, why not?

Keep your mileage goals modest and have fun.

Steve

[RussSeaton]

Sure its doable.  Biking is not really that physically demanding.  Provided you ride at a fairly slow pace, you can cover about any distance.  Of course the slower you ride, the longer it takes.  But biking does not physically harm you.  Unlike running for instance, which does literally pound and tear up your body.  Biking is not an impact activity and does not harm you.

My concern is with your lack of any bike mechanic knowledge.  Flat tires will occur.  Guaranteed.  Chains will come off.  Bolts will come loose.  Handlebars will get turned.  Derailleurs will go out of adjustment.  All of these are easy to fix with a little knowledge and a few simple tools.  But they can all ruin a trip or cause days of delay if you do not know how to fix them immediately.

[tonythomson]

Go for it and good luck, we tend to make cycle touring too technical when really as said a bit of mechanical know how, common sense with regard to the heat and de-hydration is all you need.
Go easy and take each day as it comes, you'll have a great time.  My first trips were on a regular bike, soccer shorts and tee shirts.

The worst is you dump the bikes and hitch it.

BE WARNED once you have done it there is no way you will want to go back travelling any other way and before you know it you'll be a vet on here giving out good advice and encouraging others.

[Pat Lamb]

BE WARNED once you have done it there is no way you will want to go back travelling any other way and before you know it you'll be a vet on here giving out good advice and encouraging others.

You mean we're supposed to be giving out GOOD advice??

 

[paddleboy17]

BE WARNED once you have done it there is no way you will want to go back travelling any other way and before you know it you'll be a vet on here giving out good advice and encouraging others.

You mean we're supposed to be giving out GOOD advice??

 

Get with the program.  We need more recruits for the touring cult if we are ever going to challenge Scientology!
 

[tonythomson]

BE WARNED once you have done it there is no way you will want to go back travelling any other way and before you know it you'll be a vet on here giving out good advice and encouraging others.

You mean we're supposed to be giving out GOOD advice??

 

Not really - just trying to be encouraging :oP