How many people ride the Northern Tier each year?

[Westinghouse]

There were some people on some internet forum discussing an aspect of bicycle touring. They all agreed that long-distance bicycle touring is a low profile manner of traveling. I must disagree. In a car you are a nameless faceless blank in a motorized cocoon. People notice the cyclist. In a car you move with traffic. Only those around you even know you exist. By the end of a day, thousands of drivers will have seen the man on the loaded bicycle, and he will spark their imagination. In a car you pull into a gas station / convenience store, you pay, pump and go. Your presence causes no curiosity to anyone. Come pedaling in with a fully-loaded touring bicycle people may react. They ask questions. Where did you start? Where is your destination? How long did it take you to get here? How many miles do you ride in a day? When did you start your trip? You have a long road ahead of you. I have thought about bicycling across the USA since I was a teenager etc.

The long-distance, fully-loaded, bicycle tourist is a high profile traveler because he is seen by many thousands of others on a transcontinental ride, and he, to some degree or another, makes an impression and stimulates curiosity.

[BikeFreak]

My observation is that in a lot of the Untied States if you are camping many folks assume you are a homeless vagrant and possibly a mentally ill criminal.  Doesn't really matter how often you shave.

On a few occasions, when I went into a gas station to buy some food/drink and consume it in front of the gas station I was kicked out by the owner for "loitering". I had to leave the premises.

[davidbonn]

...
On a few occasions, when I went into a gas station to buy some food/drink and consume it in front of the gas station I was kicked out by the owner for "loitering". I had to leave the premises.

In recent years I have sometimes gotten a lot of static from private campgrounds when I show up with my fairly motley camping setup.  Only if you are in the know can you really tell the difference between some fancy ultralight camping kit and stuff basically put together from scrap behind a hardware store.  And most RV park owners aren't in the know unless they are close to some long-distance hiking trail or major cycle route.

[BikeliciousBabe]

I avoid the issue altogether, by not looking like a homeless or poor person.  I usually shave daily and wear clothing that looks like athletic wear.  This way people don’t hassle me, or worse yet, try to give me money - I have heard of this happening.

Maybe it's just you and me, but I rarely get the "He's homeless." attitude.  When people see me in my cycling-specific gear and with my loaded bike, I think they understand what is going on, even when I am riding in "Pennsyltucky". In fact,m I am more likely to get questions about that my trip than scorn.

But about being offered stuff...One day I was sitting in a park in my city eating lunch and doing the NYT crossword puzzle after shopping for dinner groceries on my custom Bike Friday.  I was dressed in "street clothes".  A guy from a charitable organization approached me and asked me if I would like a sandwich.  I politely told him I was fine.  He said "Are you sure?  There's no shame."  I pulled my wallet out of pocket and showed him my credit cards. 

[BikeFreak]

I avoid the issue altogether, by not looking like a homeless or poor person.  I usually shave daily and wear clothing that looks like athletic wear.  This way people don’t hassle me, or worse yet, try to give me money - I have heard of this happening.

This happened to me in Adelanto, CA. An Asian woman wanted to give me money at a gas station. I had just finished the Mojave desert, it had been something like 115 degrees and I had completed something like 120 mi that day. I probably looked like a homeless :-)

[BikeliciousBabe]

This happened to me in Adelanto, CA. An Asian woman wanted to give me money at a gas station. I had just finished the Mojave desert, it had been something like 115 degrees and I had completed something like 120 mi that day. I probably looked like a homeless :-)

Heh.  Nearly 25 years ago I did startle a motel clerk in Missoula a little.  I hand't showered or shaved in 5 days, and the last two of those days were pretty warm and humid.  Walked in and rang the bell at the desk.  Woman came out from the back and was visibly startled by my appearance.  After I showered and shaved, I left my room to walk around town.  The young woman who was tidying up the parking area said "You look like and entirely different person."