Level of ability vs routes

[DwarvenChef]

For the past couple months I have been planning a tour over parts of the Seirra Cascades route, Map #4 to be exact. After talking to a few people that have been on these roads, be it road bike or touring, have mentioned that these are not "novice" routes. While I believe I can handle them, I'm not so sure my wife and daughter will. I have the drive to do it and make this work, but they are only interested in getting out on their bikes for a stroll, any hard work may invoke a mutiny :p

I have voiced my concerns to the family and I'm getting mixed replies. So I started looking at alternat maped routes that would be best suited for novice levels in reasonable fitness (my daughter is not much for activity...) as I fear Monitor Pass would end the trip...

I'm looking at a few maps that could be interesting I have the #4 map in the Pacific route but my wife is not crazy about a bike on Hwy 1 :p We plan to drive out there and drive parts to see the road.

Our plan is to rent a van to get to the start point, so anything more than a day's drive from Fresno is not an option.

Any help would be great, the trip is planned for summer break, wife and daughter will both be out of school

[tonythomson]

Hi, check out the routes on Google Earth - your family can get an idea from the place to place tour.  Will also give some idea what is along the route - so if they know there is a coffee x miles ahead might just help them along.  This is how I prepare riding with my wife.  Plan for short days well within their ability. 

Go to  Google Maps and choose routes by bicycle.

Then if you are a real wizz on the computer you can get profiles from GE. I'm not so sure someone here will tell you (& me) how to do it.

See if there are any Rails to Trails you can link in with - I don't know your area so might not be any R2T around.

Good luck 'cos there isn't anything worse than someone not enjoying their ride 

[rvklassen]

I'm not sure I'd phrase the question in terms of level of ability but rather level of motivation.  With enough motivation one can ride (nearly) anywhere.  One with less ability/fitness will take longer, need more breaks, shorter days, etc.  But when my wife and I invited our kids along on a tour a year and a bit ago, it was entirely up to them whether they wanted to come.  Similar to when we hiked down the Grand Canyon as a family.   

If you have someone along who isn't psyched up for the challenge, it won't be fun for them or for you.

I'd suggest you do something very tame to get your collective feet wet.  Something on the order of 30-40 miles, plus overnight, plus 30-40 miles the next day.  If everyone is having fun and thinking a longer/harder distance per day would be a worthwhile challenge, go for it.  Otherwise, you're in for a disappointment.

[johnsondasw]

rvklasses' idea is a good one.  Build up to it with shorter trips and you'll have an idea of what they can/want to do.

[DwarvenChef]

I do have an over night planned this christmas, we are riding up to my folks ranch. it's about 50 miles from here on the route we will be taking. It's a training run as much as a fact finding run with all our gear. This will also let us all know what it feels like to ride there and back the next day. We are also camping out in the field as if in a campground. I'm really looking forward to it and so is my wife, my daughter seems indiferent to the ride but really wants to be out there to take pictures, shes a budding photographer at 14 she took some college classes on photography and won awards at the state fair I'm hoping that motovation will keep her going for this