need tips for first tour

[henry]

Doing southern tier soon thinking about shipping bike to a motel near starting point, using fedex, looking to see what other ways riders who have done this many times go about it. also spending money I would think most would use a debt card on tour. Thanks Henry 

[John Nelson]

Shipping your bike to the motel where you will spend your first night is very common. Be sure to talk with them first, of course. You can also ship your bike to most bike shops for a fee. Also consult Warm Showers to see if there are any hosts at your starting point willing to take delivery and hold it for you. ACA maps also list bike-friendly churches and other bike-friendly businesses who may be willing to take delivery.

Reading forums like this one and forums and journals over at crazyguyonabike.com is an excellent way to know what to expect on tour and how common problems are solved.

[bogiesan]

Doing southern tier soon thinking about shipping bike to a motel near starting point, using fedex, looking to see what other ways riders who have done this many times go about it. also spending money I would think most would use a debt card on tour. Thanks Henry 

You're going solo? There are literally hundreds of blogs about going solo and books at your library. Every mistake has been made, every success story includes a list of disasters.
Bike traveling involves debt (sic) but you will have planned and saved like any vacation. You want to travel with both a debit card and a credit card. ATM fees for cash can add up quickly if you use machines out of your network. (My credit union's debit card can be used at most other credit unions free.) If you have a rewards credit card that offers something tangible you can offset the sting of ATM fees and the interest.

Financial planning is almost as important as planning your route. However, for a certain type of bike traveler, both can be totally spontaneous.

david boise ID

[cara2u]

Get a Fedex account and receive a discount on your shipping costs, also you can have your freight shipped to a Fedex store where you can take delivery, saves having to book a motel room. Some Fedex locations do not do this so check with the individual stores to make sure.

In addition with a Fedex account you can leave a parcel you want to ship home and leave it at a business, call Fedex and request a pickup from that location.
James

[CyclesafeSr]

Everyone is passionate about their own point of view, even while others think their point of view is complete nonsense.  I'd select a journal on crazy guy of someone who seems like they know what they are doing (someone's whose POV seems something you think you can respect) and then copy what worked for them.  Then on subsequent trips make your own personal modifications to your kit and practices.  You'll otherwise go bananasa trying to optimize everything before the fact.  Of course, that's part of the fun too! 

[sprocketman]

Hey Henry,

When carrying cash, cards Etc, carry them in different places. Not in the same pannier or wallet. This way if you lose one, you have a backup. Also, when I left for my trip, I got all new cards. Those magnetic strips always fail at the worst times. And check the expiration dates!

[Westinghouse]

Sprocketman has it right. Here's another suggestion. Carry some travel checks that will hold you over till you can get new plastic mailed to you in case of loss or damage. If nothing bad happens, use the checks near the end of the trip or use them for whatever and whenever. It never hurts to have some backup.

[staehpj1]

Hey Henry,

When carrying cash, cards Etc, carry them in different places. Not in the same pannier or wallet. This way if you lose one, you have a backup. Also, when I left for my trip, I got all new cards. Those magnetic strips always fail at the worst times. And check the expiration dates!

Whatever works for you is fine, but I do the opposite.  That stuff, all my electronics, and any other theft worthy items stay in the handlebar bag.  It makes it much easier to keep them with me at all times and I am therefore very unlikely to lose them.  The handlebar bag is the only thing that goes with me into diners, stores, attractions, and into the tent at night so it is the logical place for stuff that needs to have an eye kept on it.

[indyfabz]

Hey Henry,

When carrying cash, cards Etc, carry them in different places. Not in the same pannier or wallet. This way if you lose one, you have a backup. Also, when I left for my trip, I got all new cards. Those magnetic strips always fail at the worst times. And check the expiration dates!

+1  While riding on a remote mountain road in Spain I left my fanny pack with all my IDs (including passport), cash and cards on top of my left rear pannier as a I started down a steep, bumpy descent.  Fortunately, I thought I heard traffic approaching from behind and looked back before the pack fell to the ground.  I would have been royally screwed if it had.

[popeyespal]

+100 to Staehpj1's post

Carrying all electronics and valuables in a handlebar/removable trunk bag sounds like the solution for me.

I am just preparing for my first long range tour and security of valuables is something I may be worrying about too much. Maybe not. I will not have any support network at home to handle major problems that might arise while on tour so I will have to minimize the chance of loss/theft.

If I can't solve it from the road........it won't get solved.

[John Nelson]

I have a routine so familiar that it is now committed to muscle memory. Before I start riding my bike, I check for three things: my wallet, my camera and my cell phone. I do this at the beginning of the day, after lunch, after a rest stop, after stopping to take a picture ... after any stop for any reason no matter how brief.

I'm a believer in putting all your eggs in one basket, and then watching that basket like a hawk. Rather than having a plan in case I lose something, I would rather plan not to lose it.