Touring advice video

I stumbled across this list of touring dos and donts on YouTube. It’s short and worth the time if you are new to touring, bikepacking or conventional.

A couple of caveats. Before you start, use a sewing tape (the kind that rolls up small) and measure your saddle height, distance from your saddle to your handlebars, and saddle set back. This will allow you to quickly replicate your set up in case a “helpful” bike mechanic moves things around.

Secondly, always bring at least two pairs of shorts and make sure you wash or rinse the pair you rode in each night. I bring a pair of synthetic underwear shorts in case both my bike shorts are out of commission.

Finally, I am a member of Warmshowers. Like the video people, I am an introvert and somewhat uncomfortable about using it. Warmshowers is an interesting service but can be unreliable. The app and website are glitchy. Potential hosts don’t always respond in a timely way. Also, be prepared for hosts that have, um, interesting ways of life. I once stayed with a person whose culture obsessed about the persecution of his protestant ancestors by the Catholic church in the middle ages. (Dude, my ancestors are Irish Catholics. Cry me a river.) Another time I noticed my host’s bookshelves held several volumes on polyamory. In the morning, I rolled over in bed and discovered a sex toy under the covers. No lie. (I escaped with my monogamy intact.)