Looking for others' experiences on solo touring.

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I've spend years touring solo in europe (camping/hostels), and I'm looking to find some others with similar predilictions to share experiences and common knowledge (recmmendations on gear, places to go, etc).

Anyone else out there?

Thanks
Rick

Only done some touring in France so far. My experiences are at www.nickcoyne.com/eur02/

On Wednesday we leave for Italy though... a 14-day loop from Rome up to Florence via Siena, then back down to Rome via Gubbio. If you've got any good info to share, we'd love to hear from you!

Originally posted by MidBunchLurker
Only done some touring in France so far. My experiences are at www.nickcoyne.com/eur02/

On Wednesday we leave for Italy though... a 14-day loop from Rome up to Florence via Siena, then back down to Rome via Gubbio. If you've got any good info to share, we'd love to hear from you!

Wow have fun!

Mostly what I remember of Italy was HOT, but I was there in late june. I came in over Splugen Pass from Switz., made it as far as Verona, and then beat wheels back out into Austria.

I agree with the notes on your website about ease of cycling in France, but I've found that to be true 'bout everywhere in Europe. ('cept Spain).

Rick

I just completed my first solo bike tour in northern California and had the time of my life. I previously toured with a friend in France and Spain and thought I might have a try by myself this time. I had the time of my life and really enjoyed the freedom of deciding how to pace my ride, where to stop, where to stay overnight, etc. Of course finding a person that you get along well with that shares your tastes and riding strength can make for a more of an entertaining trip but I am sure solo touring is a different experience. It actually turned out that being often alone made me want to be more proactive in talking to people who also seemed more happy to have a chat with me as a lone traveller!

You can read the diary of this last trip here http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/giannifilippini/cycling/california/california.html

Gianni

Hey Rick- I've toured 20 countries in Europe over the last 6 years. I've spent more time there than in the US I think. Email me directly if you have any questions.

I've spend years touring solo in europe (camping/hostels), and I'm looking to find some others with similar predilictions to share experiences and common knowledge (recmmendations on gear, places to go, etc).

Anyone else out there?

Thanks
Rick
Hi there Rick,
What we've done here in the Philippines is usually a small threesome group tour.
If you're interested I can be your local guide here. Just drop a message at this e-mail address: ytsercat4@yahoo.com

I started in this world of touring by going on organized tours, but I switched to solo touring back in 1998. You can find my trip journals at http://denisegoldberg.crazyguyonabike.com (http://denisegoldberg.crazyguyonabike.com/).

My solo trips vary from all camping to all B&Bs, and include:
--- a trip starting in Idaho, wandering into Montana, through Glacier National Park (MT) and Waterton Lakes (Alberta), continuing north through the Canadian Rockies to Jasper
--- a trip down the Washington and Oregon coast
--- my cross-USA trip in 2002
--- around the Big Island of Hawaii
--- a small piece of Ireland and Northern Ireland in 2003

Please let me know if you have specific questions about touring in any of these areas.

Also - I'd recommend looking on http://www.crazyguyonabike.com (http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/) if you're interested in touring in a particular place. There are over 400 journals there, and if you click Journals and then region you can select a geographic area that interests you.