Cycling the US
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I believe I have seen a few people ask if anyone wants to join them on a tour. Its not common and don't remember anyone ever joining up. You should try Adventure Cycling Association (ACA), they have a "companions wanted" page. You might even find someone looking for companions to do what you are thinking of doing.
#3
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What size of group are you thinking of? Why a group? Are you thinking van support or something? If not, I'd suggest that going alone on a popular route at a popular time of year will allow you to meet plenty of other riders if you choose to do so. Riding a route like the Trans America or the Northern Tier you will meet folks that you can choose to ride and camp with if you wish. You can also have plenty of solitude if you prefer that. Starting out with a small group can make sense if the group is composed of people that you really want to ride with (close friends, family, etc), but even then it may test those bonds. I have seen a lot of groups start together and split up on the way.
Groups that spontaneously form along the way have a great chance of working well since there is no pressure to get along. People can freely join and leave the group. Tensions seem to be reduced or not form. If they get on your nerves just leave the group for a while and come together in a few days or not.
Btw, on the van support thing... Consider that including a motor vehicle will impact a trip in many very fundamental ways. Personally I'd advise against it, but that is me.
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Cycling the US
I have posted about IMO the most compatible cycling companion and circumstance imaginable on this thread, “Touring alone?”
A few years ago I met this seemingly happy cross-country cycling couple:
Does anybody ever try to form a group on this site to cycle across the US?
Tons of folks here have ridden across the US. Some probably wound up doing it with one or two others….
Starting out with a small group can make sense if the group is composed of people that you really want to ride with (close friends, family, etc), but even then it may test those bonds. I have seen a lot of groups start together and split up on the way….
Btw, on the van support thing... Consider that including a motor vehicle will impact a trip in many very fundamental ways. Personally I'd advise against it, but that is me.
Starting out with a small group can make sense if the group is composed of people that you really want to ride with (close friends, family, etc), but even then it may test those bonds. I have seen a lot of groups start together and split up on the way….
Btw, on the van support thing... Consider that including a motor vehicle will impact a trip in many very fundamental ways. Personally I'd advise against it, but that is me.
There are definitely pros and cons either way.
Personally I wouldn't try to seek out someone to tour with and would just tour alone unless there was someone whose company I really enjoyed who was interested in going with me
Personally I wouldn't try to seek out someone to tour with and would just tour alone unless there was someone whose company I really enjoyed who was interested in going with me
I can't think of a more nearly perfect touring companion than a new bride as on our cross-country honeymoon. We had toured together previously for a few years so had a system.
On that cross-country ride,
On that cross-country ride,
…It was a great way to start married life, since every day we would have to find and set up a homestead for the night in a new environment where we only knew, and could depend on each other.
I can remember two distinct times on that trip when either one of us hit low a point, and were bouyed up by the other; me in Kansas and she in Ohio.
BTW, that trip was 40 years ago and we're still together.
I can remember two distinct times on that trip when either one of us hit low a point, and were bouyed up by the other; me in Kansas and she in Ohio.
BTW, that trip was 40 years ago and we're still together.
It was one of my most pleasant cycling days in 40 years of cycling, to ride with @jppe, and to direct his wife in the van to various locations and ultimately the Atlantic Ocean [at the end of his cross-country ride from Oregon]…
We then had a celebratory dinner at a fine Boston seafood restaurant (Legal Seafood Harborside). We re-hashed our respective cross-country trips, including the current one with Jeri’s point of view.
While @jppe was away from the table, I asked her how she liked the trip…”I had a blast.”
We then had a celebratory dinner at a fine Boston seafood restaurant (Legal Seafood Harborside). We re-hashed our respective cross-country trips, including the current one with Jeri’s point of view.
While @jppe was away from the table, I asked her how she liked the trip…”I had a blast.”
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 11-23-19 at 06:31 AM.