sapporoguy

Don't listen to anyone who says you NEED to "train." Train if you can, whatever that means, but don't let it get in the way. Just go.

When my stoker and I, age 64 and 63 and not athletic, started on our self-supported camping X-C from SF to Virginia last summer on the tandem, we'd ridden about 20 miles a day in the city with a few 60-mile weekends. Not really "training," but enough to know our gear was right and to get us over the Sierra and feeling on track by day 7.

In the Great Plains in Eads, Colo., we met a couple who had started in Oregon with zero training, on new bikes and no experience touring. That's almost 1/2 way across America. They had great stories to tell of early tribulations, but they were in good shape when we met them and were glad they just did it.

Just across the Mississippi in Chester, Ill., we met a woman who'd started westbound alone on the TransAmerica with zero experience, on a new bike, no training. Her 1st day was 10 miles. Her 2nd day, 10 miles. Her 3rd, 20 miles. By the time we met her, she was doing 30-40-mile days. She texted us when she got to the Oregon coast. She was glad she just did it.

We met others like those--who kinda just took off and did it and were happy they did.

We met others who had spent months, even a year, intensely training and were happy they did.

There's no right way to do it. Just make sure you do it. Sooner, rather than later.