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Finding a Balance With Shooting, Editing, and, You Know, Cycling

Posted on May 9, 2013 by America ByCycle

This post was originally written for the Adventure Cycling Association, in a series of posts about how to create bicycle travel videos for the bicycle travel video contest.

I know what you’re thinking — there are a lot of commas in that title. Just know that they’re there for emphasis.

You might also be thinking about creating videos on your bike tour and posting them to your web log, or “blog” as the kids call it these days. Well great! That’s why we’re all here. You’ve learned how to make a bicycle touring video, you’ve learned what tripods to use, and you’ve learned the art of storytelling thanks to the other bloggers and judges so far.

But how can you do it? How can you balance your time between riding, shooting, and editing? Can you figure it out with the Pythagorean Theorem? No one really knows for sure. Ancient cyclists say that there are many ways, and that they’ve been passed down on secret documents that only a select few have ever seen.

And as luck would have it, we at America ByCycle have come across those ancient documents and have translated them for you in great detail! Unfortunately we’re having trouble locating them at this time, so here are some alternatives that we could think of off the top of our heads.

Preparation, Not Expectation

Be prepared. The boy scouts are, so why shouldn’t you be? As long as you’ve got the most basic tools to be a cycling filmmaker (camera, computer, editing program), you’ll at least be ready (to attempt) to match your expectations for producing videos along your incredible journey. Whether or not you can ACTUALLY match them is another story (trust us). If you expect to be publishing a new, well-produced video every day, think again. Setting unrealistic expectations for yourself can lead to huge problems including stress, fatigue, and worst of all, less cycling. The best thing you can do is have your camera readily available (and tripod, if you’ve got one) and make sure you’re fine with sitting in front of a computer and editing, even if that means you’re inside your tent.

Bend, Don’t Break

Remaining flexible with your content creation is an absolute necessity. Some days require more cycling, and some days require more shooting and/or editing. However, don’t let your quest for a fully-edited video or a certain shot or landmark get in the way of a better story. Yes, your sunset was beautiful, but was it more interesting than that group of ninja clowns playing Cribbage behind you? Probably not. Don’t sacrifice your unique experience for getting the “perfect” shot. Some of the best video we’ve ever gotten was from those unexpected encounters. Let the trail decide where you go and what you shoot. And seriously, if you see any ninja clowns playing Cribbage, SHOOT VIDEO OF IT!

Every Day You’re Hustlin’

In order to keep it fresh and not burn yourself out by working too much, do a little bit of everything each day. Start off with some morning shooting, bike for a little bit, and then finish the day with a little more shooting and editing. Blasting out 70 miles leaves little time for anything else other than stuffing your face and going to bed. In our case, the times we bicker with each other the most are the times we’re doing all cycling or all editing. We fall behind with our videos if we’re only cycling, and we never get anywhere if we’re only editing. That being said, a couple days of only one or the other are fine, just don’t let that mountain of footage get too big! (Psssst — it’s not a real mountain, it’s a metaphor.)

Get Organized

Put all of your camera/shooting gear in a place that’s dry, padded, and easily accessible. Dump your footage into folders that correspond to each day/event you’ve shot. The more organized your footage is, the less time you have to spend figuring out file locations. This leads to a more streamlined work process. And most importantly, BACK UP your data. Use a cloud service like Google docs, buy an extra hard drive, hire a droid, do anything and everything to ensure that you will not lose your footage. Like the saying goes, if you have two you have one, if you have one you have none. If you have none you have problems.

Step Away From the Lens

There’s no point going on an adventure if you’re only going to experience it through your camera. From our personal experience, we’ve learned it’s a good idea to put down the camera once in a while and actually absorb the world around us. You can shoot gig after gig of an event or a beautiful place in which you’re staying, but the lasting impressions come from direct interactions with your environment. I’m not saying you should skimp on shooting, but just remember take a few moments for yourself and look through your own eyes! We can’t stress this enough.

Weather the Storm

“Whether” (get it?) it’s a literal or figurative storm, make sure that you’re making the best of a bad situation. If you’re caught in a storm, film yourself getting rained on (as long as the camera’s PROTECTED). It shows your vulnerability and helps you learn new ways of shooting. As Tom Allen pointed out, conflict can really drive your story and be the most compelling footage for your viewers. Embrace how terrible it is and show everyone. It can actually be cathartic as well as incredibly fascinating to watch. Taking something that could be a momentum killer (like a flat tire) and turning it into a part of your narrative helps you stay in control of the situation, leading to better video. When life gives you lemons, add it together with your pre-existing avocados and make guacamole!

Learn to Keep Learning

You don’t have to be an amazing editor to tell a great story. The same goes with shooting. The key is to continue to work on your storytelling as you ride and learn what’s working and what isn’t. Experiment with different camera angles. Get out of your comfort zone, because it’s there that you learn the most about yourself and your capabilities. Challenge yourself to tell a different story each time. Literally stop and smell the roses, and then film yourself smelling those roses. How was your framing? Was it out of focus? Now you’ll know next time what you need to do to improve it. No one ever says “I especially enjoyed the part in your video where it was really shaky, then it went dark, and then it was hard to tell what was going on.” But then again, the Blair Witch Project made like 250 million dollars. I’m not kidding.

Have Fun

Girls just want to have it. The Beach Boys will have it until her daddy takes the T-Bird away. I mean, fun is important. And I’m not going to sit here and pretend that every minute of producing a bike touring video is like eating a love pizza topped with children’s laughter; it’s REALLY difficult. Michelle and I have had to take a break from our current tour to de-stress and take time for editing. As I’m writing this, our last piece of new content on our site was almost 2 months ago! My point is that you can really end up making your tour the most fun experience you’ve ever had, or you can make it the biggest pain in your butt (it will most likely be both). Either way, as long as you’re having fun while you’re traveling then it’s worth it. Whether you make one video or crank out weekly episodes when it’s all said and done is up to you; just know that when you’re having fun so are your viewers. Now get out there and shoot, edit, and you know, BIKE!

America ByCycle Episode 2: Gaining Momentum in Vancouver

Posted on October 4, 2012 by America ByCycle

Vancouver, Canada! Finally the adventures begin as the tire meets the road in the streets of British Columbia. Accompanied by Tania Lo, Co-Publisher of Momentum Magazine, we take a closer look at downtown Vancouver’s bicycle-friendly infrastructure. After speaking with Tania we also learned about her inspiring involvement with the documentary Long Road North, which encapsulates a bicycle tour from the tip of South America to the Canadian Arctic. With much time to spare, we explore the city with the lovely ladies from Birds on Bikes and ride into the sunset.

America ByCycle On Assignment

Posted on August 20, 2012 by America ByCycle

Well…here we are.

Most of the time we’re silly and are purely out to have fun, but in this case we wanted to take a serious angle and show you this side of our filmmaking.

We may love dancing just as much as we love filming ourselves dancing, but we also love telling good stories. We’ve got plenty more to tell, and we’re going to bring them to you in the same way we’ve always done.

This is our mission statement, in a way. It gives us a chance to be completely unhinged in telling you more about us and what to expect from us.

How to Pack Your Panniers

Posted on August 18, 2012 by America ByCycle

Another video from our series with the Adventure Cycling Association, this one focuses on how to efficiently pack your panniers for your bike tour.

10 Things You Might Think You Need for a Long Distance Tour, but Don’t

Posted on August 17, 2012 by America ByCycle

As touring season ramps up and you’re getting your things together, you may be weighing what you do and do not need to bring, or what you need to make room for as your storage space fills up. You may be forced to make cutthroat decisions, and knowing which items to eliminate from your supplies can make a huge difference in your storage space, your stress level, and your overall weight. A dry or “shakedown” ride is always a good way to find out what is working and what isn’t.

And let’s face it, having to push your bike up Afton Mountain because you’re carrying two heavy bike locks isn’t fun. Fewer things that serve multiple tasks should be your M.O. If you’re stuck, think to yourself, “what would the 1976 Bikecentennial cyclists do?”

So let’s figure out what you don’t need to bring. 10 things, to be exact:

1. An Expensive “Touring” Bike

People have been riding bikes long distances for many decades, and plenty of them weren’t necessarily suited for touring. Sure, having a strong frame and nice tires on your bike is reassuring, but is not absolutely necessary. The bottom line — you need to find a bike you’re comfortable riding, and one that can carry your load. It doesn’t hurt to find one you like looking at, either.

2. Cleated Shoes and Clip-in/Clipless Pedals

We started our bike tour with cleated shoes and pedals, and quickly learned that we didn’t need them. About 3/4 of the cyclists we came across wore cleats/clip-ins though, and some thought we were crazy for not using them! To us, shoes and clips are a little on the pricey end, and unless you’re a serious cyclist you probably won’t notice a difference in your pedaling. Plus, you’ll fall over a lot when you start using them, and people in cars will laugh at you. (Just me?)

3. Lots of money

Money is a huge obstacle for people wanting to tour. They think they don’t have enough of it. But if you’ve read or watched anything we’ve done, then you’ve no doubt seen us cut costs and do things as cheaply as possible. It’s 100% possible to be safe, warm and well-fed while at the same time being cost-efficient. Make sure you set a budget, and stay as close to that daily budget as you can. $10 a day, $20 a day, or whatever you can afford. Things like bananas and peanut butter are way cheaper than any restaurant, camping out is way cheaper than hotels, and it will be VERY easy to cut out your Ebay addiction when you’re biking all day. Trust me.

4. Cycling Jerseys

If you want to buy a cycling jersey, buy a cycling jersey. They can look cool, they hold some of your loose items effectively, and there’s even an Oberon Jersey, so they’ve got to be cool. That being said, people who did the first TransAm ride in 1976 were crossing the country in tank tops and cut-off jean shorts, so think about that before you think you really NEED a cycling jersey. You know what else keeps you cool while biking? No jersey.

5. A Wealth of Knowledge of Bike Repair

Chances are you don’t know everything about repairing bikes. Neither do we. The best thing is to watch some free online tutorials on how to do some basic maintenance, or you can go to free classes at your local REI (if you have one). If you don’t have these options, then go to a local bike shop and just ask if they’ll show you how to repair a tire! That’s not even a joke, you should really try it!

6. Several Days Worth of Bike Clothing

We carried lots of clothing, and it took up a lot of room in our panniers. Then once we neared the end we realized that we were carrying too many different layers, and that we could get the same comfort and warmth from fewer items that were higher quality. You’ll end up paying a little more for these items, but they drastically cut down on the amount of clothing you have to carry. Look for clothes that wick the sweat away from your body. Wool clothing keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter, so it serves two purposes. Also, almost every town has a place to do your laundry, so it’s very likely that you’ll be able to wash your dirty pair while wearing your clean pair, and switch when necessary. This cuts down on the amount of clothing you pack, and also lets you get rid of that old change jar you’ve had sitting on your shelf for years!

7. A Full Kitchen’s Worth of Cooking Supplies

You should keep it to your essentials when dealing with your food while touring. Your cooking pot can double as a bowl or supply holder, your plate can double as a cutting board, and a spork is both fun to say and easy to use! Just make sure that your knife NEVER doubles as your spoon — soups are really hard to eat with a knife.

8. Makeup/Blow Dryer/Vanity Items

Seriously.

9. A Solar Charger

Solar chargers are fun. They’re cool techie gadgets that charge your phone using the power of the sun! However, you will usually be able to find a power outlet no matter where you are. There may be some campsites or national parks that don’t have any outlets, but for the most part you will be able to find an outlet to plug your phone/mp3 player/tablet/computer into. Libraries, gas stations, post offices, and Yellowstone’s gift shop were all places we plugged in our phones and charged, while awkwardly standing near the counter making the clerk anxious. (Hint: The top plug in the outlets behind vending machines are almost always free and within reach for those who prefer ‘stealth charging.’)
10. Physical Fitness

Our first day on tour we did 13 miles. 13. You don’t need to be in great physical shape to do a tour. You can do 10 miles a day. You can be 80+ years old. You can be a paraplegic. Over the duration of our trip we heard about all of these situations, and the underlying theme throughout is that mental toughness trumps physical fitness. Hills suck, this is true. The wind can be awful, without a doubt. But the best part is, none of these things will stop you. You will get stronger every day, and soon 30-40 miles becomes easy. Then 70-80 miles becomes easy. As long as you don’t lose it mentally, your body will follow. Just make sure you take breaks every now and then and give your legs a rest!

Photos by Michelle Cassel and Ryan McAfee

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10 Things You Absolutely Need for A Long Distance Bike Tour

Posted on August 17, 2012 by America ByCycle

It’s almost time for that tour! But what should you bring? House plants? An electric generator? 6 copies of your favorite children’s book, Ernie’s Little Lie?

If any of the things I just listed sounded like a good idea, then you really need some help. But that’s why we’re here: to make sure you get the essentials before leaving for a long trip. So, without further ado, here are the 10 things that you absolutely need for your long-distance tour:

1. A Bike.

This really goes without saying, but you really need a bike if you want to do a bike tour. Steel, aluminum, carbon fiber, titanium, or even bamboo are just a few of the types of frames out there. Choose whatever suits you and make friends with it, because you’re going to be looking at it every day.

2. Storage.
Some people like panniers, and some people like trailers. Depending on your preference, you need something to carry your clothes, your food, and various other items. You can even just wear a backpack, if you’re one of those minimalist people who hates bike-centric storage.
3. Bicycle Maintenance/Repair Tools.

Flat tires are inevitable. Chains get dry. You need to carry the tools necessary to make any repairs to your bike. And remember, you need to carry a bike pump. You can fix your tube as much as you want, but it’s not going to inflate itself. Unless it’s like the guy at the end of Big Trouble in Little China.

4. Water.
Duh.

5. Front and Back Bike Lights.
Bike lights are great multi-taskers. They light your route, let cars know you’re on the road, help you read at night, and aid in easing your fears when you hear noises outside the tent and get out, shine the flashlight and see that it’s only a family of foxes rustling around outside the tent, and not that big scary bear that you swore it was.

6. Toilet Paper.
Toilet paper is great for a multitude of reasons. You can use it as it’s intended, as facial tissue, as a napkin while eating, to clean up your silverware, or you can use it to TP your own bike if you’re bored! Just don’t overdo it.

7. First Aid Kit/Duct Tape/Sun Block.
You’re going to be out in the elements all day, every day. Boo-boos, owies, and whoopsy-daisies are common occurrences. Bring a small first aid kit and some sunblock to help keep you healthy. Just remember the difference between SPF 15 and SPF 50 is microscopic, so limiting the chemical intake on your body’s biggest organ is always a good idea. (Coconut oil is a natural SPF 15!)

8. Rain Gear and Bike Shorts.
The only reason you should have some sort of waterproof gear is because you don’t want to be caught riding your bike in a storm WITHOUT waterproof gear. The only reason you should bring bike shorts is because you don’t want to be caught riding your bike WITHOUT bike shorts.
9. Eating Utensils.
Unless you’re accustomed to eating with your hands, then you will undoubtedly have a need for some utensils.

10. Mental Fortitude.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing you can bring with you on tour is BY FAR mental toughness. Breakdowns will happen. Storms will happen. Headwinds will happen. Your physical toughness will sustain all of these. If you can’t tell yourself to keep going and keep pushing forward, then you will not make it. Stay focused and eventually you’ll make it to your destination and celebrate!

Black and White Portrait by Adventure Cycling Association’s Greg Siple. All other photos by America ByCycle.

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America ByCycle Season 2: The Bikening

Posted on August 1, 2012 by America ByCycle

A great man once said “with great power comes great responsibility.” Since we don’t have any power, we’re going to be irresponsible and officially announce that we are going to do a tour across America again!

We’ve done it cross-wise, and now we’re gonna do it down-wise! Starting this September, America ByCycle will be making their next journey a southbound trip down the Adventure Cycling Association’s Pacific Coast Route!

We plan on bringing you more of the same type of content as our last trip, but this time on a more consistent basis, and with more focus toward telling fun and engaging stories for you to watch and read!

So please check in with us in the upcoming months, watch our videos, read our blogs, and post inspiring messages on our Facebook page (we’re going to need them).

Thanks again for all of your support! If we didn’t have you guys, then there would be NO WAY we could do these trips.

–Michelle and Ryan

P.S. If you would like to donate to our adventure, you can click on the “Donate” button on our “Help Us Ride” page and send anything that way.

P.P.S. We will also accept any donations in the form of hosts along the Pacific Coast (cities like Seattle, Portland, Astoria, Eureka, Fort Bragg, San Diego, etc.), warm meals, beer/wine/restaurant/camping recommendations, positive affirmations, and big fat chocolate bars!

How to Prepare for a Long-Distance Bike Tour

Posted on July 26, 2012 by America ByCycle

We teamed up with the Adventure Cycling Association to produce a series of videos on bicycle touring. This is the first of them, highlighting how to get prepared for your tour!

How to Make a Bike Blog

Posted on July 17, 2012 by America ByCycle

1.) Pick a title for your blog.

Think of something that relates to your subject. It should be original, catchy and easy to remember. What’s more eye-grabbing — “Ted’s Bike Blog” or “Biking With Ted?” Get my drift?

2.) Buy a domain name.

Try to pick a domain name that matches your blog’s title. If it’s already taken, try to find something similar or think about changing your title to a domain name that’s available. A mismatched domain name could confuse your readers or lead to incorrect search results. If you decide to go with a self-hosting website, then try to buy your domain name from the same company you host with to make things more streamlined.

3.) Decide which platform you want for your blog.

WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr, crazyguyonabike, and Squarespace are just a few of the more popular options out there. Depending on how much you know about the web, building websites, and adding/modifying content on those websites, you can find one that will suit your needs. At the very least you can create a Facebook page for your ride (more about that in #6). Oh, and if you choose Myspace, no one will ever see it.

4.) Choose what type of web hosting you need.

There are two ways to host your content: third party hosting and self-hosting. Both have advantages and disadvantages, and you’ll need to figure out how much content and what kind of content you’ll be adding to your site. Some give you more control over your content but lack download speeds and file space, and some give you little control but allow for more content space and faster downloading times. Do a little research and figure out what’s best for you. And if you want good customer service, it’s always best to look that up, too! For more information you can check out this link.

5.) Find a theme for your site.

Your theme is the first thing people are going to see when they come and visit your page. Pick one that compliments the subject of your blog. Keep it clean and simple, while fun and interesting at the same time. Choosing a busy theme can compete with the content and be too distracting for your readers. Most importantly, pick a theme that you can easily customize/edit to make your own. Just a little CSS and HTML knowledge can help make your blog more original. For all levels of codes, search these awesome resources:   HTML Codes,  CSS Codes.

6.) Add web analytics to your blog.

Web analytics are great for tracking what people are and aren’t reading. Your post about the 1967 quarter you found on the side of the road not getting any hits? Well, maybe it’s time to take it down.

7.) Spread the word and incorporate social networking and aggregators to your site.

Think about starting Facebook/Twitter/etc. pages. Including social network plugins on your blog will help get the word out as well. Many
sites are built to have your posts shared among all of these external sites, so look around for the one that can fit your needs. If you want to do it the old fashioned way and copy and paste your posts, then by all means do it! The more social networks you’re on, the better chance you have of people finding your posts!
8.) Visuals are great!

People love pictures, so think about bringing a (small) camera along on your trip! Photos break up text nicely and they can really compliment your writing if used effectively. Get a flat tire? Wash yourself in a sink? Randomly run into a close friend in a tiny town in Colorado? WE WANT TO SEE IT! And if you’ve got a video camera or a video option on your phone, then post a quick clip of it. YouTube is billion-dollar company for a reason!

9.) Add a Google map!

Our map was hands down our most popular page. Everyone wanted to know where we were (mostly because they loved publicizing our slow progress). There are many different map-making programs/plugins out there to choose from. We used Google maps to track our route, which included rollover icons to insert photos and descriptions of the places we camped, ate, and any beautiful sites we saw along the way. It’s slow and tedious to draw your route, but it’s incredibly rewarding to see your progress on a daily basis. Here’s a link to our map.

10.) Publish a post before you leave!

Announce to your friends and family that you are going on this big adventure so they can tell you how insane you are. Get people following you BEFORE you actually take off on your life-changing tour. You could blog about the preparations/thoughts and feelings you’re going through, for instance. Tip: Keep it short and sweet! Other than your sweet mother who will probably check out your blog every 30 seconds, time is money for most of your readers, and they most likely have the attention span of three-year-olds. That being said, less is more. Posting too much may cause people to ignore you. Posting too little may cause them to forget about you or miss it when you do
actually write something. You want to remind people that you’re there, without smothering them. Watch “Fatal Attraction” if you don’t know what we’re talking about.

11!) Bike, blog, and keep it light!

Don’t pressure yourself into letting your blog publishing take away from your biking experience. You don’t have to write a blog every day. Trust me, the only thing you are going to want to do after biking 70+ miles is PASS OUT! But if you absolutely HAVE to tell your grandmother that a tree didn’t fall on your tent the night before, think about using Facebook or Twitter to post your daily statuses (stati?). Use your off days (hopefully at least once a week) to find yourself a library, or (if you have a larger budget) your hotel room to write your weekly blog. While writing your blog, make sure to always be yourself. This is YOUR journey and YOUR place to share it with others. Therefore, keep it personal and not too professional. Your blog should look, sound and feel like you. Most importantly, have fun with it!

Photo and screenshots by Michelle Cassel & Ryan McAfee.

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10 Ways to Stay Healthy on a Bike Tour

Posted on July 17, 2012 by America ByCycle

I know what you’re thinking — how can you NOT be healthy on a bike tour?

Yes, you are probably getting the most exercise your body has ever seen and having a great time experiencing the great outdoors, but you are also putting your body through some new and sometimes extreme conditions.

On our tour across the country we found our health in some compromising situations due to things like intense weather or lack of healthy food options. We weren’t prepared, and learned our lesson the hard way. So here are a few simple steps that we recommend taking to stay healthy on the trail.

1. Train First!
Start training before your tour begins. The more fit you are, the less likely you’ll sustain an early injury. Also, get comfortable with your saddle. Saddle sores suck, so make sure you put some miles on that saddle to make sure your booty is a-ok!

2. Drink Water!
Drink water. Drink LOTS of water. Drink before you’re thirsty, and drink like it’s going out of style. We carried two water bottles and a hydration pack each and could have carried more. In certain areas, you will face long stretches between services, so plan accordingly. Bring enough water to last you through those areas, and then bring an extra bottle for backup on top of that. Another great tool to add to your gear list is a water filter or UV light. These little guys can turn a sticky situation into an abundance of fresh water for you to drink!

3. Eat healthy calories, not empty ones.
You are burning around 6,000 calories a day while on tour, so you’re going to want to eat everything in sight (like nine pound ice cream sundaes). You deserve it right?

Of course you do! But try to limit those indulgences, and don’t depend on them for fuel that will last (you’ll realize this when you’re already hungry after your first hill). Those chips, pizza, and ice cream snacks don’t give your body the healthy fuel it needs to battle those grueling climbs. Instead, eat whole foods that are high in fiber. Stick to whole grains and pastas, and don’t forget about those fruits and veggies! When you’re touring healthy food can be hard to find, and we struggled to find healthy options through certain parts of our tour (I’m talking to you, midwest!). We quickly learned to stock up whenever we stumbled upon a heath food store or farmer’s market. Some of our favorite foods were:

Peanut Butter – duh
Bananas – good for keeping those cramps away
Nuts – healthy protein and fats
Quinoa and lentils – good fiber, carbs and omegas!
Dark chocolate – how can you go without chocolate?
Dehydrated veggies – good for soups if you’re camping
Energy bars – good for a boost if you’re tired (avoid bars that contain refined sugar though!)
Coconut oil – good for cooking, good for the skin after sun or wind exposure and fits nicely in your water bottle cage, if you have an extra one to spare.

4. Plan around extreme weather.
It can get really hot out there, especially if you’re touring in the south during the summer. And if you’re slow like we were, it can get really cold in the mountains during the fall. That being said, plan to bike in the early mornings before that afternoon heat rolls in. Then take a long cool break inside or under shade and, if you have the energy, put in a few more hours of biking in the evening. In colder temperatures the days are shorter, so your biking window is much smaller. Start and end your days with what little sun and warmth you have. You’ll stay warm as long as you’re moving, but once you stop you want to make sure you’ve stopped for good, because it is HARD to get back out on the road after taking a break and cooling down! Remember that the best thing to regulate your body temperature is high-quality clothing that keeps you dry in the rain, cool in the heat, and warm in the cold. Pack accordingly.

5. Clean Yourself.
You may not always have access to a shower, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stay clean. Water spigots, streams, rivers, rain, and your own hydration pack (if you have one) can all be utilized to wipe away dirt, grime, and the sadness of the long, lonely road. You can also use a garden hose from a church (as long as they give you permission), or a sink in a community center!

6. Prepare for altitude sickness.
If you are climbing up to 7,000 ft or more, you could experience some changes in your body. Things like shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea and migraines are all common symptoms. Usually these are temporary, however, and your body will adjust in a couple of days. If the symptoms get worse, then it might be a good idea to seek medical attention. Some simple preparations you can take to prevent altitude sickness are to limit your activity for a few days to get used to the altitude, stay away from caffeine and alcohol, get plenty of rest, and drink lots of water. Note that cooking can take twice as long at higher altitudes. Oh, and you’ll fart a lot more, too.

7. Rest before you get tired.
Getting a good night’s sleep when touring can make or break your day. Also, be sure to take long breaks during the day. You’re putting a lot of strain on your body, so it’s good to give it a break every now and then!

8. Bring a first aid kit.
Injuries can happen anytime, even when you’re doing some simple bike maintenance. Gauze, bandages, and alcohol swabs are great things to bring with you, because trust us, you’re going to get a few bumps and bruises. Also, we didn’t really use chammy butter, but other cyclists swear by it. It’s good for preventing saddle sores (hopefully you don’t get them), and keeps your nether regions lubed up quite nicely.

9. Stretch.
Stretching feels good. It limbers you up, releases endorphins (no, that’s not an ocean creature), and prevents injury/soreness. Take a few minutes in the morning and the evening to do some easy stretches, and keep those legs loose! And yes, reaching forward really hard for the remote control in your hotel room can be considered a stretch if you want.

10. Carpe Diem.
Sieze the day! Think positive thoughts. A long tour can be both physically and mentally tough. Instead of thinking about how many miles you’ve got until the finish line, give yourself daily goals, or no goals at all. Just enjoy yourself and the present moment. It’s not about the mileage you’re doing or how fast you’re going. It’s about enjoying yourself and doing something that very few people do in their lifetime. Literally stopping to smell the roses can cheer you up and keep you motivated to get going! You’ll make it!

Photos by Michelle Cassel and Ryan McAfee

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