This is a picture of Nancy on the day she completed her first metric century and while on tour too!
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I have never been on a fully supported bicycle touring adventure so I started looking for opinions from people who have. Not only has Nancy Bradbury experienced several fully supported tours but she's willing to discuss her experiences with us.
This is a picture of Nancy on the day she completed her first metric century and while on tour too!
Click to enlarge.
What is your bicycle touring experience including the types of tours you have completed, number of years touring etc.
I have taken part in 4 tours, all of them sagged. In 2001, I rode the Tour da U.P. for 5 days. The next summer I rode on a weekend tour in rural Wisconsin. In 2003, I joined another 5 day tour in northern lower Michigan called Summertour. Last summer (2004) was my longest yet, the 7 day West Shoreline Tour along Lake Michigan.
What was your first bicycle touring adventure like?
My first tour was the Tour da U.P. For the uninitiated, “da U.P.” refers to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, an area that those of us who live here are extremely fond of. The tour is a fundraiser and changes routes every year. They offer some routes for both mountain and road bikes. Our nearly 200 mile route traveled a big loop, leaving from Baraga, up to Houghton, then up the Keweenaw Peninsula to Copper Harbor, where we actually had a layover day. The next day we continued on to Lake Linden and then returned to Baraga.
While this area was not new to me, it felt new as I saw it from a whole new perspective. I experienced every hill in a way you never feel in a car, and soaked in all the gorgeous views of Lake Superior. Uncharacteristically hot weather (100+) in an area that rarely sees the 90’s made the riding extra challenging, but I loved the feel of spending all that time under my own locomotion. 85 degree nights in a tent made for very poor sleep, and even the participants who surrendered their tents for local motels discovered that there is not an air conditioned inn in the entire town of Copper Harbor.
Although it turns out I did know several people on the tour, I had signed up on my own. I mostly rode by myself, but never felt alone because of frequent conversations with other riders along the route. I thoroughly enjoyed the mixture of solitude as well as company when I chose.
As I returned to Baraga, I recognized that this is my idea of a vacation! I couldn’t wait to start thinking about next year’s tour.
It was a magnificent morning in Benzonia!
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When did you first get interested in going on a Fully Supported/Sag wagon bicycle tour?
It really was on a whim that I decided to sign up. I had read about the Tour da U.P. for the previous several years and had even seen them departing Marquette one year when I was out for a run. It just sounded like a really intriguing and challenging idea.
What are some of the significant advantages and disadvantages of a fully supported bicycle tour?
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Could you share a fond memory or two that came from a Sag wagon tour?
Nancy in the Eastlake tunnel of trees.
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On Summertour 2003, we camped for two nights at Interlochen State Park. Located across the street from the internationally famous Interlochen Arts Academy, we were immersed in an incredible environment of music and talented students. We would awaken to reveille in the morning and settle in to taps at night. We encountered miserable rain and thunderstorms, but rather than moping in wet tents we could wander from building to building and be treated to incredible concerts, or listen to grand piano practice under the towering pines. The one dry evening, Norah Jones performed in an open air auditorium so that even those of us without tickets were able to bask in the melodies under the stars.
As far as a great riding memory, I think of a day on that same tour. As I said, it had been raining very hard; some folks had actually packed up and deserted. My friend and I decided we were made of sterner stuff and took off in the 50 degree pouring rain. I remember the fun we had pushing ourselves in the strong wind, the curious reactions from the few passing motorists, how wonderful the soup and hot chocolate tasted when we stopped for lunch, the dogs who loved the tennis balls that Pat threw at them, and then… as we approached Lake Michigan the sun coming out, the tough climbs, the fast downhill, and then the glistening lake. Turns out we were two of less than 20 folks out of the group of 200 who decided to ride that day. They don’t know what they missed!
What's it like touring in a group on a regular and ongoing basis? Any fights? Tips and tricks to make the experience good despite group problems?
Some rode, some walked, but we all made it up Killer Hill for the promised watermelon stop.
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I suspect more problems could crop up with a smaller group. When the size is 60 or more, it really is fairly easy to remain somewhat anonymous if you wish. Any group is bound to have a whiner or two, but I make it a point not to hang out with them. On one tour, a sizeable number of people chose the option of traveling with Bubba’s Pampered Pedalers. For a large chunk of change, they were treated to amenities such as a provided tent and pad awaiting them when they pedaled in to camp, someone else schlepping their gear to/from the baggage truck, fresh towels, snacks, lawnchairs, etc. It was interesting to watch an attitude of haves and have-nots begin to grow through out the week. Hey, if they wanted to pay to be pampered, go for it! As in any situation, I found my keeping a positive and appreciative attitude was the key to keeping it fun.
Have you been on fully loaded/Self supporting tours? If so, how would you compare the two touring experiences?
No self supported experience yet, but it’s definitely in my future!
Do you tour with a mascot?
I rescued Garfield from the side of Marquette Mountain hill, so he now rides in my rack pack.
At the finish line!
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Any advice for someone consider taking a Sag tour. Are there things that separate an excellent tour operator from a tour operator in your experience?
Stop considering and sign up! Going on a sagged tour is a great confidence builder and a really fun vacation. My guess is that most people who try a sagged tour for the first time have probably not put in many 40+ mile days. But when someone else is doing all the work for you (after all, the pedaling is fun!) take your time and the miles just breeze by.
My experience has been that cycling organizations or clubs put on the best rides. They are made up of people who like to tour themselves. (They are also volunteers- remember to be grateful!) They know what kind of food hungry cyclists like to eat (do you notice a preoccupation with food!?) They are aware of what types of routes work best for riding. They recognize the little touches that enhance the experience.
I highly recommend tours organized by either Tri-county Bicycle Association ( TCBA) or the League of Michigan Bicyclists.
An interview with Nancy Bradbury
Hopefully more reports of the various types of touring adventures including supported, credit card and fully loaded tours will come to rest on the Bicycle Touring 101 website.
I plan to experience a supported bicycle tour at some point so that I can make my own determination on how it feels to tour on a light weight bike.
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