First long distance ride..

[Red Rider]

(01-03-2023, 11:45 AM)GirishH Wrote:  Hello,

How did you get into long distance riding, bikepacking or touring?

I was in Portland, OR and had a few days to kill. And, I was lucky to have a bicycle that "fit" me and had a "crazy" idea. So, I looked up on Google map and headed out hoping to get to the Oregon coast. This was my first 60-miler and I had no idea if I could do it. But, I was in good shape, had full day of daylight and knew that I'd be passing through enough towns to find help if needed. Wow, what a life transforming experience this was. I spent some 3-4 days on the coast and my life has changed since then as I experienced the beauty of savoring "slow" pace. I rode through rain forests that you usually see on Jurassic series, saw a black bear crossing the road and more..:-)

At 12 years I rode a 3 speed "English Racer" From Stockton, California to Mokelumne Hill, California to spend time with my aging grandmother. I liked the ride and rode it back a couple of months later.

In 1977-1978 I rode from Springfield, Masssachusetts to Pittsburg, California loosely following I80 and I70 out past Denver. Up near Golden I got treed by a grizzly (Why I mark my face with bear power every morning, I promised I would up in that tree) for a few hours. Forgot to mention That my first Half dozen crossings were done on a Schwinn Varsity with steel baskets front and rear.

I did the ride almost annually up until about 1989.