07 May 10 Types of Bicycle Tourists You Will Meet
As humans, we try to make sense of a lot of things by coming up with generalizations, or what some people would call stereotypes. Many of these things may be false, but they are predominantly true. This allows us to relate to them in a way that makes sense to us at the time. I am talking about the characters we meet in the bicycle touring community. Let’s see if I can cover most of the types of bicycle tourists out there.
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The Rookie
Let’s start off with our first type of bicycle tourists: The Rookie. This person is very new to bike touring. They may not have a touring bike, but instead a mountain bike or an off-brand road bike with a rear rack. They might even be carrying a backpack on their trip for now. This person is generally really excited and glad to be out on the road.
You can find them on quick overnight tours, but there are a few who just get out there without any experience and are just doing it. They may not know how to use their camping gear or even their bicycles. But they are not afraid to ask. These guys are eager to learn about bike touring, so be sure to give them pointers here and there. They may also be the ones complaining about aches and pains at the end of the day. Be careful with these riders as they can sway in favor of becoming a full fledge bicycle tourist or they may just fall off the bandwagon and never do another one. Work with them, encourage them. They’ll be eager to join you on any future trips.
Johnny at the Scary Dairy
The Zealot
On the other spectrum, we have: The Zealot. This is the person who has been traveling the world or has just been on the road bike touring. They are living it. They’ve given up everything to be on the road for months at a time. Some may also be traveling from location to location and staying for short periods of time before moving forward. They are the men and women you would only dream to be if circumstances in your life were different. They are living the nomadic lifestyle and can be found at different places in the world, riding their bikes and having a good time. They have the best stories to tell. Their bikes are incredibly well-ridden with tens of thousands of miles of travel. There always seems to be a layer of dust on them at all times, not from being left in the storage, but rather from the roads that they’ve been traveling on.
These zealots may seem like they’re braggarts, but they are just brimming with stories. If you’re ever around one, go ahead and ask questions. They just love to share about all things bicycle touring. They’ve got stories after stories to tell you, not to mention advice. They won’t be short of advice, so if you’re unclear about anything related to bicycle touring, ask away!
The Overpacker
So if the zombie apocalypse happens, this is the person you want to travel with. They’ve got their whole life with them. Sometimes, they have a full set of panniers, a rack, and another rack in tow. These guys are ready for anything that comes their way. And you thought you can carry a lot by car? Psssh! You have nothing on the Overpacker.
Need a full change of clothing? Got it. Need to rip apart your bottom bracket? He’s got the tool. Many of the Rookies may start off as Overpackers. Most of them will downsize, but if they don’t have any reason to, they will eventually evolve into the Overpacker.
Don’t go criticizing them for being packrats. When the time comes and you need that plastic mallet to hammer in your tent stakes, you’ll be glad you know one. Remember that people bike tour however they want. Your setup is not better or worse than anybody else’s, so don’t forget that.
The Gear Head
The Gear Head is usually the guy who loves to peruse and examine your gear. Whether it is the bicycle you’re riding on or the gear that you whip out of your panniers, this person will be the one to carefully examine it. They may not criticize you to your face, but will quickly talk bad about your gear choice to others. Don’t let these guys get to you. These are the folks who spend more of their time at home figuring out the perfect gear they can purchase rather than be out on the road having an adventure.
The best way to engage with this person is to talk about their gear choice. Ask them why they pick this or that. They will be happy to tell you why and the value proposition behind their choices. They will let you know that they’ve done extensive amounts of research while cooped up at home in the dead of winter reading online reviews and forums from other travelers. You will probably find out what the best things are out there from the Gear Head. This may be important for future purchases, so have this guy in touch when you’re ready to buy. They’ll make perfect shopping buddies.
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The Ultralight
The Ultralight is the person who has been watching and studying “Ride the Divide,” the movie and have traded their road touring gear for the adventure bike gear. They have swapped their touring bike for dirt variants, like the Salsa Fargo or even fat bikes. They have added frame bags, seat bags, handlebar bags, Salsa Anything cages, and a bunch of textile-like pouches to their bike. They carry all the lightest things possible. Tents? That’s too heavy. They have homemade tarp that they’ve sewn out of camouflage waterproof fabric. Their tooth-brush is cut in half to conserve space and weight.
When it comes to weight and efficiency, you can’t find a guy who can fit as little as possible on their bike as an Ultralight. Yes, they give up on some creature comforts, but this guy will outride you any day with your heavy panniers. Their lightness makes it easier for them to traverse offroad terrain like the Great Divide without much issue (under perfect conditions). Even in non-perfect conditions, their gears are light and versatile enough that they’re more efficient than you’ll ever be on a touring bike.
These guys are at an entirely different level. You can call them bike tourists, but they’re at a whole new level called “bikepackers.”
The No Pain, No Gain
The No Pain, No Gain is the person who is looking for challenging road conditions. A 25% incline? No problem. Occasional back country ride? That’s perfect. 120 miles of riding the next day? Bring it on. These folks are the ones who are bored when riding in safe bike trails. They are borderline masochist who are looking to challenge their bodies and minds when they go on bicycle tours.
They would love to travel the path less pedaled. They rather go off the beaten path away from the designated “safe” route. They find reward in flying up and down mountains. They dominate the rides that they’re on because they are so physically fit.
Be careful when you’re traveling with these folks as they may not know your limitations. You may find yourself on a single track road with fully loaded panniers and mildly bleeding on your knee from an earlier fall. The best way to keep the No Pain, No Gain person is to allow them to move forward and do what they want. You let him or her know where you’ll be meeting and hope he/she gets there unscathed.
The Spinner
The Spinner are the folks whose motto is, “I have a small chain ring and I ain’t afraid to use it.” This person does not care how steep the hill is or if they come in last to camp, they are happy to sit on their bike and spin to their heart’s content. Why put your body through such brutal conditions when you have your bike who is there to help?
When conditions worsen, they will be the first to hop off their bike and walk it until it becomes favorable. They are like anybody else out here bike touring. They go at their own pace. Don’t worry too much about them if you are traveling with Spinners. You go on your way if you’re faster and make sure they reach the next turn or check point. They may be slower, but they will always make it.
Photo Credit: Robert Thomson via Compfight cc
The Masher
The Masher is usually a younger person in their 20s who is in a rush to get to camp. They see bike touring as a series of sprint races from one place to the next. Some of these folks might not even ride touring bikes. They’re on full-fledged road bikes or even fixed gear variations. They would fly up and down hills like no tomorrow. They will refuse to get off their bikes to walk it.
You will bump into these guys just one time in camp because there is no way to see them again unless they have a rest day. Forget about pacing with them. They’ll just blow you out of the water. You might as well ride an electric bike or hitchhike if you want to keep up with them. Being young does have its benefits.
The Wanderer
Wanderers are the people who are in their own little worlds. They may follow for a little bit, but may choose to wander off and take a nap at the side of the road, or they want to stop by the bakery in the next town to indulge in some delicious pastries. These are the folks who take time to smell the roses along the way and enjoy the ride to its fullest.
Most Wanderers are very curious about their surroundings and are very in touch with the journey. You should never tell a Wanderer where to go and what they have to see. They’re already thinking about doing something else. They typically would arrive to camp after sunset, after a fulfilling day of exploration. Wanderers typically dislike the regiment of a fully supported tour. They don’t like to follow the rules or follow the herd. They just…well, wander.
The Minimalist
Last, but not least, we have the Minimalist. This person has everything dialed down in terms of gearing bike. They share a lot of things in common with the Ultralight in terms of gearing choices. The Minimalist is most likely a minimalist in his day-to-day life where he sheds unnecessary things and brings along what he needs. 1 change of clothing, a bivvy sack, or an alcohol stove. They have at 2 panniers at most to carry everything with them. They value the experience of riding a bicycle on tour. They don’t skimp on purchasing the best gear money can buy. They don’t waste their time getting the cheap stuff. If it’s known to work and work real well, the Minimalist will acquire it.
How about contingency plans? That’s not for the Minimalists. Mishaps are all part of the adventure. All part of the experience. They will deal with it when it happens. They may not have the latest smart phone, but they’ll have a cellphone to call out. Living simply and frugally on the road is what makes this individual happy with his/her travels.
Now don’t think these people won’t take what you give them. They will take what you offer. When you’re riding with a Minimalist, they will be willing to do more things on the road. They may not want to shop so don’t invite them out to such events unless you’re shopping for food.
Final Thoughts
As I write about these people, which is loosely based on the folks I’ve met in my life or on the road I can’t help but wonder where I fit. I think I am a Zealot, but aspire to be a Minimalist. I hope nobody is offended by any of these types because this is written out of jest, just something fun that I’ve been thinking about. Putting it in words and giving them names has always been something I toyed with in my head. Feel free to use these names if you like.
Do you know anybody in your life that fits in one or some of these categories? Where do you fit in? Are there other types that I may be missing? Would love to hear from you either in comments below or any of the multiple ways to get in touch with me.
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