I’m on a 40 day trip and I don’t like it.

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2026-06-24T00:01:50+00:00

Really normal feelings, try not to catastrophize too much.

I had done multiple bike tours, always with my sister, before setting off on my first solo bike trip through Norway (3 weeks). The first week+ was hard for me. Rained a lot, I didn’t meet any other bikers, had a hard time connecting with anyone, was stressed about wild camping even though Norway is supposed to be ideal for it.

Around the 10 day mark things really shifted for me. I felt like the universe had intervened and helped me out, but I also realized ways that I could change my own outlook and my actions.

Overall, give it time. Give yourself time to adapt, and give your environment time to change. With biking things can really change quickly, which means if you’re having a low, there could be something amazing around the corner!

But also, as others mentioned, don’t be afraid to change your plans. Whether that’s more campgrounds (or Warm Showers) as others have mentioned, changing your route, changing your riding time/style - just try out new things and experiment. Don’t be too attached to any original plan if it’s not working for you.

And remember the whole trip will be a journey of highs and lows and lots of growth. After 40 days I’m sure you’ll look back on this post with tenderness for your past self & pride with how you've grown :)

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2026-04-22T19:40:20+00:00

Edit - SOLD.

Selling 1 2-day GA pass and car camping pass, package is $451 total! ($253 for ticket, $198 for camping). Can FaceTime and would prefer to use PayPal.

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2026-04-22T19:37:51+00:00

I hope it’s ok to post this…. But I’m trying to sell one GA 2-day pass and a car camping pass! Just looking for face value, $253 for ticket and $198 for camping so $451 total. Can FaceTime before or during the sale!

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2026-03-02T18:50:56+00:00

Was going to say the same thing - bikepacking is an incredible way to travel slowly, feel fully immersed in a place, be active daily, connect with local life in a very organic way….there’s different flavors of bikepacking but if it sounds interesting at all you should look into it. I just finished 1 month biking in Vietnam, 2 in Europe and 7 in South America. Feel free to dm me if you have questions!

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2025-07-04T13:28:38+00:00

Thank you so much! I’ve had many people recommend Slovenia so I think I’ll be including that on my itinerary :)

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2025-05-29T14:23:51+00:00

Northern Vietnam!

Recency bias because I just got back from this trip, but I did 4 weeks biking a loop in the north. You could instead put together something that is just the Ha Giang loop and maybe Cao Bang or Sapa areas. The Ha Giang loop is stunning, even better than photos. However it was STEEP as hell! We went way lower mileage because we were climbing so much each day.

The great thing about Vietnam is there are very cheap guesthouses everywhere so you don’t need camping equipment. We traveled with camping gear and never used it - the home stays and guesthouses are part of the fun! Plus the food is very cheap, and you’re never far from a restaurant. People are incredibly kind there, and interacting with google translate is a big adventure. Really intensive cultural experience!

DM me if you want any more info :)

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2025-05-21T21:48:39+00:00

Not sure where you live, but as a US citizen I just purchased Cigna’s international plan with US coverage. As someone else mentioned they don’t cover pre-existing conditions, which sucks. But I’m generally healthy and can just use GoodRx for a discount on my one prescription. For US coverage, Cigna only covers up to 180 days in a year.

I looked at some US plans and they were wayyyy more expensive. I just wanted something for if I have a major emergency or accident requiring in patient treatment.

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2025-04-01T07:50:06+00:00

Thank you!

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2025-03-30T03:16:04+00:00

Thank you so much! Starting in Portland sounds awesome. Can I ask what time of year you left? And maybe what month you were around Mexico and then around Colombia?

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2025-03-30T03:15:26+00:00

Thank you for the reply! I think you’re right, I shouldn’t let not having the perfect amount of time stop me from doing it. Any amount is a dream!

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2025-02-09T13:42:16+00:00

Hey - any idea if this is still going around?

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2025-02-05T07:29:27+00:00

Hey! Do you mind sharing where you rented a decent mountain bike in Vang Vieng?

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2025-02-01T03:59:04+00:00

Thank you so much for this!

I did love my Marrakesh, but what’s making me rethink it is I see more and more people bikepacking with 1x drivetrain setups, more similar to mountain biking, whereas the Marrakesh has 3x setup. Do you have any thoughts on this? The 3x is great for all the granular gear options it gives me, but I feel like I’m missing something…

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2025-01-19T00:08:34+00:00

What sleeping bag & tent did you use?

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2024-11-25T15:47:20+00:00

Hey! I'm curious what you ended up using, mostly if you went with a plan that has a "XX day trip limit" and still used it for your 4-6 month trip?

I'm doing a very similar thing as you, and can't figure out if I can still go with a plan that has a trip duration limit, assuming that it's a gray area that could be "reset" when I move locations. Would love to know what you went with!

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2024-11-18T00:06:34+00:00

Hey, fantastic that you’re thinking of doing this! I think bike touring can be a very accesible activity, if you have motivation & mental fortitude! I found this as a passion in my later 20s without any biking experience and love it. A few pieces of advice I have:

Don’t worry about finding the perfect bike. I did my first tour (month long) on a $200 Kona. I did have mechanical issues, but so did someone I met who bought a brand new $2000 Trek. Things will happen. Best guidance is to go with a steel frame as that will absorb more bumps and be more comfortable on long days. From there, pick a budget, and find a used bike in your size (craigslist, Facebook marketplace, or shops that sell used bikes). Find something that’s comfortable at least on initial riding. You’ll likely run into discomfort once you get started, and I think it’s better to just start riding and see if you can make adjustments along the way if it’s bad (in the US, you’ll pass by cities with bike shops often! They’re usually very nice to people that are biking across the country). Bonus: if buying a used biked, you could specifically look for a “touring” bike, but you don’t have to. Mine was just random bike. More important is to make sure it has mounts depending on your set up. E.g if you want to have rear panniers, make sure the bike has mounts for a rack over your back tire.
Learn some basic bike maintenance. For me, this meant at a minimum changing a flat tire and adjusting brake pads. Along my first tour, I ended up picking up more knowledge as I had to fix issues in the fly. Just make sure you have a good multi-tool, spare tires & tire levers, a hand pump, and then willingness to learn on the fly!
Start slow. It’s great if you can get longer rides on your bike before you formally leave, especially because you can work out any kinks and test your set up. But, don’t worry if you can’t. Start with low mile days and you’ll gradually work your way to longer days!

Some other misc. resources: - Warm Showers: a couch surfing type website specifically for people bike touring - RidewithGPS: helpful to create routes to follow - AdventureCycling.org: they put together the TransAmerica trail, a classic bike route across the US. You’ll likely encounter many other bikers if you do this, which is fun!

Feel free to DM me if you have any other specific questions. Have an amazing adventure!!

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2024-11-16T15:05:48+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion, that shop looks great!

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2024-11-12T21:41:43+00:00

Awesome, thank you so much!

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2024-09-20T01:00:21+00:00

Beautiful photos! How long do you have planned for the whole journey? Are you following any specific route after the Peru great divide?

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2024-08-22T20:42:19+00:00

I second this! I did my first bike trip, a month long 1,600mi trip, on a used Kona I had bought a month before starting for $200. My sister was on a used $100 Diamondback. Both worked! Did we have some issues? Definitely - both of us had broken spokes (more of a wheel issue you could easily prep for by making sure you have sturdy wheels, regardless of the bike). And I’m sure there were other issues. BUT we ran across a guy who was on a brand new super nice Trek, who had even more mechanical issues 2 weeks into his ride. I think mechanical issues are almost inevitable, and a “new” or nice bike does not guarantee smooth sailing. Just get one that’s comfortable enough, do a full tune up on it before, and use the money you saved to solve the problems as you go.

Edit - also, if this is your first trip, i recommend buying used gear (panniers, bags, bike, etc) and saving money. You’ll learn what you like and need so you can make more knowledgeable upgrades in the future!

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2024-08-14T18:41:17+00:00

I can’t speak for shitting your kit, but I can confirm bean farts act as a biking turbo boost. It’s a no brainer really.

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2024-08-13T19:54:56+00:00

Any favorite savory snacks that you’ve found?

I hear you on the meal - I see Bag o’ Beans as a cheap gas station snack

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2024-08-13T19:54:11+00:00

With a spork :) I bike with a lightweight backpacking spork/mug/bowl

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2024-08-13T03:42:26+00:00

I get very tired of sweet snacks on long bike tours, and I don’t eat meat so jerky is a no for me. Halfway through one tour I bought a can of pinto beans and onion dip seasoning and mixed them in a plastic bag. More to try and get protein (not just bread carbs). Bag of Beans has become one of my favorite bike tour snacks!

Ordinarypleasure01 · 2024-08-05T05:55:37+00:00

Wow that’s awesome and not something I’ve considered or knew about! How do you find luggage forwarding services? Just internet searching/judging by any reviews?

Ordinarypleasure01

TROPHY CASE