So many gems in this one. Your humor and insight really shine in these videos. Keep sharing details of your earlier trips. Your stories are worth telling.

Been there, done that. ;-) Your story made me smile, because it reminded me of my first trip in 1982. My first bike was a racing bike, equipped with a carrier and panniers. Like you I didn't have much money, so I had a cheap, heavy tent and sleeping bag. I took a boat from the Netherlands to Norway and cycled there. When I reached the mountains, I found out, like you, that my gears were not suitable for that terrain. So I had to walk quite a bit. After a week a spoke broke, I repaired it. Two days later another spoke broke, I also repaired that. The next day after that again a spoke broke. The interval between breakages got shorter and shorter until I ran out of spare spokes. I had to take a bus to a big town to get it repaired. The next year I bought a real touring bike and better camping equipment. It went much better, I cycled from Oslo to the North Cape.

Broke out into a big smile when you said, "carried two pair of blue jeans, five days' worth of food". In 1976 on my first bike tour (Bike Centennial) this NEWBIE started out with an AXE, (boy was that heavy) unwearable clothes, to much food and I wasn't carrying things that I really needed. Enjoy your straight take on things. Thanks.

Oh my gosh...I did my first bike tour in 1981 too. A friend and I took off to ride the circumference of the entire country! We didn't end up going that far, but we made it from Michigan to New Jersey to Florida to Texas, stopping to work three times along the way. We planned it so that we'd be down south in the winter and then proceeded to have record lows in the teens all the way through the panhandle of Florida! It was REALLY cold, but folks along the way saw us riding and became alarmed. Turns out we never spent a single one of those nights camping out in the cold because people gave us money for a hotel one night, paid for a little cabin the next, let us sleep in the spotless heated bathrooms at a campground (the whole place was empty except for us!), etc. All that was completely unsolicited. Folks were just naturally so kind and generous. Ended up in Houston, Texas and my friend went back up to Michigan and I stayed in Texas...for 12 years! Met and married my husband and we just had our 30th anniversary. I also road a section of the Camino de Santiago in Spain which was wonderful (2013). Still have my Miyata 1000 with all the original components. Heavy as heck compared to today's touring bikes, but no bike ever road as smoothly on the road. Thanks for sharing! PS - we carried WAY too much stuff on our first tour as well. Now my kit is under 25 lbs, and that's with the winter sleeping bag and wool long undies!

Some parallels to my life here, sort of. I hiked the PCT in 1977 at the age of 19. One of the first 100 to do so. Nowadays, 4-5,000 attempt every year. 40 years later, I did the AT. This year? The TransAmerica. My first bike tour. I may be a novice, but I have the mental part down. Love your videos. Great inspiration to old coots like myself.

I love your attitude brother!!! Adventure starts outside your front door!!!! Ride on, brothers!!! Love from Russia. South Urals and Bashkortostan!!

That was Great!! From one old guy biker to another, thanks for sharing with us!

Take home message - you went! After that it's all fun (and learning). Like you, I did a big trip in my teens. In those days you couldn't buy panniers in Canada. So, my friend and I looked in Euro bike magazines, designed panniers and a top rack back and had his Mom sew them. As they were designed around the stuff we actually had, it worked out quite well. I haven't seen a better top rack bag in 40 years. Like you, we did lots wrong - BUT we did lots right and had a life changing trip - yup, I still talk about it. And now, 40 years later? My wife is going to sew a similar bag for my rack when I set out to ride 1500 miles in the UK this summer. Sounds like a lot of miles, but you deal with the mile you're on, and suddenly the miles pile on and you're done. The hardest hill is always the one you're on at the time. I'll have to see what I do wrong this time. Thanks for your post, it brought back a flood of memories on an otherwise dull afternoon. Ahh, the older I get, the better I was. Good for you - pedal on.

I had to laugh... I saw myself in much of what was said! I was in my late 20s in the mid-80s when I did my first trip... I had a long hours, high stress job with upper management that was ethically challenged. I called a friend of mine on his private line at his bicycle shop early on a Saturday morning before he opened. I was in my office... It was mid-December in upstate NY. I told him I was going to do a bicycle trip. To humor me he invited me over to his house on Sunday evening so we could draw up an equipment list. Monday morning I quit and called my friend and asked him if he had ordered the stuff yet. His response was "You're serious!" My response was "Yeah, I quit." Quitting also meant giving up my company car so I walked to a travel agency and bought a one-way ticket to FL three weeks in the future. From there I walked to my friend's bicycle shop, showed him my ticket and said I'm leaving on January 8th (as I recall). For the next three weeks I scrambled to get equipment... all I had was a bike. New tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, stove, cook kit, panniers, bar bag, cycling clothes, cycling shoes, etc. Most all of the gear was Cannondale (they had tents, sleeping bags, panniers, etc. in those days). My aunt agreed to pick me up at Tampa International Airport. I recall her asking me what route I was taking... "I don't know, I'm going north." Then she asked if I had any maps.... "No." I figured out how to pack the bike in the Florida room of her house and joined AAA to get free maps and travelers checks. Stayed there for a week or so visiting and taking day rides and then took off! I ended up riding from Treasure Island, around Tampa Bay down the Tamiani Trail to Miami, out into the Everglades back country, to Key West, and then zig zagged my way north as the weather broke. Hit places like Daytona Beach (during Bike Week!), St. Augustine, FL; Charlotee, NC; Williamsburg, VA; Lancaster, PA; and picked up Rte 209 north. Three months and over 3,100 miles later I ended up riding my last 108 miles in a light snow storm. Yeah... I'm still talking about it! Thirty six years later I'm still at it too... Did a couple 1,500+ mile trips and a couple 400+ mile trips in the past 12 years and if the stars align I'll be doing another 1,000-1,500 mile trip this year. I took my sons on 1,500+ mile trips when they were each aged 15. They were different kids when we finished. They understand perseverance and how you can take something that seems overwhelming and break it down into small pieces. Essentially actualizing the Chinese proverb "A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step.” The similarities in our stories (though I was better equipped coming out of the gate) makes me wonder if there is some contagion we picked up while sleeping on the ground during our first trip. If so, may it spread uninhibited! 😉

You are so laid back ,cool, kind and inspirational.Thanks!!

Well said Paul, plenty of wise information. I too took off young at 21 and spent 3 months riding around New Zealand. Awesome trip. Now at 62, not long back into riding, decided to splash out on a new touring bike. Tomorrow I'm heading out for a 200km practice trip with 3 overnight camps. Most of the trip will be on bike tracks and quiet dirt roads, so won't have to deal with traffic. That is a bonus.

What I like most about Paul, is he does everything HIS way. Too many people get caught up in fashion and fancy things in their gear. We would all be wise to listen to the voice of wisdom and reason presented in this video. Thank you, Paul. I hope to see you out on the road someday!

Adventure cycling rocks... you rock.

I started bike touring in Eastern Massachusetts in the early '70s. It was almost all hostel to hostel touring. Like you, I didn't have the right gear. I was riding my mom's hand-me-down Raleigh touring bike with a Reynolds 531 frame with a Sturmy-Archer 3-speed with changeable rear sprockets, and a dynamo front hub. It was really high-tech when it was made in the early '50s. I wore blue jeans, t-shirts and tenny runners. I only had a backpack and a bar bag. Only the rich kids had paniers. Rain gear? An army surplus poncho. But I rode all over with friends and had great trips. Fast forward to now as I'm getting ready to start touring again. My bike weighs 18 pounds, my tent is 2 pounds, my down sleeping quilt is one pound, etc. All up, my bike, and all the gear I'll carry, will weigh about the same as my first bike by itself. How times have changed. And it's a good thing too as I certainly haven't gotten any younger.

I rode from Minneapolis to Chicago when I was 22 (decades ago). I can agree with all of your points. Like any endurance sport, the more you do it, the more you hone your craft. The best advice I could give to someone is do it.

3:33 yeah, I was in that club all my life and now with the phone camera I can get what I want, to a small degree now in my mid-60s when all the excitement has slowed down to a trickle-tickle.

I went! Best comment on the entire video! Truer words have never been spoken. When I was 17, I went as well. Six weeks on a bike in Europe! Absolutely life changing. That was a LONG time ago!

I did my first bike tour in 1982. Had fancy new biking shoes for that trip. Bata Bikers that I got from a mail order company. Those shoes were the dope back then. To save weight I used a bivi sack instead of a tent. Had some nights from hell because of that decision. So many good stories in the years that followed. Planning a trip for this coming Summer. Will be 66 years old. Yeah!

You're awesome, thanks for sharing. Would love to hear more stories from your adventures!

I'm 65 and my hot coco is on the stove. "Really" LOL I enjoyed listening to your story.

YES!! SUSCRIBED!!! right first off don't ever change, everything is perfect, presentation wise, the storytelling, the humour, the setting I love it, thank you for taking the time to edit, upload n stuff, all very interesting and entertaining , well done

In 1981 I also graduated from high school in northern Indiana. Three days later I got on my bike with the goal to ride to Oregon. I made it to western Montana instead. I’ve always wanted to finish the trip but can’t now in my present condition .

Ahhh the 80's.....Just hop on the bike and ride, no cell phones or anything to distract your mind. Just the scenery to take up all your time.......

Awesome video PS--brings back memories. When biking was biking, no helmets or lycra costumes. Being of very modest means( some would poor), i saved up my after school part-time job pay to buy a 10 Sears speed. I rode the crap out of that bike. Still riding today, mainly on bike paths--too many cars these days. Keep riding my friend.

Paul, I just can’t watch one of your vlogs without a big, uncontrollable smile on my face. This biology-chemistry-major-turned-67 yo MD just appreciates your understated humor, and unpretentious and straightforward approach to biking. I suspect it applies to your approach to life and love too. You seem like the kind of guy with whom it would be a joy to spend a couple hours around a campfire or a covered picnic table in a rainstorm. You’re a school teacher, yeah? I got my Cycling merit badge in Boy Scouts in the early 70s, had my bike stolen in California in the 80s post-residency, and just got back into biking about 15 years ago. That cycling zygote has transformed into a multi-cellular, bike touring/packing organism. Mitosis is good. Thankfully I have an understanding wife. I did the ACA transcontinental solo in 2020 and I’m completing the border to border GDMBR this summer. I don’t know if you’re into small group touring, but if you’re ever out this way in Oregon, give me a heads up and we’ll lose a little tire tread together. Aside from gravel rails-to-trails, do you ever do any off-road bike packing? Also, I’m looking to do a modified northern tier from Oregon across Central Idaho, Wyoming, the Cowboy Trail in Nebraska, Ragbrai, then up Wisconsin around Lake Michigan, Ontario and the Erie Canal to Maine in a year or so. Any suggestions? Keith BTW, my term for 2, opposing, 18-wheelers trying to cross a narrow, two lane, concrete bridge simultaneously with a softshell biker, is a “nutcracker“. And the nut always loses.

Love your channel. Keep them coming.

Ya know Paul, I've waited for 6 decades so I can say "well back in my day....." I cherish that to anyone that doesn't roll their eyes and prepared to listen.....hmmm...no many takers...ok I'll be on me bike🚴‍♀

Good stories Paul, made me smile. My buddy and I went off on our first bike tour at age 15 in Junior high. We were part of a backpacking club so we had the camping equipment but also wore everything in our packs on our backs!! Ha Ha! I won't even wear one of those water packs on my back these days!! Can you imagine that today?? Our parents saying, "see you in a week" as we rode off down the road!!

I'm going on my first bike tour! I'm 33 and my first tour will be cross country! These videos are so helpful!

Getting Tuned my bike for the first tour, just Toronto to Niagara Falls.I love watching your videos❤

I have watched this a few times in the last year and enjoy it each time. Thanks.

What a gem! I love how concise but still relatable and fun your videos are. And it doesn't hurt that I have a lot of similar memories from my own first tour! :)

What fun! I can relate to your story as I made a lot of those same errors in my early forays into biking. The humor you bring to your videos is wonderful and keeps bringing me back for the next chapter in your biking story. Thanks once again for bringing us along on your adventures!

Great talk, right on target ! It’s about getting out there and peddling and you still have the hunger 🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️

Great video. My first bike "tour" was in 1989 I was 25. I biked the C & O canal trail. I was hurting the first day, lol We biked 60+ miles that day.

Great video, I am amazed to see that even though traveling has never been so cheap and easy, you stuck to the bicycle. Kudos and tailwinds to you...

Came across your videos just recently as I prepare to ride Melbourne to Sydney (second attempt). First time I had to quit after two days from saddle pain, knee pain and wrist pain. Videos like yours are great inspiration for my trip but also have great info from your years of experience. Thanks!

This is great. I rode Adventure Cycling California to Florida and you are "on target" with everything. You remind me of me.

I loved hearing about your first trips. I made all those same mistakes back in the 60’s when I took my first trips. I even took along my guitar. Remember it was the sixties.

Man i just feel happy watching this , i don't know why , i never plan to do bike ing but seeing you tell me the story' makes me happy

Thanks for sharing. Even as an experienced tour rider. I enjoy your stories and yes, I too shared many of the same lessons and help along the way.

Did my first trip in 1981 I was 20-years old. I rode from Silver City, NM (home) to Palomas, Mexico, then turned around and rode solo to Albuquerque. In Albuquerque, I met my Bikecentennial group and we rode to Jasper, Canada along the continental divide. It was amazing!

Nice, thank you. Yes go ride your bike. I’m heading off on an audacious adventure cycling across Eastern Europe. Vids like yours have informed and inspired me. Ty.

Man I don't know what it is but I really like your videos. I think I like that you are refreshingly honest. Something that is really missing in KZfaq...

You inspire me. Thank you.Cheers from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

I am really enjoying these videos Paul! Thanks for your labor of love!

#1 thing I did right - I went. Great statement!

You make a good presenter, Mr. Suchecki. Greetings from the U.K, and thanks for this engaging upload.

It's still 1981 for me as far as Spandex shorts are concerned. 😘

Wow! This brought back memories. Thanks amigo.

Paul, these videos are great. We're the same age, although I really didn't start riding until 25, and wasn't too much an athlete in high school my body feels pretty good. Living in Chicago many great rides just out my door. Don't know if I'll ever do a tour but I enjoy watching you talk about it. Very informative. You're video's are the best!

' Me two'. 1st ride 1973,Rapid city to Wall Drug Store, Similar stories in Dakotas/Black hills.Spearfish. Mesa Arizona in 80-2012 gave dozen ridea up and out of the Valley of my son. Got photos of me on sim 10 speed while in cut off shorts n back pack in Hinesdale/Hanover Pa & NH visiting sister....

Reminds me of my first 3 or 4 backpacking trips. Wrong gear, unneeded gear, gear I needed, and blisters. Thank God Young means tough! "Youth is wasted on the Young". Never heard that before buy WOW is that true!!!

I graduated in 1981 also! Keep up the videos. You have a great presentation style.

Love the delivery of these videos, so amusing, great humour. Thanks touring dude from a touring dude in England.

My first real cycle tour was in PEI with a tempestuous partner... but the next was in Europe solo. Both trips were good. Thanks for the videos.

Great advice from another old guy on a steel bike, thanks!

Thanks for another adventure.

My first tour; Bonshaw, PEI! Super over loaded, 90% good stuff but too many big tools! It was a club led tour with sag support, which I used on our way back to Sackville, NB. My bike was a Peugot Nevada drum braked MTB, nice ride.

Paul thank you for sharing the great story. Going to invite a good fishing buddy on a long one. Take care. Keith

Great video and advice! Even for a motorcyclist like me! "Just go do it!"

There is nothing like riding a trail you have never been down before, then running into a new person and finding out that you can be of help! I always keep my head on a swivel for a new adventure or someone in need. I have never had a bad ride, just a bad attitude. Thanks Paul, I want to go ride my bike now!

Priceless.

Good video! I live in Montana next to the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route and from what I’ve heard about Cook county, living there is more an “adventure” than a bike tour, even in a place with grizzly bears. Thanks for your channel.

Awww these videos are fantastic. This one resonates so much with my first trip around normandy....no shorts, brown trousers, no money I lived off apples water and calvados for 3 weeks there were no local bike routes as such but the locals had a passion for bikes and touring. Tent was about 2 kg and a bulky old sleeping bag. Full of energy and young it was one of the best things I did happy days☺️30 years later I'm hooked on touring/endurance. Keep the videos coming

I have not yet gone on a tour, so some of the information you offered I have not needed yet. My experience comes from decades of commuting. I cannot agree more with the information you presented about backpacks. I used to commute wearing a backpack which could get pretty heavy depending on which job I worked. My lower back eventually let me know that backpacks and bicycles don’t go well together. When I purchased racks and started putting my belongings on the bike rather than on me, my back pain went away. I only ride with a lightweight backpack when I use one now. Backpacks are more convenient in that you don’t have to unload your bike when you arrive at work, but my back says it’s worth it.

Awesome video as always Paul! Naps are good! Especially once one hits their 40's (and beyond) lol. P.S. Got a Fatbike! Giant Yukon...no touring but lots of fun in the snow. Cheers my friend 🍻🇺🇸🇨🇦

What a great reminiscence! Thanks for sharing! I'm 62 and (still) planning for my first self-supported trip :-(

I joined Iowa’s ragbrai midweek. I took my sears bike, with the original seat, cut off LEVIS, Tshirts, tennis shoes. Water bottle. I had trained by jogging . I’d ridden that bike 30 miles. My first day was flat it was supposed to be 106 miles it was 116. I nearly died. Met my best friend in camp that night in 1980, ask him where the showers were. We are still riding together . The following day the other cyclist taught me how to shift.

Subscribed. I'm 37 and leaving for my first bike tour June 1st. Leaving Gary Indiana headed to Astoria Oregon. Against all advice and after years of planning, I can't wait to get out there man.

Nice man! Already motivated but your videos get me even more hyped. I'm biking from Minneapolis to upstate new york on my first tour! Going to do a test run to Wisconsin first to see exactly what ill need for camping/eating/gear. Then the big kahuna! So freaking pumped man. Maybe I'll see you on a trail some day!

Great story and great storytelling! Thanks for posting.

Heading out shortly for a 3-day bike tour across Shimanami Kaido: 70km from Japan's main island to Shikoku, then a free day, then back. Thanks Paul, your videos are good motivation for a fellow 50-something :-)

I'm in my 6th decade of life and while my knees and back don't let let me put out the power, they are still functional to take me cycle touring for about a hundred kms at a time for a few days. And repeat after a month or so. And in between, it's about 20 to 50 kms alternate days. My speeds are slow unlike in my youth. Talking of which, I used to do lots of touring on a single speed, British BSA cycle, handed down to me in the 70s, from my grand uncle who had got it in the 60s. Wow what memories! The body ages, but the spirit remains young. I find that when you go fast, you're more focused on the road ensuring you're riding or driving safe. But when you cycle, you're with the elements, taking in the sights, sounds, and everything else. ATB, That travelling guy.

Good on you for going solo the first time around!

Another great video! Love the storytelling! I hope you had the coco!

Wow, sounds a lot like my first tour in 1975. Sure wish I still had a photo to see if my memory was correct.

Well versed. I recognise much here. My own early experience leading to great touring was made so much easier by riding with a touring club on 'day rides' which naturally led to a tour

Since retiring Im now in yr 3 of touring and truly loved this video. Fortunately, I escaped a number of your pitfalls. As someone how loves the outdoors, touring is a gift from God. Hope to run into you one day ! Cheers !

Hi I really admire your story. It makes me want to go out again. I did cross Canada trip myself in 2013 when I just turned 18. I watched the doc called Ride the Divide and it gave me so much courage. Courage is something that’s invaluable that everyone can benefit from. Awesome man!

Thanks you for passing down the knowledge 🙌🏽‼️ getting ready to hit the souther tier next month

😂 funny and informative at the same time ! Thanks for the tips!

Came across your videos a few days ago and really enjoying them.

Hilarious, Paul. Keep on keepin on.. Gary from Georgetown, Ontario.

Paul that was great advice .It is hot today in Maine and the traffic is to much .

First video I've seen of yours, & you gained a new sub, what an awesome, inspiring video for us planning our first excursion. I'm also from Chicago, but been in Reno since 2006

Without the old days no better new days! The fun is the same (-;

Great video. Great story. Thanks for sharing that.

Good advice and very good you made that trip. I barely got out to the suburbs on my too old SS Rudge before I was 19. But your bike with that crazy jacked up handlebar, I wouldn't ride around the block. WTF. I do love my similar steel swept comfort bars. My second tour I passed by 2 young guys breaking all your rules. LOL. They both had a flip flop SS wheel, small front racks above the wheel, a toptube frame bag and huge back packs. I waved from my 120 lb Rohloff14 custom bike with NO camping stuff and wearing golf clothes and steeltoe shoes. LOL. I carried ALL my regular suitcase trip ensemble on both tours. First one was to Vietnam and China, I turned 61. My front hub is a SA XL-FDD dyno drum brake. NOTHING is better, it now has 28,000 miles. Everyday I started with 3 bottles of water and 2 OJ.

Awesome. Keep sharing stories man

Thanks for this Paul. I'm about your age and planning my first bike tour for this fall. Lots of good insight here.

I like your style. Happy trails👍🚲🚲

All those points are pretty well what I went through in beginning touring 101. The best help and information I got was to ask established long distance touring cyclists and even test ride their bikes, that’s where I noticed frame rigidity, strength, gearing. At the start I tried conventional spandex cycling clothes, now a days I wear more comfortable cycling clothes. Over the years I’ve added more and better equipment to make cycling a tad easier, safer and comfortable but I still struggle on packed weight. There is stuff I don’t take and wish I had, and stuff I take and never use, I can’t seem to find the perfect mix. As for cameras I have several new action cameras that record gps location and other cycling/bio-data but I have a tendency not to turn them on or use them as I get so engrossed in the experience I don’t bother, weird eh! Keep up these videos they bring back memories of past cycling fun.

Loved the video. So true, cycling can be a challenge. Dealt with all of these scenarios. I find being mentally prepared for those things( just expect it to happen), before they happen is so important. Liked your views on using all your senses to stay safe. Nothing drives me crazier than people who ride with headphones in their ears. They also tend to weave a bit while riding. Nice story.

LOL, you're great! Thanks for sharing.

Thank you Paul. Your videos are always enjoyable!

I've been interested in any form of long distance travel besides driving for years, particularly because I was legally blind up until 2020 so i needed an alternative to driving. I ended up getting cataract surgery and then my license, and while life is a lot easier this way, I still find myself preferring other means of transportation like walking and biking. The hardest part is the danger. This area is just not very suitable for pedestrians. While it has side walks, there's so many cars who drive really fast and aren't prepared to stop for pedestrians. Two of my neighbors got hit by cars on the same spot on our street. I plan to start building up my endurance on the weekends and then doing small tours this summer.

Great reminiscent video just reminds me how powerful bikes are and how many adventures they can take you too

I love your humor and overall atitude ❤

Really good interesting why you explain how to enjoy bicycle riding thank you very match for giving me inspiration going to jump on my bike early tomorrow 🇺🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇺🇦👍