Sometimes I think it would be wonderful to go on a long bicycle trip. Do you, but you don\’t know how to start planning?

I don\’t either, so here\’s some advice to get us going. I haven\’t read it all yet, but at first glance it reminds me of Adventure Cycling, with different \”flavors\” of bicycle touring.

If I were to do such a tour, would I need to buy a touring bicycle? And more panniers? And camping equipment?

Where would I go? Which part of the country? If I headed for the mountains, I hope I could start from a low-altitude area, and adjust to the increasing altitude as I go. I\’d need some super-low climbing gears, I\’ll bet! Would this 44x32x22 do?

Or maybe I could follow a nice, flat coastal route? I\’ve thought that, if I want to ride centuries, the Seagull Century might be a good one, supposing I could get to Maryland. I\’ve heard that the route is flat, but unfortunately tends to be windy.

Maybe a ride through the prairies? Would it be possible pedal alongside the Mississippi River all the way to its source in Minnesota?

Sounds like the sky\’s the limit. Incidentally, isn\’t it a pity there\’s no constellation Bicyclus up there with Taurus, Orion, etc.?