Every once in a while I finish a trip and, after I get home and everything dries out, I realize there were a handful of lessons that weren't obvious while I was riding. So this week, rather than another recap of the Oregon Coast, here are a few takeaways from the trip."
Takeaway #1: Constraints can make for a better tour
- Weather forced changes.
- My tent forced bigger changes.
- Transit schedules forced even more changes.
- We stopped trying to preserve the original plan and started asking what the best trip looked like now.
- The revised trip ended up being more memorable than the one we planned.
Bottom line: Sometimes constraints don't ruin a tour—they become the reason it's interesting.
Takeaway #2: I think my touring philosophy is changing
- I've spent years optimizing for mileage.
- That usually means riding through interesting places instead of experiencing them.
- Tillamook was the perfect example. I've passed through multiple times and barely stopped.
- This time I spent the day exploring instead of chasing miles.
Bottom line: I'm increasingly interested in using the bike to get me to experiences, not simply accumulate distance.
Takeaway #3: "Ride your own ride" can happen on the same trip
- Brock and I started from exactly the same place.
- We made completely different decisions.
- He chose the big riding day.
- I chose the slower exploration day.
- Both approaches ended with great stories.
Bottom line: There isn't one correct version of a successful bike tour.
Takeaway #4: Transit isn't cheating
- We used buses multiple times.
- They made the route possible.
- They allowed us to adapt instead of abandoning the trip.
- They cost almost nothing.
Bottom line: Bikes and transit complement each other remarkably well.
Takeaway #5: Gear failures change everything
- "My tent is not viable."
- That one sentence completely changed the weekend.
- Once your shelter becomes unreliable, every decision becomes different.
- Confidence is part of your gear list.
Bottom line: Reliability beats optimization.
Takeaway #6: Where did all the bike tourists go?
- Peak season.
- Iconic route.
- Excellent infrastructure.
- Very few loaded touring bikes.
Possible explanations:
- More gravel riders?
- More bikepacking?
- Different travel habits?
- Something else?
Bottom line: I'm seeing enough of a pattern that I don't think it's a coincidence anymore.
Takeaway #7: I'm excited about touring again
- Fitness is coming back.
- Losing weight has made a noticeable difference.
- I'm thinking differently about how I want trips to look.
- I was planning the next ride before this one ended.
Bottom line: That's usually a sign you're headed in the right direction.
