As some of you who know me will know one of my hobbies is self supported bicycle touring. I’m planning a three day one to get to Long Island for some business. If anyone wants me to stop and say hello and share a pinch of snuff with you on the way, I’d be happy to divert my route somewhat. Just let me know before I leave Friday morning. Planned route will be northern Delaware, SE Pennsylvania, downtown Philadelphia, some central New Jersey: Pennsauken, Mount Holly, Fort Dix, Freehold, Atlantic Highlands, etc), downtown New York, Queens and finish in Nassau County. I plan on a different return route 2 weeks following.

This is always something I’ve wanted to do but never built up the endurance long enough to get one together. Best of luck on your travels!

Its really not as hard as you might think. You just have to pace yourself. My first one (and longest to date) lasted 2 months, and was over 1000 miles. Even being a smoker in those days it didn’t bother me. Thanks for the well wishes though.

Wishing you safe travel in good weather, Xander. Where will you sleep? Camping, motels, friends’?

Best of luck with it, do take some photos and put them on the site, or a running commentary if you have an iphone. If, like me, you’ve only seen the NYC area as a tourist it would be interesting.

Yes best of luck Alex.

@Xander If you’ll wind up having a Saturday or Monday free in NYC, let me know. I’m always down for meeting up with a fellow snuffer and scouring the Indian markets for exotic snuffs. @rdunnion and I had a pretty good time looking around last time.

safe travel, Xander.

Good luck with the journey, and keep us posted, if you can. I used to go bicycle touring when I was younger, so I’m a little envious. Though I gave up in 2002 when, despite a glorious British summer, I got a dose of hypothermia, went home on an ignominious train and gave my tent to a better cause. I don’t suppose you’ll need any advice, but for what it’s worth, never camp downhill of a lake.

Good luck @Xander, stay safe. Stefan

If you can divert to South London we can have some real ale to build you up for the rest of the trip. We could go to Smiths in the Charing Cross Rd and sample all the snuffs -and NOT BUY ANY.

Alex, I envy you! I’ve been thinking/dreaming about a trip I still want to do before I leave planet Earth. It’s a 400km+ ride and I WILL do it some time. At present I’m stiil to busy in the office but, watch this space!! I wish you a safe trip, no punctures and the wind in your back, all the way!!!

@Leest I’m set up for camping, but not opposed to sleeping indoors if the opportunity presents itself @Snuffster I don’t have the tech gear to do this, but its only three days. I’ll check in here Sunday night when I get there. I was hoping to swing past the old Helme snuff mill in Helmetta, NJ and get a picture, but I’m having camera issues presently, so may not take one. @Shikitohno I’m passing your neighborhood on Sunday probably via the Brooklyn-Queens Greenway. If you’re not free that day, I can just drop you a note when I get settled, and we can arrange something for later. And to everyone else, thanks for your well wishes and advice!

I may be free Sunday, I’ll know later today when I get my work schedule. If not, I’m free every Saturday and Monday, so I can always catch you one of those days.

@Xander: Afraid I’m working Sunday afternoon. Perhaps next Friday or Saturday, if either work for you. Edit: Don’t know if you’ll be able to come into the city for it, or if the music is to your tastes, but I just saw an awesome concert for the 16th. Earth will be playing at Le Poisson Rouge, on Bleecker street. I’m planning on going, so if you’d be interested, just let me know.

Well roderick across the country has some more deserted stretches then Xanders ride.

I’ve been away a while but wish you luck on this trip if you haven’t left as of yet, Xander. I hope you chose the Huffy single speed with the balloon tires for the trip out of your selections of steeds. Maybe the only bike that could handle the trip.

Ok I made it Sunday night. I had internet connectivity issues until today, so could not log in. Lots of fun and only two flats. A lot did not go according to plans, but with these sorts of trips you have to be flexible. It all worked out in the end, and as usual, lots of people think its curious looking and want to stop and chat. That’s also part of the fun.

Congratualtions Xander! What bike did you do it on? I’ve recently got into road cycling, however quite a few members of my local cycling club I go out with are into their touring. It sounds like great fun. I’ll definitely be giving it a shot in the future.

@danw1988: I ride a Jamis Quest. Jamis is a pretty high end bike maker, but I would not recommend this bike for touring. Its more of a low-end racing or road bike. They do offer a touring bike, which is more a bit more sturdy for heavy loads and some slightly rougher terrain. This bike hates unpaved roads, but sometimes I just can’t avoid them (or broken glass and gravel in the streets). Anyway, shop around. I’m still looking for my perfect bike. I plan on reading this book: http://www.bicycletouringbook.com/ before I do a major tour and/or buy a new bike. You might want to read it now if you are in the market.

@Xander It looks like a good bike Xander. How long have you been riding? I’m riding a Boardman Team bike http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road\\_team.html although this is my first bike, I spent a while using my friends old Trek 1.2 before splashing the cash. I’ve only been riding since October last year, but have well and truly got the bug! There’s nothing more relaxing than going out through the countryside for a few hours after work. As for touring bikes, I’ve got the Hewitt Cheviot in mind, http://www.hewittbikefitting.co.uk/index.php?page=hewitt It’s what a few of the tourer’s in my bike club use. Before building the bike, you spend a day in the workshop with the owner, as he fits the bike to your exact size, and he is only 10 miles down the road from me. Probably won’t be until next year, I just can’t afford one at the moment :-l! That book looks very interesting, I’ll have a read. I just can’t get enough of my bike based literature at the moment!!

well dome mate

Those Hewitts look like good touring bikes. You sound like you are on the right track, and you can’t do better than getting a custom one working one on one with the craftsman. I got my first adult bike when I was actually too small to ride it. Evenually I started taking it to school everyday from when I was about 15 (this was like in the late 1980s). I often took the long way home, and gradually started venturing further and further away. I usually got a friend or two to go along on all day trips. After college I bought some more gear to combine cycling with camping, and have been doing so ever since. I don’t get nearly as many overnighters as I’d like, but this summer I plan on one or two more at least.

Off-off topic but there’s a successful public bike scheme here in dublin: www.dublinbikes.ie I don’t use it myself, prefer walking, but know many people who, including out of-county commuters. If it works in Dublin, it must work everywhere. Thought all bikes be stolen or vandalised immediately but nothing like that happened. We’ve gone soft!

Good to know, Allan. I had to go through both Philadelphia and New York to get here, and both cities had excellent bike infrastructure (paths,lanes, markings, signage). Ironically some of the country roads were less bike friendly.

I love my GT bikes, a Zaskar Expert mtb and a ZUM (Zaskar Urban Machine) which is a hybrid. I’m not very keen on road riding because of our trafic problems. I mostly use my mtb and for that purpose we have excellent trails nearby. Off-road riding is a big thing here and we have lots of clubs. And, of course, I still race my mtb in the Grand Masters category!! I have lots of medals to show for that.

out where my parents live lots of people ride their bikes and there is no room. It slows down care traffic tremendously. I’am suprised people don’t get hurt more often as I would never dream of riding a bike on these roads.