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Bike Touring for Beginners

Turn leisurely weekend rides into your first cross-state tour

By Claire Charlton

Do you enjoy afternoon bicycle rides in the summer? Do the miles you can cover while enjoying the sunshine and pedaling your neighborhood surprise you? If so, you might be ready to try bicycle touring. A step up from recreational riding (yet nowhere near the intensity of the Tour de France), a bicycle tour is a noncompetitive event in which riders cover serious mileage in a single day or weekend. The great news is you don't have to do it alone. Michigan hosts dozens of bike tours sponsored by various charitable organizations, making beginner multiple-mile biking experiences fun, easy and worthwhile.

"A lot of people start out by signing up for sponsored bike tours, which will typically have different distances available like 25, 50 or 100 miles," says David Gaskell of Continental Bike Shop in Hazel Park. "That way, you can pick what is most appropriate for your fitness level." Ready to get started?

Start here

Almost anyone who can ride a bike can train to participate in a sponsored bike tour, says physical therapist Cindy Teranes of DMC's Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan in Detroit.

You'll be working up to riding anywhere from 25 to 100 miles (cyclists call this a "century") in your chosen event, so start by measuring the mileage you can reasonably cover in a day, and plan to increase your mileage by no more than 10% a week.

Teranes advises setting a goal to ride four or five days a week, and also swimming, doing yoga, stretching or Pilates to keep your muscles fluid. You also should plan to

You also should plan to accumulate a total of three times your event distance over the course of your training, says Shaun Bhajan, general manager at D&D Bicycles in Westland, Northville, Berkley and Brighton.

For example, if you're going to bike a 25-mile race, you should ride 75 miles total for training.

What the pros know

If you have lovingly cared for your bicycle over the years, there's no reason you can't still ride your favorite 1986 10-speed after a tune-up and thorough inspection at your local bike shop. It will run you about $35-$65.

But if you are looking for a new bike, you'll have plenty of choices. Visit your local bike shop, and be prepared to talk at length about how and where you plan to do the majority of your riding. Test-ride a few bikes, and make sure you get a proper fit. For bike touring, here are a few options:

Comfort bikes. Versatile and practical for many road types, these bikes offer adjustable handlebars, a shock-absorbing seat and wide, smooth-centered tires with outer grips for turning. Try the Giant Sedona 21- gear, $325-$420.

Hybrids. All the features of a comfort bike, plus larger diameter high-pressure tires made for longer distances. Try the Trek 7300 24-gear, about $550.

Road bikes. Great for fitness, these duplicate the stationary models in your spinning class. Flat handlebars and high-pressure smooth tires mean you can really fly when you want to. Check out the Trek 7.3FX 24- gear, about $570.

Gear up!

The right clothes can make all the difference on your longer hauls. Richard Knakal at REI in Troy suggests paying close attention to the three body parts that touch the bike:

Your bottom. Your main goal here is comfort. You can opt for traditional close-fitting, chamois-lined bike shorts or a baggy overshort with a lighter weight removable padded undershort. For safety, pair it with a high-visibility jersey or a vented vest in bright yellow.

Your hands. Blisters make for an uncomfortable ride. Try cycling gloves, such as Metrogel gloves with gel padding, $29.50.

Your feet. A rigid sole increases the efficiency of your leg power on the pedal. Try Pearl Izumi X-Alp Seek cycling shoes, $85.

You might also want to try a bike computer, which is great for tracking your mileage, calories burned, average speed and other personal stats.

I'll be sore WHERE?

Does a hard seat equal a sore rear end? Not necessarily, says Rick Teranes, manager of Bikes, Blades & Boards in Grosse Pointe Park. While a soft seat might feel good for the first few miles, it robs your sit bones of the important job of supporting your body, causing you to sink down and be even sorer in the long run.

Another option: Have a seat made to your unique shape with the Specialized Body Geometry Saddle Fit System. Offered at many bike shops, the system allows professionals to take an imprint of your sit bones, so they can choose a seat that works best for your body's geometry.

Even more important than your saddle ...

You might not have worn one as a kid, but it's never too late to develop good helmet-wearing habits.

Strap one on each time you mount your bike, and you might save your life. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that 95% of bicyclists killed in 2006 were not wearing helmets.

Also, have your helmet professionally fitted, and replace it in three to five years.

"Treat your helmet with respect," D&D's Bhajan says. "A single impact, like a throw to the ground, can make it ineffective when you really need it."

Choose a sponsored tour

Why, you might ask? One word: SAG. Well-organized tours have "support and gear" vehicles, or "SAG wagons," roaming the course, a big help if you get a flat tire or need support getting to the next rest station. You'll never have to carry a pump, backpack or spare tire.

"Knowing that support is out there means people can get to the next rest stop more easily and have more fun participating," says Tammy Willis, director of development for the Michigan National Multiple Sclerosis Society, which sponsors the Great Lakes Breakaway Ride.

Some local bike tours

National Cherry Festival Cofinity Old Mission Peninsula Bike Tour. July 6, Traverse City; 22/35 miles. www.cherryfestival.org or 800.968.3380

Great Lakes Breakaway Ride 2008. July 12-13; begins at Lake Fenton High School in Linden, Mich., just north of Fenton. Sponsored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society; 30/50/75/100 miles. www.nationalmssociety.org or 248.350.0020

Michigander. July 12-18; Two-, six- and seven-day options with overnight camping and gear shuttles. www.michigantrails.org or 517.485.6022. Begins in Muskegon.

Rural Pearl of a Ride. July 26, Polly Ann Trail, Oxford; 15/30/48 miles through northeastern Oakland County. www.oxfordride.com or 248.969.5177

On your own:

Adventure Cycling Association. Offers routes, tours, gatherings, education and more. www.adventurecycling.org or 800.755.2453

League of Michigan Bicyclists. A bicycle advocacy group with many resources for all levels of cyclists. www.lmb.org or 517.334.9100

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Lists dozens of unused rail corridors that have been converted to trails perfect for cyclists.