About Bike Touring News
An evening bike ride and picnic
Bike Hermit -ghost on a machine
Providing inspiration, ideas, practical and technical tips, equipment reviews, reader contributions and comments, and whatever else we can think of to make this site a single source to help people sort out the ever increasing and ever more confusing ways to travel by bicycle.
In the early ’80′s Stacy, a.k.a. Sky King, and Jim, a.k.a. Bike Hermit, were known to do some bike touring and to take part in some group rides and organized, supported touring. Then we had kids. Which is great, but the bike rides became less frequent. Home base for the last 21 years is Boise, Idaho. We are excited about the current resurgence of interest in bike touring, and want to share whatever skills, or knowledge and experience we have. We will share stories and journals of our new adventures here as well. Such as Jim’s trip to Texas in February of 2010 and to Death Valley in ’09.
We won’t claim to be the final authority on the things presented here, but we do know what we like and what works for us. And since we don’t know everything, we look forward to constructive criticism, additions, questions and comments from you.
We will also attempt to be transparent. This will largely be a labor of love, but love don’t pay the bills. Our online store is a place where you can shop for and buy almost everything you need for bike touring. Please visit often!
We are camped out in Boise, Idaho at the 36th Street Garden Center, more specifically 3853 N. Garden Center Way. If you are close by give us a shout and come stop by the hermit cave. The coffee is usually hot and the beer is always cold.
The Boise Cave
Happy Riding
Jim aka The Bike Hermit
Stacy aka Sky King
I like your web site and have enjoying reading your posts, especially the selecting a bike post. I just started a cycling education company and have been giving a lot of safe cycling classes, bike commuting classes, maintenance, and one intro to touring class. I hope to give more touring classes and eventually link them to an overnight tour to follow through as on the road training for what students learn in class. The goal will be to help people to become self sufficient tourists. It is interesting to see that you are also selling goods through you site. I was also thinking of branching into this area. Perhaps along the lines of some of the more unique items that I amusing or have adapted to touring.
In June I will be off to Missoula to take the Adventure Cycling Leadership Training Course, and then we will see what outings I can organize this summer. One coming up in mid June is Don’s slow tour of the Napa Valley. (it’s not about the ride it’s about the stops). it is a short ride with people who do not typically tour, and actually do not even ride that much. Short miles, lots of stops for gourmet picnic lunches, olive oil tasting, winery tours, (tasting later with diner) and then camping in one of our State Parks in the upper end of the Napa Valley.
Keep up the good work on your site. If you ever come to California look me up.
Don
Sacramento, CA
Don,
Thanks for the comments! Good luck with all your endeavors. We actually will be in Sacramento next February for the NAHBS. Keep in touch.
Jim
Best of luck with your biz, Sky King!
Am also at http://www.velo-city2012blog.com