what is a good
trip for a first time tripper?
You don't have to be an experienced cyclist to
go on a trip. Most of the trippers on most of the trips have never been
on any kind of bike trip before, and our trips are planned with this in
mind. There are first-time trippers on all SHP trips (even the Cross
Country USA trip). Don't feel that you should take the easiest trip just because
you've never been on a cycling trip before - any person in good health can
handle the cycling. What is more important to whether or not you'll love your
trip is choosing a tour that is consistent with how energetic you want to be
this summer (see below).
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can I take more
than one trip this summer?
Yes. It is entirely possible to take more than
one trip a summer since we offer both July and August trips. You would,
of course, receive an equipment credit for the second trip. It is possible to
stay at SHP Headquarters between trips.
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how hard is the
cycling?
Each trip description has a "cycling" rating, which will tell you the approximate overall level of physical challenge you can expect.
This rating refers to the terrain rather than to the mileage
covered. The mileage on all except the challenging trips is usually 25-45 miles each travel day - see "A Typical Day," too). Sometimes the group will cycle more or fewer miles, depending upon the location of suitable overnight stops.
As you read through the trip descriptions, you'll get
a feel for which trips offer more physical/outdoor oriented activities and which
offer more touring/sightseeing activities. Even though two trips may both offer
moderate cycling, what kind of activities do you want on non-cycling days?
European trips are generally heavier on touring and sightseeing activities,
although several also offer extra, fun outdoor activities (sailing, summer
skiing, hiking, etc.) as well.
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should I practice
cycling before the trip?
You should be able to cycle 7 miles in I hour, in
rolling terrain, with 20 pounds of weight on your bike, by your trip departure.
Your panniers and front handlebar bag are sent to you in May
(unless your trip has rental equipment), and you can load them with books to
practice riding with weight. You needn't overdo yourself with marathon cycling
efforts. But obviously, the more you do, the more enjoyable the first part of
the trip will be.
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do I have to know
how to repair my own bike?
No. You'll need to get your bike checked at your local bike store shortly before the trip (and be sure that it is the correct size for you!). When you arrive at SHP, we'll check your bike to make sure that nothing went wrong in transit. The leaders are trained in basic bike repair and carry large tool kits and spare parts kits. If, for some reason, they don't have the right part to fit your bike, the assistant leader can go to a bike store to get it. Although the leaders are responsible for all
bike repairs, trippers will assist leaders in repairing their bikes (and can
learn about basic bike repair at the same time).
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can I use a
mountain bike?
Yes. You can use a 10-24 speed mountain
bike, hybrid, or road/touring bike. On mountain bikes, you might consider adding
handlebar extenders (to vary your riding position), and getting thinner tires
(except for the off-road trips).
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where will I
sleep?
SHP trips use campgrounds, youth and student hostels,
inns, bed and breakfast places, university dorms, pensions, and an occasional
hotel or motel. Trip descriptions list the types of accommodations used on each
trip. Except for the higher mileage trips, accommodations are reserved in
advance by SHP whenever possible. The range of living conditions is varied. Some
campgrounds, hostels, etc. will have many comforts, while others will be
simpler.
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what is the
camping like?
Bicycle camping with SHP is a whole lot more
comfortable than bedrolls, outhouses and bathing in creeks! You'll be outfitted
with excellent equipment by SHP, you'll carry it on your bike, not on your back,
and you'll usually stay in established campgrounds with hot showers and flush
toilets.
Campgrounds are reserved in advance by
SHP whenever possible. We use private, municipal, and state and national park
campgrounds. Each campsite has a fireplace and picnic tables. Many campgrounds
have a rec hall, a pool or beach, facilities for various sports, open fields for
frisbee, and a camp store. Some campgrounds are quite fancy, while others are
simple, rustic and often in super-scenic locations.
Youâll sleep inside a well-ventilated tent with
sewn-in floor and a waterproof 'fly' over the top of the tent.
We use 4-person tents for three people and 3person tents for 2 people,
for more comfort and room inside the tents (separate tents for males and
females). Inside the tent, you'll sleep in an excellent, warm sleeping bag on
top of a 1/2" foam pad (a state-of-the-art, lightweight, self inflating pad is
also available, at an added cost, making the camping very comfortable!). The
tents are returned to SHP at the end of the trip.
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will I be able to
take hot showers?
Most of the places we use have indoor bathroom
facilities with hot showers (see the trip descriptions). Some of the showers
will be pay showers.
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what about
bathroom facilities?
Most places have indoor flush toilets (see the trip
descriptions).
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what are hostels
like?
Hostels are simple dorms with separate bunkrooms for
males and females, a rec room, showers and toilets, and a kitchen where the
group can cook or a dining room with served meals (in some European
hostels).
Each person has a bunk with a pillow and blankets
provided by the hostel. You carry your own sheet sleeping sack - a sheet folded
in half and sewn together like a sleeping bag, with an attached pillowcase. Both
the sheet sleeping sack and a hostel membership card are included in the trip
cost.
Some hostels are very small and rustic, while others
are huge and modern. Many, especially in Europe, are in buildings typical of
houses in the area (Swiss chalets, etc.) or in unusual, neat or historic
buildings (like castles or railway cars or real boats!). They add a dimension of
local color and European flavor missing from hotels and campsites.
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what kind of food
will I eat?
Breakfasts, lunches and dinners are included in
the trip cost. Groups prepare most of their own meals,
shopping every day at grocery stores along the way. Except for normal
desserts, group food money is not used to buy junk food. Food choices will
sometimes be more limited than what you're used to - small country stores often
don't stock large amounts of exotic items such as 27 flavors of ice cream for
dessert, 14 kinds of homemade pasta, etc. The leaders try to insure that the
cooking committees buy food that is nourishing, filling enough to deal with days
filled with exercise, and cookable by whoever is on the cooking committee.
People with special diets (vegetarian, diabetic, religious, etc.) usually
can be accommodated - call SHP to discuss it further.
Most trippers buy snack food with their own
money at checkstops and at campsite stores, since biking all day is the
kind of exercise that creates huge appetites. And in some areas such as Quebec
and Europe, nobody can resist sampling the pastries and other regional
treats!
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how is laundry
done?
On most trips, laundry is done in laundromats along
the way, every fourth day or so. Groups carry laundry soap, and the cost of
normal laundry done with the group is included in the trip cost. Trippers can
hand wash anything they want to. In European countries, iaundromats are not
available as frequently.
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