While bike touring (often referred to as "bikepacking"), I have stayed in relaxing B&B’s, hotels, and vacation homes. Bike touring while camping however, requires a different set of skills, but can be just as relaxing and rewarding. I recall years ago when riding day trips on the C&O Canal or overnighting it at a hotel and seeing folks camping at the primitive hiker-bikers. My thoughts ran to how could anyone stand the heat/bugs/snakes/skunks/rain with no hot showers/running

I gave a presentation recently on biking and bike trails at the Rotary Club of Cumberland’s weekly meeting. Following the meeting I received a very nice email from one of the members saying that my talk inspired her and inquiring as to what she should consider when purchasing her new bike? I am flattered to be anyone’s inspiration (thank you for the kind words Sally) but do not consider myself an expert. I do however have some opinions on what to consider when buying a bike