Touring with Pierre and Lane

Published: August 30, 2012

Months ago Pierre Sahmel and Lane Davis left Philadelphia to tour across the country. Some 3,000 miles later, we caught up with them in Portland before they left to San Francisco and San Diego.

 

After spending months on the road, Lane is excited for the stability of home.

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Frame: Mike Shih #14

Saddle: Brooks Organic

Hylite panniers

While many touring cyclists opt for new, pre-packaged bikes, Pierre instead pieced his bike together through a collection of used, swapped and handmade parts.

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Frame: ’86 Panasonic World Tour

Saddle: Brooks B-17

Ortlieb front panniers, home-made + hand-stitched rear panniers

Comments focus: What would be the most difficult thing about a road trip on a bike?

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  • http://twitter.com/barefootford Andrew

    I think the single largest thing about bicycle touring is just the time involved. A camping trip can be a night or two and it’s productive. Taking off a week or months at a time to ride a bike is a huge investment, one that I haven’t been able to budget and plan for yet. Soon, soon.

  • Heidi

    People who can do this are amazing. I’m not in the shape for it, plus I’d have trouble feeling motivated to do the exploring-the-town part of travel I like the most after riding so many miles in a day. Great post, as always.

  • Glenn

    I bet there is nothing more rewarding. I have to do a trip in the next two months. Anyone want to join? I hope I could find a way to make it cheap. It was weird to think it would cost as much as these guys said.

  • Sandy

    No long distance rides for me. I give them a whole lot of credit for what they do! They must have the physical ability and mental strength to meet each day!

  • Mark

    Nice website, um I have a favor to ask. My bike was stolen in southeast Boise on the night of September 7/8. It is a Santa Cruz Blur TRc, carbon fiber, full suspension mountain bike with Shimano XT components. Black with Orange stripes. (very much like Oregon State colors). It is very near and dear to me. I have had it a little over a year and almost 3000 miles on it. In all that time I have only seen one other like it in Boise. If anyone happens to see it, they can contact me at two zero eight four four seven, seven seven nine three. Thanks.

  • David

    If you’re Pierre and Lane the biggest difficulty touring would be leaving all the sweethearts who invite you to stay on. Also the difficulty of finding good omelettes

  • William Abbey

    I agree to the nice website comment. I think that navigating the cities can be a hassle. Most people are great but sometimes I couldn’t always find great routes in strange cities. When you get near the end you are really looking ahead, then it’s over and it’s, “Damn, I should have stopped here, or taken that picture or spent more time taking it in.” Then it becomes “maybe I’ll ride this other country or state next time.”

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