rogerthek

A great way to experience the joys of bicycle touring is going on organized tours such as GOBA (Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure) or the West Shoreline Tour in Michigan. You can ride with a group of like-minded folks, plus you receive support from the ride’s staff such as luggage transport, first aid and a ride to camp if you just can’t make it.

I have a Web site, Roger Kramer’s Favorite Cycling Tours (http://www.rogerkramercycling.org) that describes many of my multiday tours in the United States and Canada. I also provide tips on how to prepare for a tour.

In 1996, I had the privilege of seeing the Grand Canyon from the South Rim on the Grand Canyon to Mexico Bicycle Ride, but we only had a few hours in the park and had no time to hike any of the trails.

The following year, I decided to go on a trip with the YMCA of Southwest Illinois’ Life Adventures program to backpack the Grand Canyon. Our group hiked down the canyon on the South Kaibab Trail, up the North Kaibab Trail to the Cottonwood campground, then up the Bright Angel Trail to the South Rim.

You must hike the canyon to fully grasp its geological and biological diversity. But come prepared. It may be comfortable on the rim of the canyon, but it can be extremely hot at the bottom. While hiking back up the canyon can be aerobically challenging, I found hiking downhill was much tougher on the knees.

Good luck if you ever decide to hike the Grand Canyon. It is well worth the effort.