Biking from San Diego to Maui?

Could someone please move this thread to the right section and send me a quick PM letting me know where it landed? Thanks!

I’m planning a massive summer loop—maybe riding out toward San Diego and then catching a boat over to Maui before pedaling back to the coast. I wanted to see if anyone here has tackled a long-haul trek like that and could give me the lowdown on tent camping. I'm not looking to stay at established campgrounds; I want to know what the wild camping situation is like.
Also, does anyone have tips for mounting a tent directly to a bike? Or would it be smarter to just build a small trailer?🤷

How many miles is that?

Front and rear panniers—just pack them up, tighten everything down, and call it a day. My rule of thumb? Keep the front bags light so you don't mess with your steering, otherwise, handling gets sketchy. You just load up whatever gear you think you’ll need and hit the road for a test run. If something feels off, you shift things around and try again until you find that sweet spot where everything balances perfectly. That's how I set mine up before my last trip across the country, which lasted about 249 miles. For night riding, honestly, I'd recommend at least four front lights—you're going to want the visibility when you're flying down hills at 44 miles mph. And yeah, a rear light is non-negotiable. Blah, blah, blah. As for sleeping, just find a bush where some random rancher won't kick you out. That's the easy part. Just enjoy it. One thing though: when it comes to camping, stay off the main highways so you aren't visible. You don't need some drunk idiot pulling over just to mess with you. Enjoy yourselves.

And you really need to watch out for those semi-trucks with trailers. They have this annoying habit of drifting into your lane just as they pass—it’s like they’re trying to suck you right into their orbit. Plus, there are times when their side mirrors are positioned perfectly to smack you right in the skull. Seriously, put the helmet on first.

because that low pressure pulls them right in...
It’s wild how much those pockets end up costing you.😁

I am absolutely pumped!!!!!!!

You’re looking at starting around $100k per unit and going up from there—seriously. Just take a stroll through a place like REI or Bass Pro Shops and see for yourself. Some gear is fully waterproof, some isn't, and everyone claims to have some special feature or "revolutionary" tech... but honestly? It’s the same old story: you get exactly what you pay for.

Well, look, I actually went on an even longer trip than yours, so let me try to lay out some general ground rules for you.

You’re going to need a tent and a sleeping bag—and honestly, you can find lightweight versions for both that won't weigh you down too much per person—but if you can, grab a thin sleeping pad, because the ground is almost always nothing but rocks. As for storage, a couple of panniers will do fine, whether you hang them on the front or the back; they'll fit everything you need. I carried some pretty heavy bags on my front rack myself and never had any trouble keeping the bike under control.

The absolute essentials, though? SUNSCREEN and TONS OF WATER. The summer sun out here is absolutely brutal, and water is basically your only lifeline. Also, please, do yourself a favor and get some decent cardio training in before you head out. The last thing you want is to keel over on some random incline in the middle of nowhere, and trust me, there are climbs that feel like they go on forever. I usually kept about two to three liters on me; once I dropped down to just one liter, I started panicking about where the next gas station or convenience store was going to be. You can usually find a shop in most towns, but you have to stay sharp because they’re often closed on Sundays, which meant I ended up drinking water straight from my bottle more often than I liked.

Moving on:

- Get some quick-dry clothing and footwear—cycling gear works, or even hiking clothes, which are usually a lot cheaper. For your feet, just bring a solid pair of sneakers that won't fall apart, so you don't have to lug around extra shoes just for walking around town. Your bike and saddle are obviously huge factors; the seat doesn't have to be the most luxurious thing ever, but you really need to be broken in. Definitely buy some quick-dry liners to wear under your shorts; otherwise, sweat-soaked fabric will chafe you raw in no time. I picked mine up at Nike and they were great. Oh, and bring gloves, too...
- Band-aids, bandages, ibuprofen, multivitamins/minerals, and some electrolyte powder to mix into your water. You have to replace the salt you lose through sweating; plain water isn't enough by itself, and you can pick up some cheap stuff at a CVS or Walgreens.
- A primary phone and a backup (just in case your main battery dies), plus chargers... if you aren't planning on staying at established campgrounds, charging becomes a real headache. A GPS is highly recommended, along with detailed maps if you plan on veering off the main highways. A heavy-duty lock is also vital. I'd suggest swapping out those quick-release skewers on your wheels and seat for hex bolts, and make sure you carry a full toolkit for common repairs, tire patches, and a pump. Also, throw a handful of zip ties in your bag—they are perfect for just about anything.
- Regarding food, honey, milk, and bread turned out to be a perfect combo for me. I used honey in a little squeeze bottle, like a ketchup packet. You can find bread and milk in any grocery store, and it worked perfectly; I didn't have the energy for sugary snacks like candy bars while riding. For dinner, you can eat something more substantial.
- Try to avoid the main highways, especially the stretch between Seattle and San Diego.
- You can sleep at any campground, but if you're trying to save money, you can always pull off the main road and camp somewhere on the side. Just make sure you're tucked away where you aren't visible, though keep in mind that doing that significantly increases your risk of getting a flat tire.
- There's a whole lot more to it, but I can't think of anything else right now.

Why even bother with a tent 🤷
In the summer, sleeping wild is easy: just grab a sleeping bag and a pad. If it rains, find some cover. If things turn into a complete disaster over several days, just rent a room—it won't cost you much more than a night in a tent at a standard campground anyway.
Tents stick out, so you might deal with annoying locals, or you have to head deep into the wilderness. With just a sleeping bag, you can hit a city beach after midnight when nobody's around. 😉
Since it gets brutal out there, I recommend hitting the road early. That means waking up at 5 AM before the cops start patrolling, riding from 6 to 11 (about 60-44 miles miles) to reach the next town and a different beach...

stormysailor7 said:Why on earth would anyone opt for a tent? 🤷
In the summer, honestly, the easiest way to go is just to crash out in a sleeping bag with a pad underneath you while you're out camping in the middle of nowhere.

Pack a tent—it’s non-negotiable. During the summer months, you never know what kind of spiders or snakes might decide to share your space, and you really don't want to deal with those surprises when you're trying to rest. As for gear, keep it minimal. Stick strictly to the essentials; overpacking is a rookie mistake that makes everything unnecessarily difficult later on. Water is your absolute priority. When it comes to food, eat light and frequent intervals—grab something small, fuel up, and keep moving. For your first trip, I highly recommend bringing a companion. Everything is significantly more manageable with two people, provided they possess the same level of grit and determination as you. Perhaps most importantly, though it's a bit cynical to admit: have enough cash on hand. Money can solve a lot of problems if things go sideways. At the end of the day, just get out there and start. If you hit a wall and truly cannot continue, stop. There is no shame in calling it quits, especially on your first outing; walking away isn't cowardly, it's practical.
Good luck. I'll be waiting to see what you come up with.😉

Dana Reyes5 said:You absolutely need a tent. In the summer, you're dealing with all kinds of snakes and spiders. You never know what kind of mess you're going to run into. :

🙄🙄🙄

Trust me when I say a good tent is absolutely non-negotiable. It can get brutally cold and windy once night falls, and believe me, there is nothing quite as miserable as trying to sleep in a bag while the wind keeps whistling right down your neck.

And if you aren't heading out solo, make sure you're trekking with someone who’s just as stubborn and driven as you are. Every time I try to go out with a group, the whole thing basically crawls along because someone always needs a break, or they have to hit the restroom, or they need water, or they just need to sit down for a second.

I’m always going to be pro-light and fast.

...The comfort of a tent has never been worth the extra weight...not when I'm hiking and not when I'm on my bike.
Second, if you're setting up a base camp in one spot and heading back there every night...fine. But if you're moving to a new spot every single evening? Then absolutely not.

I made it a bit of a nightly ritual to set up my tent. It only took about ten or fifteen minutes of effort, but man, it made a world of difference in how well I actually slept. Honestly, losing a few pounds didn't even phase me on that bike of mine; between the panniers and all the extra gear, the whole setup was already pushing well over sixty pounds anyway.

My tent weighs about 11 pounds, and I’m planning to set up right by the ocean. I can get it pitched in total darkness without breaking a sweat🙂—I've done it plenty of times, so I know my way around the gear. What kind of trouble am I looking at if the cops roll up while I'm camping? Also, what's the deal with the local weather conditions?

I stuck strictly to night routes—just me, the dark, and sleeping out in the woods during the day. I’d head out around 8 PM and push through until roughly 62 miles before hitting the next waypoint, where I’d finally park, decompress, and just soak in some bit of scenery. Everything was planned down to the minute. Honestly, what jadetiger962 said pretty much sums it up. You might be able to pick up some strawberry electrolyte powder at a local CVS or something similar; I found that kept my hydration levels decent enough. Also, grab some eyewear—flies, gnats, and whatever other tiny pests decide to dive straight into your eye while you're riding can be a real nightmare. Now, I don't know what kind of tread you're running, but I’ve taken thin tires out on the road a few times, and let me tell you, it's a mess if the shoulder has one of those little curved drainage grooves. If you catch those ruts with your wheels, getting back onto the pavement is a struggle. Bottom line? Before you commit to the big trip, you need to put in the work—lots of riding and training—otherwise, you won't realize just how many headaches are waiting for you. And find a solid crew. That's step one.

http://img233.imageshack.us/my.php?i...sc00023sn6.jpg
I just swapped in a new saddle and went with some slightly wider tires!
Do you think this bike can handle what I have in mind?
I’ve been riding this thing for about seven years now and it hasn't given me any trouble. Aside from a few other riders crashing into the gears and bending them—which caused some wonky shifting—it's been solid.

Jamie Cox29 said:My tent weighs in at about eleven pounds, while my gear for the ocean trek sits right around nine. I’ve actually gotten pretty good at setting the whole thing up in total darkness—I've had to do it more than a few times when things didn't go quite according to plan.🙂 So, let me be clear: there’s no such thing as a free lunch here. If you're thinking about setting up camp, you have to realize nothing comes without a catch. I mean, what kind of headache are we actually looking at if the local police roll up and find you out there with a tent? Depending on where you set up, you could be looking at anything from a simple warning to some pretty heavy fines for trespassing or violating local ordinances. It’s one of those things where you think you're just enjoying the view, and suddenly you're dealing with a citation. And as for the fines? Honestly, they can be a total gut punch. They aren't exactly pocket change, and they tend to scale up depending on how much trouble you've caused or how strictly that specific county enforces its camping laws. It's definitely worth weighing the "freedom" against the potential cost.

What on earth are we doing with a five-pound tent? Seriously, that thing is a beast. You need to hunt down something actually lightweight—I’m talking gear that weighs closer to a couple of pounds if you want to actually enjoy the hike.

I suppose I should have seen this coming, though it doesn't make the feeling any less heavy. There’s just something about the way things are unfolding right now that feels profoundly disheartening—almost like watching a slow-motion wreck you can't quite pull away from. It’s one of those moods that settles in deep, much like that gray, heavy fog that rolls off the Pacific in San Diego, making everything feel a bit more muted and somber than usual. You find yourself sitting there, staring out at the horizon, wondering when exactly the momentum shifted so drastically against us. It's a quiet sort of sadness, really, nothing loud or dramatic, just a lingering sense of disappointment that sits in the back of your mind while you go about your day. kaže:
I honestly don’t know how some people manage to drive without wearing sunglasses; it’s a total nightmare when you get hit by a stray fly or a bug flying straight toward your eye while you're cruising down the highway. It’s one of those small things that can completely ruin a drive if you aren't prepared.

Right, I completely blanked on my glasses—I really should have grabbed a pair with interchangeable lenses, though if we’re being honest, you'll probably only find yourself reaching for the sunglasses once the summer heat kicks in.

Jamie Cox29 said:I can't see the image you've linked, but if you can describe what’s going on in it or tell me what you want me to write about, I'll get right on it. Just give me the gist of the situation or the point you're trying to make, and I'll craft something that sounds like me—long-winded, maybe a little too detailed, but definitely honest.
I just finished swapping out my old setup for a brand new set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, and I went with a slightly wider profile this time around. It feels like a solid upgrade.
Do you think I could actually pull this off and use this whole story to get what I'm after?
I’ve been driving mine for about seven years now, and honestly, I haven't had to deal with a single breakdown. It's been incredibly reliable. That said, I have seen other people run into trouble with those gears—they'd end up bending under the pressure and causing the whole shifting mechanism to go haywire on its own.

Are you actually kidding me right now? You really think you're going to walk into a Starbucks and try something like that?

Look, if you’re serious about getting out there, just go ahead and buy yourself a decent trekking bike. You know, one of those solid, reliable models that actually holds up when the terrain gets a little rough. It isn't worth wasting your time or money on some cheap, flimsy thing that's going to fall apart the second you hit a gravel path or a steep incline. I learned that the hard way a few years back when I tried to save a few bucks on a budget commuter, only to have the derailleur snap halfway through a ride near San Diego. It was embarrassing, honestly, and a total waste of a Saturday. Just invest in something quality from the start—your knees and your sanity will thank you later. $667 Just a heads-up—make sure you’re looking for a model with V-brakes rather than disc brakes. If you go that route, you should have no trouble mounting a rear rack and some panniers without any real headache. As for the tires, I’d say thinner is better; really aim for something with a more pronounced tread pattern if you can find it.

V-brake issues?
What's going on with my bike??
It's been through hell and back with me over every hill and valley😢

Jamie Cox29 said:rim brakes?
what's wrong with my bike??
it's handled plenty of hills and valleys with me😢

Well, good for you, I guess, but honestly, I wouldn't have the guts to take a trip like that on a setup like that.

What’s wrong with it? Why is that? I don't quite follow
and what exactly is a V-brake?