Long term bike trips... HOW do you do it? (time/work/career)

[MaxF]

Maybe this has been covered before but I couldn't find a comprehensive thread with a quick search...

My BIG question: How the hell do you guys manage to do multi-week or even multi-month (let alone RTW) trips?

Not talking about the financial aspects here but rather how do you get the time off work/ how does it affect your "career" in any way? Do you take vacation time? Do you take "time off work" and pick up where you left once you return? Do you use time between jobs for travel? Without being indiscreet I'd be interested what you do and how you get the time to do those trips

I'm incredibly envious when I read the ride reports. But for me, getting two consecutive weeks vacation time would be a luxury (and even that would include constant pestering via BB). The only possibility I see is quitting my job and starting over at another firm once I return which would be a step back career-wise. It really sucks, I'm in my late 20s and feel like I have wasted my "best years" as a corporate slave. That can't be right...

[TwoShots]

Originally Posted by MaxF

Maybe this has been covered before but I couldn't find a comprehensive thread with a quick search...

My BIG question: How the hell do you guys manage to do multi-week or even multi-month (let alone RTW) trips?

Not talking about the financial aspects here but rather how do you get the time off work/ how does it affect your "career" in any way? Do you take vacation time? Do you take "time off work" and pick up where you left once you return? Do you use time between jobs for travel? Without being indiscreet I'd be interested what you do and how you get the time to do those trips

I'm incredibly envious when I read the ride reports. But for me, getting two consecutive weeks vacation time would be a luxury (and even that would include constant pestering via BB). The only possibility I see is quitting my job and starting over at another firm once I return which would be a step back career-wise. It really sucks, I'm in my late 20s and feel like I have wasted my "best years" as a corporate slave. That can't be right...

No doubt you'll find a little of everything/one here.

Retired
Retired twice
Retired couples
Genuine vagabonds
and some who work seasonally adjusted modes

My guess is the guys/girls you need to really talk to won't be found on ADVRider. A minority of the type you seek post anything here because... they're out exploring.

I'm in my late 20s and feel like I have wasted my "best years"...

Standby. You'll likely be ribbed for that one.
I'll start: Pullllleeeeze. You're a pup.

To answer your question: I retired @ 47 so I could enjoy my "best years" in weekly or monthly or whatever increments.

[MaxF]

Thanks for the input so far! Interesting to see where everybody's coming from and yeah, I did forget about the retirees when writing the intial post (although bear in mind, where I'm from retiring before your mid 60s is rather unusual and I don't know if I'd be fit enough to ride a bike by then)...

Originally Posted by TwoShots

Standby. You'll likely be ribbed for that one.
I'll start: Pullllleeeeze. You're a pup.

Originally Posted by Lone Rider

Why do you think later years will be less than best? How do you see them degrading?

Point taken didn't mean anything by it.
But I do believe there are certain opportunities you only have once in life (like going on that big road trip right after college/ university... yeah, missed that opportunity). Right now I have no family to take care of, no other big responsibilities and have been putting off a little "adventure" most of my life so now seems to be the perfect time. Except I can't figure out how to combine that with my job.

[DIRTDUC]

Jobs come and go...your adventures will stay with you forever, do some bartending courses..learn enough of a different language to get by in whatever place you are in...you would be surprised how easy it is to get part time work that pays enough to let you stay somewhere and save enough to move on again, especially when you have an outgoing personality and eager worker with a pleasant disposition.....besides, stay a while and get to know the culture and place you are in...stay away from touristy places..everyone goes there and prices are too high, take a bartending course or waitering..especially easy if you are outgoing and friendly, and an accent does wonders for you...if you are relatively handy and not afraid of trying new things you will be surprised how easy work is to find...I left home over 20 years ago on a working holiday and now am about to get back on the travel road at the horrendously old age of 46...not sure what I will do about taking my walking frame with me on the bike...Do yourself a favour and say screw it...sell everything and just get on the road...you won't regret it..
SHAYNE

[rufusswan]

You'll get enough shizz so I won't add to the heap, maybe.

If someone in their 20's has the jack and time to adventure more power to them, but dispel the notion you seem to have that adventure is on a long road, takes tons of time, and lots of money.

ADV is a view of your life as it stands today. Have a fuckin' adventure this weekend, take it off from your current bad attitude of what you haven't done. Later when you are older you will realize that living life each minute is the only adventure you will ever have, and you were just too stupid to enjoy it as it went buy.

Start the bike. Ride.

[BlairBear]

I'm 53 now, semi retired! Not by my choice! I have worked for several fortune 500 companys. A couple of years ago I was forced to resign for doing the right thing, (put someone in bad light) it could have been really bad! It was easy to quite the sqeeky wheel rather than doing the right thing. THAT REALLY WOKE ME UP! I've worked all my life ,NEVER missed more days than you can count on one hand. What did I get for it! YOU ARE JUST A NUMBER AND THAT IS IT! I just started to think of all of the things I wanted/hoped to do. I never did any of them, (had to work, things at home, ect). Things were tight for awhile, then setted down. At 50 I took a small 1 week trip, when I looked up an old friend. She was telling me she got into bicycling, and she had planned a 500 mile trip when she turned 50. Man that got me thinking! What have I done! Within 3 months I was in Deadhorse AK on a 28 day 14k mile trip. I never looked back! I take at least 2 2week+ trips a year now. I camp most of the time. And several shorter in between. I always send my brother/nephew a copy of the photos I take to rub it in more than anything. I know it kills him. When I get to get home I always ask when is he going to go with me. He always says the same thing you do. I only get 2 weeks off. Then I ask him if he is going to wait till he retires and is to old to do it. That leaves him speechless and hangs his head. I know everyone has to work to make a living, but someday you need to look at yourself. I DID! I AM GLAD I WOKE UP!

[traindriver]

I'am 53 and have worked for the same company 30 years. I get 5 weeks vacation a year. my first wife didn't understand. second one does. when summer comes. I say I love you honey I'll see you in 5 weeks. Most trips arent planed just a destination. I camp almost every night to save money. Ride a cheap bike klr. I use my work time for day dreaming and planning my next destination.

[BaronVonDarrin]

Originally Posted by DIRTDUC

Jobs come and go...your adventures will stay with you forever, do some bartending courses..learn enough of a different language to get by in whatever place you are in...you would be surprised how easy it is to get part time work that pays enough to let you stay somewhere and save enough to move on again, especially when you have an outgoing personality and eager worker with a pleasant disposition.....besides, stay a while and get to know the culture and place you are in...stay away from touristy places..everyone goes there and prices are too high, take a bartending course or waitering..especially easy if you are outgoing and friendly, and an accent does wonders for you...if you are relatively handy and not afraid of trying new things you will be surprised how easy work is to find...I left home over 20 years ago on a working holiday and now am about to get back on the travel road at the horrendously old age of 46...not sure what I will do about taking my walking frame with me on the bike...Do yourself a favour and say screw it...sell everything and just get on the road...you won't regret it..
SHAYNE

What if i am a cantankerous young coot who has few friends and likes it that way? How do I make money with that?

Seriously though, I am a tech/design guy trying to get into contract work or freelance but seem to get stuck in fucking full time positions. Anyone have some advice? :/ I really think this is the key to living my life ho wI want to live it... on two wheels... more often than not.

As to the wife thing, I am young. 27. That is young right? Well I got myself a girl who loves to travel. We aren't married but i can see it happening :] She has already seen so much of the world and I have not barely left the east cost of the states. I look forward to a trip to Iceland with her on bikes of our own... only problem is... she is just now starting to learn to ride and I am trying to teach myself off road technique. But we are starting! We are both eager to get out and do shit. Have fun and kick ass. I think the best part is probably when you find yourself an adventurous girl to go with you, the adventurous man.

[Motomochila]

[QUOTE Seriously though, I am a tech/design guy trying to get into contract work or freelance but seem to get stuck in fucking full time positions. Anyone have some advice? :/ I really think this is the key to living my life how I want to live it... on two wheels... more often than not. .[/QUOTE]

Barron, I hire tech/design guys all the time, to the tune of about a buck fifty per year. So.. Grasshopper, you have two choices; make do with what you have today and regret it for many moons to come...or find the inner Barron and become one with many like me and go see what the world has to offer you on your journey. and as Confusion says, (not to be misinterpreted with "Confucius") - "Who the hell knows where a man will end up in twenty years".

Prepare wisely and go.......NOW!

[Lone Rider]

Originally Posted by MaxF

...I'm in my late 20s and feel like I have wasted my "best years" as a corporate slave. That can't be right...

Why do you think later years will be less than best? How do you see them degrading?

[John933]

I do two trip's a year. Of the type you are talking about. How do I do it? Well first off I'm retired. Second I live on my own and have a nice lady friend who looks after my house and cat's while I'm away. So that's the time sorted out. So I suppose it's the money. I have an allotment so I grow a lot of my own food. I have a wood burner. And I get a lot of my wood in palates. Which I cut up and store to heat my place up. I collect rain water and re use that after being filtered, Washing and toilet. The only main water I use is in cooking and drinking. I fix most of the stuff broken. Don't believe in the bin it and buy new. I do all my servicing on both my bike's and my car. So what do I have to pay. Local tax's, electric, and a few other bit's and piece's. As my house is paid for I don't have a mortgage or pay rent. So all the money that come in the fount door is my own. I have more coming in than I need, So I can save quite a bit. That is used to go on the trip's of a month or more. You can rent a small self catering place for two week's for less than it will cost to camp in different site's each day. So make you way to where you want to go. Rent a place stay two week's and then ride back. This way a lot of what you need to pay out, you can settle in the UK. I.E. Crossing ticket. Accommodation paid up front. So all you are looking for is food and petrol. If there is two of you a lot of the coat can be shared. so that's half as much.
Hope that helps.
John933

[Wolfgang55]

You are so right MaxF, there's really nothing else anyone in their late 20s to live for, unless you just enjoy paying taxes.

If you are earning an income & can plan a little bit, then sit down & study a few maps. You just might start to enjoy that. Save money for your goal.

Figure out what in the world, you want to see first....the rest can wait.

I have found that I should have done these things when I was in my late 20s.

Traveling will help you to better enjoy your real life & may open career doors along the way.

Good luck, you old timer

[Truckin_Thumper]

get forced into medical retirement

although I am getting bored of just riding around and waiting for Montana to thaw out

[bigskydrift]

Originally Posted by Truckin_Thumper

get forced into medical retirement

although I am getting bored of just riding around and waiting for Montana to thaw out

at least you are ridin' around.....I am watching the snow fall as I type!

[ScramblerTom]

Originally Posted by Lone Rider

Why do you think later years will be less than best? How do you see them degrading?

OK - I just started reading this thread I have to chime in already - I agree that your 20s are your best - I'm only mid 30s and my fitness level and general accumulation of injuries has meant that I can't do much of what I would like - I wrecked my back a few years back and cut half my thumb off last year, I developed ulcers two years ago in a stressful job and they have not gone away, and I suffer from weak joints that are slowly degenerating. Plus family also gets in the way about now - so if single and under 30 quit your job get something seasonal or "freelance - go travel, live cheap, and then come back and find contract jobs.

I was a grad student in my 20s and that was pretty awesome, went to Europe all the time, sailed my boat and generally loafed around - back then I was a flyfishermen and not a rider but it amounted to the same thing - 8 years of pretty awesome laidback lifestyle. I'm married now with a 9-5 and that's not going to happen again - not that I regret my life choices - the ailing body kinda sucks.

I'm still having a good time but its way more structured than before