Sep 6, 2018
Originally released March 17, 2016 as The Pedalshift Project 045.
Bike tour budgeting
Camping over hotels… wild camping or free camping when you can. I would recommend getting an account on Warm Showers because they can be helpful on the TransAm for a free place to stay in places that don’t have good camping options.
Making your own food is another thing that can save money… sometimes I prefer the convenience of eating at towns along the route, but you can make your own meals for a lot less if you have the energy to cook or make them.
Often you’ll end up riding with others you meet along the way… sometimes you can share expenses on things that are nice little luxuries like a campground at an RV park that would normally run $30US, but with a group of 5 cost $6US when shared. I’ve seen groups split groceries for a couple of days too.
My number one rule when it comes to riding is to travel as cheaply as possible, but don’t be afraid to make a problem go away by spending money. This is a ride of a lifetime (I wish I had done the TransAm at 22!) and if spending a little money solves a problem that would impact your enjoyment, spend the money and budget for it down the road!