Having a good buddy to share a bicycle tour adds much to the overall experience. He points out things I miss, encourages me to go beyond my previous personal limitations, offers a congratulatory mountain top handshake, and validates my claim that “the climb in the photo is much steeper than it appears”. A good touring buddy magnifies all that is excellent about a bicycle outing. He also helps me overcome challenges encountered along the way. That means a touring buddy sees me when things aren’t going well.
A touring buddy has insight far beyond instagram images and blog posts. The information posted on this blog and on instagram is only the information I want you to see. It is carefully edited, and I have total control. But I can’t edit or filter life as it happens in front of my tour buddy. He sees the stumbles, silly mistakes, packing disorganization, and camp failures. He hears me whine when I don’t have my way. Vulnerability and humiliation. Is it worth it?
When a tour buddy agrees to join me again for another tour, it is worth it. He demonstrates (by subjecting himself to my company again) that my shortcomings are somehow acceptable. That makes for a great touring buddy.
Choose wisely.
Pondero 
I married mine. I chose very wisely.
Brilliant!
This wisdom becomes more important as the number of buddies increases. You never really know a person until you’ve traveled & camped with them.
True. But its funny how folks are folks, and we all have our weaknesses. But a little patience goes a long way on these trips.
I also married my favorite tour buddy, especially after a cross country journey where we saw the best and worst of each other. We still tour together!
Fantastic!
A real blessing, indeed!
Amen!
Can I rename it an Adventure Buddy since I backpack, winter camp, and bicycle tour? 99% of the time my adventures are solo. I tend to be a loner. Ironically, the most memorable adventures I’ve done have been with a buddy, or a small group of friends. This dates back to my first bike tour in 1977. A week long group tour through the mountains of western Pennsylvania. And of course the 6 month long backpacking trip with my then girlfriend and now wife. If you can survive 6 months together living out of backpacks and in a two person tent, you can survive anything. Here’s to good travel buddies?
“!” not “?”
Great suggestion, of course. The principle seems to apply to more than just bicycle touring. My wife, isn’t a bicycle tour buddy, but must certainly an adventure buddy. Raising two daughters, is quite an adventure. And now, the adventure of grandchildren!