Most importantly, expect to do things as part of your group. The sharing of fun, the high spirits and close camaraderie, the support you give each other on rainy days and struggling up steep hills, the closeness you'll feel sitting around a campfire together at the end of each day laughing about and remembering the great times you all had together - these things more than make up for giving up some personal freedom.

With a few exceptions, SHP trips are not marathon bike trips. The daily mileages are long enough so that you feel that you've accomplished something, yet not so long that you're exhausted by dinnertime. The terrain is not day after day of grueling mountains or monotonous flatland, but rather a nice mixture of whatever each area has to offer (see the trip descriptions). Your itinerary is leisurely enough to explore an area instead of rushing through it, yet not so slow that you'll get bored.

Groups generally cycle for two or three days, then have a non-travel day in a town or area where there are lots of opportunities for exploring, sightseeing, fun activities, etc. Some trips have special activities that have been reserved for SHP groups in advance, but usually each group will decide what to do, based upon SHP's lists of what's available and what other groups have most enjoyed.

Groups usually get up about 7 AM on travel days and 8 AM on non-travel days. After breakfast (see Food on p. 1 5), the group goes over the plans for the day using the notes and guides provided by SHP.

Part of what makes for a great trip is each group having the flexibility, as a group, to decide what to see and do along the way each day. The group will decide upon checkstops along the route (picnic spots, swimming holes, things that the group wants to stop to see or do, confusing crossroads, etc.). At each checkstop, the group stops and the leaders can make sure that everyone is okay, take care of any bike problems, and give slower riders a chance to rest.

Groups usually cycle 25-45 miles each travel day (sometimes more or less, depending upon the location of suitable overnight stops), about 3-5 hours of actual cycling if you were to cycle continuously (which you rarely do), leaving plenty of time for frequent stops. On non-travel days, the group decides on the distance to be covered, depending on the activities the group chooses for that day. On travel days you'll cycle with your panniers and your share of group equipment, but on non-travel days you'll cycle with an almost empty bike (a difference you'll soon recognize as one of life's joys!). Bike helmets are worn whenever cycling.

While cycling, everyone goes at his or her own speed. Small groups of slow, medium and fast cyclists form and cycle together, but no one can pass the lead rider in the front of the group or fall behind the senior leader who always brings up the rear. The senior leader cycles in the back, so that he/she will come up on any problem instead of being miles ahead. The assistant leader rides where necessary, usually in the front of the group.

At lunchtime, the group stops to buy supplies for a picnic on a nearby village green, riverbank, field, etc. After lunch there are more checkstops for whatever activities the group decides upon. Late in the afternoon, the group will stop at a store to buy food before going on to the campsite or hostel for dinner.

After-dinner activities are usually things that are available at the campsite or near the hostel. Each group is provided with a basic assortment of balls, frisbees and cards, and many campsites and hostels have ball courts, lakes or pools for swimming, boating facilities, game room, rec halls, etc. In addition, groups can take advantage of local events reachable by foot or public transportation such as town fairs, movies, summer stock, etc. (SHP does not allow any cycling after dark). Groups usually go to sleep around 10:30 to 11:00 PM.