Wow! Sounds ambitious and wonderful! I wish you luck!

Thats really cool that you're planning to do that. Pretty super cool, in fact.

Im from Victoria, BC (in that cold frozen country above you guys) and am planning to do similar stuff. Im hoping to leave next fall, riding south along the coast of Oregon and California (or whereever the fuck I want, I havent seen too much of the states :D). My destination would be South America, Id like to spend a couple of years touring the continent, I think it would be rad to incorperate the 'self-sustained travelling' sort of lifestyle by working in each country that I pass through (WOOFing or what have you). I am also huge into getting to know the culture and types of people and lifestyles that exist in each of the countries. I recently (last spring) spent a few months riding through central america, going from Guatemala to El Salvador to Honduras to Nicaragua to Costa Rica to Panama to Costa Rica to Nicaragua on bike (by myself for the most part too :P).
While I was riding, I liked (and needed) to live as cheaply as I could, which meant tenting nearly all the time. Funny thing about people down there, is that sometimes a tent just wont do, you know? I spent every night minus one under the watchful and protective eye of someone (minus the handful of nights that I stayed in a hostel).
My nights usually proceeded as follows: After arriving in a relaxed community, or other non-touristy area, Id stop, make friends with some of the locals (they usually love making friends with you, since you're such a strange sight), and.. eventually, after I felt comfortable about where I was, Id ask about somewhere safe where I could set up a tent, to pass the night. This was frequently responded to by "... wouldnt you rather sleep in our hammock/spare cot/bed?" This conversation would often be followed by communal dinner making with the family that took me in for the night, stories.. and, well, basically, being a stranger that was invited in off the street to be part of their family that hed just me, out of pure generosity and friendliness. I stayed with some families for over a week, but mostly Id just spend the night, to keep myself making distance, because I had time constraints.
I also agree with the "no rushing, racing, etc". When youre on bike, and you have thousands of kilometers to cover.. it is IMPOSSIBLE (believe me, I tried) to do it quickly. And, when you're trying to do it quickly, it quickly becomes boring and lonesome, exausting, and therefore physically unsustainable. And, it just isnt any fun. Bike touring isnt supposed to be work. Its supposed to be fun. You dont ride to enjoy the eventual goal or location you reach, you ride to enjoy every day of the ride. You take days off. You stop and buy bread and cheese and talk to the locals. You smell flowers, go swimming in clear rivers, explore nearby caves with local children, practice your swordsmanship with sticks for an encounter when you might need it.. maybe Im getting carried away.
All in all, my goal, is globe circumnavigation. After a couple years in SA, Id like to head over to Europe/Asia/Africa/Austrailia/every where else. See the whole goddamn place.

So yeah, we should go for a ride some time.

Tyler

that sounds awsome!!!i'm from kansas, so i'm used to riding my bike on what would seem like flat lands in comparison to the places you mention. i wish you the best of luch in your ventures!!