One of the tools that they’ve been using on their trip is www.warmshowers.org, a sort of “couchsurfing for cyclists”. You create a listing on the site in order to let cyclists stay with you and to stay at the homes of fellow cyclists along your route. It’s still a nascent service, with fewer than 10,000 users, that’s been online for less than three years. By way of comparison, there are 1 Million Couchsurfers as of this month. That said, despite the smaller userbase, there are some noteable advantages to using warmshowers over the more general sites like Couchsurfing and Hospitality Club:

• You are going to stay with someone who understands what it’s like to be cycling for an extended period of time. You’ll likely have an understanding host if you’re in need of a shower or want to borrow a tool.
• The site strives to make itself useable for people for people who are cycling and thereby have spotty internet access. For example, you can print off contact information en masse for people in a specific geographic area.
• You can search user profiles on the site for criteria that just aren’t as relevant to other sorts of travellers. Want to find someone who has storage space so that you can leave your bike box? Check. Want to know how far someone is from the nearest bicycle repair shop? Check. Want to know if they have a car for vehicle support? Check.

WarmShowers.org