Messages

1

Bicycle Route 66 / Re: Welcome to Bicycle Route 66!

« on: May 14, 2013, 09:07:07 am »

Jennifer -

There are no unpaved sections on the stretch I outlined.  I've ridden it.
You can ride all the way from the Grand Canyon thru Window Rock to Abiquiu.
All pavement, low traffic.  Services comparable to the Western Express.

The unpaved part is a zag to Chaco Canyon NHP.  Well worth it.
This park includes some of the oldest and most extensive ancient Puebloan ruins.
Speaking of history.  And I do teach college history.

The fact is - Route 66 in Arizona and New Mexico has largely disappeared under I-40 since the 1970s.
Yes, there is the fabulous section thru Peach Springs.  But between Flagstaff and Albuquerque it is questionable.
In many places the old road from the 1930s is a streak in the desert.
Where there are maintained sections, they often dead-end at a fence on the interstate.
And when there is a usable service road, it can be right next to 20,000 vehicles on I-40.

Nearly everyone who has tried to ride Route 66 has complained about this section.
If you reroute a little bit - i.e. onto Townsend Winona Rd - you are already "off route".
And if you are riding on I-40, you are certainly not riding on historic Route 66.

Although I am not absolutely against riding on an interstate - it defeats the purpose of touring IMO.
I won't detour 100 miles to avoid 5 miles of interstate riding where it's the only option - -
But to plan a route that includes considerable mileage of interstate and service road riding is less than ideal.

2

General Discussion / Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer

« on: May 06, 2013, 04:58:07 pm »

Andrea -

I'm from Buffalo, Wyoming and have some strip maps I made a few years ago crossing northern Wyoming.  The Bighorn Mountains are nothing to laugh at - big climbs - esp. from the West, 2000m.  I am planning to be gone - but some family member should be there at my house in Buffalo - big house on a hill with mountain views - if you need a place to relax and do laundry.

I also have route guides for crossing Idaho through the Sawtooth Mountains.  I know you only have about 60 days with stops - so saving 4 or 5 days with a more direct route may be helpful.  Plus, the Payette River has hot springs and the Sawtooths are stunning.  Not to mention that it puts you on a course to see both the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone without backtracking.

As for the Great Plains - if you ride through the Black Hills of South Dakota you will be surprised how lovely they are - plus by late July they are MUCH cooler.  You may want to do a sunrise ride thru Badlands N.P. - but remember as you get out on the Great Plains it will be HOT!!  40C or more.  Best to ride super early - from sunrise to 11am - then quit.  There is a fabulous route - Nebraska Hwy 12 - that runs right on the NE/SD border and has very little traffic.

Your choice of the Oregon state is much better for the time of year and your plans.

3

Bicycle Route 66 / Re: Welcome to Bicycle Route 66!

« on: May 06, 2013, 09:12:26 am »

It is regrettable that the need to follow an exact routing
takes precedence over the quality of the cycling experience, itself.

In the case of northeast and northwest New Mexico -
One can ride from the Grand Canyon via Cameron, Tuba City, and Second Mesa,
To Window Rock and Crownpoint with variation from there either to Abq or Santa Fe.
All paved with short dirt segments to nearby sites such as the spectacular Chaco Canyon ruins.

Taking such an alternative will give the cyclist the "feel" of a trip in the 1930s -
Even though the exact routing is slightly different.

4

Connecting ACA Routes / Re: Connecting Southern Tier to Western Express

« on: May 01, 2013, 11:55:45 am »

November on the Western Express?!?

5

General Discussion / Re: How to Blog? Crazyguyonabike?

« on: April 28, 2013, 12:03:34 pm »

Crazyguy is the gold standard.

6

General Discussion / Re: Shipping Supplies to Yourself

« on: April 17, 2013, 03:49:08 pm »

Times are changing.

I have used "General Delivery" at post offices for 25 years.
The only problem is if you hit the twon on a Saturday afternoon or Sunday.
But now, many rural post offices are being closed are have severely reduced hours.
So the ease of receiving packages is far less.

BTW - If you just miss the posted hours, you can always knock.
My experience is that small-town postmasters are very generous.
They'll often say, "Oh, you're the guy named Jamawani."

7

General Discussion / Re: Inspire or Scare the Begeebees?

« on: April 17, 2013, 03:44:48 pm »

As a 20-plus year environmental historian in the northern Rockies who has been bicycle touring since 1984 - methinks your worries are misplaced.  Prudence dictates that a person from the East Coast or Europe who shows little awareness of the climate or remoteness of the Intermountain West might benefit from a few cautionary posts.  In contrast, a person who worries every detail usually benefits from a little humor and upbeat encouragement.  YMMV.

8

General Discussion / Re: Bears

« on: April 17, 2013, 03:21:08 pm »

Miller - It depends on how you plan to use your tent.  If you are planning on doing significant backcountry hiking in the northern Rockies, then maybe I'd use another one.  If you simply will be camping in developed sites, then I would wash it according to manufacturers' instructions - light non-degreasing liquid - and allow it to air for an extended period.  Campgrounds already have so many food odors, I suspect your tent will provide little attraction.

PS - Make sure your tent is totally dry before packing it unless you like that mildew-tent smell.

9

General Discussion / Re: Bears

« on: April 17, 2013, 03:14:51 pm »

That's mean.  I don't think scaring travelers should be the point. Unprovoked grizzly attacks like that are VERY rare, particularly in the Lower 48. I would suggest "Staying Safe In Bear Country" instead.

Actually, it is similar to those who enjoy riding the most extreme roller-coaster or teenagers who watch horror movies at midnight.  "Night of the Grizzlies" is one of the best books written about a time when tourists practiced few, if any, of the safety procedures discussed in this thread.  In fact, grizzlies were still fed garbage in Yellowstone to entertain tourists in the 1960s.

"Night of the Grizzlies" was important in how it questioned park policy in a number of areas -

1. The intentional or tolerated practice by park service of having garbage to attract bears.
2. The emphasis upon tourist values rather than habitat needs of the bears.
3. The limited outdoor skills of the thousands of seasonal park workers.

"Night of the Grizzlies" had a major impact on public perception.

I'm also sorry that your friends were mauled in Glacier.
As grizzly populations rebound, there is greater competition for resources among bears -
In addition, there is increasing backcountry pressure from hikers.
That's why places like Yellowstone have significant early season trail closures.

I agree with you that front country encounters with grizzlies are extremely rare.
Camp robbers are usually black bears - with repeat offenders killed by park personnel.
So the REAL threat created by food left out is to the bears - not the humans.

10

General Discussion / Re: Bears

« on: April 16, 2013, 10:23:15 pm »

Have you read "Night of the Grizzlies"?
Highly recommended for when you are camping in the Rockies.

11

General Discussion / Re: Bears

« on: April 14, 2013, 07:48:03 pm »

I am from grizzly country and have cycled, hiked, and camped without incident.
I have had grizzly tracks around my tent the next morning.

First, NEVER take any food into your tent.
If you've had food in your tent, I would suggest getting another.
In a similar vein, do not pack you tent in a pannier with your food.

Second, in bear country change out of your cooking/eating clothes.
You may not smell the food odors, but a bear can and will.

Third, learn to hang you food and toiletries in a bearproof manner.
Grizzlies are too large to get correctly hung packs,
But black bear cubs - esp, around Yosemite NP have figured out how to get them.

In areas with bad bear problems, you must use a bearproof cannister.
Most frontcountry campgrounds have bear boxes - -
But you should know how to hang your food - just in case.

Parks Canada - Appropriate for Northern Rockies, too -
http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/mtn/ours-bears/sec7/og-bm7.aspx

12

Bicycle Route 66 / Re: Welcome to Bicycle Route 66!

« on: April 08, 2013, 03:28:31 pm »

The problems with trying to retrace Route 66 are that it is discontinuous and often chock-a-block up against I-40.
(And that's when I-40 hasn't been built on top of it.)

I still believe riding from Cuba via Crownpoint, Window Rock, Second Mesa, and Tuba City -
Gives you a far better feel for what the Route 66 scenery and culture was like on an open road.

13

Routes / Re: Avoiding Yellowstone

« on: April 03, 2013, 11:42:25 am »

The way to "avoid" Yellowstone is to choose your riding times carefully and ride through Yellowstone.
Nearly every campground has hiker/biker sites - so camping availability is not really an issue.
Thus, I choose to ride early and late - plus it's the best time to see wildlife.

Plus, if you choose smaller campgrounds, you have relatively quiet camping.
(i.e. Avoid the huge ones such as Grant Village, Bridge Bay, maybe Madison.)
You always stop in to the big campgrounds for camp store stuff and showers.

Thus, if you ride before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. - you will have fairly light traffic.
Than, you can focus on a day hike or lakeside picnic and read in the middle of the day.

14

Routes / Re: Cycling from SFO airport - Western express

« on: April 02, 2013, 09:19:13 pm »

I have flown into SFO with a bike lots of times.
Unless you have a hard case with wheels, it is tough to schlep around your bike and all the gear.
Assembling in the airport is tricky because of space and, sometimes, grumpy security.

If you have the $$$, a taxi to wherever you are going is easiest - but super expensive.
If you are getting in in mid-afternoon - unless it is a weekend -
By the time you clear customs it will be rush hour.
Bikes are not allowed on BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) during rush hour.
Otherwise, BART is great since the station is next to the international terminal.

I always try to stay awake until sundown when I fly Europe to N. America.
It's the best way to get my body into the new time zone.

Have you heard about the hostel at Golden Gate National Recreation Area?
http://norcalhostels.org/marin
It's across Golden Gate Bridge and would require some riding -
But you could watch the sun set into the Pacific from the cliffs.

It's about an hour ride back to the ferry terminal - Baylink - to Vallejo.
The 11:30 ferry from Pier 41 gives you morning time in San Fran -
then you have 6-plus riding hours after arriving in Vallejo.
http://www.baylinkferry.com/

(If you do take BART - get off at Embarcadero and ride the Bay Trail across Golden Gate Bridge.)

PS - I stand corrected - didn't know about SFO's bike assembly stations.  Soooo San Fran & nice.
How long have they had them?

15

General Discussion / Re: Trying to bike from Chicago to Pittsburgh, ideas?

« on: April 01, 2013, 07:29:57 pm »

The Old Lincoln Highway

Mostly back roads - historic - services.
2013 is the 100th anniversary - events along the way.

Strip maps of Indiana and Ohio:
The 1928 Route in Indiana is more direct and goes thru Plymouth and Warsaw.

Indiana -
http://www.lincolnhighwayoh.com/articles/8-articles/34-in-search-of-the-1928-lincoln-highway-in-indiana

Ohio -
 http://www.lincolnhighwayoh.com/road-guide

There are a couple of short stretches east of Fort Wayne and Canton that you may wish to avoid.
You can easily use nearby county roads.

PS - You don't need to ride them, but you can see a few places where the very early brick roadway winds over the hills.