Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Please help... I want to do it but its really hard.

« on: March 26, 2013, 05:46:30 pm »

Charlie,
Lots of good insights already provided. I am 66 and I rode 2500 miles with a 19 yr old last summer and he had ALL your fears and more. Night terrors and all. He rode 4400 miles in all and always managed to find someone to hook up with, but did weeks alone in the middle of the trip. Read " companions wanted". You don't need to do this alone. You have already taken a huge big step.

2

General Discussion / Re: New to cycling and taking a loop around America

« on: January 31, 2013, 07:22:01 pm »

Tommy, I met  an AT thru hiker (Pacific crest also) on the Northern Tier last summer. He was a novice touring cyclist but made the transition easily. He also was an ultralight gear guy. Look up Turbo ( Brandon Gabel) on FB.

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Routes / Re: Eastbound from Washington/Oregon

« on: January 27, 2013, 06:23:36 pm »

"Ewoo...."
I did the NT to Glacier starting June 1, 2012. We had rain and 40's for much of the first two weeks and snow on Washington Pass. That kind of weather is not unusual that time of year. Road to the Sun opened the day after we left Glacier, but the weather was terrible. I did the same route in Aug is 2008 and the scenery was incredible. Early June puts you at risk for lousy weather.

 Non-camping services can be quite limited but with a little research and spacing the daily mileage you can locate accommodations for most days.

Enjoy the planning phase of your trip.

4

Routes / Re: I quit a ST trip in2010. I was slow and ran out of time. Going ultralight. Tips?

« on: January 26, 2013, 07:43:50 pm »

Great thread and replies. I don' think 10-15 lbs of extra gear has to be blamed as the deal breaker for a trip. Bad weather day after day challenges the misery tolerance threshold no matter what the bike or the gear. Everyone has their own "guit" threshold. Camping in bad weather day after day sucks. A motel at the end of bad days of riding is a cure-all if you can afford it. I had 9 of 10 weeks of great weather in 08 and only 2 of 6 weeks in 2012.

Expect misery and relish the days you don' t get it?

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Routes / Re: Canada mortorists

« on: January 23, 2013, 07:06:18 pm »

John,
 You will enter Canada from WI? Perhaps MI? Will you be on Canada #17 from Sault St Marie to Espanola? And pick up 6 thru Manitoulin Is and south on Bruce Peninsula?  I can't speak to 17 or 6 ( other than 17 is far from ideal as I read from other cyclist) but one resource you could use is "Ontario Bicycle Touring Atlas". E mail to < info@bikeontours.on.ca >  From my quick look at their book they show many options and rarely is Hwy 6 one of the choices, though it is direct.  Maybe with a few more details on your route you will hear from cyclist who have done what you are attempting?

6

Routes / Re: northern tier route Aug to Oct.

« on: January 22, 2013, 06:33:17 pm »

Lisa,
In 2008 we started in Anacortes 8/20 and finished in Southern ME 10/20. We had very good Fall weather in the East  ( not much rain) but very cold mornings the last few weeks and difficult to find campgrounds that were open after Oct.1 Private campgrounds will be your best bet and depending on the route and how isolated it is you may not find them open either. The potential for misery with camping that  late in the Fall is high. Plan to have options that do not involve camping if you can. NT is a great route and you can shorten it up if need be. Enjoy the trip.

7

General Discussion / Re: Whitefish, Glacier NP and Flathead Lake advice...

« on: August 17, 2012, 03:39:59 am »

 If you are still planning to bike around Flathead there are places to stay on the east side using MT # 83 ( 83 is recommended over 35). We camped at Swan Lake and Seeley Lake. ( For $25 you can stay in a cabin at Swan Lake Trading Post)

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General Discussion / Re: Some thoughts after the completion of 50% Transam + 50% Western Express

« on: August 16, 2012, 06:05:16 pm »

Lucas; great report. Thanks for taking the time to be so detailed.

I just completed ( 8/8) (W to E) modified TA. On the issue of ACA maps and trying to follow changes. What I wish ACA had was an 800# only for map changes. (low-tech non-smart phone owner)  I could easily call in a change at that "spot". Sending in a report later...less likely.
Eastern KY...if we initiated conversations we found the local people friendly, but not "out-going". We experienced incredibly patient and courteous drivers in KY, especially given Eastern KY roads. One of the scarier moments I had was a NY car ( my home state). We pulled over for  large trucks in Eastern KY and got waves and toots. But 90% of the coal trucks were heading west the days we were there. We had far less dog events than you and the only one that required action ( failed) was in western VA. (He bit my pannier)
We were told by locals that most cyclist on the TA are East to West. We were riding at the hottest time of the year. I have done a modified 4000 mile NT West to East from mid Aug to mid Oct and weather was an issue for one week. On my recent 6 week ( 2500 mile) modified TA starting on the NT to Glacier the first of June with cold rain for most of two weeks; followed by high winds in MT and then heat in KY and VA the weather dominated my ride for 4 of the 6 weeks. I would agree with you that
the NT is a more comfortable ( perhaps more boring) trip. Starting the TA in the East May 1st or a week earlier would be my suggestion as well.

9

Routes / Re: North Cascades Highway (SR 20) is now open for business

« on: May 21, 2012, 06:15:56 pm »

Snow ( 6" plus) in the forecast for this week at Washington Pass.

10

General Discussion / Re: Bike shipping / Lesson learned?

« on: May 21, 2012, 06:13:28 pm »

I shipped Fed Ex via BikeFlight today..NY to OR and the "road-bike" box calculator was $69 but I had a LBS free box that is laid on it's side to be packed and therefore larger in some dimensions and it came to $89 for 50 lbs. Five day ground.

11

Routes / Re: Brookings, South Dakota to New Haven, Connecticut --- June 1st - June 23rd

« on: March 29, 2012, 05:42:42 pm »

Nathan; In 08 I did some of the route  you are considering. I was slightly south of I90 in MN (took 18 across southern SD) took the Root River Trail in SE MN and ended up in Lacrosse. Nice bike trail from there to Sparta and then Elroy with fun tunnels. Took county/rural roads from there to Manitiowoc and in MI picked up the Erie Connector..( much shorter using Erie)
Nice riding on the Canadian side of Lake Erie. Used Erie Canal Towpath for most of NY. It is flat which is quicker than the hills south and north of I90; perhaps not as scenic as rolling up and down the hills of the Finger Lakes ( where I live).
If you are interested I can share the roads we used in WI if you contact me thru the message board.
You have lots of options to consider. Enjoy your ride.

12

General Discussion / Re: Logistics for Divide MT Trip and the Ride-to-the-Sun Road to Glacier Natl Park

« on: March 02, 2012, 04:25:00 pm »

Here is the latest from a GNP Ranger:

There are restrictions in two areas along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. You
will actually need to be up to Logan Pass by 11:00 am if you are starting
from the west side. For safety and to ease congestion, restrictions are in
effect on sections of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, from June 15 through Labor
Day:
•     From Apgar Campground to Sprague Creek Campground bicycles are
prohibited, both directions, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
•     From Logan Creek to Logan Pass east-bound (uphill) bicycle traffic is
prohibited between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.


Start early! It takes about 45 minutes to ride from Sprague Creek to Logan
Creek and about three hours from Logan Creek to Logan Pass. When you come
back down from Logan Pass, the section between Sprague Creek and Apgar will
be completely closed to bicycle traffic, regardless of direction.  Thanks
so much for checking with us ahead of time.  We look forward to seeing you
this summer!

I can't find "Logan Creek" on the Park Map but it is somewhere east of McDonald Lodge and perhaps close to where the real climb begins going west to east.

We hope to do an up and back down from the west side around June 16 IF IF the weather and construction cooperates. Odds are probably not in our favor.

Last year the fine for getting caught in the no bike zone was $125.

JK

13

Routes / Libby to Kalispell on Rt #2 OK to ride?

« on: February 18, 2012, 07:49:38 pm »

Who has ridden Rt # 2 from Libby to Kalispell and how was traffic and shoulder? We'd be doing it in 2nd week June.

And from Kalispell to West Glacier?  Route?  Conditions?  I note that Google Map Bike has some options from Kalispell to Columbia Falls that are off #2. From Columbia Falls to West Glacier seems to be primarily on #2. Shoulder w/o rumble strip?

Thanks

14

Routes / Re: Bighorns

« on: February 14, 2012, 07:28:11 pm »

I don't think you can go wrong with either 14 or 16. Have driven both several times and pedaled 14 ( not loaded) in mid Sept. ( too late for flowers but they were taking the cattle and sheep off the highlands and that was cool to see) Almost no traffic, but schools were in session. Loved the eastbound downhill on 14....wheeeeeee + great views. Big Horns are a treasure. You will want to go back.

15

Routes / Re: Eastbound route through South Dakota, Minnesota

« on: February 10, 2012, 05:04:42 pm »

We did leave the Badlands and headed east; used # 44 through most of SD; hit a bit of Iowa; Southern MN into Lacrosse WI and then ENE to Manitowoc WI to catch the Ferry to Ludington MI and from there Lakes Connector into Canada; NY VT ME.

You can get the details here: http://www.fllt.org/blog/

Be sure to stop in Interior and Scenic.  I never found that route through southern SD boring. Corn and soybean fields in MN for a day or two did get boring, but that led us to the Spam Museum in Albert Lea MN..a must stop for a chuckle.

Enjoy your ride no matter the route and contact me if you have questions.