Topics

1

General Discussion / Traffic burnout?

« on: January 20, 2013, 11:44:28 am »

Hey, cyclotourists:  My wife and I recently concluded a Canada (Jasper) to the Mexico border tour of the Rocky Mtns.  We did this on two recumbent trikes with our dog, Django.  It was a very strenuous but rewarding trip: Divide by Three http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/DividebyThree.  To be honest, however, after riding coast to coast in 2007 and now border to border, in addition to many other tours up to three weeks in length, I feel fed up in dealing with cars.  It's not that I ride in mortal fear of my life all the time.  I'm just sick and tired of the noise, the lack of consideration, and, to be honest, at least some of the risk from bad/aggressive/inattentive drivers.  Do others here lose the motivation to get out there for these reasons?  I'm still going to ride, but in the West, with so few road options, it seems all the traffic gets funneled onto a few roads, routes that cyclists must follow, too.  My experience back east and in the Midwest was much more pleasant than western states in many/most cases because of the different roads available.  Of the western states I've toured, New Mexico is the best with generally very light traffic.  Unfortunately for my touring, I live in California.  The best touring here is in the desert in winter--very quiet and enjoyable.  Thoughts on burnout?

Cheers and ride safely.

Scott

2

Routes / az: show low to globe on rt. 60?

« on: October 18, 2012, 07:30:43 pm »

Anyone ridden this? There is no way we can make it in a day.  We are on tour now--in NM--and working our way west.  Looking for options other than the ACA route through Safford, etc.  For the 60 rt., what are camping and water options? I understand that the Payson-- Phoenix run is crazy w/traffic.  Any help would be great!

Thanks.

Scott

3

General Discussion / Reservations for bike tourists on the Icefields Parkway?

« on: August 05, 2012, 07:52:43 pm »

Hey, Bikers:  My wife and I are about to launch on a trip down the Rocky Mtns,--four months' worth!  Anyway, I've neglected to get reservations for the biking portion of the trip.  If we land at a campsite, will they simply turn us away?  Often going to the next campground isn't an option for cyclists.  I had the whole notion of hiker/biker in my head so didn't make reservations--not that many (any) would be available for this time of year.  Also, there's the whole question of trying to be a little loose with our planning, which is nice.  I realize there are constrictions in the parks, however!

Please shoot me some advice and experiences ASAP!  We leave the day after tomorrow--Tue. 7th, just when a nice,  fat storm is due.  Oh, joy.

Thanks again.

Scott

4

Routes / Arizona 288 --Globe-Young Hwy?

« on: July 12, 2012, 09:04:14 am »

Hey, riders:  Coming up close to the start of a big tour and still working on some options.  We're thinking about possibly bypassing the Phoenix area all together as we work our way from Silver City, NM, to our home in CA.  From Globe, AZ, I found Hwy 288.  Does anyone know about this road for cycling?  Paved?  Water sources?  I can see that we won't have any supplies, so will have to leave Globe well stocked.  If we did this route, we'd pick up the Magollan Rim Rd. and follow that across to 87 and 260.  I've pedaled that stretch before.  Any advice/experiences greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Scott

5

Routes / Montana route info...

« on: May 04, 2012, 08:27:11 am »

Hey, Cyclists:  My wife and I are in the planning phases for a mostly paved Rocky Mtn. tour starting in Aug. from Jasper, Alberta.  At times, I'm planning on taking some mixed surface routes (ex. Cottonwood Pass and Ute Pass in Co.).  Another option I'm exploring is a mixed surface route between Augusta and Hwy 15--old state hwy 434. Google Street View shows pavement south of Rt. 200, so I'm wondering about the section between Augusta and Rt. 200, which appears to be dirt/gravel.  Google doesn't covered that section except the very north-most tail out of Augusta.  We'll probably hit this mid-August, give or take.

Opinions, info., experiences?

Thanks!

Scott

6

Routes / N. Colorado Rt. 9/Hwy 9?

« on: April 12, 2012, 07:36:30 pm »

Hey, Riders:  Well, the big planning is on for our major Rocky Mtn. tour this summer/fall.  We'll be starting in Jasper, AB, in early August.  I've read some less-than-flattering comments about Rt. 9.  We'll be hitting in Sept.  Thoughts?  Alternatives?  In general, we're following the divide, heading to Salida.

Thanks!

Scott

7

Routes / A great little tour

« on: April 06, 2012, 07:54:46 pm »

Hey, Riders: I just completed a wonderful little tour with my wife, Jodi, and our faithful hound, Django.  Here's a link to a short write up with lots of pics and map and link to detailed info. related to the map.  If you are in the central California coast region and want to do a great, wonderful, can't recommend-it-enough ride, this is the one.  Bloody hot in summer, however.  Spring and Fall optimal.  Bring a taste for great scenery, empty roads, and excellent wine.

A perfect little tour:http://scott-waylandadventures.blogspot.com/

Cheers!

Scott

8

Routes / Montana 83 riding conditions?

« on: January 30, 2012, 08:58:46 am »

Ahoy, riders:  After doing some "street view" research on our Rocky Mtn. tour, it's sad to see the great shoulders of so many Canadian rds. give way to the narrow B.S. of so many US highways.  Arrrrgh.  Anyway, we'd like to go through Glacier, but then we are presented with some options.  What is the best way for a cyclist to get from Glacier to Missoula?  Looking at the map, Rt. 83 seems a natural choice, scenic, and it has campgrounds; however, it doesn't seem to have ANY shoulder to speak of.  Advice, opinions, experience?

Thanks!

Scott

9

Routes / Another Great Parks North Ques...

« on: January 28, 2012, 02:41:12 pm »

My wife and I are planning a big Rocky Mtn. tour this year, Jasper to Silver City, NM, then home to Cali.  On the northern portion of the road, we were thinking of going out of the Canadian Rockies past Canmore, getting to the east side, and heading down to Glacier Park that way.  What do you think of this in comparison to the ACA version through Fernie et al?  Oh, we'll be starting early-ish August.

Thanks!

Scott

10

Routes / Critique my NE CA/SW OR Loop!

« on: January 11, 2012, 05:27:30 pm »

Hey, Riders:  I'm thinking of doing this loop as a tour with a gang of young (and not-so young but tough!) riders late this spring (prob. early June).  Some of it I'm familiar with (395), but a lot of it is a mystery to me.  Hwy 139 into Oregon looks pretty good on Google maps ground view, i.e. shoulder!  And I can't  imagine there's a lot of traffic.  Hwy 140 east out of Klamath Falls is a bit more uncertain: Doesn't appear to be much/any shoulder.   Anyone ride in this area?  Comments?  It looks like some great country, and I like the idea of a monster loop.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/892029

Thanks.

Scott

11

General Discussion / Update on Lolo Pass trucking nightmare?

« on: July 04, 2011, 03:15:48 pm »

Just wondering what the latest was on the &^$#%&^%*$* Canadian energy company that was planning on taking those gigantic loads over Lolo Pass for a year or so.  It sounded absolutely terrible.

Cheers,

Scott

12

Routes / Southern Tier: Apache Trail vs. through Superior?

« on: June 25, 2011, 11:30:03 am »

Ahoy, Arizona bike tourists:  Doing some thinking about our big tour next year.  What do you think about taking Apache Trail?  I know it's dirt.  I've only driven it once many years ago.  I assume NO water?  How good/bad is the road?  I remember it was exceedingly beautiful.  We'd be riding east to west in November.

Thanks.

Scott

13

Routes / Hwy 60 bypass between Superior and Apache Junct.?

« on: February 17, 2011, 08:24:58 am »

I've been reading that a stretch of Hwy 60 east of Phoenix is not good, specifically between Apache Junct. and Superior.  I found an article on Crazyguyonabike that discusses a paved/dirt option to much of it.  I've posted a question to her guest book, but no response.  Any forum users know that area?  I looked at Google maps and found that it should be possible to take E. Happy Camp to E. Hewitt Station Rd. and eventually to Queen Valley.  Any intel on these roads?  Decently graded dirt?  Constant sand? My wife and I will be going through that area in 2012 on loaded recumbent trikes.  Dirt roads are okay so long as they are not too rough or sandy.

Thanks!

Scott

14

General Discussion / Important Utah news alert!

« on: December 15, 2010, 08:58:06 am »

Ahoy, riders:  It appears that Utah is set to open an open-pit coal strip mine only ten miles from Bryce Canyon.  This is no joke.  Besides the obvious environmental damage to such a pristine area, the bike riding, roads, and towns will be grossly impacted: 300 heavy, noisy, diesel spewing trucks will be rolling through towns like Panguich 24/6.  Once up and running, a truck will leave the mine EVERY 7 MINUTES!  Whatever peace and quite these towns and roads have will be ruined forever.  The NRDC is currently in the fight to stop this abomination, but we really need to spread the news.  This is like that horrendous project to ship that huge hardware through Lolo Pass--only worse. 

Story: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-redford/utah-approves-a-mine-next_b_795955.html

Spread the word.  Let's not let Utah destroy this area!

Scott

15

Routes / Wyoming and Colorado routing?

« on: December 05, 2010, 05:13:36 pm »

Ahoy, Cyclo-tourists:  This is WAY long range planning for a paved Continental Divide ride.  Our plan is to start in Jasper, Alberta, in August and work our way south with the goal of hitting Silver City, New Mexico in late October and crossing the Arizona desert starting sometime in Nov. to avoid the heat to finish in San Diego.  The options are clear for us in Wyoming, with the only question being to deal with the main part of Yellowstone and the Tetons or not, swinging out further east before heading south.  I hear the drop down Dead Indian Pass to Cody is quite fine.  Opinions on the options?

Re. Colorado: We seem to have two main choices there, too. 1) Take the ACA route which goes through Breckenridge, Fairplay, etc. or 2) Route to the west, taking in Carbondale, Hotchkiss, etc.  Both routes, roughly speaking, taking us to Gunnison for a drop down Hwy 149 through Lake City and points south.  I've read the run from Salida to Fairplay is pretty obnoxious, traffic, bad shoulders, etc.  Opinions on the options?

Thanks!

Scott