Messages

751

Routes / Re: Katy Trail and Trans Am

« on: October 05, 2010, 06:54:43 pm »

I loved the Ozarks on the TransAm. It's hilly, but beautiful. The route runs right through the Ozarks National Scenic Riverway. Why give that up? Generalizations about what kind of people and drivers you'll find on the TransAm are not indicative of any individual's experience. I found Missouri drivers pleasant and Missouri people charming.

If you really need to save time or distance on the TransAm, there are probably 100 obvious shortcuts. But before taking shortcuts, you have to ask yourself why you're out there in the first place.

752

Routes / Re: Coast to Coast with child

« on: October 05, 2010, 09:15:52 am »

Maybe it's just me, but driving the route before I bicycled it would take a lot of the fun out of it by removing too much of the wonder.

753

Routes / Re: Best cities for TransAm ride

« on: October 04, 2010, 08:53:54 pm »

This question is a no-brainer. Follow the TransAm.

754

General Discussion / Re: Is it ok to travel solo...

« on: September 29, 2010, 09:48:38 am »

Yes, it's okay to travel alone, as long as you take your common sense with you. In fact, it's better alone (generally much, much better than a partner you find online--successful online partnerships are the exception, not the rule).

If you don't have camping experience, get some before you go.

If you don't have touring experience, get some with some short trips before your long trip.

I recommend, if feasible, following an ACA route using ACA maps. It will help you figure out where to eat and sleep and simplify the logistics for your first big trip.

Make sure your equipment is in excellent shape before starting to minimize the chances of a problem (e.g., start with new tires and new brake pads and new cables). If something goes wrong, you'll use your ingenuity to figure out a solution. For many people, solving these problems is one of the best things about bicycle touring.

First, get a cell provider with excellent coverage in the area you plan to tour (which is often Verizon in rural US). But if you're out of range, flag down a car for help. You can also consider carrying a SPOT (findmespot.com) if you're really worried about it.

Will you have the nerve to ask someone if you can set up your tent? Maybe, maybe not. But you'll get more comfortable with it if you force yourself to try it the first time. Also ask at churches, fire stations, police stations, courthouses, VFW halls, Eagles clubs, etc.

Going alone isn't an "even if I have to". It's an excellent option, maybe even the best option.

755

Routes / Re: Trans Am Ride

« on: September 27, 2010, 08:49:13 am »

If you do decide to start in the west, I'd fly into Portland, Oregon as Pete suggests. You can ship your bicycle directly to "Bikes & Beyond" is Astoria, Oregon and then take the bus for $18 from Portland to Astoria. To a large extent, the most cost-effective approach depends on the number of people in your group. Certain economies of scale can favor rented transportation for more than one.

It took me 70 days (including a 2-day side trip to Mammoth Cave National Park), but I was a bit faster than average. I'd consider 70 to 90 days as typical, but some people do it in fewer or more. There are certainly those meandering types who take twice as long as everybody else.

If you read the TransAm journals over at www.crazyguyonabike.com, you can get an idea of the breadth of different approaches people take.

There have been quite a few thread here discussing the west-to-east vs. east-to-west factors.

756

Routes / Re: Trans Am Ride

« on: September 27, 2010, 07:13:00 am »

Either direction is fine. If you start in the east, the first half of May is ideal for starting. If you start in the west, mid-June is good. I'd pick my direction based on the most convenient time for you to start. Personally, I like east-to-west.

You can fly on to Newport News, which is only 10 miles from the start. If you've never been to the U.S. before, you might like to visit Washington D.C. or New York City before heading down south.

No diversion necesssary for Yellowstone. It's already on the route. I would take the optional side trips noted on the ACA maps to Mammoth Cave and Jenny Lake if you have time, but I would otherwise stick to the route. The route has already been crafted to give you the best places to visit. Some people like to divert to the Katy Trail in Missouri, but the standard ACA route through the Ozarks is great as is.

The two main books on the TransAm are Donna Lynn Ikenberry's "Bicycling Coast to Coast". It's dated now (over 15 years old) but still worth reading. Just don't count on all the little details to still be accurate. The other book in Stephanie Kirz's "Bicycling the TransAm", which is good reference for motels if you plan to primarily stay in motels. I prefer Donna Lynn's book if you're only going to get one.

No "dodgy" sections at all. Wyoming is pretty desolate. Everything except Kansas and eastern Colorado is hilly.

757

General Discussion / Re: Pannier Secuity

« on: September 26, 2010, 07:31:14 pm »

(1) Nothing you can do can stop the determined professional thief.
(2) Almost anything you do will stop the opportunistic thief.

I just run my bike cable through the frame and the handles on all four panniers and around a pole. It's not good enough for overnight in New York City, but it's good enough for my trip inside the grocery store in Tillamook, Oregon.

758

General Discussion / Re: What are some of the steepest grades on the Trans Am?

« on: September 23, 2010, 11:11:51 am »

Alas, "Danger Hill" in Christiansburg VA is no longer on the TA. That probably would have set the mark.

759

Routes / Re: Eugene to Baker City

« on: September 19, 2010, 10:27:27 am »

I did it between July 7-11. The weather was great, although a bit hot going over Ochoco Pass--that stretch between Prineville and Mitchell can be long, hot and dry. McKenzie Pass had only been open two or three weeks. I heard one couple assert that McKenzie Pass from the west is the toughest climb on the TransAm, although I'm not sure I buy that. It is beautiful, however, and I wouldn't want to miss it.

760

General Discussion / Re: Transport to Dulles airport from Yorktown or Williamsburg area

« on: September 16, 2010, 07:01:08 am »

If you take Amtrak, you won't be able to also take your bike, so you'd have to ship that separately.

761

General Discussion / Re: Invitation to join warmshowers.org

« on: September 15, 2010, 07:24:22 am »

Staying with strangers on their property or in their homes is very dangerious.
We have no idea what kind of people we are staying with are like. What are you're thoughts.

Is this a troll?

Cross the street is dangerous. Sitting on your couch is dangerous.

762

General Discussion / Re: Looking for others biking West to East NOW

« on: September 14, 2010, 08:12:48 am »

The area between Prairie City and Baker City is pretty wooded and unpopulated. You can of course camp at the store at Austin Junction, but I don't imagine it would be difficult to find any number of dispersed camping spots. There's a nice campground in Prairie City and you should be able to easily make it to Baker City in a day if you want.

If you're asking about the weather, however, I can't help you there.

763

Routes / Re: Help required for current trans america-rockies or not?

« on: September 14, 2010, 08:06:57 am »

If you pay attention to the weather forecast, be conservative about it, have the extra time available to wait for a good day and have lots of cold-weather clothing, you'll be okay. Just be prepared to wait out a storm, or even an iffy day, in a motel room for a day or a week. Even then be prepared to turn back or hitch a ride if the weather forecast turns out to be wrong.

We all take risks. There are definite risks here, but I'm not advising that you sit on the couch until the risks are gone. That's no way to live.

764

Routes / Re: Route Advice

« on: September 13, 2010, 11:26:33 am »

Agreed. Unless you have other constraints, go east-to-west. That direction has everything in its favor and nothing against (not even wind).

765

General Discussion / Re: Buying the right size touring bike.

« on: August 26, 2010, 02:01:46 pm »

Most people, including most ACA literature, contend that you should have a more upright posture for touring than road riding, but some of us find that isn't right for us. I use the same posture for both.

Touring bikes typically have somewhat different geometry than ordinary road bikes. I run a size larger in a touring bike, but the top tube on my touring bike is shorter than the top tube on my road bike even though the overall wheelbase is longer.