Messages

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Routes / Re: Louis and Clark Route - Hwy 12 Lolo Pass Section

« on: April 25, 2013, 07:24:51 am »

Hwy 12  from Kooskia to Lolo is also part of the Transam. I rode this east to west in 2006 and enjoyed it a lot but remember I was coming down from the pass. I just looked at some photos and it didn't have much of a shoulder. Over the years I've told people that I thought that was one of my favorite roads on the Transam, even after already seeing a lot of pretty country. The highway is right next to the Lochsa river and I had no issues at all with traffic. Sorry I can't help with the rest of hwy 12.

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Routes / Re: Need help with getting ready for bike tour - Routes

« on: December 16, 2012, 11:57:18 am »

I have several questions:
1. Time frame for  the entire tour
2. Your planned average daily mileage
3. Camping or motels
4. Do you have to leave from New York
5. Do you have to start in January

It seems like most people who plan a perimeter tour want to avoid snow as stated before and want to ride south on the Pacific coast.

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Routes / Re: Need help with getting ready for bike tour

« on: December 16, 2012, 08:40:22 am »

StargazerSol, I know that your questions here deal with equipment. But in your original post, which is now gone, you laid out your route and time of departure. Maybe you could post a question in Routes about that route and whether beginning an incredibly long first tour on the Northern Tier in January is a good idea or even possible. You should include your plans for average daily mileage and lodging.

You could receive some very helpful information.

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General Discussion / Re: recumbent

« on: October 28, 2012, 08:30:21 pm »

I have no problem at all with mounting or dismounting a Tour Easy/Gold Rush with underseat Panniers.

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General Discussion / Re: recumbent

« on: October 21, 2012, 02:51:35 pm »

I did the eastern half of the Northern tier (Bar Harbor, ME to Iowa) this summer on a Gold Rush. For those who don't know this has the same geometry as a tour easy only it is made of aluminum.  My crankset is 46-34-20 and like you I  have a 11-34 cassette.  I did not use a fairing or body skin and am on the very high side of average as to the weight of my load. I used rear and underseat panniers and carried camping gear.

In the past I have ridden the Transam and the western half (WA to IA) of the Northern Tier self-contained on an upright carrying the same weight. Overall the tour I did this year was the best of the three and I have to believe the recumbent was part of the reason for that. So I would say if you like your Tour Easy the best then go for it, you won't be disappointed.

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General Discussion / Re: Shipping Bike to Virginia

« on: January 17, 2012, 07:36:22 pm »

If you aren't looking for a bike shop, I shipped mine to the Duke of York Motel in Yorktown. They held it for me and then I assembled it myself. This was in 2006.

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General Discussion / Re: Stupid Hotel Question

« on: October 26, 2011, 03:14:10 pm »

I rode the Transam E-W in 2006. I camped most of the time until I got to the middle of Kansas. It got hot and I headed indoors, mostly. I camped only 5 times from Kansas to the coast, including 2 days in Yellowstone. I never made any reservations ahead of time but there was always a camping option at the city park in town if the motel was full. They were never full.

In 2009 I rode the Northern Tier W-E to North Dakota and then found my own way to home in Iowa. I camped, with a few motels, until ND and then stayed in motels all the way home. Once again with no reservations.

I wouldn't make a reservation more than one day ahead unless it was a real popular tourist area like mentioned before. If you are doing ACA routes or similar roads I can't imagine that these motels in small towns fill up very often. If you are carrying camping gear then you always have that option.

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Routes / Re: Great Rivers?

« on: October 17, 2011, 10:35:18 am »

I rode with a with another guy from Grand Rivers, KY to just into Alabama and back in 2005. Most of this portion was on 2 Parkways with no commercial vehicles. There were campgrounds along the 2 parkways that as I remember were reasonably priced. We camped at a motel in between the parkways, I believe it was the Southernaire. It was located about 25 miles north of Waverly, TN and they charged $5 a person with a shower. There also was a restaurant at the motel. We rode in heavy rain on the way back north and stayed at the motel, rather than camping. I don't think the price was too bad.

There were no towns directly on this portion of the Parkways but there were towns just off of them. We did not camp in any of these towns but did go off for lunch and groceries. The riding on the Parkways was very enjoyable, much like the Blue Ridge Parkway. There were rolling hills in the north and little traffic. As we traveled south the parkway became less hilly. Like the Transam in Kentucky, the roads in between the parkways had some steeper climbs and some loose dogs.

The only city park campgrounds that I see listed on the map set are in the section north of St. Louis. On a different tour in 2005 I rode a portion of the Great Rivers in Illinois and Missouri. Typical of most ACA routes, quiet roads through small towns. We even had a cyclist come up to us in a grocery store in Cape Girardeau, Mo and offer us a camping spot in his yard and a shower. We stayed in a couple of motels in  southern Missouri and Illinois small towns and they were priced very reasonably.

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Routes / Showers in Tonasket, WA

« on: July 15, 2011, 07:25:08 pm »

I was contacted, through my journal guestbook, by a city councilman from Tonasket, WA.. Tonasket is on the Northern Tier and is the town west of Wauconda Pass. He said the pool there is in bad shape and will be closed next year. He wanted to inform riders that showers are not going to be available at the pool.

When I stayed there in 2009 the pool had not yet opened for the season but you could get a shower at the laundromat for $3.75. While in Tonasket I camped at Shannon's Ice Cream Parlor and RV Park. At that time she had been hosting cyclists for 27 years.

So, I showered, did laundry and camped at an ice cream parlor. Life was very good that day!

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Routes / Re: Lincoln,Ne heading east through Iowa

« on: July 14, 2011, 05:55:57 am »

When I read about people not liking the cycling in Iowa it always is the result of them choosing the wrong roads. The state bike maps are the key to an enjoyable trip across Iowa.

It would helpful to know where you are going, at least your destination in the next state. The Northern Tier crosses the Mississippi at Muscatine, which might be useful, depending on where you are going.

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Routes / Re: Lincoln,Ne heading east through Iowa

« on: July 09, 2011, 06:29:53 am »

If you just want to go straight across Iowa and keep it simple Hwy 2 would be a much better option to Hwy 34. If you end up crossing the Missouri on 34 because of the flooding, you can catch a crushed limestone trail 6 1/2 miles east of Glenwood that will take SE to intersect with Hwy 2 by Shenandoah.

If you want to travel across farther north than Hwy 6 and the county roads that are old Hwy 6 is a good route. An Iowa Bicycling map would be helpful, check at Iowa bike shops (if there are any) along the way.

 It's a shame but there are very few roads with shoulders in Iowa but there are a lot of county roads with light traffic. Once again the map would be helpful and it's free.

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General Discussion / Re: Cross Country Trip: Money, What To Do?

« on: May 08, 2011, 06:38:27 am »

I use a money belt like the Eagle Creek for Id's, CC, receipts and money, it works well for me. I would wear this around my waist, with the pocket under the shorts and the in the back. The cash in the belt was kept in a snack size ziplock, In addition to that I carried my normal cycling wallet, with a days worth of money, in a jersey pocket. That way I would not have to get the money belt out during the day, unless using an ATM.

http://www.rei.com/product/617988/eagle-creek-undercover-deluxe-security-belt

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Routes / Re: Route Help Please

« on: March 08, 2011, 08:28:28 am »

I rode part of the Natchez Trace in 2005 and thought it was a good and safe cycling road. It does not have shoulders but is restricted to no commercial vehicles and I believe a 50mph speed limit. Sorry I can't help with your route question.

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General Discussion / Re: Iso butane canister availability on Pacific coast

« on: March 05, 2011, 08:33:06 am »

Sorry, obviously you were wondering about Iso butane canisters.

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General Discussion / Re: Iso butane canister availability on Pacific coast

« on: March 05, 2011, 08:10:29 am »

Are you talking about iso butane canisters? Are you riding Pacific Coast Route while in the US? If so, then Fred's search doesn't appear to be of much help. Hope the thread continues so you can find some useful answers.