Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Entire Trans Am Route in one tour?

« on: March 21, 2019, 02:17:55 pm »

Thanks for the reply mate..

Would July be a good time to do the Trans Am?


... it is my only option unfortunately!!

Dave Mac.

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General Discussion / Re: Entire Trans Am Route in one tour?

« on: March 20, 2019, 04:09:55 pm »

Good evening folks!

I am just reading back over this post. As Spring has sprung here in Ireland... my mind is turning again to a summer bike tour..
Last Summer, I cycled 3,700kms around the coast of Ireland... it was quite tough, but really enjoyable!
This summer, I am planning on doing an extended Lejog...or Lands End in Cornwall, north via all the Scottish Isles to John o Groats...back south to Edinburgh and fly home..

The Trans Am has been on my mind the last few weeks... I still provisionally am looking at the summer of 2020..
Most of my mates are tied up with family and work, so I probably will be solo on this trip?

How do you guys find the Trans Am as a solo rider?
Are there any options to join a group for the Trans Am?....without spending an absolute fortune..


Thank you !

Dublin Dave.

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General Discussion / Re: Entire Trans Am Route in one tour?

« on: June 26, 2018, 11:06:54 am »

Okay.. thank u Bike ... Licious ...Babe!!😉😉

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General Discussion / Re: Entire Trans Am Route in one tour?

« on: June 25, 2018, 04:17:19 pm »

Thanks again Pat.. so lots of me time!!🤣🤣

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General Discussion / Re: Entire Trans Am Route in one tour?

« on: June 25, 2018, 04:15:36 pm »

Hi! This summer i am ultra light/ credit card touring.. so it will be all b n b, hotel or hostel...

Next summer.. ideally i would like to credit card tour again.. but i have experience of camping and appreciated the many State Paeks down the West Coast...

I suppose the cons are the extra weight and the energy required to set up and dismantle the tent, pack everything up & also not necessarily getting a great nights sleep...versus a comfy bed indoors!
But there are pros and cons to both!😉😉

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General Discussion / Re: Entire Trans Am Route in one tour?

« on: June 25, 2018, 12:00:03 pm »

Hello again!

Thank you for the feedback ...
I take your point on the heat... on a couple of days last July, I had to cut inland north of the Big Sur...
The temp went up to 43 degrees Celsius... only for a few days and then when I cycled back towards the coast the temp dropped by about 20 degrees C!! It is incredible!

I stayed in a campsite beside Lake Nacimiento... I hid from the heat and my tent was like a sauna & stayed inside in the ac of the restaurant drinking Dr Pepper!

Then on a bike trip down through France two years ago.... a heatwave hit with temps again up into the low  to mid 40 degree celcius.. I made two mistakes... i wore all black gear which seemed to absorb the heat and I didn’t cool my body down in the evening or drink enough water. When I reached Valencia Spain, I was dehydrated and had mild heat stroke...
I have learned since ....


Pat, I also take your point about needing 2/3 days to get back to civilization....

September would be a great time to do this trip I imagine...but being a school teacher July and August are the holidays!!

How are accommodation options on the Trans Am compared with the Pacific coast?
And last question... if I did this alone would I meet other riders or would it be lots of me time?!

Thank you guys!

Dublin Dave

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General Discussion / Re: Entire Trans Am Route in one tour?

« on: June 24, 2018, 03:22:26 pm »

Hi! Thanks again for the feedback...
Yea a x2 month tour sounds doable... it is longe4 than my previous tours which generally ranged from 2,500km - 4000kms...
I think I clocked up 3,400kms on the Pacific Coast last summer...

I like the idea of having the option of flying to the finish or bus// car rental// train... it is nice to have an out..If I took too long...

It’s the Trans Am route the best route across the US?

Are there other slightly shorter alternatives across continental US?

Thanks again!

Dublin Dave.

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General Discussion / Re: Entire Trans Am Route in one tour?

« on: June 24, 2018, 06:05:53 am »

Morning! Thank you for your responses...
I appreciate it!
Yea... 70-90 days might be too long for me....
re the distance.. every day i did a minimum of 120kms... And then every few days i would do over 200kms... I mostly do the whole trip in one go.. i think last summer.. i just stopped for x1 day in San Francisco & then my next stop was in San Diego for a holiday at the end!

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General Discussion / Entire Trans Am Route in one tour?

« on: June 23, 2018, 04:10:49 pm »

Hi!
I hope you are all well.
Last summer I toured from Vancouver down to Imperial Beach in about 25 days.
I really enjoyed it.
This summer the plan is an ultra light tour around the coast of Ireland...

I have been following the Trans Am Bike Race at the moment and like the look of the route...
I have 6-8 weeks free next July and August....
Would this route be do- able in one tour next summer?
I generally do a minimum of 120 km each day and up to 200+ Kms every few days...

Thank you for reading,,

Dublin Dave.

10

General Discussion / Re: Pacific Coast done... where next?

« on: August 12, 2017, 10:56:56 am »

Hi Jamawani!

Thanks so much for the information...
That sounds like a fab route...
I am back in Dublin trying to get over the jetlag ...
I think i would have to get warmer camping gear for this route as i was quite cold in my summer camping gear in Washington & Oregon!

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General Discussion / Re: Pacific Coast done... where next?

« on: August 11, 2017, 02:23:39 pm »

Hey Jamawani!

Yea i find the trips challenging but very exciting..
The route you mention sounds fab...
Have you done this trip before... are there ACA maps for it?

Thanks so much!

Dublin Dave.

12

General Discussion / Re: Pacific Coast done... where next?

« on: August 09, 2017, 07:26:08 pm »

Hey! I work as a teacher... so i have great holidays... but they're July & August!

I would like another trip, maybe a bit shorter than the Pacific Coast... around 1000 miles...
I can cycle up to 180-200 kms in a day but I found about 130kms to be the perfect length of day & on really hilly days, maybe 110-120kms....
I love to cycle in wilderness areas, through State Parks, & real, rural America... i like big cities but dont mind avoiding them altogether while on the bike! I always love quieter roads..

I would love about a 3 week trip....
I can handle temps up to 30- 35 degrees celcius.. but above that i find uncomfortable!!
By the way... all the advice i got on this forum.was spot on!

Dublin Dave.

13

General Discussion / Pacific Coast done... where next?

« on: August 08, 2017, 04:12:57 pm »

Hi there!


So I have finished the Pacific Coast route from Vancouver south to Imperial Beach...
It was a fab trip... i was a bit nervous about cycling in the US, but found the majority of drivers to be polite & careful...
One car came very close to me outside San Fran & a couple of RV's further North...
I found Malibu & Laguna Beach quite stressful with very heavy Summer traffic, kinda impatient drivers & no hard shoulder.. so was glad to get through there..
The toughest day was probably the Lost Coast in California...the climbing was non-stop.. the road surfaces were realllly bad.. potholed & gravel, so more suited to a hybrid/ mountain bike than my roadbike....
The State Parks were fab.. in my opinion, of better quality in Oregon & Wash State than Cali & accommodation options with hotels, motels & Air b n' b were great...

My question is... I have finished this trip & am already looking at my next trip... probably next July... somewhere in the US or Canada...

Can any of you recommend an ACA route to do  after the Pacific Coast?

Thank you!

Dublin Dave.

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General Discussion / Re: Places to stay in Soledad or Gonzales on detour around Big Sur?

« on: July 27, 2017, 06:57:22 pm »

Thanks mate!

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General Discussion / Places to stay in Soledad or Gonzales on detour around Big Sur?

« on: July 26, 2017, 11:37:34 pm »

Hi! I hope you are all well..i am in San Fran & planning my detour around the Big Sur...
I plan on cycling initially to Captalia/ New Brighton State Beach & from there detour south of Salinas-- Gonzales--Soledad-- King City---

I am looking for a campsite/ motel around Soledad but am finding it tricky....
No state parks & most motels are in King City...
Can any of you advise on places to overnight?

Thanks a mil!

Dublin Dave