Messages

1

Routes / Re: PPP Section 1: Buffalo, WY to Gillette, WY: 95 miles with No Services

« on: May 05, 2025, 10:06:59 pm »

Yes. Water and rest rooms. I stopped there and made my lunch. Had conversations with some folks traveling with a camper and others on motorcycles. And I agree with interstate cycling.

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Bikecentennial / Re: Adventure Cycling Plans for a Party/Event in 2026?

« on: May 05, 2025, 03:41:57 pm »

Following as I am wondering the same.

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Routes / Re: PPP Section 1: Buffalo, WY to Gillette, WY: 95 miles with No Services

« on: May 05, 2025, 03:38:53 pm »

I rode that section 2 yeas ago on my cross US.  I had a broken spoke on the drive side rear wheel with no way to remove the cassette, so needed to get to  bike shop as soon as possible.  I used i90 to get to Gillette.  It was also a bad weather day with rain, hail, lightning, wind.  I was lucky in that the entire right lane of 90 was closed for construction so had no traffic.  I used i90 3 times on my ride.  I had always thought riding on the internet was crazy, but in reality the shoulders are typically very wide.  If you can stand to noise of passing vehicles it is not so bad assuming you just need to get someplace fast and are not interested in smelling the roses.

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General Discussion / Re: Seeking Trans/Am or Great American Rail Trail Group/Partners

« on: February 15, 2025, 10:37:46 am »

My road routes east of the Columbia. Listed in reverse order from my west to east trip. https://ridewithgps.com/trips/124159131
https://ridewithgps.com/trips/123968381
https://ridewithgps.com/trips/123768469
https://ridewithgps.com/trips/123724759
https://ridewithgps.com/trips/123660334

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General Discussion / Re: Seeking Trans/Am or Great American Rail Trail Group/Partners

« on: February 14, 2025, 06:19:03 pm »

The so-called great American rail trail is probably good for a cross-country bicycle ride. There are gaps, which, if you get a close look at a map, are easily traversable by alternate roadways that are safe, and they cut miles off the 3700. The gaps and short sections are sometimes out of the way. Skip those places and keep going in your cardinal direction. You can cut 400 miles off that 3700 doing that.

I rode 2023 Seattle to Delmarva Peninsula (Maryland) using the GART and ACA routes TA, L&C, and PPP in combination with RAGBRAI and some of my own additions.  I have also used the GART my home to Iowa in 2021.  East of the Mississippi the GART is probably 60-65% rail trail.  The trickiest part to connect one trail to another is leaving Pennsylvania and traversing through the WVa panhandle.  otherwisw there are plenty of less busy roads along the way.  As you say, Washington and Idaho are really the only areas covered by the GART out west. And unless you like to ride very rough gravel the trail east of the Columbia River to Idaho is best ridden on roads, which are not busily trafficked.

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Connecting ACA Routes / Re: How to connect Transamerica (west) with Great America Rail Trail (east)

« on: February 09, 2025, 08:47:33 am »

This is an old post but here is how I connected the Great American Rail Trail to ACA TA/L&C/PPP routes (and included RAGBRAI 2023):    https://ridewithgps.com/collections/2331277

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Connecting ACA Routes / Re: Connecting Trans Am (Yorktown) to Delmarva

« on: February 09, 2025, 08:36:54 am »

This is an older post but here is my plan for a route York Town to Virginia Beach and the Bay Bridge Tunnel/Delmarvahttps://ridewithgps.com/routes/47877522?privacy_code=0Sj3a5tECL5CKRbQC8KdGCfFirlfYcF2

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Routes / Re: Lewis and Clark or Parks, Peaks, Prairies

« on: January 05, 2022, 07:04:18 pm »

Thank you.  This are great links!

9

Routes / Re: Lewis and Clark or Parks, Peaks, Prairies

« on: January 04, 2022, 06:44:00 pm »

"You don't tell us much about yourself.
I'm not sure if you are a newbie with long-distance touring.
I don't think you have much experience in remote parts of the West.
I also noticed that firt you were looking at BR66 then the Western Express."

I am fairly new to touring, east coast and mid west so far.  Not been out west.  And yes I am looking at all options as I plan.  I'll be riding Surly Ogre with 29x2.5 tubeless in the west if I stick to the P&C and other trails as outlined on the GART.  I would then swap them out for 28X2 in Iowa for the remainder of the ride.

10

Routes / Re: Lewis and Clark or Parks, Peaks, Prairies

« on: January 04, 2022, 06:34:21 pm »

Why not the P&C east of the Columbia?

11

Routes / Re: Palouse to Cascades Trail West of Ellensburg

« on: January 04, 2022, 11:39:52 am »

Following

12

Routes / Lewis and Clark or Parks, Peaks, Prairies

« on: January 04, 2022, 11:33:58 am »

Looking for information to decide between Lewis and Clark or Parks, Peaks, Prairies routes headed east from Missoula area.  Planning on a W to E ride starting in Seattle and using the Great American Rail Trail to Missoula with the objective of getting to Iowa for RAGBRAI. Would be leaving early June.  Thanks.

13

General Discussion / Re: Is a TransAm Ride Coast-to-Coast

« on: December 28, 2021, 09:39:35 pm »

"Getting to the ocean from DC isn't easy.
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge doesn't allow bicycles.
There is no public transport and the private shuttle is expensive.
Plus, the various route options have heavy traffic.

An alternative is Point Lookout State Park on Chesapeake Bay.
The passenger boat connections via Smith Island are iffy.
And Covid may have put them permanently out of business.
But if your group is willing to pay - it's a great way across the Bay."

Getting from DC to the Eastern Shore can be tricky but from DC to Annapolis there are a number of trails and back roads that are not bad. From Annapolis getting across the Bay Bridge you may be able to hitch a ride, but that is the trickiest part.  After that getting to the ocean is easy on back roads.  You can take Rt 50 as it is a designated bike route but it is extremely busy and I would avoid it.

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General Discussion / Burely Django, Hepcat for touring

« on: August 03, 2019, 11:54:10 am »

I am interested in a cross US ride and am deciding on a bike.  I have ridden bents for 14 years and have 4 I could use.  The trike is not an option and is used for short rides with no gear.  The RANS F5 is comfortable but only accommodates 650 skinny tired wheels.  The Schlitter Encore is a possibility but I would have to have beefier wheels and probably pull a trailer.  The most obvious choice would be the Burley Django as is it comfortable and fairly compact, however would require carrying spares for different sized front and rear wheels.  I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has used a Django or Hepcat for long touring.  My other choice is to purchase a more upright diamond frame but would rather put that money into the trip then into a new bike.

15

Routes / Re: Rte. 66 or Western Express

« on: March 29, 2019, 05:28:22 pm »

Thanks.  The is the sort of information I am looking for.  With such long distances between towns, is it kosher to stealth camp midway?  Is this all desert?