Messages

1

Routes / Re: Illinois to Idaho

« on: October 26, 2020, 01:35:25 pm »

Thanks BikeliciousBabe,

Yeah where i live (surrounded by corn and soy bean fields) the winds always play a factor in my rides. Recently the crops were taken down an you never realize how much a corn field protects you until its gone. I normally aim to ride against the wind on my way out an ride with it on my way home. Ideally I would rather have tailwinds the entire trip home from this ride i'm planning but I understand mother nature doesnt always play nice. Is there anything along the trip you did or along my path that is a "must see"? I have a wife and children an wont be able to do tons of long trips back to back an would like to get the most bang for my buck.


Christopher

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Routes / Re: Illinois to Idaho

« on: October 18, 2020, 05:44:09 pm »

@bbarrettx

Awesome thank you very much. I have thought of doing Black hills, i'll have to do more research into it. Thanks again

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Routes / Re: Illinois to Idaho

« on: October 16, 2020, 02:05:02 am »

Thank you RetroGrouch and bbarrettx

Thank you so much for the route, i'll have fun looking through it and seeing what i can use. I know i do want to stop in West Yellowstone an stay for a day or two. I have talked to some friends in Spokane Washington that might come visit for a weekend. I still have some months to plan and gather the rest of the gear as well as test it before i do my long journey. Thank you for taking the time to add experience and advice for me. I'm worried about wind more than most things, that can make a great trip into a long long day quick. I will defiantly take going from west to east into consideration.

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General Discussion / Re: Virtual Tours?

« on: October 06, 2020, 02:17:39 pm »

anyone have any links to virtual tours already made up? maybe even have them separated by distance. I have recently slacked in riding, while the weather is turning it would be something nice to motivate myself to get back out there an get a few hundred miles under my belt.

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Gear Talk / Re: 2 wheeled trailer vs 1 wheel

« on: October 06, 2020, 11:14:18 am »

 Thank you canalligators & HobbesOnTour for your insight. I'm not very worried about speed just yet because my first upcoming tour will be on relatively flat ground 99% of it. I am mainly worried about hanging over an rear wheel integrity(being that aggie brought it up) if I switched to a single wheel.

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Gear Talk / Re: 2 wheeled trailer vs 1 wheel

« on: October 03, 2020, 09:58:45 pm »

Thank you very much for your reply Aggie. I did a short test ride around town an had to keep looking back to ensure I still had it on my bike. It is rated to carry 88 pounds but I have no intention of carrying anything remotely close to that. Thank you for your input.

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Gear Talk / 2 wheeled trailer vs 1 wheel

« on: October 02, 2020, 01:57:43 pm »

I recently was gifted a very nice 2 wheeled trailer for my birthday. My wife was trying to show support for my cycling while having no prior knowledge about cycling trailers. Although the trailer is awesome I do worry it’s too wide. Does anyone have experience with a two wheeled trailer vs a single wheeled one? I’m not worried about overpacking, mainly worried about hanging in or off the road. I understand single wheeled trailers follow the bicycles path while a two wheeled ones are on either side. My next tour isn’t for a while so I do have time to exchange it before then. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Edit: not sure if it matters but over winter I plan on buying a recumbent bike. Once I do that the trailer will be used with that.

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General Discussion / Re: Virtual Tours?

« on: October 01, 2020, 07:05:21 pm »

I live in a very rural area in Illinois. Although it is really easy to ride long distances an not have to worry about traffic since i travel by country roads it does get mind-numbing quite quick. I have recently packed a fishing pole in a backpack, bring bait, an only 1-2 hooks. I have been riding a few miles until i find a creek then fish for a little bit then ride to the next. While i don't always get a ton of miles its something to do to keep my mind busy. I look forward to when I can do a long tour(hoping 2021) an can see different parts of this amazing country. I intended to do a ride this year but the virus quickly put a stop to that. I work in the medical field so instead of getting some time off i got more hours than ever.

I find a virtual tour would be neat but I would want control over it in some aspects. I'll definitely have to do more research into them, thanks!

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General Discussion / Re: Are you postponing a tour to 2021?

« on: October 01, 2020, 01:45:19 am »

I debated going on a short one this year but all the campgrounds that i planned on stopping at were closed at the time. From my understanding the county's had a extremely bad spike in Covid cases an closed down for the year. I plan on doing on next year but that could still be changed if Covid is still hanging around.

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Routes / Re: Parks Peaks and Praires ?

« on: September 16, 2020, 07:53:19 pm »

Thank you Dave S and Jamawani

I have been talking to some friends about doing a trip along this route next August, hopefully it wont be unbearably hot or cold. Another concern is Covid 19 an camping locations being open, from my understanding none of the Yellowstone campgrounds are unavailable this year due to covid.

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Routes / Re: Parks Peaks and Praires ?

« on: September 16, 2020, 12:36:41 pm »

I would also like to know this.......BUMP

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Routes / Re: Illinois to Idaho

« on: September 02, 2020, 08:46:02 pm »

I understand I was just throwing it in that I have heard of it also incase I took a route with limited sleeping locations. Thank you for the input though, always appreciated.

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Routes / Re: Illinois to Idaho

« on: September 02, 2020, 11:45:28 am »

Thank you all for your responses. I have done short trips but my dream is to do a long one. I would one day love to do coast to coast but i sadly don't have that type of time. Although my path or even destination might change my training is not =). It might sound crazy but after everything i have been through I kinda feel I have to do this for myself. I was slightly worried about finding places to stay, I have heard of stealth camping but after reading some of these responses I am less worried. I have a majority of the equipment but I haven't decided if I'm doing panniers or trailer. I'm super excited to do this trip an excited to see the blue grass(boise states football field). Again thank you all for your wonderful responses an information. I will look at all routes an try to find what best suits my goal.

Christopher

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Routes / Illinois to Idaho

« on: September 01, 2020, 09:25:54 pm »

First post here

I have always dreamed of doing long distance cycling an I was training a few years ago when I got hurt at work an needed spinal surgery. Three years later an a lot of physical therapy, I'm back.
I plan on taking a trip from Dana, Illinois(dinky little farm town) to Boise, Idaho in late summer/early fall 2021. I am currently training on a treadmill, exercise bike an road bike. The thing I am mostly struggling with is finding a good path. I have looked through several maps but I can't seem to find a direct bike friendly way without going far out of my way. I don't mind riding on rural roads as long as the traffic isn't terrible. I plan on riding around 60 miles per day. I want to ensure i can find a campground or hotel as well as places i can buy water or refill bottles. I understanding finding everything i want wont always be 60 miles or exactly like i want it. Any help would be amazing. I really would love to see Boise but if anyone can recommend other beautiful places around the same distance(1600-2000 miles) i'm open to hearing ideas as well =).


Christopher