Topics

1

Routes / Lewis and Clark "Mainline" versus road - TA

« on: August 28, 2024, 03:56:16 pm »

Riding up from Cannon Beach to drop our bikes off for shipping in Astoria, tomorrow, and wondered why the TA avoids the paved bike trail labeled Lewis & Clark Mainline (looking at RWGPS with the Streets background layer).   Looking at google streets view, I see barriers set to stop cars and signs warning about no motorized vehicles, but it looks ok for bikes.   Turning on heat maps, more people bike on the road than the trail, but some ride the trail.

Not sure if anyone had more intel or not.  Not very important, but I am inclined to try the trail.

Matt

2

Routes / Willamette Valley short cut on old TA route?

« on: August 23, 2024, 11:55:08 am »

Thinking of cutting 11 miles off tomorrow on tour from Eugene to Monmouth OR by taking what may be the old TransAm route if I understand OSM maps.   Following official TA route to Coburg, then staying on Coburg Rd to Harrisburg OR, and then taking Peoria Rd to Peoria OR.  Not a lot of services, but some in Harrisburg.   Seems to be paved per google street view with small shoulders, and should be reasonably low traffic as it is not a state highway. 

Any issues with this? 

Matt

3

Routes / Sisters to Salem?

« on: August 04, 2024, 01:11:55 pm »

Probably not taking this route, but wondered if anyone has taken US 20 and OR 22 from Sisters, Oregon to Salem, Oregon.   

Thanks, Matt

4

Routes / Oregon fires

« on: July 30, 2024, 04:37:25 pm »

Trying to think about alternate routes if we get threatened by fire in the coming weeks.  We are hopeful to get to Baker City OR in mid-August on TransAm (riding west).  Looking at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov, I see a couple large "incidents" south of Baker City that are currently about 50% "contained." 
 
I see the forum for temporary road closures, and I will check that as we go.  As an exercise, I wondered what I would do if we got Halfway, OR and could not get to Baker City due to fire.  I see that a more northerly route from Halfway would land us on NFS roads from Halfway to Medical Springs (https://ridewithgps.com/routes/47804844 ) - yuck as fire roads can be very difficult due to unknown conditions (soft, washboard, steep, washed out, no longer there, all of the above).   Two days ago, we bumped along a reasonably decent dirt road from Twin Bridges to Melrose, MT.   It was all washboard, but not washed out, and annoying after a couple hours, let alone all day (38c tubeless tires).

Any advice here?   Get some masks at a hardware store?   

5

Routes / Montana 43 construction

« on: July 30, 2024, 11:11:05 am »

Fyi, east of Wise River on 43, there is a one way stretch on 43 that is being repaved.  It's one way and about 7-8 miles long.   Once you get a green light, you will deal with construction trucks and other traffic.  Not enjoyable as lanes are tight.  We stopped and got off road a few times when trucks roared by. 

We rode this yesterday on our way to the Pioneer Scenic Byway, a detour on our Trans Am ride.  Nice road, but a big climb.  Saw firefighters on the Scenic Byway, but no obvious fires on the road.

FYIO

6

Gear Talk / EBike cross-country experience

« on: June 28, 2024, 11:29:15 am »

My wife is currently riding an ebike across the country with me, west bound from Rehoboth Beach DE to Astoria OR.  She has a Specialized Vado SL that is a couple years old (frame is carbon, I see they switched to aluminum in latest versions), and I have a Salsa Cutthroat (non-electric).  We are currently taking a break until 8 July to see kids and grandkids, having left our bikes at Cove Bike and Ski in Dillon CO for service while we drive to Boulder for family.   We recently rode over Hoosier Pass to get to Dillon, but our trip is not over.  I feel confident that we can make it to Astoria 'if the creek don't rise'.  At our age (66 & 68), arthritis and other things are a problem (esp for me), but I will skip that discussion and focus on the ebike. 

My wife's Vado SL (33# empty) can carry extender batteries in std Specialized bottle cages, so we carry 4 of those (I carry one of them on my Cutty).  Typically, she uses 2 or 3 extenders if mountainous, having set the controls to use extenders first, and typically the main battery is over 50% at end of the day.  We anticipate using 4 extenders in Wyoming.  Using extender first supposedly is bad, but battery health is over 90% after 2 years of use, and seems necessary for highest capacity with multiple extenders, even if battery health declines a bit.   BLEVO phone app is good for seeing data on batteries (e.g, tells you if firmware needs updating) - Specialized app is not as forthcoming.   We carry 2 charger bricks so that all batteries can be charged in a few hours every night.  We stay at motels or warm showers (no camping) and have not charged during the day so far.   Carrying extra batteries is heavy, but it is analogous to carrying gasoline for a car trip thru the desert.  It is definitely extra weight but the extra power dwarfs the weight issue.   

We tested multiple battery strategies in 3 different short tours the year prior to starting across the US on Skyline Drive in Virginia, trails to DC and Pittsburgh and back, as well as across Florida.   I changed some eqpt on the Vado (racks, fenders, brakes, chainring) in that period.  All but the chainring we considered to be essential.  The stock rack bent under wear of a test tour so I went with old main mountain (OMM) front and rear which required removing rear fender/light combo.  I added PDW metal fenders (bent them to fit in fork) which gives her much more clearance to tires in case of mud.  Including batteries, she is carrying 40-45 lbs I think.   We will see once the bikes get weighed in Missoula.

My wife's FTP is about 50 watts, and we set the 3 levels of support at max of 80W, 120W and 240W.  As you may well know, you get a lot more miles out of low power level than high, so "miles per battery" rating is highly dependent on user and terrain and temperature (below 40F, you get less capacity).  She would not be this tour without the ebike, which allows her to go the same speed as me which is pretty great.  While throttle type ebikes ridden at 30 mph may lead most of us to curse ebikes as a group, my wife's ebike has been an enormous blessing for her which is wonderful to see.

Matt Dwyer

7

Routes / Eads CO to Sugar City

« on: June 16, 2024, 08:49:42 am »

Any food, water, or restrooms in the 56 miles between Eads CO and Sugar City CO on the TransAm?

I assume not, sadly, but correct me if wrong.  Riding that this week.

8

Routes / TA Addenda - Bazine, KS Lodging

« on: December 21, 2023, 06:49:19 am »

GPX file for Bazine says 2 COL's, "Elaine's Bicycle Oasis" and "David LaRocque’s home"

Online addenda for Map 86 says "(Jun 2023) In Bazine, there is Cyclists Only Lodging available: Roomy Bazine Home, from junction of SR 96 and Main St. 3 blocks S., call or email ahead...."

Does this mean that the two listed in the GPX file are closed now, or is this an additional spot?   

Thanks,
Matt

9

Routes / Teton Pass from Jackson

« on: December 15, 2023, 07:29:50 pm »

I see the 4 mi climb from the Snake River to the top of Teton Pass is fairly steep for that length.

If you've ridden it, how did it compare to other TA climbs.  It appears to be steeper than most, or maybe even all, other very long climbs (excluding hills here).

Since I have questioned grades in another thread, if you have ridden it and recorded your ride, I'd be curious to know how it went. 
 

10

Routes / Ride with GPS elevation errors

« on: December 14, 2023, 06:52:01 am »

I rode DC to Pittsburgh this fall and I had planned each day's ride on RWGPS. 

I have often used this tool around our home and it seemed to pretty fairly show grades and elevations.  However, it showed crazy grades on this tour.  On the segment from Cumberland to Hancock on the GAP rail Trail, it claimed the max climbing gradient was 13%, and said total climb would be nearly 3000 feet.  No no no....  Not sure what it should be, but Strava did not agree at the end of the day, for example.  At all

It makes me wonder as I work on a cross country plan partly relying on this tool....

11

Routes / TA - Kansas US 54

« on: December 10, 2023, 06:08:11 pm »

Looking at street view of US 54 thru Kansas as I plan our 2024 WB tour, and I see it often features the horrible rumble strips in the middle of the road, which make trucks and cars pass too close, imo.   Speed limit is 65mph.   On street view, I see some areas have large gravel shoulders which may be rideable instead of the paving.   Our bikes are set up for gravel roads, and we are used to them as well.   Of course, we could detour more difficult segments as well, moving onto parallel gravel roads and then coming back for services.  Or I can just suck it up and ride it, unhappily, but not sure my wife can do it safely for very long, which may be a problem. 

Street view - https://www.google.com/maps/@37.9202313,-95.5243375,3a,90y,124.18h,92.68t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1ssICuodDNA5B-jkxl2On1iA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

Conditions vary of course, for example...
some gravel shoulder: https://www.google.com/maps/@37.8103858,-96.4036432,3a,75y,297.89h,87.21t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sB6JjS9GgnSRtZ_3lTt2CWw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DB6JjS9GgnSRtZ_3lTt2CWw%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D0.33314514%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

I am currently routing us via Katy Trail to Iola and then US54 to the TA.   So about 80 miles on 54. 

If you have ridden this, let me know what you think. 

Matt

12

Routes / Trans Am Rockies Camping - Bears?

« on: December 08, 2023, 12:10:43 pm »

Are bear canisters used/required/wise for the TA in the Rockies?   I would guess that Yellowstone is the most likely problem area, but not sure.  Seems like most CG are very near paved roads on the TA, but not sure if that has proven to be adequate to discourage bears.  I know some CG provide storage spaces.

So, basically, should anyone riding the TA usually bring canister for these sections if they intend to use campgrounds?  I don't think hanging food is normal anymore, although I have done that. 

Thanks,
Matt

13

Routes / TA to/from Boulder

« on: August 09, 2023, 06:03:18 am »

In 2024, planning on riding a cross country tour, mostly featuring Trans Am.  Possible time in Boulder CO for family reasons, and wondered if anyone had advice on ways to get from the TA to Boulder and back?

I see this question was asked in 2006 without replies.  I am wondering what roads are like for riding from Breckenridge or Pueblo to Boulder, or if I should look for outfitters to get a lift($?).

I'm live in Virginia, so I'm used to having route choices but small roads not so common out West I realize.  Probably riding 40 mm tubeless tires or 44's, so gravel/dirt is not terrible. 

14

Routes / Mid Atlantic Short Route Detour

« on: October 25, 2022, 07:32:48 am »

On the Mid Atlantic Short Route, info correctly notes that Whites Ferry is closed.  It has been closed for over one year and reopening seems unlikely in near term as there is a legal dispute. Google has ignored my edit to show it as closed as of this writing

I have a detour that you may wish to reference which two warmshower's guests said worked well.  It does include some gravel, but not a lot.  It's my backyard, so I know a zero gravel version and big gravel version as well, but this one is good for range of bikes, imo. 

Here is a link to it for consideration: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40195976

15

Routes / Florence to Astoria

« on: August 14, 2022, 08:37:58 pm »

Planning WB trip that may go thru Eugene OR on the Trans Am.  I see main ACA route to Astoria, but we're contemplating a detour to Florence, and going up the Pacific Coast trail as an alternate route (still going to Astoria).

I see many comments about the wind along the coast, and I see data on that, backing up the stories (https://weatherspark.com/y/420/Average-Weather-in-Cannon-Beach-Oregon-United-States-Year-Round#Figures-WindDirection).

Other than wind, what are the prime considerations on choosing between these 2 routes?