Messages

1

Routes / seeking routing suggestions for Southern Illinois loop trip

« on: September 27, 2023, 03:15:12 pm »

Seeking routing suggestions for Big Rivers ride in Southern Illinois. My tentative route:

Start in Carbondale.
South on EITHER Route 127 or Route 3 to Cairo (which is better?)
Ride along Ohio River (Routes 37/45) to Metropolis
Ride along Ohio River north (Routes 146/1) via Cave in Rock Park to Golconda, Shawneetown
Return to Carbondale via Route 13 or any better local roads to the north of it

This is from the 1969 American Youth Hostel Atlas!

Seeking scenic, low-volume roads. Any alternatives/suggestions would be welcome. Also, any sense of terrain.
 

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Gear Talk / Re: Expeience with Panaracer Gravel King Plus for tubeless touring?

« on: September 17, 2023, 04:42:50 pm »

Actually no. I tried to get a Schwalbe One tubeless but the max width was 700 28CC. They make the Almotion tubeless in 35 CC. Experience?

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Gear Talk / Expeience with Panaracer Gravel King Plus for tubeless touring?

« on: September 16, 2023, 05:56:18 pm »

Going tubeless. Do not appear to be Schwalbe options in 700 cc/35 tubeless tires. Bike shop is pushing Panaracer Gravel King Plus. Experience? My criteria is flat protection and difficulty mounting where necessary.  Do you carry folding tires in remote region as backup?

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Routes / seeking route advice for biking in western Texas NOT on US 90

« on: August 29, 2023, 08:27:00 pm »

Doing a loop cycling tour starting and ending in Del Rio, TX. I will ride the Southern Tier route from Del Rio to Marfa. Seeking advice/experience on eastward routing return options. Tentative route: 

--North to I-10 via Fort Davis
--I-10 to Fort Stockton
-- US 385, Texas 305, US 190 to Iraan
--US 190 to Eldorodo
--US 277 to Del Rio

A bit worried about the 90-mile ride from Sonora to Del Rio, as it looks rather desolate.

Would appreciate any suggestions on the above, and better alternatives (sorry, fixed on the Del Rio loop concept) and on what to expect re elevation gain, amenities (most likely few if any) AFTER US 90 What about the riding conditions on the non-interstate US highways?  For those riding on I-10, have you had problems re flats from blown up tire steel pieces?  Going in late October/early November. Looks like mixed wind direction, decent temps. Finally, does anyone know of any repair options should that be needed - can't find any bike shop or equivalent beyond Del Rio.

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Routes / Re: Dogs on the Southern Tier Route

« on: August 29, 2023, 08:22:11 pm »

I've ridden stretches of the Southern Tier without any problem. However, I noticed several people complaining about US 90 in Western Texas, in forums on Crazy Guy.

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Routes / Re: Seeking advice on riding Florida's northeast coast

« on: March 01, 2023, 11:16:10 pm »

Thanks, Carla. Funny, I used to check with state biking coordinators back in the day but got out of the habit in favor of shops, clubs and forums.

I'm leery about bicycling in Florida having given my experience cycling from Miami to Key West along the Overseas Heritage Trial. You my recall that we spoke about this. I already have East Coast map 7 from that trip and just ordered map 6. Seems that the infrastructure should be sufficient to make a go of this.

Phil Blumenkrantz

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Routes / Seeking advice on riding Florida's northeast coast

« on: February 24, 2023, 09:14:17 pm »

Seeking feedback on biking Florida Route AIA from south of the Georgia state line to Daytona Beach, using Jacksonville and DeLand Amtrak stations to get to and from my home in the Northeast. Particularly would like assessments on riding A1A - safety and ride worthiness generally. My wife is somewhat traffic adverse. Probably in mid-April.Would need to connect via spurs to and from train stations. Could alternatively do some kind of loop via the St. John's River/AIA, with Jacksonville and Palatka, as north and south termini.

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General Discussion / Re: Best book you've read on bicycle travel

« on: December 16, 2021, 04:39:14 am »

The Barbara Savage book (I just turned my head and there it is on my shelf) and Over the Hills by LA Times writer David Lamb The latter was truest to some of my own experiences, and spared us of the hubris. https://www.amazon.com/Over-Hills-Midlife-America-Bicycle/dp/0812925793

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General Discussion / Re: Riding Yellowhead Highway in British Columbia

« on: December 16, 2021, 04:29:34 am »

Thanks both of you, both for the facts (traffic levels, topography) and advice re TOD, to which I need to give greater consideration. I agree it is in part a matter of comfort level. I have some long-distance experience (plus live in Philadelphia where I am quite used to sharing the road, though in an urban context), but not as much as either of you. Interesting observation about RVs vs the professional drivers. Biking up US 83, which is a principal N-S US corridor, I recall feeling uncomfortable with 18-wheelers but came to realize these folks knew what they were doing. The danger was more my overcompensating and riding off the shoulder.

As to rain, this trip will make up for my most recent trip through Death Valley National Park, which gets an average two inches of rain a year. 

I am kind of set on east to west, perhaps despite my better judgement. I like to save the best (Skeena River plus the Inside Passage Ferry) for last. Hard to get pumped for the Vanderhoof-Prince George ending. I may regret that re winds but they sound manageable.

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General Discussion / Re: Riding Yellowhead Highway in British Columbia

« on: December 14, 2021, 06:02:12 pm »

Thanks, John. I think I needed to hear that. Context. You are right about the majority of posters; I tend to give those screaming the loudest disproportionate influence. I have ridden numerous places with ZERO shoulders and with good riding sense, have lived to tell the story. There are excellent sight lines in this case. I'm going.

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General Discussion / Re: Riding Yellowhead Highway in British Columbia

« on: December 14, 2021, 04:18:51 pm »

Thx, guys. I checked out Dfege's journal, as well as other Crazy Guy journals. The problem section appears to be Prince George to Vanderhoof - too narrow for bikes and a gravel shoulder that is not rideable. One guy calls it a "highway of horror." I hate for that 60 miles or so to kill what sounds like an otherwise scenic trip, particularly if I take the Inside Passage ferry to Port Hardy and continue down Vancouver Island. I checked out VIA but it is not currently accepting bikes- period- on this route. Maybe I can catch a ride from someone for Day 1 (or just bite the bullet). The remainder of the ride sounds great, particularly along the Skeena. John, Alaska to Vegas sounds awesome.

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General Discussion / Riding Yellowhead Highway in British Columbia

« on: December 11, 2021, 12:50:49 am »

I am thinking of cycling east to west in British Columbia from Prince George to Prince Rupert. Seeking advice/experience on:

Road shoulders/condition - I have heard that shoulders are very narrow or even broken up in places.
Prevailing winds
Difficulty - Only long stretch appears to be between Terrace and Prince Rupert. Grade?
Insects- are black flies/mosquitos a big problem. Bears?
Are there any/many repair shops?
Any other general advice as in is this ride worth doing, would be appreciated!
Going in July or August.

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Routes / likely winds/wind direction in late March/early April in Florida keys

« on: February 23, 2021, 02:02:04 am »

Planning on cycling from Florida City or Homestead to Key West and return in late March or early April. Any experience/advice on likely wind strength/conditions. Will be a factor in how many days I separately allocate for out and back.

Also, can you recommend a good starting point south of Miami (for instance Florida City?). Is there a bike path/lane the entire route and if not, safe riding?

I noticed lots of ride accounts - any recent or relatively recent recommendations?

Thx

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Routes / cycling in death valley national park, to and from vegas

« on: February 14, 2020, 12:39:02 am »

Guy from Philly planning a solo bike road ride through DV in late March/early April. Would love any suggestions/comments on my planned route: Las Vegas to Pahrump, Pahrump to Amargosa Valley at CA/NV border, Beatty to Stovepipe Wells, Stovepipe to Death Valley Junction, DVJ to Shoshone, Shoshone to Pahrump, return to Las Vegas. Road riding only, no camping, avoiding Furnace Creek cause of $$$. Yes, I'm passing on some of the big Death Valley attractions to keep climbing moderate and avoid backroad riding.

Questions:
--Is there a good one day Red Rocks ride outside of Vegas?
--Am I likely to encounter scorpions/tarantula? (insect phobic)
--Likely wind conditions?
--Are desert thorns a big problem?
-- Recommendations generally?

Thanks!

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South / seeking alternative routes to natchez trace in mississippi

« on: September 18, 2019, 08:47:32 pm »

Bicycling the Natchez Trace from Natchez to Tupelo. Seeking any parallel/alt routes to break up the sameness and take us through some of the small towns we might otherwise miss. Per the map, options would seem to be MS 18 from Port Gibson to Jackson, and MS 15 south of Houston. Suggestions?