Messages

1

Pacific Northwest / Re: Anacortes - Concrete ?

« on: March 09, 2014, 05:59:01 pm »

Another Scot here.

I was there a couple of years ago and would highly recommend the South side of the Skagit River. There was barely any traffic on it. It felt a lt like riding along the Tay in Perthshire.

From Anacortes I'd nip off the main road from Anacortes and head for Mount Vernon. Mostly to have breakfast at the Mt Vernon Cafe on Main St just over the Skagit River bridge.  It's a super friendly old school diner. The guys there showed me an easy ride across town to pick up the road to the South side of the Skagit River just before Sedro Wooley.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/pacificcoastandcascadescircuit

2

Routes / Re: Sierra Cascades or Pacific Coast?

« on: February 04, 2014, 03:31:55 pm »

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/pacificcoastandcascadescircuit

I did half of both a couple of years ago.

I rode the coast route south from Anacortes via the Olympic Peninsula to San Francisco, then I caught the train from there to Klammath Falls and rode north.

I'd say there was more climbing on the coast route with the proviso that the climbs there were generally shorter and steeper. In the Cascades the grades are easier but the climbs are much longer. Remember for every climb there is a downhill.

Riding south on the coast the shoulders are wider on the southbound carriageway closest to the Ocean.

I went late in the year. September was great for the coast, October was pushing it in the Cascades. I had a couple of -10C nights near Crater Lake and I got caught in a blizzard crossing the Blewett Pass in Washington, an experience I don't want to repeat.

Both routes are different in character. You'll see many riders on the coast, you may be lucky to see even a single cyclist in the Cascades on a touring bike.

I loved them both.

3

General Discussion / Re: First tour for Brits in US

« on: October 26, 2012, 08:10:58 pm »

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/pacificcoastandcascadescircuit

Try the Pacific coast or even just a part of it. Check out my blog.

I camped all but my last night in the Cascades after bing caught in a blizzard. No chance of that on the coast. State parks have hiker biker sites, just show up. The Oregon ones all had showers and charged $5 a night, most of the ones in California had showers too, prices were similar. Some in Washington did have showers, sow didn't, they were generally $12 a night.

Check out the other blogs on Crazyguyonabike.com, there is a lot on information there.

4

Routes / Re: What's the latest in the year you would start W-E Trans-am?

« on: January 25, 2012, 07:03:24 pm »

I rode the TransAm E 2 W in 2011. We met one guy headed east towards the end of August when we were four days from Florence on the Pacific . He was the last east bound rider we met.  The express route will be different though.


 Folks we spoke to in Wyoming were expecting snow at higher elevations by mid September. Colorado is higher still and further away.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/8912

5

Routes / Re: UK Rider. Recommendations.

« on: January 22, 2012, 04:18:34 pm »

I'm a Scot who rode the TransAm last summer, I think the route will be right up your street. I would say that leaving in April you will need to be prepared for poor weather starting on the east coast that early. There may well still be snow on the Colorado and Oregon high passes. Dont ditch tour cold weather gear in Kansas!

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/8912

6

Routes / Re: Transam in Montana: best route...

« on: January 22, 2012, 04:02:41 pm »

Its well worth taking the side trip to visit the ACA. It was one of our Transam highlights.

In mid August 2011 we were diverted off the 93 because of road reconstruction. I dont have my maps to hand, but here is what we did.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=1&page_id=255869&v=aY

Be sure to stay at the biker spot in Twin Bridges as was said above.

The route over the Big Hole Pass is spectacular.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/8912

7

Routes / ACA Sierra Cascades route - will campsites still be open in Sept -Oct?

« on: January 22, 2012, 03:54:03 pm »

I'm still pondering my trip for this autumn. I'm thinking along the lines of riding down the Pacific Coast possibly from either Portland or Sedro Wolley to San Francisco, then catching the train up to Klamath Falls,OR to return North on the ACA's Sierra Cascades route.
I've been caught out in Oregon after Labour day when a NFS campsite was closed down for winter. Will this be typical along the SC route through OR and into WA? If so what other camping alternatives will be out there?

8

General Discussion / Re: TransAmerica 2012

« on: January 16, 2012, 05:49:20 pm »

Great photos on the blog

what camera did you use?   

Thanks, just a cheap £100 Panasonic Lumix compact.

9

General Discussion / Re: TransAm. Knott County Historical Society B&B is Open

« on: January 12, 2012, 05:23:19 pm »

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/8912

Yep + 1

David is an awesome host, and great source of route information. It was our best value overnight stop last year.

10

General Discussion / Re: TramsAm: Rainy days?

« on: January 11, 2012, 04:48:36 pm »

 http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/8912

I rode the TransAm in 2011. We left Yorktown on June 11. We had one shower on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and a couple of hours of rain leaving Hindman KY and an hour or so of rain near Booneville KY. That was the sum total of precipitation.

Edit, we did have a couple of epic overnight storms too, but we were camped under city park pavilions so had no worries.

I packed some arm and  leg warmers,  neoprene overshoes,  an event jacket, and a gilet. I wore my overshoes only once. After Pueblo, we had some very cold early mornings. I had a woolen base layer, and a buff to keep me warm. I mailed home my long fingered gloves. We had a couple of cold mornings in Yellowstone and in Jackson Hot Springs Montana when our tents froze.

Heat and humidity  further east was a bigger issue.

I read journals of folks who left perhaps a month or so earlier than us who had dreadful weather for days on end. It's a lottery I guess. I would caution against riding busier roads in really heavy rain, purely on safety grounds. We switched on our rear blinky lights when visibility was poor.

11

General Discussion / Re: TransAmerica 2012

« on: January 11, 2012, 04:34:24 pm »

Scottybhoy, I rode the  TransAm in 2011  http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/8912

I'm over the Forth near Kirkcaldy. If you need any advice, email me or phone. My mobile is 07834  555 728.

12

Classifieds / Re: Full TransAmerica Bicycle Trail Map For Sale

« on: January 11, 2011, 07:36:08 pm »

I'm also very interested in your maps. Are they for the complete Trans Am route. Virginia to Oregon? If so could you please email me - mcmoonter AT yahoo DOT co DOT uk  thanks, Peter

13

Classifieds / Re: Fs: maps (transAm and complete western express)

« on: January 11, 2011, 07:33:26 pm »

Hi, I cant see a personal message option. Could you email me mcmoonter AT yahoo DOT co DOT uk  thanks, Peter

14

Classifieds / Re: Bob Yak 28 Plus Trailer

« on: December 12, 2010, 02:48:10 pm »

Would you accept $240 delivered?

No rush for postage,

I'm a canny Scot.

You can email me - mcmoonter at yahoo dot co dot uk

Thanks Peter

15

Classifieds / Wanted - TransAm maps Yorktown to Astoria

« on: December 11, 2010, 02:58:22 pm »

I'm a canny Scot looking for a set of maps for the Northern Trans Am route for 2011.

Anyone got a set or part set gathering dust?