Messages

16

Routes / Re: Sierra Nevada Pass Options

« on: April 08, 2009, 05:37:35 pm »

There is Carson Pass, 88 I think, which is guaranteed to be open.  Other than Highway 50 (Echo Pass), it is the only non-interstate I can think of south of Tahoe which is kept open through the winter.  I believe Ebbets Pass, Hwy 4, and Monitor Pass, Hwy 89, are closed for the winter.  Carson Pass is not as spectacular as the other passes, but it is probably a better choice thn 50.  If you're headed further north, I'd consider Beckwourth Pass (Highway 70) as well.  Don't forget that you can check with Caltrans for the current highway conditions and expected opening dates: http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/clsdlst.htm

Sean

17

Routes / Re: should I start my route in portland or san fransisco???

« on: March 20, 2009, 12:31:23 pm »

If you're planning on following either the Transamerica route or the Western Express, leaving from San Francsico will be significantly shorter.  Personally, I would prefer the TransAm route if I had the time because it would be different than my usual rides in California and the Great Basin, and because the weather would be milder.  I don't think there's much difference in the availability of free camping on either route.  The Western Express will have more services and traffic until you reach Fallon, NV, but will then have less than the TransAm.  I have done both of these rides, and I'm struggling a little to pick one route over the other as having more mountains.  The TransAm certainly has more climbing in total, but it is longer.  On average, the Western Express is probably a little more strenuous.

Sean

18

Routes / Re: Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route

« on: March 18, 2009, 04:42:38 pm »

You've got better eyes than me if you can pick out the route on that small map.  I can certainly understand your concerns about 89, but I wouldn't go out of my way to avoid it.  The worst of 70 and 89 is the area right around the junction at Paxton, the rest I think is actually pretty good.  Also, the Davis Bike Club has been sending riders up the Feather River Canyon quite a bit over the past several years, and drivers and truckers in the area have become much more aware of cyclists on the road.  Lower on the canyon, there are now automated caution signs when cyclists are in the tunnels, and this alone is a huge improvement.  If you really want to, I think there are some back roads between Quincy and Taylorsville over China Grade that will bypass that area without heading all the way out to Susanville and the high desert -- although I've never tried them myself.  I'm looking forward to this new route as well.

Sean

19

General Discussion / Re: ‘Camping’: Is it really necessary?

« on: February 20, 2009, 01:55:25 pm »

What experience does anyone happen to have with riding light (personally this is all via mt bike) and just carrying a waterproof bivy and maybe a compact tent in ones pack so as to avoid expensive planned stays?

I've done it.  For short trips during the rain season with a very light load, I'll carry a bivy and a sleeping bag liner rather than a sleeping bag.  Works for me, and everything can fit in a small backpack.  For longer trips I prefer the full load, but it is convenient to just pack a small bag and head out the door for a long weekend.  This set-up has even got me through mild snowstorms.

Sean

20

Routes / Re: Nevada route info.

« on: February 17, 2009, 10:40:23 am »

I would expect those roads to be dirt, and the aerial views seem to confirm that.  My expereince with dirt roads in Nevada is that they are usually quite passable, but expect some sections of deep sand that it's best to ride around if possible.  The sand sections are usually in low spots and can be easily identified once you know what to look for.  Wide tires will be your friend.

Sean

21

Routes / Re: Autumn in Rockies and Sierras?

« on: February 11, 2009, 12:18:05 pm »

I'm not too sure on the Rockies at that time, but the Sierras should be passable.  The first snow in the Sierras usually doesn't come until mid-November or so, but they have seen significant snow as early as October in some years.  Fall in the Sierras is usually pretty nice, but cold and brisk.  I would have no hesitation making the trip.

Sean

22

Routes / Re: Help Me: Advice routes from Boston, Ma to San Francisco, Ca

« on: February 09, 2009, 06:28:28 pm »

I hate to answer your questions with more questions, but please tell us a little more about what you are looking for.  Will this be a self-supported camping trip, a credit card and motel trip, or possibly a SAG supported trip?  Are there any parts of the country you would especially like to see, or maybe skip?  How many miles a day do you expect to ride?  How do you feel about inclement weather?  Will this be a solo trip?

Based on your schedule of 45 days, you will probably have to follow a bee-line route and keep the total mileage to near 3,000 miles.  While the Adventure Cycling routes are wonderful, you will probably have to make your own route for much of the trip.  However, consider using the Western Express once you reach Colorado or Utah; the truth is you'll probably be following it, whether intentionaly or not, by the time you reach Nevada.  For other route ideas, search through the journals on crazyguyonabike.com .  Other resources include some of the older RAAM (Race Across America) routes, and the routes followed by supported tours including The Big Ride, America By Bike, and PacTour.  I think all of these have followed routes close to yours at one time or another.

Leaving in April, be ready for plenty of rain, but you may get lucky.  There is a chance of a late season snow storm in the mountains, but it should be unlikely.

Good Luck
Sean

23

Routes / Re: Long Island to New Hampshire route

« on: February 04, 2009, 02:01:18 pm »

It's been a few years since I was riding in that area, but my memory is that the Bridgeport - New Haven corridor is far worse than the area further east.  Specifically, getting into or out of Bridgeport was a bit of a task.  New Haven actually was pretty nice riding, and the signal that I was finally free of New York.  Usually, I rode on the various smaller roads hugging the coast (I love the shore) rather than US1. 

I have ridden between Springfield and New Haven, not quite sure of the exact roads, but remember it mostly as a dreary ride.  Perhaps there are some nice roads in the area and I just missed them, or maybe I should have stayed little further from the I-91 corridor.  The ride north out of New London was much more to my liking, as was the western part of Connecticut near the Atlantic Coast route.

24

Routes / Re: Long Island to New Hampshire route

« on: February 03, 2009, 01:06:47 pm »

You've got a number of different options.  How long do you want to take, and is there anything you wold like to see on the way?  Of course, the first shoice is how do you want to leave Long Island?  I've done a number of tours from Long Island to various parts of New England, and I can't really say I one way was better than the other. 

One option is to go into Manhattan (I usually cheated and used the LIRR), cross the Geoge Washington Bridge, and ride up the Hudson River Valley.  From Poughkeepsie you can hop onto Adventure Cycling's Atlantic Coast route and follow that to Nashua.  Alternatively, you can stay in the Hudson River Valley past Albany and then cut through southern Vermont.

The other options all involve ferries.  The Port Jefferson - Bridgeport ferry is my least favorite route due to poor cycling conditions around Bridgeport and New Haven, but I've used it a number of times.  More often I've used the Orient Point - New London ferry since I enjoy the ride along the North Fork of Long Island, and love the New London / Groton / Mystic area.  Another choice is to go from Montauk (I usually ride the North Fork and then cross at Shelter Island) to Block Island, and then from there to New London, Point Judith, or Newport.  If you haven't yet been, Block Island is probably worth a trip.  Make sure the ferries are operating during your tour dates, since some of them are seasonal.  Once of the ferry, decide how close you want to go to Boston.  In general I would try to avoid it, but for the easiest (flatest ride) stay close to Narangansett Bay (I prefer cycling on the east side of the Bay rather than the west side), and then thread your way between Worchester and Boston.

Sean

25

Routes / Re: Western Express - in March?!

« on: January 09, 2009, 04:24:42 pm »

Highway 88 is usually kept open during the winter, so you shouldn't have a problem there.  Other roads in the area, such as Highway 89 are closed during the winter and do not open until early summer.  While it should be passable, don't be surprised if you get hit by a heavy snowstorm.  In the Nevada desert, it can get very cold at night in the winter, so bring a good sleeping bag.  Further east, I've run into snowstorms in Cedar Breaks in the middle of summer, so it's always possible.

It will be very early for the trip and will probably take much longer than in the summer, but it should be possible.  Just be sure to stay warm.

Sean

26

Routes / Re: Route help needed Portland OR to Reno NV

« on: January 09, 2009, 04:14:20 pm »

Once you're in California, the terrain is fairly mild.  Even though it looks like you're in the middle of the Sierras, you're actually in the high desert just east of the Sierras.  Off the top of my head, there more significant climbs are just north of Adin, and just north of Susanville. 

Until you reach Susanville and 395, you will be passing through a very sparsly populated area with suffficient, but minimal, service.  The towns called out on the map will usually have little more than a small store, and possibly a cafe.  If you come in late, the stores may be closed.  Gas stations are very infrequent. 

The stretch between Adin and Susanville will probably be the biggest challenge in terms of services, but there are CDF Fire stations (forest firefighters) that you can stop at if you need to refill you bottles.  You can also detour around the west of Eagle Lake to find services there, but a slightly hillier route as well.

South of Susanville on 395, services are more frequent and shouldn't be an issue.

Sean

27

Connecting ACA Routes / Yellowstone to San Francisco route

« on: January 23, 2007, 02:00:30 am »

As a rough guess, I think you have really two main options.  First is to put together a route like Litespeed described: Idaho, Oregon, California.  The other option I see is to head south first, into Utah, and then follow the Western Express or a similar route.  As Litespeed said, you will see many long, lonely stretches of road on this route; and it probably isn't any shorter.  I'm also unsure how to route around Salt Lake City.

Good Luck, sounds like a fun trip.
Sean

28

Connecting ACA Routes / California to Maine Bike Trip

« on: January 23, 2007, 01:54:43 am »

I agree with Fred.  I'm most familiar with the western end of your route and can give you a little advice there.  There are only a few places to cross the COlorado River from California to Arizona, and I think the Southern Tier picked the best choice.  Once in Arizona, head up to the Grand Canyon if you want, but I'd suggest heading back to the middle of the state before getting into New Mexico.  The Navajo Nation in the northeast corner of Arizona has some very interesting and scenic riding opportunites, but very challenging also.  Regardless of what the maps say, it is very desolate and the towns are literally 100 miles apart.  Now you're well into New Mexico and at the edge of my experience.

On the other side of the country, you have many more potential routes.  The Eastern Coast route is a fine choice once you get into New York.  It is a touch to urban for me at times, but not bad.  I've also had fine luck simply picking roads off the map in upstate New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.  As long as they weren't major highways, the riding's been great.

Sean

29

Connecting ACA Routes / Western Express departure to LA?

« on: May 24, 2006, 11:43:27 am »

On my route, I took Hwy 50 west through Gunnison to see a friend, and the on to Montrose.  From there, I headed south on 550 over the "Million Dollar Highway" and three 10,000+ foot passes.  These are the extra climbs that I sought out.  550 dropped me off in Durango, and I headed south west out of Durango on 160, Wildcat Canyon, and 140.  Hwy 140 turns into 170 in New Mexico and I followed it to Farmington.  I took 64 west out of Durango, through Shiprock, and into the Navajo Nation and Arizona.  Just inside on Arizona, I joined up with 160 and continued west through Kayenta and Tuba City.  Instead of heading south down 89 to Flagstaff, I detoured to the Grand Canyon and headed south to Williams before picking up Route 66.

On my route, there were no towns between Shiprock and Kayenta, and again between Kayenta and Tuba City.  Both of those distances are about 100 miles.  Like I said before, there are service stations about every 30 miles, but not much else.  My ride was very hot and mentally taxing.  There was nothing on the horizon except an unendless series of mesas that you must climb and descend.  If I was to do it again, I would strongly consider heading south earlier and avoiding the 4 Corners region completely.

Sean

30

Connecting ACA Routes / Western Express departure to LA?

« on: May 17, 2006, 02:14:28 pm »

Two years ago I rode from Colorado Springs to LA.  The route I took is more direct than the Grand Canyon Connector, but I would hesitate to call it a good route.  You would leave the TransAm around Canyon City and then travel southwest through the Four Corners region and the Navajo Nation.  I threw in some extra climbing that could be avoided in Colorado and took a side trip to the Grand Canyon.  

The Four Corners region is extremely desolate and towns are literally 100 miles apart.  There are occasional service statins between towns, but if I had to do it again, I would re-route slightly in this area.

From the Grand Canyon, I headed south and tried to follow Route 66 the rest of the way.  As much fun as Route 66 was, I think the Southern Tier is a better way to enter Southern California.  From San Diego it's just a quick jog up the coast to LA.

Let me know if you want more details.  I live in Southern California so I can help you out a little bit more on this end.

Sean