Messages

1

Routes / Re: Interstate Alternatives

« on: Today at 01:06:46 am »

In my experience, you are much more likely on interstate shoulders to get flats from the wires from exploded truck tires. They are common, nearly impossible to see, and seldom stopped by even the best tires. Besides, nothing interesting ever happens on the interstate, and interesting things happening are one of the best reasons to tour. Few people do a bicycle tour just to get from point A to point B.

A truck tire exploded in front of me once. It blasted shrapnel wires everywhere. It made one hell of a noise. It was about 200 feet away.

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Routes / Re: Interstate Alternatives

« on: Today at 12:48:08 am »

McDonald's? Motel 6? Muzak? Those are irrelevant to cycling the interstates on the southern tier. McDonald's only in emergency or coffee. Never slept in a motel 6. As for music, each to his own. As for privately owned restaurants, plenty are to be found. Mom and pop for the homey connotation. Nutrition is nutrition. Far better getting it at a real-food store. The interstate route is quite good. It is not perfect. In a world built for motorized transportation, what roads are ideal for cycling safely? Interstates are safer than back roads, highways and byways. Are there drawbacks? Of course there are. Everything has positive and negative values. Personally, I do not allow for being routed onto narrow two-lane roads with trucks and cars tearing along at break-neck speeds. If I had to use such roads I would, but I would not seek them. They cause stress after a while. On an interstate highway with wide shoulders, the chance some distracted motorist would veer into you at the precise point of your location would be almost nil. There were twelve cyclists in Texas recently who might see the point on that. And so would many others if they were alive. I never had any traffic stress on an interstate. I think that is perhaps a main advantage. It is stress-free.

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Routes / Re: Southern Tier- San Diego to El Paso - a few notes from ride just completed

« on: November 28, 2021, 04:59:48 pm »

You are exactly right. The dirt path to the side of the road was better for cycling than The road. You described it perfectly. I know it has a name and the names I gave it Are not fit for publication.

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Routes / Re: Interstate Alternatives

« on: November 26, 2021, 09:23:25 pm »

Kuralt's emotionalism lamenting the demise of small towns bypassed by interstate highways has its place in American nostalgia. Considering the tangible realities of the matter places it opposite of fact. Consider interstate 10. I have bicycled it a few times between Florida and California. Highway 90 west out of Beaumont runs near it. Many small towns are there to see and visit along the way. The I-10 service roads and 90  and other roadways can be cycled all the way from Huston to San Antonio. There are many towns along the way. I-10 going northwest out of San Antonio, TX goes through many small towns. There are hills and mountains and broad vistas, and very wide shoulders in many or most stretches. The climbs are gentler because the road cuts through the hills and does not go over their tops. Look at the map. You will see many interesting small towns along the way. I-10 also takes you to larger cities--- Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, Las Cruces, Tucson. I-8 going west from Casa Grande, AZ has wide shoulders and excellent scenery. You must exit 8 approaching Yuma, AZ.

Going due west from Yuma, unfortunately, puts you on the highway from hell. It is terrible for quite a distance. I did not measure its decrepitude but whatever its distance, it is too far. It smooths out and runs you alongside I-8 to Ogilvy or Ogilby Road. It takes you north to highway 78 where you again go west. Follow my route and you get to Ocotillo, CA. Before getting to Ocotillo there is a worse road from hell. And even along this route there are quite a few cool little towns and agricultural communities.

Going west from Ocotillo, I-8 is a long steep climb to where you must exit to hysterical highway 80. 80 is hilly and a bit rough in places. It is a super highway compared to the fore mentioned roads from hell. It runs along the I-8 corridor. On 80 you can visit a gambling casino. There is the town of Jacumba with hot springs if you can afford it. You will go through the very pleasant little town of Pine Valley. Here is a small restaurant of American nostalgia. I love looking at old photos from the past and memorabilia. Get ready to climb a bit. When you get to Alpine you can get an espresso at Starbucks if it is still there. It on the side of the road in plain sight. After a while you enter the megalopolis and thread your way into San Diego.

When Charles Kuralt said taking the interstate you will see nothing at all, it should be understood for what it was, an emotionalism.

5

Routes / Re: Interstate Alternatives

« on: November 26, 2021, 01:21:54 am »

On one trans continental trip east to west, Florida to California, using Schwalbe marathon tires, I had eight punctures total. That was using the interstates. There was a road that must’ve had many of those little wires on one trip because I had five or six punctures within 5 miles but that was a different matter. That was not an interstate highway that I remember. When it comes to noise, earbuds with music and earplugs eliminate that. When it comes to pollution it is a matter of which way the wind is blowing. If you are going west and the wind is blowing from the north to the south you get no pollution. If it’s blowing from the south to the north then you have to breathe it in. If you are going west and the wind is behind you you will probably not get much pollution at all. And the traffic is not really all that thick and fast until you get nearer the cities. I’ve used interstate Highways quite a few times. They are OK.

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Routes / Re: Southern Tier- San Diego to El Paso - a few notes from ride just completed

« on: November 26, 2021, 01:12:55 am »

The last time I cycled that way I got interstate 10 from VanHorn into El Paso. I went north on side roads to Las Cruces New Mexico. I took interstate 10 West from Las Cruces to Casa grande Arizona. There I got eight interstate eight to Yuma Arizona. After that I went west through winter haven California onto an extremely bad road which brought me to Oglebay which I took north to 78. 78 going west with other roads brought me to Ocotillo California had just before Ocotillo was another very bad road. How to book a TO I got interstate west to hysterical Highway 80 and it took that into Pine Valley and other roads into San Diego.

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Routes / Re: South Louisiana Ride

« on: November 26, 2021, 01:06:47 am »

My first trans continental US tour was the winter of 1984, 85. I took 90 to New Orleans going west. I took 90 W. out of New Orleans. In those days it was OK. Nowadays it is choked with commercial traffic, dirty and littered with all kinds of debris. That is unless they cleaned it the last time I used it. I would not use 90 again. Not in that area anyway.

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General Discussion / Re: First time long distance tour (Knoxville tn- Cincinnati ohio)

« on: November 25, 2021, 01:14:17 am »

Six days for 300 miles is easy. It could be done in four days. Google tells how many hours and days it takes to do certain numbers of miles. How realistic their estimations are may be another matter. It looks like they figure an average speed of 10-12 mph divided into the miles. 100 miles takes 8 to 10 hours. What they cannot predict is lower speeds for mountains and hills, head winds, side winds, rain storms, traffic lights, city riding as opposed to cruising along on open roads, detours and that sort of thing. A cyclist can lose a day when the rain comes down in sheets. An answer is an unknown quantity. Five or six days would be sufficient. Some might do it in three.

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General Discussion / Re: coffee coffee

« on: November 22, 2021, 03:54:12 am »

The Bodun 15 oz travel press plastic mug weighs only 9 oz. Makes good coffee especially for the light weight.

It must be one hell of a device. I saw a man in a campground on the pacific coast route. He had a small espresso coffee brewer. He heated and drank at the table. Later I saw him in a coffee shop, and again in a food store, and again later on. He was cycling the coastal route. I love good rich delicious coffee. Though I would not carry a brewer, it is easy to understand why others would.

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General Discussion / Re: Southern Tier in Winter

« on: November 21, 2021, 07:55:06 pm »

I cycled the southern tier five times, four in winter and one in summer. It was mostly stealth camping and some days in motels. The AC maps tell you where you can camp or rent. Stealthing in some areas is not as simple as it seems. So much land is fenced and posted. In the east there is so much undergrowth there is no room to pitch a tent. There may be space only to string up a tarp and sleep under it.

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General Discussion / Re: ACA Accident

« on: November 20, 2021, 07:34:17 pm »

In relation to road bicycle touring, the most criminal drivers I encountered were in Louisiana. It had to be deliberate. When they pass that closely, within a few inches, over and over again repeatedly, it is deliberate. Now, I live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Road cycling here is risky. The new bike lanes add a margin of safety. They are an after thought. Cycling only two miles the other day, drivers cut me off twice. I was on my legal right-of-way. If I had not some to a halt, they would have hit me. Weeks ago I cycled to Planet Fitness at night. On the way back I was riding in a designated bike lane with an ultra bright white blinking light on the front, and a bright red light on the back. This was in a 45 mph speed zone on University Drive. Two vehicles came up from the rear, weaving in and out of traffic like maniacs, and crossing multiple lanes. They were going 80-90 mph, and blew by me so close I could have reached and touched them.

Occasionally the news here reports people killed while cycling. From what I have seen here, cycling roads is not safe. Florida had a reputation as the "dive or die state" for cycling.

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General Discussion / Re: About trailering one's pet dog while touring?

« on: November 19, 2021, 08:31:44 pm »

There is no way I would take a dog on a long-distance bicycle tour, long distance being maybe transcontinental. What about transportation back from the final destination? The extra weight, extra food and water would be a drag. A small cat would be easier to haul, but why do it? People have done it. From the videos and journals I have seen, I would say trailering a dog is seldom done.

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General Discussion / Re: ACA Accident

« on: November 17, 2021, 06:11:17 pm »

I read more about this. Some people around Houston believe it is acceptable to coal roll cyclists, swerve near them deliberately, and cause dangerous encounters. According to an article, a judge talking about the cyclists said they did not like their kind around there.

14

General Discussion / Re: Best pre-ride supplement?

« on: November 10, 2021, 03:23:56 pm »

Try raisin water. Heat water. Pour it over a bunch of raisins in a glass or jar. Cover the top. Let it set over night or 8 hours. I have not done it yet. I just now read about it.

15

General Discussion / Re: Cooking on the Road

« on: November 10, 2021, 03:20:49 pm »

Nobody should have boiled, foil-packet food on a transcontinental bicycling tour. Long distance hikers must use it because it is light and easily prepared. Cycling cross-country there should be many stores that sell real food. The cyclist should have access to nutritious real food all the time. If the cyclist is on a route that cuts him or her off from proper nutrition repeatedly, they should reconsider their route. Hiker fare is okay in a pinch. It is not good for long term use. In the long run it will bite you in your vital parts.

People eat whatever they want. They are dying by the millions from diseases caused by poor diets and lifestyle. Others are living long healthy lives caused by good proper diets and lifestyle. The long distance cyclist needs fully nutritional food for optimal health and performance.