Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Fears for the Future of Adventure Cycling

« on: July 22, 2025, 09:08:44 pm »

The charging needs of eBikes does make one less self-sufficient but it it still possible to do road tours on them without vehicle support.

Agreed.   My wife's bike last summer cross country was a Specialized Vado SL and we were self sufficient.   We brought 4 small bottle cage extender batteries.  She never used more than 3, and one day was 75 miles and 5000+ feet of climbing in Wyoming.  Not all ebikes would work for that ride, of course, but more and more are available that could.   

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General Discussion / Re: Fears for the Future of Adventure Cycling

« on: July 13, 2025, 07:55:21 am »

What time of year?  It's quite possible that you ran into people participating in the race. 

Our route was E to W, 4400 miles over 4 months, with a 2 week children/grandchildren break.  I can be more specific if needed, but we saw 3 or 4 TransAm nonstop (?) racers in Kansas on the TransAm route, and we met 2 or 3 GDMBR riders in Colorado. 

We chatted with every WarmShowers host we met, of course, and several out west mentioned they were getting more Divide riders than TransAm.   I would not expect racers on either route to use WarmShowers, but not asked.

I'm aware the building in Missoula is more than just an office, but it's raision d'etre is as an office.   Converting to a hostel would not be free but would make more sense to me if not to others.

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Mid-Atlantic / Re: C&O Canal Bike tour in June 2024?

« on: July 09, 2025, 05:07:43 pm »

This is now an old post, so hopefully you've already done this trip and had a good ride

If still looking, though, here's another place you might post:

https://bikepacking.com/basecamp/ride-rendezvous/

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General Discussion / Re: Fears for the Future of Adventure Cycling

« on: July 09, 2025, 12:38:28 pm »

My wife and rode cross country in 2024, starting in Rehoboth Beach, DE and parts of the Eastern Express route to Kansas, then Trans Am to Astoria OR, although jumping to the Divide Route where feasible (38c tires).   Original trans Am route needs a bunch of changes, imo.   There were WAY more people on the Divide route, or so it appeared, and they were self supported for the most part. 

I ran a small business for 40 years, and I have done self supported touring for longer than that.  They need a third party to do surveys of past, existing and potential customers.  In business, if you only survey current customers in bad times, you will find that the "only customers you have left like you", and pat yourself on the back as you fail.  ACA needs to understand what each of these customer groups likes and doesn't like.   And then they need to make whatever changes are called for, or fold up their tent.

I am ambivalent about the building.   Office buildings are dinosaurs .  We rode into Missoula on a weekend, and it was closed.  It would be cool if it were converted into a bike hostel, but not sure it would break even.   

5

General Discussion / Re: Bike 'friendliness' of US hotels?

« on: November 05, 2024, 09:55:53 am »

Googling "hotel Patel USA", I see numerous sources claiming that Patels own about half of all US motels.   I had no idea.

6

Gear Talk / Re: EBike cross-country experience

« on: October 09, 2024, 06:32:28 am »

Thanks, Maverick.  She never would have tried on an "acoustic" (non-electric) bike.  She is justifiably proud and amazed to have ridden 4400 miles cross country now, including the usual, numerous mountain passes.  It was a great experience for both of us. 

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General Discussion / Re: Bike 'friendliness' of US hotels?

« on: September 05, 2024, 10:57:43 am »

I've only had issues on rare occasions (2/150??), despite letting them know we have bikes.   If it was a rainy day, I ask for old towels and dry off outside first.   Chain hotels often keep towels at registration for this if on a bike route. 

OTOH, many times (esp Best Western), we were initially assigned the pet-friendly room which smells like urine, or the room that was used by smokers, and then we insist on a new room.  With one exception, all sheepishly give us a different room.   

8

General Discussion / Re: Most dangerous roads

« on: September 05, 2024, 10:48:06 am »

I did not like sections of US 56 in Kansas that had no shoulders.  Commercial truckers we're cautious and gave us room, but cattle trucks were inches away - very hard to hold a line when cross wind from the right.

US101 in Oregon was not as bad as I was told, except lots of bridges (and one tunnel) with little to no shoulder, all on curvy sections.   This was weekdays, and I'm told weekends are far worse on 101.

Rt 9 North of Hartsel CO was bad.  191 South of Old Faithful was scary in the afternoon, especially on descents. 

In all cases, volume of traffic is big part of the equation.  If we rode "off" hours (eg, very early on weekends), no big deal usually. 

I don't think we rode any of these in the rain, and going west bound avoided sun in the eyes of drivers, so it could have been worse. 

9

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

« on: August 29, 2024, 07:46:57 pm »

Mainline is largely inaccessible and rough gravel, so NOT a good idea

10

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

11

Routes / Re: Willamette Valley short cut on old TA route?

« on: August 24, 2024, 10:38:18 pm »

Thanks, and you're right, Peoria Rd and Coburg Rd were both quite pleasant.

Not remarkable, but traffic was not bad and there was a modest shoulder.

North of Corvallis, 99W was very busy and unpleasant.  There is a very generous shoulder on 99W, which narrows to 12" to 18" at bridges, which was scary in heavy traffic since some idiots drive partly on the shoulder.  We bailed off 99W eventually to Helmick Rd which has no shoulder but no real traffic either, so wayyyyyy nicer, IMO. 

12

Routes / Re: Willamette Valley short cut on old TA route?

« on: August 23, 2024, 01:53:44 pm »

Thanks, John, we'll likely try it and report back when possible.

13

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

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Routes / Re: Sisters to Salem?

« on: August 08, 2024, 09:24:46 am »

Excellent summary of options, jamawani, thanks

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Routes / Re: Sisters to Salem?

« on: August 06, 2024, 10:22:30 am »

Good info, thanks. 

I love descents, but gravel in the shoulder of corners seems to be common and does make me nervous.  Once upon a time, I wiped out in Afton, VA - just road rash but the cookie lady was unnerved by all my bleeding.