46
General Discussion / Re: Average Weight Loss/Gain on Cross Country Tour
« on: August 16, 2022, 06:10:00 pm »
I always gain weight on my trips. Doesn’t matter if I’m on the road for 3.5 months or 10 days. I’ll gain 5-10lbs guaranteed.
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47
General Discussion / Re: GAP and C and O Toe path
« on: August 12, 2022, 02:03:47 pm »Just did both on May 15th with no issues. Paw Paw Tunnel is a painful detour. We took the roads around and it was a tough ride. Those that climbed over the trail bypass said it was horrible with a loaded bike.
How long was the road detour? Would rather do that than walk my bike up the trail. Will the road detour be clearly marked? If not would love to see your route!
48
General Discussion / Re: GAP and C and O Toe path
« on: August 12, 2022, 02:02:28 pm »
We’ll also be riding around the same time.
Arriving into Pittsburgh on 8/31 and departing DC on 9/6. We didn’t want to pay for any hotels on the trip so we have a few short days to avoid that. It works out perfectly because we arrive into Pittsburgh at 5am and depart DC at 4pm so we can ride on our arrival and departure days.
8/31 Connellsville - Hiker/Biker Camp
9/1 Confluence - Outflow Camp
9/2 Cumberland - YMCA
9/3 Hancock - C&O Bicycle
9/4 Harpers Ferry - Huckleberry Hiker/Biker Camp (Side tour of Antietam National Battlefield)
9/5 Swains Lock Hiker/Biker Camp
9/6 DC (Amtrak at 410)
Unsure if we’ll take the roads or trail around the Paw Paw Tunnel detour.
Arriving into Pittsburgh on 8/31 and departing DC on 9/6. We didn’t want to pay for any hotels on the trip so we have a few short days to avoid that. It works out perfectly because we arrive into Pittsburgh at 5am and depart DC at 4pm so we can ride on our arrival and departure days.
8/31 Connellsville - Hiker/Biker Camp
9/1 Confluence - Outflow Camp
9/2 Cumberland - YMCA
9/3 Hancock - C&O Bicycle
9/4 Harpers Ferry - Huckleberry Hiker/Biker Camp (Side tour of Antietam National Battlefield)
9/5 Swains Lock Hiker/Biker Camp
9/6 DC (Amtrak at 410)
Unsure if we’ll take the roads or trail around the Paw Paw Tunnel detour.
49
Routes / Re: Camping on the outer banks?
« on: August 11, 2022, 06:01:12 pm »When I attempted to cycle down the Outer Banks in October 2019 my plans were disrupted by a hurricane, or rather the damage remaining after a hurricane. Something to bear in mind.
My experience (further inland) was that campgrounds closed at Halloween.
I'd suggest contacting campgrounds individually, in advance, if you're depending on them.
Good luck!
Same. I had planned to camp along the coast from Philadelphia to Kill Devil Hills this past May but the Nor’easter that passed through pushed me further inland and eventually was so bad I had to get hotels.
As someone else pointed out, most campgrounds along the route will close for the season before the OP is in the area.
50
General Discussion / Re: Florida State Parks
« on: August 11, 2022, 05:57:31 pm »I am curious as to why at least a tent is normally required. Perhaps for protection from things like snakes and other potentially bitey things?
Tents are required because they forbid folks from sleeping in their automobiles, meaning non-campers. Tents aren’t required for hikers/bikers.
“Normally, a tent is required, but in this case, is waived, as long as the long-distance traveler has a sleeping bag.”
51
General Discussion / Re: Where does the wind blow?
« on: August 11, 2022, 05:50:27 pm »
I use the Windy app. It’s on iOS but unsure if it’s on Android.
I studied meteorology in college and winds are complicated. Prevailing winds blow west to east across the globe due to the earths rotation but, as jamawani pointed out, this doesn’t mean always.
On all of my cross country tours I’ve only gone east to west once and the headwinds were gnarly, especially the closer to the west coast I got. They were barely noticeable during my west to east crossings except in North and South Dakota where the wind blew in every direction at any given time.
The cross winds are what scare me. While crossing a bridge in Maryland on a rather calm day a strong crosswind in excess of 40mph knocked me off of my bike and into the fence separating me from the highway. If it had come from the other direction I may have very well ended up in the bay. I walked my bike the remainder of the way across the bridge after that.
I studied meteorology in college and winds are complicated. Prevailing winds blow west to east across the globe due to the earths rotation but, as jamawani pointed out, this doesn’t mean always.
On all of my cross country tours I’ve only gone east to west once and the headwinds were gnarly, especially the closer to the west coast I got. They were barely noticeable during my west to east crossings except in North and South Dakota where the wind blew in every direction at any given time.
The cross winds are what scare me. While crossing a bridge in Maryland on a rather calm day a strong crosswind in excess of 40mph knocked me off of my bike and into the fence separating me from the highway. If it had come from the other direction I may have very well ended up in the bay. I walked my bike the remainder of the way across the bridge after that.
52
Routes / Re: New ACA Route coming
« on: August 10, 2022, 02:51:19 pm »Back on the original topic: I received the Delmarva maps a few minutes ago.
A couple of things:
1. Camping at Cape Henlopen State Park is not listed as an option, at least that I can see. Maybe it's on the addendum? Much of the time it can be a tough place to get into without a reservation, but it's still worth a mention.
It’s not. I submitted it as a correction after finishing the ride in May but they haven’t added it to the addendum.
53
Routes / Re: New ACA Route coming
« on: June 30, 2022, 09:21:03 am »Hi John,
Do you have a link for the Indiana Bridges route between St. Louis and Indianapolis.
Thanks in advance.
Lynn
Hey Lynn. John replied with: “Basically if they do a Google search for covered bridges near Rockville, IN, they will show up. Note a lot a gravel in that area but doable gravel.”
Good luck.
54
Routes / Re: New ACA Route coming
« on: June 29, 2022, 10:47:52 pm »Hi John,
Do you have a link for the Indiana Bridges route between St. Louis and Indianapolis.
Thanks in advance.
Lynn
John is out of town and off the forums until the end of July but I have his email. I will shoot him a message and see.
55
Routes / Re: North Dakota traffic
« on: June 21, 2022, 10:01:02 am »Hi all, I’m sure this has been asked quite often but was hoping to get any up to date assessments. Taking the Northern Tier next year, east to west. Leaving Maine in July. Is North Dakota good to go since the route changes? What is that funny square option near Bismarck? Would a better option (traffic and shoulder-wise) be the PP route? I am riding a recumbent Trike btw. Thanks!!
Avoid State Highway 46 between Gackle and Enderlin.
56
General Discussion / “Welcome to my Garden”
« on: June 17, 2022, 10:22:57 am »
Just came across a website for slow travelers called “Welcome to my Garden,” linked below. It looks pretty popular in Belgium and has a few host in the USA. Would be cool to see it grow here.
Similar to WarmShowers the website is for folks who have space in their yard to allow travelers to camp.
https://welcometomygarden.org/
Similar to WarmShowers the website is for folks who have space in their yard to allow travelers to camp.
https://welcometomygarden.org/
57
Routes / North Dakota State Highway 46 (Northern Tier)
« on: June 14, 2022, 02:17:26 pm »
I just finished crossing North Dakota, the last of the contiguous 48 states I needed to cross by bike.
I rode from Glendive, MT to Moorhead, MN on the Northern Tier route.
State Highway 46, between Enderlin and Kindred, is the worst stretch of road I’ve ever ridden on! Narrow two lane highway with a lot of traffic. Mostly semis and farm equipment. No shoulders and where the shoulder does exist, the rumble strips go all the way across it. 55-65mph speed limit.
I don’t know of any alternatives in the area aside from going back to I-94 but if I did the Northern Tier again I wouldn’t ride this stretch.
Jason, the guy who runs the Honey Hub in Gackle, has been tryin to get the state to improve 46. There was a cyclist fatality west (I believe) of Gackle on 46 several years ago.
Also, the 12(?) mile stretch of I-94 east of Glen Ullin has rumble strips that go almost all the way across the shoulder. There’s a narrow 6-12” strip you have to ride. I would also look for an alternative route here.
I rode from Glendive, MT to Moorhead, MN on the Northern Tier route.
State Highway 46, between Enderlin and Kindred, is the worst stretch of road I’ve ever ridden on! Narrow two lane highway with a lot of traffic. Mostly semis and farm equipment. No shoulders and where the shoulder does exist, the rumble strips go all the way across it. 55-65mph speed limit.
I don’t know of any alternatives in the area aside from going back to I-94 but if I did the Northern Tier again I wouldn’t ride this stretch.
Jason, the guy who runs the Honey Hub in Gackle, has been tryin to get the state to improve 46. There was a cyclist fatality west (I believe) of Gackle on 46 several years ago.
Also, the 12(?) mile stretch of I-94 east of Glen Ullin has rumble strips that go almost all the way across the shoulder. There’s a narrow 6-12” strip you have to ride. I would also look for an alternative route here.
58
Routes / Re: North Dakota traffic
« on: June 01, 2022, 05:31:41 pm »Last summer I did a tour from Minnesota to the west coast and return. On the way out (going west) I picked up the Northern Tier in Fargo. I thought the route through North Dakota was pretty nice, and included a bikers hostel in Gackle. Also there were plenty of town parks to camp in along the way. Of course the winds... On my return trip (going east) I picked up the PPP just west of the Big Horns, which were spectacular. Other highlights on the PPP included Devils Tower, the Black Hills, and Badlands National Park. Both routes had there upsides and downsides, but it seemed in the plains there were more camping opportunities in N. Dakota vs S. Dakota at various city parks.
I’m about to ride across North Dakota (leaving this weekend) and the Honey Hub hostel in Gackle is near the top of my list!
59
General Discussion / Re: US dogs
« on: June 01, 2022, 05:28:09 pm »
Have toured across 47 states and only remember dogs being an issue a few times… Once in Montana, several times on the same day in Missouri and once in Texas.
Usually they’ll chase you and stop. I carry bear spray and have used it on dogs a few times as a last resort. They all ran yelping back to their yard.
I wouldn’t ever not tour or change my route because of dogs though. Most of them wont bother you. A few weeks ago in Delaware a rather terrifying looking dog (I think a pit bull) came out of his yard as I approached. I slowed down and came to a stop and he walked up to me wagging his tail and was content with smelling me for a moment before retreating back to his yard.
I think a lot of it is you surprising them. They don’t hear you approaching and they see you out of nowhere so they react.
Usually they’ll chase you and stop. I carry bear spray and have used it on dogs a few times as a last resort. They all ran yelping back to their yard.
I wouldn’t ever not tour or change my route because of dogs though. Most of them wont bother you. A few weeks ago in Delaware a rather terrifying looking dog (I think a pit bull) came out of his yard as I approached. I slowed down and came to a stop and he walked up to me wagging his tail and was content with smelling me for a moment before retreating back to his yard.
I think a lot of it is you surprising them. They don’t hear you approaching and they see you out of nowhere so they react.
60
General Discussion / Re: ShipBikes switching over to UPS
« on: May 16, 2022, 08:34:48 pm »
Update: ShipBikes is still down as of today. In a recent email, they stated rising fuel cost as the reason they’re not offering shipping at this time.