Messages

721

Routes / Re: TransAm Bike Trail Planning

« on: July 13, 2018, 04:03:09 pm »

I liked the idea of riding to my front door, so when I decided to ride across the country I picked a tour that went west to east. When that ended, I rode south to my home. If you can arrange for that it also eliminates having to arrange transportation home for you and your bike.

722

Routes / Re: Bike Route from Burlington to Brattleboro VT?

« on: July 13, 2018, 07:41:00 am »

Just did it last month as part of a longer tour. Unless you are riding very low mileages you won't need 4-5 days. The route I followed is part of this:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27849657

The section between Burlington and Half Moon Pond State Park (Nice lean-tos there that are not much more expensive than tent sites.) has some unpaved roads in places ranging from hard pack dirt to benign gravel. The first few miles leaving the park are also unpaved. Was riding 37c tires. I missed the turn at mile 69 and ended up on VT 22A for more miles than I had planned. Also took the D&H Trail starting at 112.7. It's unpaved and bumpy in places. You can stay on VT 30 as an alternative. Camped at the RV park in Dorset. Just before there is the first quarry even opened in America. It's now a public swimming hole. Next day was Dorset to Brattleboro. The climb out of Manchester is legit but manageable. Technically, I camped in Guilford, not Brattleboro. Getting to Ft. Dummer State Park requires and effort. I split it up by taking Canal St. to the grocery store and then continuing the climb after shopping.

Let me know if you want more details (e.g., grocery store locations).

723

General Discussion / Re: Is my bike suitable for the Great Divide?

« on: July 10, 2018, 12:42:42 pm »

I am going to take a wild guess and say the store is a Trek dealership.   

As for tires, here is what ACA has to say:

"As for a tire recommendation, we recommend a 2.25” width with a low-profile tread pattern and thick sidewalls."

Have you read through this?:

https://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/great-divide-mountain-bike-route/

The Logistics tab contains particularly useful information/tips.

724

Gear Talk / Re: My Bike Set-up for TransAm

« on: July 04, 2018, 09:51:25 am »

To avoid bears just camp at a place with a bear box and put the food in it without sncking in your camp or tent- or string it up.

And hopefully, if it's  private campground, the owners will invest in a bear-resistant dumpster. Last September I stayed at a place in heavy bear country that did not. Bear raided the dumpsters. I assumed it had left the area but kept my head on a swivel while making breakfast and packing up in the dark. Came around to the front of the campground, leaned my bike against a bench to put on my helmet and turn on my lights. Heard the clinking of cans and bottles. Huge black bear walked out from between the dumpsters about 20' away. I believe he was in the 500 lb. range. We started at each other for a few second. I backed away sideways and he went off into a wooded area. I had stored all my stuff in the bathroom, but there was a pile of scat about 50' from my tent.

During seven days in the backcountry of Glacier N.P., a place know to have a bear or two, bear spray, not a gun, was the method of defense. No bear sightings, but we did see 5 moose.

725

General Discussion / Re: Northern Tier - Montana question

« on: July 04, 2018, 09:41:31 am »

IIRC, the revised route drops SE at Wolf Point.

726

General Discussion / Re: Northern Tier - Montana question

« on: July 03, 2018, 08:04:13 am »

Every Six miles? Not. 20-30 is correct. Definitely not very scenic east of Cut Bank.

Pay a visit to the Blaine County Museum in Chinook.

727

General Discussion / Re: County Parks - No Hiker/Biker Sites?

« on: July 02, 2018, 04:57:32 pm »

I'll add that I recently stayed at two of the MT state parks that have the new hiker/biker amenities; Whitefish Lake and Wayfafers. The people manning the booths at both places told me that they will not turn cyclists away even if the tent pads are all taken.

And don't tell anyone, but at Thompson Falls State Park they don't have specific hiker/biker sites, but they let cyclists camp in the small, day use picnic area, and they charge the reduced hiker/biker fee. Better view of the river than any of the official sites there.

728

General Discussion / Re: Entire Trans Am Route in one tour?

« on: June 26, 2018, 10:40:15 am »

Indoor accommodations in and around Yellowstone and the Tetons are going to be very tight.

729

Routes / Re: Planning Family Trip for next summer need suggestions

« on: June 26, 2018, 10:36:59 am »

Not only the grade but the surface. I picked up the Mickelson at the Englewood Trailhead after riding up Spearfish Canyon. While I missed the most difficult uphill section, I was immediately faced with a more than 4 miles uphill section that rose about 650' according to Ride With GPS. And it maxes out at over 6,200' in altitude. That, the surface and a slight headwind was really tiring. Later in the evening, during the climb up from Mystic, I came across a group of kids with a chaperone. They had started in Deadwood and were headed to Hill City. They were so wiped they were walking. I later felt concerned for them because I bombed the downhill to Hilly City and ended riding to camp in the dark after a quick stop at the market. So I know there was no way they made it to town before nightfall. However, I am pretty sure they had enough time to make it to town before the massive thunder/hailstorm hit a few hours later.

Those storms can be dangerous. Later during my trip I met a couple in Custer who was getting a shuttle to a point north on the trail with the plan of riding back to Custer. I was headed to Hill City and back for the day and told them I might see them there. Well...I did. It was raining lightly in Hill City so I was hanging out under a trail shelter. The temperature in town had dropped some 15 degrees when the system moved in. The couple pulled in to the shelter after having been caught in a bad storm on the trail north of Hill City.  To make matters worse, they had been forced to stop for a while thanks to some stubborn, free range cattle blocking the trail. The wife was properly dressed, but the husband was not. He was shivering and his fingers were literally blue. He called the shuttle service, which was based in Hill City, and they got a ride back to Custer.

Never ridden the Paul Bunyan. Not sure it existed when I crossed MN many years ago.

730

Routes / Re: Planning Family Trip for next summer need suggestions

« on: June 23, 2018, 08:06:46 am »

The Mickelson Trail is in the Black Hills, which is different than the badlands. In any event, it's a great ride. The only issue I see for you with the trail is how camping is spaced.  There is no camping allowed along the trail. Campgrounds are available at the northern terminus in Deadwood, in Hill City, Custer and at the southern terminus in Edgemont. Deadwood to Hill City is almost 50 miles, and it is not flat as rail-trails go. Between those two towns there are three sections of sustained uphill that you will feel. (One section has an average grade that exceeds the ruling grade of the GAP.) Also, the surface is not as smooth as the GAP, which makes for a tougher ride. Hill City to Custer is less than 20 miles, so you either have to do a short day (the trail passes right by the entrance to the Crazy Horse monument) or a 60 mile day to Edgemont. Carrying sufficient snacks for the day is also important. Between Lead and Hill City there are no commercial services except a restaurant, etc., just off the trail in Rochford. Nothing between Hill City and Custer, but it's a short distance. Between Custer and Edgemont the only thing you will find is a bar/restaurant in Pringle. Water was never a problem for me as the cisterns along the trail were always full of cool, clear water. They are a really nice amenity, especially if it's hot. I rode it three years ago in late June and it was quite warm one of the days. BTW...The municipal campground in Edgemont comes with all the free train noise you could ever want.

731

Routes / Re: C&O Canal Towpath

« on: June 20, 2018, 03:20:25 pm »

What's the scoop, here? Did they fix the washed out bridge? Is the trail rideable? What are folks doing for a work-around?

Read the alerts via the link posted above.

732

Routes / Re: Atlantic Coast Route, Section 2, map 19 - Hyde Park NY

« on: June 19, 2018, 08:00:20 am »

Just got back. 9G is much better and takes you right to the walkway.

The Wallkill Valley Trail, not so much. Nothing to look at and a not-so-nice surface that was overgrown in many places and had hard to see rocks embedded. In several places it becomes a single track ride. 208 in Wallkill is banged up in places. I nearly wiped out on a broken shoulder. Getting back to the former routing there was a good deal of traffic, no shoulder and a couple of short, nasty hills to start on Bruyn Pike. This new route adds about 4.5 miles and about 350' of climbing. It also cuts out what I remember to be a lovely stretch of riding south of New Paltz. Overall, it seems like trail mileage for the sake of trail mileage, resulting in a net overall loss of pleasantness.

I will also add this route observation: Adding the trail mileage on the Harlem Valley Trail between Amenia and Wassaic is nice, but if you have 32c tires or better and like virtually car-free riding there is no need to loop around through Mabbettsville. Deep Hollow Rd. off of SR 343/22 a little beyond the end of the trail is a treat. The surface is virtually all hard pack dirt with one very short, flat section of gravel as you close in on U.S. 44. The early part is steep, but then the grades ease and you eventually plateau. The road is mostly shaded and very pretty. Got passed by only two moving vehicles. Heading south, make a right on U.S. 44 and a left on Shun Pike in 0.3 miles. That will put you back on route, and you will pass Rally Farms, which you miss with the new routing using CR 98 to Shun Pike. Save 8 miles and nearly 500' of climbing.

733

General Discussion / Re: Going to the Sun Unlikely to Open Before July 4th

« on: June 17, 2018, 11:13:10 am »

Keep in mind that just because it's plowed doesn't mean it will be open right away. I was there last year. The road was clear and dry but the not fully open due to avalanche fears on the east side. Despite that, I was allowed to ride up the west side. (Cars were prohibited beyond Avalanche Campground.) Unfortunately, the NPS opened the entire road to vehicles that morning. Got passed by the first car just below the loop. That was on June 28th.

734

General Discussion / Re: Going to the Sun Unlikely to Open Before July 4th

« on: June 01, 2018, 01:30:43 pm »

Current web cam view shows temps in the 30s at the pass with what looks like stormy weather.

735

General Discussion / Re: Touring Bike Rentals? East Coast Based

« on: June 01, 2018, 01:27:18 pm »

There are a lot of ups and downs in Vermont. Some of them pretty steep. I didn't find the sight lines had at all, compared to the Adirondacks. And there will definitely be a lot more traffic in August in the Adirondacks, especially on the weekends. The campground we stayed at was mobbed in August. Can't remember which one it was.

The Lake Champlain Bikeway is another option, although I find their website not very user-friendly:

http://www.champlainbikeways.org/