Recent Posts

21

Routes / Self-mapped Southern Tier Bicycle Route.

« Last post by Westinghouse on March 17, 2025, 04:07:29 pm »

Using the bicycle option in Google maps, I wrote down a route from southeast coastal Florida to Ocotillo, California. And if you cannot get from Ocotillo to San Diego on dead reckoning, there is no way you could have gotten to Ocotillo. It is that very small settlement just where you begin to climb to over 3000 feet elevation going west on Interstate 8. Restaurant, small motel, small store, small population and many white wind-turbine towers marring the land.

It is written out in detail, double and triple checked. It is not offered to anyone for using. Well, maybe for getting through a large city. Anyone planning bicycling the southern tier, as I have done five crossings, ----Use maps from Adventure Cycling Association. It takes a lot of the guess-work out of it. My route looks good, and I was careful to choose roads with shoulders and side-lanes, however, it is unknown. The pre-mapped routes from ACA are well known. The popular ones seem to have developed a bicycling infrastructure. On these routes you are very likely to meet others going your direction, and the other way. If you want pre-mapped bicycle routes, get them from ACA.

22

Classifieds / Re: FS: Cannondale T1 Touring Bike w/Accessories REDUCED$$

« Last post by Charlie1022 on March 15, 2025, 10:57:42 am »

The frame is a medium. I’m 5’8” 30” inseam and I ride a 54 road bike. I hope this helps. I ordered this bike after bike shop determined this was a better fit than a Surly.

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Classifieds / Re: FS: Cannondale T1 Touring Bike w/Accessories REDUCED$$

« Last post by Pkknox58 on March 15, 2025, 08:33:48 am »

Please provide the frame size.  I’ll request pictures if it’s the right size.

24

Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / Mississippi River Bridge at Hannibal MO closure spring 2025

« Last post by ggwbikemt on March 15, 2025, 07:11:02 am »

https://www.modot.org/node/64123

The Great Rivers South section 1 map 6, the Mississippi River Bridge I-72 in Hannibal, MO where this route switches from the Illinois to Missouri side of the river will under construction starting in April 2025 and will be closed for up to 30 days starting in late April or early May. The actual date of the closure will depend on construction progress.  When the bridge is open, traffic will be limited to one 12 foot lane in each direction.  The official detour will direct traffic to cross the Mississippi River on US 24 at Quincy, IL.  For bicycling, US 54 at Louisiana, MO is a much better bridge to bike (lighter traffic, decent shoulder) across the Mississippi River than either of the bridges at Quincy, IL.  I added a link to a Missouri DOT press release on the upcoming construction.

25

General Discussion / Re: Most dangerous roads

« Last post by Westinghouse on March 14, 2025, 12:05:28 am »

Since the subject of weather came up. I was riding on the TransAm in Kansas in 2022. The weather forecast called for high winds and routine gusts up to and above 50 mph. My route would take me from Eureka to Newton. I would have 20 miles of massive tailwinds and something like 50 with cross winds and no services. I decided to take a short day, due west to El Dorado on US 54. The crosswinds blew me off my bike 13 times. The winds were so strong that I had difficulty getting underway again. This went on for 20 miles until I benefited from some wind break berms on the south side of the road.

There is no way I would cycle against such strong winds. The energy and frustration are not worth the distance achieved. I would stop and rest and wait for the wind to change.

26

Gear Talk / Re: Fleece vs insulated jacket

« Last post by ray b on March 13, 2025, 06:58:53 pm »

If one can afford down and keep it dry, lightweight down jacket and pants are nice for sleeping in the mountains (or recently, on my late November trip through MO and the Arkansas Ozarks and Ouachitas). One can wear them to start the ride on cold mornings until warmed up. (And right -  try to avoid sweating in your down "sweater.")

27

Classifieds / Re: Companions Wanted Section

« Last post by 88Ride on March 12, 2025, 12:50:06 pm »

Ill be joining the Trans Am from the East Bound Lewis and Clark in Idaho sometime in Mid June and Taking it out through Yellowstone. We could maybe meet and ride together for a week or so.

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Classifieds / 2025 Summer Bike Tour — ACA Rtes TransAm>PPP>NT — Companions Wanted

« Last post by Pkknox58 on March 12, 2025, 12:37:09 pm »

I am requesting F/M touring companions for any/all sections of a 2025 W>E transcontinental unsupported bike tour from Florence, OR to Bar Harbor, ME: 4,500 miles.  I will be utilizing the following ACA route sections and would be willing to make minor modifications per will of the group:

1. TransAmerica starting in Florence, OR;
2. Parks, Peaks, and Prairies starting in West Yellowstone, MT; and
3. Northern Tier starting in Minneapolis, MN.

Tour Dates: Jun 1 to Sep 15, 2025; actual start date could be closer to mid-Jun depending on riding partners’ availability; regardless, overall trip will be ~105 days.  Will ride 50-60 mi/day, camp the majority of the trip, and plan to take 1 rest day (aka Zero Day) per week. Drop-Ins of a week or two are fine, but you’ll need to be flexible — young rider and LGBTQ+ friendly.

I am a married 66 yr old male, retired K-12 teacher (15 years) and retired botanist/conservation biologist (15 years). I’ve traveled extensively in Central and South America, but have never spent months on the road in the U.S.  I am a natural history enthusiast and am looking forward to seeing the variety of biomes and landscapes across the continent.  I am comfortable stripping and rebuilding most any bike built before 2010 - I’ve never owned a bike with disc brakes, tubeless tires, suspensions, or electronic shifters.  For this tour, I’ll be riding a 40-year old Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo MTB that I put drop bars on with STI shifters (see attached photo).

Last year, I walked the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage from the French Pyrenees, across Northern Spain, to the Atlantic Ocean (540 miles). Bike touring experience includes two 500 miles rides in California in the early ‘80’s.  I graduated from high school in 1976, and had planned to ride the original Bikecentennial with a high school buddy.  Plans changed and we drove his ‘69 VW bus across the continent with our bikes strapped on top.  This tour has been on my Bucket List for 49 years.

Please DM me using the Personal Message link at left of this post. — Paul

29

Gear Talk / Re: Fleece vs insulated jacket

« Last post by canalligators on March 12, 2025, 10:27:15 am »

Don’t forget about wool.  It doesn’t compact down as much as down, but is good insulation over a wide temp range, say freezing to ~50F/15C.  Also breathes well and retains warmth when wet.  My wool/poly insulating jacket and merino jersey are valuable parts of my kit on long tours. 

But I may be more concerned with warmth than bulk, compared to your needs.

30

Classifieds / Companion(s) wanted, Prince Rupert-Whitehorse along Cassiar Highway July 2025

« Last post by jeremynolan94 on March 12, 2025, 10:18:47 am »

Greetings, fellow riders!

I’m looking for companions to join me on a roughly 20-day adventure up the Cassiar Highway from Prince Rupert to Whitehorse this July. The plan is to fly into Prince Rupert during the first week of July and spend about 20 days riding north to Whitehorse, before flying back home.

I’ve put together a tentative GPS map of the route here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49903625

A little about me: 
I’m 31 and have extensive touring and bikepacking experience. I've completed the TransAm, the Pacific Coast Bike Route, and the Idaho Hot Springs Route. I’ve also ridden from Panama to Ecuador and done several shorter bikepacking loops across the US and Canada. I’m left-leaning, LGBTQ+ friendly, and love camping and the outdoors. My ideal daily mileage is around 50–65 miles (weather and route permitting).

I’m looking to connect with 1-2 like-minded riders who share a similar pace and mindset for this trip! If you’re interested, feel free to check out my previous bikepacking adventures on my blog: https://www.cycleblaze.com/profile/jeremynolan94

Hope to ride with you!