Author Topic: Cross Country with a 13 year old boy  (Read 21647 times)

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Offline John Nelson

Re: Cross Country with a 13 year old boy
« Reply #15 on: December 06, 2011, 10:02:50 am »
I do bicycle 125 mi/day and with the snow in the Rockies I have to start quite late in June (in VA) in order to do the mountains without closed roads.
This doesn't make sense to me. There's very little chance of closed roads in the Rockies on the TransAm route after June 1, and only a small chance after mid-May. Even at 125 miles a day, you could still start in May in Yorktown.

Offline askmeaboutmybeard

Re: Cross Country with a 13 year old boy
« Reply #16 on: December 06, 2011, 10:36:51 am »
A lot of great advice and suggestions...Thank you!

Though I still don't know the exact route we'll take, I feel much better about doing it on our own than I did before.
 
Assuming we camp most of the way what is an average daily budget I should plan for the 2 of us?
"A father and son bike ride across America" - http://www.askmeaboutmybeard.com

Offline staehpj1

Re: Cross Country with a 13 year old boy
« Reply #17 on: December 06, 2011, 10:54:38 am »
Assuming we camp most of the way what is an average daily budget I should plan for the 2 of us?

Hard to say.  A lot depends on the type of places you choose to stay, where you go, and how good you are at finding free or cheap places.  For campsites I think we averaged less than 6$ per day on the TA, but we stayed in free places as much as we could without stealth camping.  We also split fees three ways when they were not per person.  Additionally we accepted hospitality when we could.  So we camped in town park picnic areas, slept on church floors, and stayed with hosts a lot of the time.  We only rarely got a $20 or more campsite and only once paid for a room.

For food it is probably even harder to say because it is even more preference driven.  It is not too hard to eat for $10 a day and someone really frugal could spend less, but it also isn't too hard to spend $30 a day for food.

Personally these days I am likely to spend a daily average between $15 and $30 per day for all on the road expenses, depending on the trip.  At the $30 end of the range I am eating pretty well and getting a room once in a while.  That said other locales or touring styles may shift that a lot.  Some folks find they can easily spend $50 or more per day.
« Last Edit: December 06, 2011, 11:48:03 am by staehpj1 »

Offline BikeFreak

Re: Cross Country with a 13 year old boy
« Reply #18 on: December 06, 2011, 11:45:07 am »
On average I spend 20 dollars a day (solo touring). However, the more you rest, the more you spend  :)

Lucas

Offline BikeFreak

Re: Cross Country with a 13 year old boy
« Reply #19 on: December 06, 2011, 02:21:54 pm »
I do bicycle 125 mi/day and with the snow in the Rockies I have to start quite late in June (in VA) in order to do the mountains without closed roads.
This doesn't make sense to me. There's very little chance of closed roads in the Rockies on the TransAm route after June 1, and only a small chance after mid-May. Even at 125 miles a day, you could still start in May in Yorktown.
The reason for my worries is mainly the McKenzie Pass which has been mentioned numreous times in this forum. The snow might stay well into July.
Lucas

Offline John Nelson

Re: Cross Country with a 13 year old boy
« Reply #20 on: December 06, 2011, 02:26:00 pm »
The reason for my worries is mainly the McKenzie Pass which has been mentioned numreous times in this forum. The snow might stay well into July.
Okay, now I understand. I don't normally think of McKenzie Pass as in the Rockies. Although McKenzie Pass can stay closed until July, that's the exception not the rule. I wouldn't let it rule my trip. Furthermore, Santiam Pass is available as a good alternative.

Also, it's really good to get through Yellowstone by July 4, as crowds pick up considerably after that.

Offline staehpj1

Re: Cross Country with a 13 year old boy
« Reply #21 on: December 06, 2011, 02:29:15 pm »
I do bicycle 125 mi/day and with the snow in the Rockies I have to start quite late in June (in VA) in order to do the mountains without closed roads.
This doesn't make sense to me. There's very little chance of closed roads in the Rockies on the TransAm route after June 1, and only a small chance after mid-May. Even at 125 miles a day, you could still start in May in Yorktown.
The reason for my worries is mainly the McKenzie Pass which has been mentioned numreous times in this forum. The snow might stay well into July.
Lucas
If McKenzie Pass is closed you can take Santiam Pass.  McKenzie was nice and I'd take it if you can but taking Santiam wouldn't be the end of the world.

Past open and close dates for McKenzie pass are at:
http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION4/McKenzieHighwayClosure.shtml

Offline johnsondasw

Re: Cross Country with a 13 year old boy
« Reply #22 on: December 06, 2011, 05:36:36 pm »
The best advise I read in this item so far is the idea of taking shakedown tours.  One should probably at least a week long so you both get into the groove of the experience.  You both need to know what it feels like to be tired, cold, hot, sore (maybe very sore you know where), and still riding because you have not found a camping spot yet, etc.  Also, bring good bike lights.  Several times we've been at it well into the night for various reasons.
May the wind be at your back!

Offline staehpj1

Re: Cross Country with a 13 year old boy
« Reply #23 on: December 06, 2011, 06:03:51 pm »
The best advise I read in this item so far is the idea of taking shakedown tours.
Maybe but not an absolute necessity.  The three in my group did the TA as a shakedown tour :)  It worked out fine.

Offline DaveB

Re: Cross Country with a 13 year old boy
« Reply #24 on: December 10, 2011, 01:03:56 pm »
Maybe but not an absolute necessity.  The three in my group did the TA as a shakedown tour :)  It worked out fine.
Yes, but they had other experienced touring riders with them.  The OP and his son will be both first-timers and alone.

Offline staehpj1

Re: Cross Country with a 13 year old boy
« Reply #25 on: December 10, 2011, 03:14:46 pm »
Maybe but not an absolute necessity.  The three in my group did the TA as a shakedown tour :)  It worked out fine.
Yes, but they had other experienced touring riders with them.  The OP and his son will be both first-timers and alone.
Actually all three of us were on our very first bicycle tour.  We were not with "other experienced touring riders".  We all were experienced in other outdoor activities like backpacking, canoe camping, and so on.  I think that if we had not been experienced campers it would have been a bit harder, but still doable.

My take on this is that shakedown tours might be worth doing, but for folks who have done other outdoor activities and are familiar with their gear, they are definitely not absolutely necessary.  Use them or not as you see fit.

Offline DaveB

Re: Cross Country with a 13 year old boy
« Reply #26 on: December 10, 2011, 09:09:51 pm »
Actually all three of us were on our very first bicycle tour.  We were not with "other experienced touring riders".  We all were experienced in other outdoor activities like backpacking, canoe camping, and so on.  I think that if we had not been experienced campers it would have been a bit harder, but still doable.

My take on this is that shakedown tours might be worth doing, but for folks who have done other outdoor activities and are familiar with their gear, they are definitely not absolutely necessary.  Use them or not as you see fit.
OK, I took your posting to mean three riders out of a larger group were first-time tourists.  However, you were all adults and did, as you said, have significant outdoor experience prior to the tour.   The OP is going to be accompanied only by a 13 year old.  That is a BIG difference.

Offline John Nelson

Re: Cross Country with a 13 year old boy
« Reply #27 on: December 10, 2011, 09:58:44 pm »
Shakedown tours, whether necessary or not, are a really good idea. I've read so many journals of people who have never packed their panniers with everything until the night before the tour, and within two blocks of starting have already discovered that this isn't going to work.

Offline johnsondasw

Re: Cross Country with a 13 year old boy
« Reply #28 on: December 15, 2011, 08:37:42 pm »
The best advise I read in this item so far is the idea of taking shakedown tours.
Maybe but not an absolute necessity.  The three in my group did the TA as a shakedown tour :)  It worked out fine.
  The main difference, I think, is that none of you were 13 uyears old (as I see others have mentioned). That said, I read your whole trip report and found it top be a delightful, informative chronicle.  I also learned a lot!  Good job.
May the wind be at your back!