Author Topic: Northern Tier with North Lakes  (Read 4139 times)

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Offline markidale

Northern Tier with North Lakes
« on: January 02, 2014, 07:29:17 pm »
I am considering doing a partial Northern Tier (starting in Walker, MN) and combining it with the North Lakes, ending somewhere in Maine.  I want to do this solo and use hotels/inns/B&B's.  I have done a lot of Rail-Trails riding and tend to use my mountain bike for everything rather than my perfectly good road bike!  So I have some questions for others who've done these routes before:
Is this route doable on a mountain bike?  (I do like to take gravel/off road tours if the opportunity arises).  How hard is it to install panniers on a mountain bike (with disc brakes)?
I was thinking of starting mid-June from Walker - is that too late?  Does traffic get crazy in the Great Lakes area over the summer?  Could one start earlier and not have horrendous weather?
How hard is it to find non-camping lodging 40-60 miles apart?
This route would be about 2,500 miles and I figure giving myself up to 2 months to complete.  That's probably too relaxed but....
If anyone has tips, suggestions etc., I'd appreciate it.  At this point, I'm only tossing this idea around - haven't decided for sure yet.
Thanks!

Offline John Nelson

Re: Northern Tier with North Lakes
« Reply #1 on: January 03, 2014, 10:31:41 am »
I can't answer all your questions, but I can answer a few. I did this route in the summer of 2012.

Is this route doable on a mountain bike?

Yes, of course. Everything is doable on a mountain bike. But it will be slower than a road bike. But that might not matter to you.

How hard is it to install panniers on a mountain bike (with disc brakes)?

It's doable. Make sure you buy racks designed for use with disc brakes. You might also consider a trailer.

I was thinking of starting mid-June from Walker - is that too late?

Definitely not.

Does traffic get crazy in the Great Lakes area over the summer?

Not on the roads the ACA puts you on. Are you planning to use the Lake Erie Connector (through Ontario) or the Northern Tier through Ohio?

Could one start earlier and not have horrendous weather?

Yes, although maybe not too much earlier.

How hard is it to find non-camping lodging 40-60 miles apart?

I camped, so I can't speak from personal experience, but it should not be too hard. This is the East after all. You might have more trouble if you were out west.

Offline markidale

Re: Northern Tier with North Lakes
« Reply #2 on: January 03, 2014, 06:31:58 pm »
Thanks John - that helps a lot.
I was going to skip the Ontario part & go thru Ohio.  Which route is better/more scenic or interesting?
I guess I should just order the pertinent ACA maps and then spend some time checking out lodging options.  I haven't used the ACA routes yet so wasn't sure about traffic & how busy they can get.
I thought of camping but don't want to deal with the hassle of packing all the extra items along.  Plus, I do like my creature comforts - especially if the weather gets nasty!

Offline John Nelson

Re: Northern Tier with North Lakes
« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2014, 07:21:38 pm »
I was going to skip the Ontario part & go thru Ohio.  Which route is better/more scenic or interesting?

I have only done the Ontario part. The ACA guided tour does Ontario too, reportedly just to see something different other than endless corn fields. You'll see enough corn fields to last you a lifetime in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio. The Ontario segment is fairly low on services, but with proper planning you should be able to find what you need. Planning is the key--don't rely on just riding until you see something.

I haven't used the ACA routes yet so wasn't sure about traffic & how busy they can get.

No route is perfect when it comes to traffic. Every route is going to have occasional segments of roads that are busier than you'd like. But the ACA finds as many of the low-traffic roads as possible. Many people are tempted to take shortcuts on ACA routes, and there are plenty of them to be had, and they can save you a lot of hills and distance, but you will almost always pay for it with increased traffic.

I thought of camping but don't want to deal with the hassle of packing all the extra items along.  Plus, I do like my creature comforts - especially if the weather gets nasty!

Carrying camping equipment does offer you a lot more options. But in my opinion, it's not worth carrying camping gear unless you plan to use it most of the time. Camping gear is heavy.
« Last Edit: January 03, 2014, 07:24:49 pm by John Nelson »