Southern Tier March 2014

[Jussi]

Hello!

I'm cyclist from Finland. I am going to cyckle ST in 6. March. Is it a good time to this route? I have 10 weeks of time on this, is it enough to? I will cyckle about 100km (62ml) per day, with 2 rest days in week. What is sounds like?  What else should be taken into account? I've made ​​a few cyckilng trips to the past.

Thank you!

-Jussi

[John Nelson]

100 Km per day is well within the range of most touring cyclists, and is a quite typical touring day distance. Two rest days a week is above average--one rest day per week (or fewer) is more common. Ten weeks should be sufficient. Starting on March 6 puts you near the tail end of the Southern Tier season. It should be fine, but you will probably encounter some hot weather in the last half of your trip.

[glamis.support]

Will you begin your journey on the West Coast or the East Coast?

[Jussi]

West coast, San Diego. Is it a good direction in the spring?

[glamis.support]

Yes, perfect weather in March. Still cool nights, plenty of good hours of daylight. Low to upper 80's in the daytime.

See you in Palo Verde on Highway 78 on the Colorado River.

Nancy

[Cyclesafe]

Leaving March 6 will afford you the chance for snow in New Mexico, but for somebody from Finland, this shouldn't be a problem.  Your toughest riding will be the first two days out of San Diego, so make sure you are already fit when you get here.  From Brawley to Blythe conditions are inhospitable, but it seems that with the Glamis Sand Dunes support, things have apparently improved immensely.  Buy in Brawley everything you need to get to Palo Verde - including water.  The Spring will be gorgeous until you hit the - at that point - more diminutive Rockies.  After that Spring again for the rest of the trip.

[Jussi]

Thanks for the replies! I do not fear the cold, but I like more the warm weather  I pack warm clothes for the trip.
How about Internet, is it possible to buy a prepaid 3g sim card? Nancy, when you are going on a trip?

[glamis.support]

Ha Jussi!

Being the "hostest of the mostest" difficult desert passage keeps me on post assisting cyclists year round now.
Can you believe cyclists wander through here in May to September when the degrees are way over hot into
the overheated.  Never fear, Glamis Sand Dunes Support is here!

With any wiifii device you will find many places to hook up for free as you travel. Starbucks and McDonalds for instance offer free wiifii coverage.

Bring layers of clothing for easy off and on as you have cool morning, warm days in the desert. You will find some snow layers needed for a few days. Most likely you can pick those up just before the low Rocky Mountain passes at any thrift store in Phoenix, Arizona and let them go just as easily for lighter packing.

Part of the services I offer for cyclist support is postal receiving and sending. 92266

Have fun planning your journey.

Nancy
Palo Verde on the Colorado River

[staehpj1]

I'm cyclist from Finland. I am going to cyckle ST in 6. March. Is it a good time to this route? I have 10 weeks of time on this, is it enough to? I will cyckle about 100km (62ml) per day, with 2 rest days in week. What is sounds like?  What else should be taken into account? I've made ​​a few cyckilng trips to the past.

It is generally and easy route to make good mileage on.  I was in so so shape, but packing very light when I did it and it wasn't too hard to average about 80 miles per day without any rest days.

I went in February and March and the weather was pretty pleasant.  There was frost quite a few nights and one pretty cold night (~18F) when I camped on top of a pass (Black Jack Camp).  Daytime temps were generally quite nice for the whole trip.

As Cyclesafe mentioned the climbs out of San Diego are fairly hard.  I remember the climbing as being the worst for the first day and a half of the trip.  I started the trip without much mileage in and struggled the first day and a half.

[glamis.support]

One of my cyclists who stayed with me mentioned that she wished she had done her grocery shopping on top of the mountain in the town (Alpine?)  instead of buying all her food the first day of the trip in San Diego.

Nancy in Palo Verde.

[wilfriedm]

Hi Jussi,
I´m going to cycle the Southern Tier too, flying into San Diego from Munich, Germany, around march 3rd. One or two days in San Diego to get rid of the jetlag and then yipeee.....
What kind of bicycle are you riding, do have your kitchen and tent with you?

I have (only) 4 weeks and plan to reach Houston on my modified roadbike, 9kg including rack, pedals, fenders) and about 12 kilo of gear, tent, no stove.

May be we will meet on the road, would be fun....
Wilfried

[Jussi]

Hi Jussi,
I´m going to cycle the Southern Tier too, flying into San Diego from Munich, Germany, around march 3rd. One or two days in San Diego to get rid of the jetlag and then yipeee.....
What kind of bicycle are you riding, do have your kitchen and tent with you?

I have (only) 4 weeks and plan to reach Houston on my modified roadbike, 9kg including rack, pedals, fenders) and about 12 kilo of gear, tent, no stove.

May be we will meet on the road, would be fun....
Wilfried

I am sorry that I reply late. I have cyclocross bike. I have only sleeping bag, no kitchen. I was wondering do I need some kind of net to protect animals?
I'm flying to San Diego 3 March and I start the trip 6 March.

Wilfried, we could go together for a while.