Author Topic: Washington, DC to Madison, WI  (Read 11052 times)

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Offline 09dgceph

Washington, DC to Madison, WI
« on: March 14, 2014, 02:06:26 pm »
Hey all, I looked through the relevant old posts (I think) and am trying to piece together a route from DC to Madison. I would love any suggestions you might have. My riding partner and I have done loaded touring before, but never on any route that wasn't part of an ACA map. So putting together our own route is a bit different. I did find one crazyguyonabike blog that is helpful, but is a bit sparse on the details.

Please let me know if you need any more info, or if I've overlooked anything re: forum rules.

Thanks so much,

Davide

Offline Tandem Tom

Re: Washington, DC to Madison, WI
« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2014, 09:16:42 pm »
How about the C&O & GAP from DC to Pittsburgh. Work your way up toward Cleveland then pick up the ACA Northern Tier.

Offline 09dgceph

Re: Washington, DC to Madison, WI
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2014, 09:22:52 pm »
Thanks Tandem Tom! The GAP we're familiar with. Will take your advice and see if we can find a smart way to link up from there.

Offline DU

Re: Washington, DC to Madison, WI
« Reply #3 on: March 15, 2014, 09:35:59 am »
There is a spur route from Pittsburgh to Erie which would connect you to the Northern Tier. It is listed as an Underground Railroad spur.

I have thought of doing something similar to your ride and have considered riding a somewhat direct route across Ohio to Monroeville, IN. Then you could  take either the NT west or the North Lakes through Michigan to get to Wisconsin. The North Lakes would give the option of the two ferries across Lake Michigan depending on where you were going in Wisconsin. One is Muskegon, MI to Milwaukee, WI and the other from Ludington, MI to Manitowoc, WI

 I have no definite ideas for a specific route across Ohio yet.

Offline 09dgceph

Re: Washington, DC to Madison, WI
« Reply #4 on: March 15, 2014, 10:55:56 am »
Thanks DU, that looks good. So we could go GAP from DC to Pitt, Underground Railroad spur from Pitt to Erie and then take the Northern tier.

Offline Tandem Tom

Re: Washington, DC to Madison, WI
« Reply #5 on: March 15, 2014, 11:38:04 am »
The UG Spur will add a number of miles. My thought, and people around here(NE Ohio) do it. There go NW from Pittsburg toward Canton , Ohio and then you can pick up the Ohio to Erie Trail. This will take you right into Cleveland where you can pick up the Northern Tier.

Offline 09dgceph

Re: Washington, DC to Madison, WI
« Reply #6 on: March 15, 2014, 11:42:17 am »
Two possible routes to check out. Will try to add up the miles and see what happens. Thanks both, I'll let you guys know what I discover.

Offline cheesehawk

Re: Washington, DC to Madison, WI
« Reply #7 on: March 16, 2014, 05:10:20 pm »
I'm looking at these same basic points as the first leg of my transcon for May 2015. I'm looking at the C&O and GAP trails to Buena Vista PA, and then following a set of highways and bike paths west from there to Wierton WV via  Thompsonville/Midway/Burgettstown PA. From Wierton WV crossing into Ohio and heading from Steubenville to Bowerton, about 50% on bike path. I have not worked out the route much beyond that, except that I generally want to head to the famous Northern Tier bike overnight in Monroeville , IN, and from there make our way up to the Dunes National Lakeshore. Active Trans in Chicago sells a Chicagoland bike map here http://www.activetrans.org/shop. From Chicago I'll either head north and take the rail trail from Waukesha to Cottage Grove, or head northwest on back roads more directly towards Madison. Bike Federation of Wisconsin sells bike maps here http://wisconsinbikefed.org/merchandise. You will want the Southern map. I don't care for the color-coding on the new versions of the maps, and they do not show many smaller roads (which all tend to be paved in WI) but if you are not familiar with cycling routes in the area you can do much worse than following the Bike Fed routes.

If you've got any suggestions or tips let me know. I'd love to see your completed route.

 

Offline 09dgceph

Re: Washington, DC to Madison, WI
« Reply #8 on: March 16, 2014, 10:24:18 pm »
Great stuff Cheesehawk, thanks. When we decide on a route I'll be sure to post it here so that you can compare/critique.

Offline DU

Re: Washington, DC to Madison, WI
« Reply #9 on: March 17, 2014, 09:45:37 am »
I did a search on this site for the Lincoln Highway (old US 30) which goes through Ohio. Here is a link.

http://forums.adventurecycling.org/index.php?topic=11954.msg60902#msg60902

I want to look at this some more but it sure seems promising.  It comes very close to Monroeville and has strip maps for each section of road. I've done the NT before and am thinking of going north to Michigan from Monroeville on the North Lakes route.  Here is a link to the Lincoln Highway site.

http://www.lincolnhighwayoh.com/guide/preface.html

On the left hand side under "1928 Route" you can click on a section, read the history of that section and see the strip map by clicking a link at the bottom of the page.

indyfabz

  • Guest
Re: Washington, DC to Madison, WI
« Reply #10 on: March 17, 2014, 10:48:15 am »
Thanks DU, that looks good. So we could go GAP from DC to Pitt, Underground Railroad spur from Pitt to Erie and then take the Northern tier.

There is also this:

ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/bikes/state_mapA.pdf

Not as direct as cutting across OH, but an option. I think the Monoiur Trail off the GAP (via the Clariton Connector) goes to Coraopolis, which is on PA Route A, map section 8.