Author Topic: Big Bend Loop II, Van - Nov 2-10, 2014  (Read 7408 times)

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Offline storkbite

Big Bend Loop II, Van - Nov 2-10, 2014
« on: July 17, 2014, 12:21:05 am »
Greetings-

This will be my first Adventure Cycling tour.  I'm an active cyclist and I've completed several double centuries, but nothing the distance of this tour.  As such, I'm a little nervous about the pace.  Does anyone have an idea of the average time the riders will be finishing each day or a typical mph pace when riding? Do all the riders stay together?

Thanks for helping me with the basics.

Offline Pat Lamb

Re: Big Bend Loop II, Van - Nov 2-10, 2014
« Reply #1 on: July 17, 2014, 09:38:43 am »
Not the same tour, obviously, but I did the Blue Ridge tour with AC a couple years ago and overlapped for about a week with the TransAm group a few years before that.

I'd guess we averaged about 10 mph on the Blue Ridge tour.  That included a fair bit of climbing.  The TransAm crew may have been a couple mph faster, as most of them passed us most days.  Both groups seemed to leave right around 7:45-8:00 every morning.  Arrival time depended on length of the day and the specifics of the route, but I think most people rode into camp between 2:00 and 4:00 in the afternoon.

Neither group stayed together in one big paceline.  OTOH, there were smaller groups of 2-5 people that formed and disbanded fluidly throughout the day.  Skip an overlook, linger a while - you can ride your own ride.  The van does provide a safety net, but not many people fell into it.

indyfabz

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Re: Big Bend Loop II, Van - Nov 2-10, 2014
« Reply #2 on: July 17, 2014, 02:12:43 pm »
Having done an ACA supported trip (Cycle Vermont), what Pat wrote. I went with someone and we rode together. Sometimes we would end up riding with others. You can ride at your own pace. When you finish each day depends on many factors. The daily routes were mostly hilly, but I never felt like we were finishing too late in the day for comfort. I take a lot of photos and we often stopped to see the sights, use the library and get our own lunches so we often finished later than most people.

Last month I crossed paths with ACA's Cycle Montana at one day's lunch stop. Small groups of people came in together. Some people came in alone. Some people stopped for a short while. Some lingered longer. It seemed like most people left lunch in small groups. I don't know whether those groups stayed together on the road because the lunch stop was my overnight stop.

Offline storkbite

Re: Big Bend Loop II, Van - Nov 2-10, 2014
« Reply #3 on: July 17, 2014, 02:24:56 pm »
Thank you, Pat and Indy. That's the insight that I was hoping for. Unfamiliar with the structure is somewhat anxiety provoking. Thanks again for your time.

Offline JDFlood

Re: Big Bend Loop II, Van - Nov 2-10, 2014
« Reply #4 on: July 17, 2014, 07:42:25 pm »
If you've competed in double centuries... it'll be a relaxing cake walk.

Offline storkbite

Re: Big Bend Loop II, Van - Nov 2-10, 2014
« Reply #5 on: July 17, 2014, 07:47:37 pm »
Thanks, JD. Cake is good! :)

Offline SlowAndSlower

Re: Big Bend Loop II, Van - Nov 2-10, 2014
« Reply #6 on: July 17, 2014, 11:33:38 pm »
I have done the ACA Big Bend Loop and I don't think you have anything to worry about. Lots of individual rode solo and others break up in to two's and threes's. Finishing times varied all over the map depending on stopping and taking pictures and doing hikes. There is always the sweep and sag wagon. Distance shouldn't be a problem for you. There are some stiff stiff climbs though.
Some notes on my tour. http://indianbendsolutions.com/touring/big-bend-2013/

Offline storkbite

Re: Big Bend Loop II, Van - Nov 2-10, 2014
« Reply #7 on: July 19, 2014, 08:50:19 am »
^^ Lots of great info!! Thanks so much for sharing.