Going out West -- Bike Route Recommendation

[sam151945]

Hello!

Currently planning trip out west after graduation.  Starting point is Austin, TX.  The rest is open ended.  I am thinking of traveling TX >> NM >> AZ >> CA >> OR..

I would take my time though and am planning on stopping through must-see cities/parks.  Any recommendations?

Thanks!!

[staehpj1]

Does "after  graduation" mean a May-June start?  How much time do you have?  How set on that general route are you?  Timing can be tricky, but I'd try to avoid:

• The heat of the southern route which that late in the season can be pretty unpleasant.
• The headwinds of riding North up the coast are probably not something you want to deal with.  I'd think about arriving in Oregon first and heading down the coast.  That might mean riding North early in the trip.
• Hitting mountain passes before they are open can be an issue.  It has been a light snow year for a lot of the country so some passes may open extra early, but I would check and keep an eye on conditions for the places you will cross the Rockies

Don't rule out starting somewhere other than home (assuming Austin is home).  Hopping on a plane or train may open lots of better options.  If you have interest in it, that could allow going coast to coast for not all that much more mileage.  If you are willing to ride in crazy hot conditions you could start in Oregon and ride home to Austin.  Personally I'd only consider the Southern Tier Late Fall through early to mid Spring though.

[Westinghouse]

You can take interstates10 and 8 and use googlemaps to pick your way through cities.

[Venchka]

You can take interstates10 and 8 and use googlemaps to pick your way through cities.

Shakes his head. I don't drive on Interstate highways. Riding a bicycle on one isn't my idea of fun.
Original Topic: NM, Four Corners, Southern Utah, Eastern Sierras, make it up as you go after that.
Have fun.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.

[MarkM]

If you could reverse your trip by starting on the Oregon coast in late August, travel the Pacific coast to San Diego, do the Southern Tier out of California into Arizona in late September and on to New Mexico and Texas, you would probably have tailwinds on the coast, miss the extreme heat in the desert southwest and travel New Mexico to Texas before the real short daylight hours and colder nights set in.
Mark