Dallas to Black Rock City, NV

[jbennett]

I was wondering if anyone has made this trek.  I realize this is a pretty off-the-wall request.  I've planned a tentative route but being new to adventure/cross country cycling, I wanted to check with the experts.

If anyone has made this trek I'd love to chat!

If not from Dallas, but from New Mexico or Arizona, I'd love to chat as well.

TIA!

[John Nettles]

Check out the various journals over on CrazyGuyonaBike.com.  You can do a search for various cities, i.e. Black Rock City, to see if anyone has toured through there and then maybe patch together some routes that way.  Depending on the time of year you go, you could take a variety of ACA routes to do at least 75% of your route.

Best wishes, John

[gnarlydog]

Are you going to Burning Man? Cuz that's the only time "black rock city" exists.

[jbennett]

Yes, and it won't be my first time there, either.  I will be meeting up with my camp mates once there (with all of the rest of my gear).

[Venchka]

 
WOW! Awesome trip. Leaving DFW in August might make you The Burning Man. Just kidding. August is the month that I try to be somewhere high in the Rockies.
Now, as for daily average mileage...
In a previous lifetime I flew to Salt Lake City. SLC was in a heat wave, 105+ during the day. I rode out of the airport about 10pm & stopped about 8am the next morning in Logan, UT. 70 odd miles as I recall. For the next 12 days I rode anywhere from 35 miles to 75 miles. The first week heading to the Tetons & Yellowstone and climbing over passes all the time nearly killed me. By the time I got to Yellowstone I crossed the Continental Divide 3 times, the first time in the afternoon & twice the next morning. Piece of cake. My only mileage goal was the 750-760 miles I needed to ride to get back to the airport. In between I stopped where it was convenient for me at the time. Example: Afton, WY to a forest service campground on the Snake River, 35 miles. I picked that spot because I did not think that I could get to a campground in G.T.N.P. before dark and knew that Jackson, WY would be expensive. Quite by accident, a group of Boy Scouts and adult leaders camped next to me. They invited me to join them for a raft trip down the Snake. Afterwards they made me eat elk steaks cooked over an open fire. A day I'll never forget. I made up the miles from my short day later in the trip on flat to slightly downhill grades in Idaho and arrived back in SLC the afternoon before my flight.
Good luck!

Wayne

ps: OOPS! I got this thread confused with your other thread about daily averages. My C.R.S. must be acting up.

[Venchka]

On Topic for this thread:
Getting to new Mexico from DFW & NOT riding along US 287 is tough. There are Farm to Market roads that more or less parallel 287. You might even be better off riding west across Oklahoma to Amarillo or Dalhart.
Northern New Mexico is really nice. Piece together a route that will get you to Farmington.
Farmington northwest to Hanksville, UT. This may take some research. You'll need to find a way across Lake Powell. Halls Crossing-Bullfrog or Hite, not sure which one works the best.
Hanksville, UT to Cedar City, UT. Use Utah Hwys 24, 12 & 143 if possible.
Cedar City to Black Rock City. Panaca, NV-Crystal Springs, NV - Warm Springs, NV - Tonopah, NV - Coaldale, NV - Fallon, NV - You're on your own to get to Burning Man after Fallon.
I'm piecing this together from memory and GOOGLE MAPS at work. VERIFY! Grinning. The theory is sound. There are a lot of trip journals at Crazy Guy on a Bike covering New Mexico, Colorado, Utah & Nevada.

Wayne

[Venchka]

When in doubt, check the Adventure Cycling routes...
It looks like the Western Express route from Dolores, CO to Fallon, NV would be your best bet to get close to Black Rock City, NV.
Enjoy.

Wayne

[jbennett]

On Topic for this thread:
Getting to new Mexico from DFW & NOT riding along US 287 is tough. There are Farm to Market roads that more or less parallel 287. You might even be better off riding west across Oklahoma to Amarillo or Dalhart.

I was actually looking at going through Lubbock in order to avoid 287 entirely.  I was thinking about starting in Azle since riding across DFW is something I've done a few times and it would just be a beating.  I would be dropped off in Azle and continue from there.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/8713625
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/8713636
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/8713690
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/8713698 (Santa Rosa)

Northern New Mexico is really nice. Piece together a route that will get you to Farmington.
Farmington northwest to Hanksville, UT. This may take some research. You'll need to find a way across Lake Powell. Halls Crossing-Bullfrog or Hite, not sure which one works the best.

I had initially thought about going through Moab, but it looked like I would have to go up to Salt Lake city to 80 and then to BRC.  Some of that stretch was pretty desolate.  At least if I go through Vegas and then North there are towns along the way.

Hanksville, UT to Cedar City, UT. Use Utah Hwys 24, 12 & 143 if possible.
Cedar City to Black Rock City. Panaca, NV-Crystal Springs, NV - Warm Springs, NV - Tonopah, NV - Coaldale, NV - Fallon, NV - You're on your own to get to Burning Man after Fallon.

I'll take a look at this route as it might be a better option.  Thanks!

[Venchka]

When in doubt, check the Adventure Cycling routes...
It looks like the Western Express route from Dolores, CO to Fallon, NV would be your best bet to get close to Black Rock City, NV.
Enjoy.

Wayne

I posted this late yesterday. It looks like the best way across Nevada. Unless you really want to stay south and go to Las Vegas.
I have driven from Amarillo to Durango, CO & up to Moab, UT several times and ridden my bike from Durango to Dolores, CO where the western Express starts. It is really nice country. Santa Fe, NM to Durango, CO is one of my favorite parts of the country. I realize that covering that route in a day in a car is nothing like riding it on my bike. However, the area is on my "To Ride" list.
I drove to Albuquerque through Lubbock once when I-40 across the Panhandle was iced over. The roads in New Mexico were decent as I recall. Sparsely populated. I always stop at Billy The Kid's grave. No idea why, I just do. 
Just out of curiosity, what bike & gear are you taking?

Wayne