Tandem on the Northern Tier

[brad]

Anyone else taken a tandem on the Northern Tier? Looking to make a cross country tour next summer with my wife.

[Pat Lamb]

Not me, but I did meet a couple headed east on a tandem.  They were credit-card touring, and the wife had made motel reservations all the way across the country.  IIRC they were riding about 80 miles per day, which she said was easy because of the light load (this was after they'd completed the Washington passes).  They planned to finish and fly home to Seattle within two months.

[John Nelson]

I don't think the tandem makes much difference. But the tandem is a good choice for a couple, especially if they have different ability levels.

But just out of curiosity, why did you choose the Northern Tier? Have you already done the TransAm (which I consider a far better route)?

[brad]

Basically because I really have never travelled in some of those states along the northern border. My wife and I are both avid cyclists - just looking for the tandem experience.

I'm browsing them now...any recommendations?

[John Nelson]

I'm browsing them now...any recommendations?

Browsing what?

Parts of the NT are wonderful. Washington is beautiful. Western Montana is great too. Glacier National Park is superb, and Going To The Sun Road is one of the best rides on the planet. Eastern Montana is peaceful. North Dakota is not entirely bleak--Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a gem. Minnesota is a refreshing change, and the bunkhouse in Dalbo is a welcoming oasis. Wisconsin is rich in rustic roads. Enjoy the pasties in the upper peninsula, and have fun on Mackinac Island. Take the Lake Erie connector along the north shore. Niagara Falls is always worth a visit, and the Erie Canalway is a pleasant break from traffic and hills. The Adirondacks are hilly, but beautiful, and New England is a walk in the hilly woods. Bar Harbor is a great place to celebrate your finish.

[brad]

Sorry! Browsing tandems! All the reasons you describe are why I would like to ride the Northern Tier.

[BrianW]

There's a current journal on CrazyGuy by a couple riding from NJ to the west coast in a tandem. I think they are doing a modified N Tier route.

[BrianW]

BTW, my wife and I have been riding and touring on tandems (and now on a triplet with our 10 year old son) since 1994, so if you need any advice send me a PM.

[mbattisti]

my wife and I took our fully loaded Burley Duet on the NT from Libby to Seattle (having first ridden from Yorktown to Missoula on the TA). Passes in Eastern WA and the Cascades were not too painful due to our low gearing (24 x 34).  A very pleasant ride.  We did take the "Curlew alternative" (skipping Sherman pass)