Bad spots on the Transamerica

[litespeedlujak]

Where are the bad spots on the Transamerica?  I'm referring to places where riders might be given a difficult time by police, dogs who like to chase, jerk-off car/truck drivers and generally unfriendly folks.  Also, where are the places I don't want to miss?  I'm referring to excellent mom & pops diners, friendly folks and safe drivers.  A few years ago, someone commented about a police chief who allowed him to overnight in his jail.  What a great guy!!!!    Planning on a ride as early as next summer.  If not, then the following summer.  Thanks for all the input.

[John Nelson]

Dogs are a problem in western Virginia, all of Kentucky and parts of Missouri. Starting in Kansas, you're pretty much home free.

Friendly folks are everywhere. Police are people too. Don't worry about that.

Truck traffic comes and goes. I think there are small bad spots in a lot of different places.

One car out of a thousand might cause you trouble. That's pretty universal and I don't think all bad drivers congregate in one place.

There are very, very few things to worry about on the TransAm. Have fun and leave your worries behind.

[litespeedlujak]

John, I'm not really worried.....not much anyway.  Don't want you to think I was cutting the police force down.  I wasn't.  When I said the police chief allowed the guy to stay in his jail, I meant Chief invited him over for a dry bed and a hot shower.  I thought that to be incredibly commendable of the officer.  Thanks for the comment. 

[CMajernik]

If you want to read some journals about riding the TransAm you can search on this website:
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/

[LongTallEandM]

Eastern Kentucky and Western Virginia for sure ("yard dogs").  Carry "Halt" on your handlebars, test it, and be ready to use it.  I found myself riding with one hand on my handlebars and one hand on pepper spray during this stretch, with one eye on the road and the other scanning for rogue pit bulls.  it wasn't until central Virginia and the dogs disappeared that I realized how tense I was during this stretch.

The other tough stretches?  Idaho, between Council and Riggins, due to no road shoulders, strong head winds and truck traffic (stock trucks, grain trucks, and logging trucks).  Also, Wyoming, between Jeffrey City and Rawlins.  HEAVY semi-truck and oversize truck traffic, strong headwinds, and poor pavement conditions (a combination of rumble strips and broken pavement within the road shoulders.  This stretch made riding a dozen miles of I-80 seem like child's play.  For reference, we rode west to east.

But you can handle it, and you'll have a blast.  Go ride!