Southern Tier 2017 Thread

[Ty0604]

If you're doing the Southern Tier in 2017, post about it here!

I'm heading West ----> East
Departing San Diego on February 15, 2017
Will post my Instagram etc here as the date gets closer
Riding with one possibly two other riders
We'll be averaging somewhere around ~60 miles a day
Not trying to race
This isn't my first tour (did 5,177 miles Portland, OR ---> Portland, ME this summer) but will be the first for one of the riders

When do you leave? Solo/group? Blog links etc?

Hope to see you all out there!

[ZiZohn]

I'll be heading out from San Diego with 2 others on February 24th.

Sent from my SM-S765C using Tapatalk

[Ty0604]

How many miles per day do you think you'll be averaging?

[ZiZohn]

We're trying to be realistic the first week or so since we'll be coming out from Iowa to start. Not usually many biking chances during December and January. But going to try and hit the gym and do some core workouts and stationary bike work. With that in mind, probably 40-50 miles is realistic, especially since we start climbing pretty quickly. But after that, we'll try to up the mileage to about 60-75 per day. The hope is to take a day off about every 7-10 days. But we're really in no big rush. If someone needs a little more time off, or wants a shorter day, we can do it. I am the "old guy of our little group at 63 years old. My son is 31, and our other buddy is mid-twenties. So I will probably be the one to need a shorter day here and there.

[Ty0604]

Sounds good! We'll be taking a day off every 4-5 days I imagine. We're not in any big rush either. I'm by far the youngest of the group, about 40 years younger than the others. So I'll be riding at their pace.

My trip this summer was full of 100+ mile days. I was alone and found out I was pushing myself too hard.

Excited to slow down and take it easy.

You might catch us if you keep the pace you're intending!

[ZiZohn]

In 2014, I signed up for the ACA Southern Tier Self-contained ride, along with 14 others. Second day out, 3 of us had issues with the heat. I actually passed out when I stopped to cool off under an yawning at a 7-11, coming to with my bike lying on top of me. Locals said it was because of the hurricane that went through Mexico a week earlier that messed with the weather patterns. They said it wasn't usually that humid when it was that hot.  I wasn't able to recuperate fast enough to continue the ride with the group, so flew back home. The other 2 did the same. Actually took me close to a week before I felt 100% again.  I did rejoin the ride, catching the group in Austin, and went the rest of the way to St. Augustine. Really had a good time. But I said at the time, I was going to come back out here and do it again. Worked out that February was a good time for me to do it this time. So shouldn't have the nasty heat like the last trip.

[Ty0604]

I debated between an early February and early March departure due to the heat. Settled in the middle with February 15. I don't do very well in the heat so it's a concern of mine. I handle the cold much better. When it's cold you can just keep adding clothes. When it's hot you can only take so much off, legally 

With that said; I did run into a few days of temperatures over 105*F in Eastern Washington on my tour this summer. They were disgusting but I survived.

Glad you're okay! Heat stroke is no joke.

[jimbo]

Five of us will be starting March 1 from SD.  Self-contained and camping (mostly) .  Mostly 60+ year olds and coming from NY with no outside riding since Oct so we will start slow;  but service availability or lack of somewhat sets the pace for the first few weeks. We plan on taking 60 days with some 1/2 days off and some side trips. Severe weather will most likely mess with the schedule.

[Ty0604]

I doubt weather will me much of an issue. You might run into some monsoon rains but nothing that'll cause massive delays.

We'll be self contained and camping the entire was as well.

Also will be doing some side trips Where will you be taking side trips to?

[jimbo]

Side trips via rental car to Big Bend NP; Carlsbad Caverns; and probably bike into New Orleans.

Weather.... Head winds could be a factor for cutting down mileage somedays... Heavy rains in TX and LA might as well. Nothing scary unless tornado season starts early... 😱  It's part of the adventure.

This is my 4 th xc trip since age 62 so I've experienced just about the full range of weather. If you start a week ahead of us I doubt we will " catch up" to your group. In any event stay safe.
Jim

[Ty0604]

We'll be biking into Big Bend NP and into New Orleans as well. Maybe Baton Rouge. And White Sands NP. No cars involved. So we'll do slightly more than the 3,100 miles. None of those places are too far off of the route. So maybe you'll catch us since we'll be doing those side trips.

Headwinds shouldn't be a problem heading west ---> east. I'd be more worried about hurricane season starting early.

This is my 6th long distance tour and I'm in my 20s.

Can't wait.

[jimbo]

Ty,

Your are a good role model for " young " cyclist with that much touring under your belt!

BTW the prevailing winds along the ST route are not westerlies. It's a very mixed bag. Look at maps of wind directions for US, and read ST blogs posted on " Crazy Guy" . Nevertheless we shall prevail.

I had not thought about White Sands.....nice side trip.

jim

[Ty0604]

Thank you!

The two friends of mine who've done the Southern Tier have had westerlies 90% of the trip. I'm going to stay positive and hope 2017 is the same! But yes regardless we'll make it. Can't be any worse than that 50 mph headwind in South Dakota this summer. Nothing like pedaling for an hour and realizing you've only gone 3 miles.

White Sands has always been on my bucket list. We'll also do the ACA alternate route to Gila Cliff Dwellings that's on the ACA maps.

[wjorns]

I'm heading East to West about the same time - so maybe we'll meet in the middle!  I'm planning/hoping to do 75-100 miles a day, mainly camping with hotels once a week or so.

I just received my maps and I have a question on lodging for the first night out of St Augustine.  I don't see any recommended hotels or campgrounds in maps 107 or 106.  It being the first day I wanted to do 50-75 miles.  I can always do TripAdvisor or the like for a hotel, but I was wondering if there was a recommended campground in the area of maps 107 or 106.

thx,

Will

[Ty0604]

Twin Lakes Fishing & Camp in Hawthorne is probably your best bet. The campground closest to the route has closed down. Twin Lakes is 70-80 miles west of St. Augustine depending on which route you take.