Author Topic: Best Route from Mt. Bachelor to LA  (Read 4403 times)

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Offline Ogden Family Ride

Best Route from Mt. Bachelor to LA
« on: May 08, 2017, 04:34:51 am »
Hello Cycling World! 
We are brand new to cycling and are undertaking a big event this summer.  Our family will be biking from Mt. Bachelor (Bend, OR) to Los Angeles, CA.  We are doing this epic ride to raise money and awareness for wheelchairs in developing countries.  My husband has broke his neck two separate times, leaving him with less function each break and is a C6 quadriplegic.  He still enjoys pedaling a hand-cycle and we will be riding the approx. 1,200 miles in relay style with our 4 kids, ages 17, 16, 12, and 10.  I am needing a great route that is reasonably safe, lower elevations, and keeps our mileage down under the 1200 miles.  Anyone have some great suggestions?
Thank you for your assistance in advance!

Offline Patco

Re: Best Route from Mt. Bachelor to LA
« Reply #1 on: May 11, 2017, 11:30:17 pm »
Some thoughts - riding from Bachelor to LA will mean riding through some heavily populated areas and while a route can be devised through those populated areas that will be 'safe' (and that is never a given), there is much to be considered. Also, any route from Bachelor to LA will require crossing some mountains. If you travel from Bachelor to the coast to join the Pacific Coast Route, there will be climbing over the Cascades plus climbing the Coast Range, then there will be climbing along the coast. Plus, once in California on the coast route the route is, in my opinion, less rider friendly than Oregon, particularly if this is your first cycling tour and riding with teenagers and young children. If you travel south from Bachelor using 97, which is generally a good cycling route with, for the most part, good shoulders, then you will have a decision to make when you reach K. Falls. Either continuing generally south on 97 to California, or taking 39/139 from K Falls to eventually connect with 299 to Redding, then south through the valley until, at some point, you will need to decide how you want to navigate the population centers in Northern California (Sacramento, the Bay Area). There are so many issues to consider, which is likely why you are not seeing many responses to your request. There is no easy answer. If you live in Central Oregon, since you mentioned Bachelor, I would be willing to help you explore possible routes. Let me know.

Offline Ogden Family Ride

Re: Best Route from Mt. Bachelor to LA
« Reply #2 on: May 15, 2017, 01:48:53 am »
Patco,
Thank you for responding! I would love to chat with you about possible ideas for our route.  Im located in Boise, ID, but we will be leaving from Bachelor.  We will head south from Bachelor and head towards Crescent City, CA to avoid major mountain ranges.  We are trying to stay a little off the coast in some areas to help with safety of roads.  What is the best time/day to contact you and by what means?
Thank you again for your response!

Offline Patco

Re: Best Route from Mt. Bachelor to LA
« Reply #3 on: May 15, 2017, 05:06:25 pm »
I sent you my contact info through the "my messages" function on this site.