Looking for cycling partners for TransAmerica Trail next summer

[charlesmwky]

I plan to cycle the Transamerica Trail (TAT) next summer, beginning mid May, and I'm currently in need of finding someone (or multiple people) to go with. My question is, what's the best way I should go about searching for & finding other cyclists to accompany me? Should I post on this forum, with a detailed outline of my plans? Is there some other website/forum that is better known for matching cyclists together, considering this is a longer trip?

Any kind of directive is greatly appreciated 

[JHamelman]

Are you an Adventure Cycling member? You can post a Companions Wanted listing on our website if you are:

https://www.adventurecycling.org/adventure-cyclist/companions-wanted/

Jennifer

[charlesmwky]

Are you an Adventure Cycling member? You can post a Companions Wanted listing on our website if you are:

https://www.adventurecycling.org/adventure-cyclist/companions-wanted/

Jennifer

Thank you so much for this! It's exactly the kind of thing I've been looking for 

[DaveB]

I've often wondered how well those "Companions Wanted" listings work out.  I'd screen any applicants very carefully for compatibility and riding style before agreeing to have them join you.  How tolerant are you for each other's food idiosyncrasies?  How rigid a schedule do you want to keep? Do either of you snore?   You get the idea.

 A mis-match can ruin the trip for both of you.

[charlesmwky]

... A mis-match can ruin the trip for both of you.

Precisely, which is why I've started this process somewhat early on, just in case it takes me a while to find someone cohesive to my behaviors, and me with theirs.

Also, I've been wondering the following for quite a while: Do you think it would be too much if I asked to do a background check on my potential companion? And, offer that they can do one on me, should they desire? For ease of mind I think this would be a good idea, however, I don't want to scare anyone away either, simply due to being overly precautious.

Opinions are appreciated.

[Figaro]

I'm planning to do the same thing starting sometime in May. The last time I thought about doing it was 8-9 years ago--actually posted here about it--but like many, life got in the way and I didn't get to do it. I'm at the point in my life now where, barring an unexpected life event, I can take the time to do it and am excited about it. My wife wants me to find someone to ride with, but I'm not too keen on the idea...I don't want to hold anyone up and don't want to be held up. Having said that, I hope to meet people along the way and have no objections to riding together for stretches as long as it's fun. I'll be 58, plan on self-contained, traveling light(ish) (meaning, no front panniers), camping some and motels some just depending on how I feel and where I am when the day ends, don't know the daily mileage I'll be doing, but am clearing my calendar for 10 weeks (if it takes me 6 that's fine and if it takes me 10 that's ok as well). I'm going east to west and may start somewhere around Myrtle Beach and figure out how to connect with the TAT as soon as possible from there. Been training all summer and have a plan to keep my base fitness through the winter--shouldn't be too tough since living in KY and the winters aren't too terrible. So, having said all this, I don't want to commit to traveling all the way with anyone, but would certainly be open to communicating with people planning to do the same thing and if we can ride some together that would be great.

[charlesmwky]

I don't want to hold anyone up and don't want to be held up. ... plan on self-contained, traveling light(ish) (meaning, no front panniers), camping some and motels some just depending on how I feel and where I am when the day ends, don't know the daily mileage I'll be doing, but am clearing my calendar for 10 weeks (if it takes me 6 that's fine and if it takes me 10 that's ok as well). I'm going east to west .. shouldn't be too tough since living in KY and the winters aren't too terrible. So, having said all this, I don't want to commit to traveling all the way with anyone, but would certainly be open to communicating with people planning to do the same thing and if we can ride some together that would be great.

I also live in KY!, specifically, Lexington. And yes, this sounds similar to the style of traveling that I'm planning on doing -- mostly self-contained with a hotel here and there. As for pace, I would anticipate on traveling 60-75 miles a day, give or take. I'm in no rush, however, I'd still like to make progress and move along. And as for east --> west, is there a specific reason why you want to go this direction? Is it simply because the starting point would be much closer to KY, than having to fly out to the west coast?

[Figaro]

Ha...small world. I'm in Lexington as well :-) I'm planning East to West because I've traveled--and lived--all over the East, North-East, South, and South-West US, (retired active duty Air Force) but have never lived/traveled much in the Mid-west/North-west. Nothing against the east, but I want to be traveling toward the beauty of the west to have something to look forward to--would much rather be looking forward to riding toward the Rockies than the Smokies :-)

Do you ride on the Legacy Trail? I've been doing that from my house downtown quite a bit over the past few months...I can get 25 miles out and back on it with no traffic worries.

[RussSeaton]

Do you think it would be too much if I asked to do a background check on my potential companion?

Not being a private investigator, or a financial something or other, I really don't know what a background check is.  Is it a financial check like the ones Equifax (HaHa) does?  Or a criminal check with the feds, state, county government agencies?  I can sort of understand these checks.  And they would likely tell you whether that is a person you want to ride with.  But, I can think of lots and lots of people who would pass a financial background check (not really sure a high credit score is really important for a bike rider, is it?), and do not have a criminal record, but are not people I would want to ride with.  Unless you know someone, and interact with them, I don't really think a background check will do much for you.  Other than the financial and criminal checks I mentioned.

[indyfabz]

To perform a thorough background check I believe you would need certain personal information about a person. Personally, that would make me very concerned about you and I would run away.

BTW...You will almost certainly meet other riders along the route and camp in the same locations. One night on the TA in 2014 I stayed with more than a half dozen strangers doing some or all of the route? Spent the night with another half dozen last year at one place and a different five or six a few days later. Is that going to make you fear for your safety?