Author Topic: seeking coast to coast cycling companions  (Read 5445 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline nickcrossed

seeking coast to coast cycling companions
« on: February 29, 2020, 11:33:14 am »
Hi , I am a 46 year old male and life long and fit cyclist, seeking partners to ride from West coast to East Coast this Spring.  My route and dates are somewhat flexible.  Would ride 70-100 miles per day.  Please let me know if you might be interested in joining or if you wouldn't mind my joining your group. thanks -Nick

Offline John Nelson

Re: seeking coast to coast cycling companions
« Reply #1 on: February 29, 2020, 10:59:47 pm »
Nick, I have a few suggestions:

(1) Provide more information. The most significant piece of information missing is where you plan to sleep. But what you plan to do for food is also important.

(2) Unless you have a significant reason for going west to east, go the other way.

(3) Prearranged companions are both a blessing and a curse. The curse is probably worse than the blessing. On the other hand, if you show up in Yorktown in the first half of May and head west on the TransAm, you'll almost certainly pick up some companions within the first week. Especially if you camp. Especially if you're flexible.

Offline nickcrossed

Re: seeking coast to coast cycling companions
« Reply #2 on: March 01, 2020, 03:02:40 pm »
Hi John,  Thanks for the response. 

Why do you say its better to go East to West instead of starting on the west coast?  I thought the winds would be more likely blowing westward.  Wheres Yorktown?  Thanks for the suggestion about posting more info. i will .- Nick

Offline John Nelson

Re: seeking coast to coast cycling companions
« Reply #3 on: March 01, 2020, 04:32:33 pm »
Yorktown Virginia is the eastern end of the TransAmerica Trail, the best cross-country route that exists.

There are many reasons I recommend east-to-west. Since you said that you're going to start in the spring, the weather will be much better starting in the East. The West will be too cold and wet in the spring. And no, the winds won't be blowing from the west, except in certain spots (e.g., Wyoming). Summer winds in the Midwest are most commonly from the southeast. If you plan to start each day early, then you want the sun behind you rather than in the drivers' eyes. But if you don't plan to start riding until 10 am, then that won't make much difference.

Offline Pat Lamb

Re: seeking coast to coast cycling companions
« Reply #4 on: March 01, 2020, 05:18:38 pm »
Re: headwinds, anything more than about 45 degrees angle from straight behind you will feel like a tailwind.  People crossing Kansas will meet and both will complain about the terrible tailwinds that day.

Worst headwind I ever faced was in Wyoming, westbound, between Rawlins and Lander.  Worst tailwind ever faced by another couple I met in Colorado was in Wyoming, eastbound, between Lander and Rawlins.  If you want a guaranteed tailwind, ride east at 30,000 feet altitude.  :)  Ground level winds are much less consistent.

Offline nickcrossed

Re: seeking coast to coast cycling companions
« Reply #5 on: March 01, 2020, 06:18:16 pm »
John, Again thank you for the excellent advise.  Orginally I wanted to start in in San Francisco with the western Route ( through Nevada and Utah) but I' m realizing that water or other services could be a major problem.  I guess it should be pretty obvious way the transAmerica route is the way to go. Based on the posts I guess wind going westward or eastward shouldn't be a major difference and therefore I will start in Yorktown.  Thanks guys for the very helpful insights advise from some past riders in key and I will certainly take it to heart-Nick

Offline BikeliciousBabe

Re: seeking coast to coast cycling companions
« Reply #6 on: March 02, 2020, 01:11:05 pm »
Worst headwind I ever faced was in Wyoming, westbound, between Rawlins and Lander.  Worst tailwind ever faced by another couple I met in Colorado was in Wyoming, eastbound, between Lander and Rawlins.
Heh. I had a wicked cross-head between Lander and Jeffrey City. Ended up catching a tandem and took shelter to its left.  Next day from Jeffrey City to Rawlins was a headwind. Left at dawn to beat as much as I could. Heading east towards Sinclair next morning I met a local riding to work at the refinery. He said some days it takes him 20 min. to get there in the morning and an hour to get home.

Offline BikeliciousBabe

Re: seeking coast to coast cycling companions
« Reply #7 on: March 02, 2020, 01:19:36 pm »
I guess it should be pretty obvious way the transAmerica route is the way to go. Based on the posts I guess wind going westward or eastward shouldn't be a major difference and therefore I will start in Yorktown.  Thanks guys for the very helpful insights advise from some past riders in key and I will certainly take it to heart-Nick

I have spent some time on a portion of the TranAm in MT in both mid and late June. As noted, you will certainly encounter people if you head west. One night in Jackson, MT, I camped with more than a half dozen people who had started in VA in early May. The craziest encounters were on the bike trail between Missoula and Hamilton, MT. Met a Scottish fellow heading west. Not even 10 miles later I met another Scottish fellow heading west. Neither of them knew of each other.

Offline jamawani

Re: seeking coast to coast cycling companions
« Reply #8 on: March 02, 2020, 03:48:16 pm »
Nick -

I have ridden X-USA many times on various routes and on other long tours.
Only once have I had someone ride the entire way with me.
Many times I have had people plan to go and cancel out just before.
What I have learned is always to prepare to do it solo.
If you do connect with someone - all the better.
And remember, you are going to be VERY together.
If riding with a Hare Krisna or revisionist Marxist is your thing - more power to ya.

Have fun - Juan

PS - The TransAm is your best bet as stated above.
Also, if you don't have someone at the start, you will always meet up with folks on the TransAm.