Trans Am ride in 2026?? 50th anniversary ..!!

[billstewartx]

Hello All,

Is there any appetite for another ride across America in 2026?

My memory is that 2000 people did it in 1976 ...
so if we can get 50 or so to do it again, that would be great!

Anybody in??!?

thanks
bill 

I rode East to West last time

[staehpj1]

It sounds like a good reason to choose to do the route again.  I would love to return to the TA (I dreamed about it in 1976, but did it in 2007).  If the stars align and I am not too decrepit (I'll be 75), I may give it another go. 

[BikePacker]

Glorious notion Bill that I surely hope happens.
I doubt I'd any longer be able to keep up with the herd;
however, will be staying up to date with all the progress
as it advances coast to coast.

[staehpj1]

Glorious notion Bill that I surely hope happens.
I doubt I'd any longer be able to keep up with the herd;
however, will be staying up to date with all the progress
as it advances coast to coast.

Keep up?  Maybe I missed what is being proposed...  Is this being proposed as actually riding as a group?  I just assumed it was something MUCH looser than that, like folks doing it in the same season.

So, my question is what is being proposed.  Just folks doing a 2026 TransAmerica (maybe rebranded as some play on SemiQ)?  Folks doing it at the same time?  Same direction?  Camping as a group like Ragbrai?

How many do the TA in a normal (non covid) year?  I'd have guessed it might have been more than 50.  I don't have a handle on how many we met on our TA, but it was quite a few.  I can remember something like 30 people that we met on our 2007 TA, but I would imagine I forgot quite a few and bet there were plenty that we didn't meet.

Having way more than 50 folks do the TA is very likely if the pandemic has eased up and not reared it's ugly head with new uglier strains.  I'd love to be a part of a Semiquincentennial or Quarter Millenial or Sestercentennial or SemiQ or whatever name catches on for the celebration of our constitution's 250th anniversary assuming we make it that far.  At 75 in 2026 I hope to still be up to the task, but who knows what the next 5 years will do to me?

[staehpj1]

Is Adventure Cycling considering doing anything special for for the 50th anniversary of bike centennial and 250th anniversary of the US?  I know we are in times filled with uncertainty and it is still a way off, but any big project takes time.

If I can stay alive and healthy for another 5 years I'd love to give the TA another shot.  Hopefully I'll still be fit enough at 75, but if I need help there is always an ebike and/or support van if necessary.

My bet is that a fair number of old guys and gals who rode in 1976 who will give it another go.  Things didn't work out for me and I missed that opportunity in 1976.  I dreamed about the ride until I finally did it in 2007.  I have done a bunch of long tours, but another TA on the anniversary would be special.

[ray b]

I'm sure the board and all have plenty of ideas to make the 50th anniversary more meaningful than the 40th.

I'm especially looking forward not so much to a mass of old, experienced repeat riders, but a ramp-up of the subsidized under-30 groups. After all, one of the reasons many of us are touring now is because of the adventure and experiences we enjoyed 50 y ago.

Maybe for the 50th, there'll be an option for some of the under-30 groups to have both under 30 and over 70 leaders.....

[staehpj1]

I'm sure the board and all have plenty of ideas to make the 50th anniversary more meaningful than the 40th.

I'm especially looking forward not so much to a mass of old, experienced repeat riders, but a ramp-up of the subsidized under-30 groups. After all, one of the reasons many of us are touring now is because of the adventure and experiences we enjoyed 50 y ago.

Maybe for the 50th, there'll be an option for some of the under-30 groups to have both under 30 and over 70 leaders.....

For sure having a bunch of old goats like me ride the route again isn't as important as seeing a new crowd on an adventure, but it is a part of the anniversary aspect of it.  Some of how well the anniversary excites people may be how big of a deal the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in our country.  I remember the bicentennial year being a really big deal.

[HikeBikeCook]

Consider who was President then and how the country was united and being an American was such a proud thing. Unfortunately, people are lined up to dump or change the Constitution these days.

[BikePacker]

...Some of how well the anniversary excites people may be how big of a deal the 250th anniversary of the constitution is in our country. 
I remember the bicentennial year being a really big deal.

Fascinating consideration, Stae ....
yeah ... your comment is helping me recall the level of enthusiasm back then...
It had a bearing then, and, it makes sense that it would at 250.

[staehpj1]

Consider who was President then and how the country was united and being an American was such a proud thing. Unfortunately, people are lined of to dump or change the Constitution these days.

I don't want to get into arguing politics here so I won't be specific.  That said were are in scary times as far as our Declaration of Independence and democracy are concerned.  One parallel I do see is that we had been and were still were coming through some pretty troubled times back then.  We do not know where we will be as a country in 5 years time.  I am worried about where the country (or world for that matter) may be headed, but have not given up hope yet.  I hope that we have an intact constitution and democracy to celebrate in 5 years and have a great big celebration!

[rickpaulos]

Hello All,

Is there any appetite for another ride across America in 2026?

My memory is that 2000 people did it in 1976 ...
so if we can get 50 or so to do it again, that would be great!

Anybody in??!?

thanks
bill 

I rode East to West last time

I rode across for the 40th.  Despite some ads, I got zero interest in anyone going with then.  Oh, I did ride the correct direction.  20 mph tail winds for the first 1500 miles from Astoria to Bismark.

The TA route is surely one of the hardest and longest crossings.  I was going to do that but once I got to Oregon, I changed to an approximate Lewis & Clark route for the west half of the USA and my own routing from the Mississippi east to DC.  I'm looking for a 2026 group but not on the TA route.  Maybe Northern.

Rick

[JimCossitt TAWK601]

I just saw this and I'm interested.  Maybe not self contained camping like 1976, van supported, motels every 2-4 days, etc.  may be a better choice for me as I will be 68 in 2026.

Please keep me posted as this concept develops.    Thanks,    Jim Cossitt
406-260-6969
jim.cossitt@gmail.com