Author Topic: bike tour  (Read 24973 times)

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Offline sghoward58

bike tour
« on: October 23, 2024, 07:49:03 am »
I am considering doing the southern tier bike route west to east starting in early January.  I am obviously concerned about cold temps and snow.  Any thoughts, recommendations?  Have others done it during this time of year?  Any information you can provide would be helpful.  I am a newbie to this forum so hoping this is an okay post.  Regards.

Offline Westinghouse

Re: bike tour
« Reply #1 on: October 23, 2024, 08:19:07 pm »
Yes, I pedaled the southern tier four times in winter. Generally, it is easily doable. You must have clothing and shelter adequate for low temperatures, and make no mistake about it, temperatures can drop to near zero degrees F that far south. I did it using only an 8-by-10-foot poly-tarp for shelter. Stay constantly continuously in contact with weather forecasts. Crazy unprecedented nasty changes in the air are storming up more and more these days.

Offline UncaBuddha

Re: bike tour
« Reply #2 on: October 24, 2024, 09:01:34 am »
Westinghouse, FOUR TIMES??!!! Wow! Did you camp out the whole way? Is it feasible to stay in hotels the whole way? I'm thinking St Augustine to San Antonio starting in the middle of February... (but my old man scaredy face inertia is holding me back)

Offline Westinghouse

Re: bike tour
« Reply #3 on: October 24, 2024, 06:00:28 pm »
It is possible. Most nights I stealth camped.

Offline nlansner

Re: bike tour
« Reply #4 on: October 30, 2024, 08:21:08 am »
I rode from Brawley, CA to El Paso right after Christmas 15 years ago.  It was definitely doable, but I did detour one day onto I-10 in New Mexico rather than following the ACA route up into the mountains because of snow in the forecast.  So check your forecasts each day and have a backup plan ready. You don't need crazy $1000 gear, but a decent tent, good sleeping bag and good thermals for both on and off bike are a must.  One thing I remember about that trip: a lot of dark, a lot of lonely! Lots of campgrounds where I was the only person there, and the short daylight hours means less time for riding as well as less time for meeting people.  I swore off both solo touring and winter touring after that trip, although I'm since back to both.

UncaBuddha, I'm planning to do Joshua Tree and Death Valley in mid-February (2 weeks total).  You should overcome your old man inertia and come with me, although I'm planning to camp whenever feasible.  No stealth camping - campgrounds only, with hotels mixed in when they're not available. Email me at thissameusername@gmail if you're interested or want to kick around other ideas.

Offline Westinghouse

Re: bike tour
« Reply #5 on: November 05, 2024, 08:24:36 pm »
That goes double for watching the weather. Tornadoes spawned by hurricane Milton destroyed properties across several counties in Florida where I am. Sudden extreme changes in the weather killed six people near my home-town, and wrecked houses all around. This was very recently this happened.

Offline UncaBuddha

Re: bike tour
« Reply #6 on: November 07, 2024, 09:34:19 am »
I rode from Brawley, CA to El Paso right after Christmas 15 years ago.  It was definitely doable, but I did detour one day onto I-10 in New Mexico rather than following the ACA route up into the mountains because of snow in the forecast.  So check your forecasts each day and have a backup plan ready. You don't need crazy $1000 gear, but a decent tent, good sleeping bag and good thermals for both on and off bike are a must.  One thing I remember about that trip: a lot of dark, a lot of lonely! Lots of campgrounds where I was the only person there, and the short daylight hours means less time for riding as well as less time for meeting people.  I swore off both solo touring and winter touring after that trip, although I'm since back to both.

UncaBuddha, I'm planning to do Joshua Tree and Death Valley in mid-February (2 weeks total).  You should overcome your old man inertia and come with me, although I'm planning to camp whenever feasible.  No stealth camping - campgrounds only, with hotels mixed in when they're not available. Email me at thissameusername@gmail if you're interested or want to kick around other ideas.

That sounds interesting! I don't mind camping  and have all my gear. I just need to get off my ass. I will research shipping the bike. Thanks!

Offline sghoward58

Re: bike tour
« Reply #7 on: November 14, 2024, 12:42:06 pm »
thanks for the replies.  Regarding the cold temps....Do they continue cold through louisiana, mississippi, alabama?  I understand there are a lot of variables, but, Westinghouse, having done it four times, just curious if I should expect cold the entire route.

Offline Westinghouse

Re: bike tour
« Reply #8 on: November 14, 2024, 07:20:32 pm »
Be prepared for extreme cold. It might not be extreme, but it could be. I was in 7 degrees F in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.