Why are you here?

[DadHyink]

I will turn 60 January 2007.  It has been a dream to bike accross America.  What better way to celebrate my 60th year!  My son is a schoolteacher, so can accompany me.  My wife and daughter-in-law and their two children will drive a support vehicle towing a mobile home.  I want to research this trip as thoroughly as possible.  We both have some biking experience (a century or two, we have both crossed Michigan), but would not be considered "avid bikers".  I think I might turn into one, though!

[rulon]

Pursue your dreams I say!  Cross country will be the experience you'll never forget and never regret.  Have a great trip!

[DadHyink]

Which route has the most to recommend?  Scenery?  History?  Amenities?  Difficulty?
Camelback or no camelback?
Aerobars or no aerobars?
Tire width?
Aside from flats, which repair should we be prepared for?
I read alot about GPS.  Whatever would you need that for if you have a good set of maps?  The only thing I could think of is to help a support vehicle track the riders, and from my reading, that has a range of 6 miles max.  I would be very interested in any info.

Thanks for taking the time to read/answer.

[Webmaster]

Hi DadHyink,

You'll probably get a better response from others on this forum if you post your routing questions to the Routes area and equipment questions to the GearTalk area.

In the meantime, you might want to check out these two pages from the website:

http://www.adventurecycling.org/features/howto.cfm
http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/faq.cfm

Good luck and have fun!


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Adventure Cycling Association

This message was edited by Webmaster on 10-21-05 @ 6:54 AM

[GoldenSpoke76]

As someone who rode the Golden Spoke East route in 1976, I was just checking to see if the 1976 Rider Registry had been put out yet.  Doesn't appear to be out there yet.
From the 30th Ann page: "Well announce this free registry later in 2005."
I'll be checking back off and on.

[Badger]

I'm here for the information.  I have gotten such good advice that the trip I'm planning almost seems simple.

[Mike.Devey]

I am here to relive old glories.

My friend Mike Harris and I did Oregon to New York in the summer of 76' just before college.

We toured before that and after, although Harris has done much more.  he has done the transcontinental three times and took his wife on a 3000 mile honeymoon.

I take motorcycle adventures now, but Harris still takes two week trips with his HS age son.

[tofubicycle]

I've been an avid cyclist since 1997. I've worked as a courier and in several bike shops - work I continue to do today in Washington DC. I have taken numerous one-week trips but have yet to get started in cross-country trips. The main thing holding me back has been debt left over from a bike-related busniess venture. 5 weeks ago I was riding to work and got doored, breaking a rib and severely damaging my right hand, incuding a finger broken in several places. In my efforts to stay positive during my recovery time I have vowed to myself to make a cross-country trip this fall when the season ends at the shop. I have since learned that the settlement I am receiving from the insurance company will cover my remaining debt absolutley ensuring that I will be able to make my trip! Needless to say I am elated and making tentative plans to extend my trip.

I came to the ACA site for information and joined the forums to learn as much as people have to share and to share what knowlege I have in the areas I'm  acquainted with.

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i'd rather be biking.

[JRA]

I'm here to see how the adventure cycling scene is doing and to pick up info. In the past I have done off road touring by MTB and work as a coach/guide in downhill MTBing, but I'm looking at getting back into the multi-day touring.

[Imhyper2u]

What kind of info are you looking for??

Pedal pusher 4ever

[Imhyper2u]

Its very possible to bike here as well. I had a job that I commuted 48 miles one way 5 days a week and than back home

Pedal pusher 4ever

[Imhyper2u]

Im here because of the info I can get from other cyclists

Pedal pusher 4ever

[Cabbey]

I'm new to the bicycle touring world and there's lots of good info here and I love the magazine.

                               

[Kelly]

I'm here because I wonder if ACA ever has female tour leaders. The ACA Lewis and Clark trip I participated in least year (had a GREAT time) had two women and eleven men. If their tour leaders have the same male/female ratio . . . . . my shots are pretty long. I'm signed up for the ACA leadership class in Boulder next month.

Kelly