Southern Route

[JimK]

I plan to bike the southern route starting in mid-March with my 18 year old daughter. We need to decide east to west or west to east. Has anyone biked this route at about that time and can you offer some advice regarding direction?

[TRobertson]

Hi Jim,

When folks generally ask this question to us in the routes and
mapping department at Adventure Cycling, we tell them that
whatever works out logistically easier is probably the way to
go. That said, most folks on the Southern Tier do ride it from
west to east. One reason is if you do start in the spring, you
can get through the desert sections of the southwest before it
gets too hot.

The other thing that comes up is wind. I've ridden the
southern tier from west to east. In that case, we probably had
an equal number of headwinds and tailwinds.  I've also riden
the western part of the route from east to west. In that case I
joined my father who had been riding from the east coast,
and had enjoyed tailwinds for most of the trip.

So it's hard to predict the wind a lot of the time. But it does
seem like that you'd have a better chance for favorable winds
if you went west to east....but there are always exceptions.

Hope that this helps.



 

[jeanvallery]

Jim
I didn't travel the southern tier in march but I did travel it in the June 6th thru July 27th period.
I started in San Diego headed back to Sarasota Florida.
As soon as I come over the top of the hills 60 or so miles east of San Diego I was greeted with winds from the south/southeast that lasted until I reached Houston,Texas. Then it would change from east to west and back to from the southeast.
The winds early in the morning before the sun rises and starts the winds blowing again are real comfortable and make the distance more enjoyable.
Of course there always seems to be a constant wind, maybe the early riding was for my peace of mind regarding the heat.  I discovered that talking to myself about the enviroment around me helps pass the time, and there is plenty of miles and time.
Out of houston I took a highway name ( 290 )Texas Hill Trail. That took me through Austin and across to just below the small town of Junction, texas.
I took this to advoid the trip all the way down to San Antonio then back up again to the same location. I traveled as straight a line as I could across.
I modified the route of the Southern Tier route provided by Adventure cycling.  
Please plan to transport enough water to carry you more than 8 hours or 100 miles whatever comes first.
Water comes in three forms, bottled, from the hotel or undrinkable. Unless you have the chance to get it from a persons home water supply. The are a few small towns that will have public fountians. Of course a few reststops on the interstate have water. Some don't.
I'll explain if you email me off list or I will provide the info to this message board.
Jean Andre Vallery
www.2453.net
Sarasota Florida

[gingerloop]

Jean,

Do you have your trip online somewhere?  I would love to read it.  I am planning a trip on the Southern Tier in April 2006 and love reading anything about the route.  Thanks much!

Devin Holmes
devin at gingerloop dot com

[jeanvallery]

I'm so sorry, I had it online for about two years and It was lost due to a server crash.
I can explain to you the route I took but a large part was interstate. I went through during a time of large forest fires on the adventure cycling route and took a detour. If your interested email me
Jean Andre