Southern Tier W to E in mid-January?

[xterraracer]

Is this really possible considering weather?  I've searched posts, weather almanacs, etc. and haven't been able to determine if this is a realistic time to do this route.

Solo camping, West to East, starting mid to late January.  Anyone with experience doing this ride that time of year?

[scott.laughlin]

After having lived in Arizona's Sonoran Desert--midway between Yuma and Tucson--for nearly five years, I would not attempt Arizona and New Mexico from May to October.  Even October may be too early.

This time of year is hotter than hot.  Temperatures of 114F are not uncommon for Gila Bend.

Even if you managed to complete the trip unscathed, I don't see how you could look back on it as a fun-filled adventure.

But if you decide to try it you will need AT LEAST two gallons of water each day.

 

[bicyclerider]

I pedaled solo across west to east in june 6 - july 27 1999 southern tier.
I left san diego downtown on Market through to Spring Valley Out Highway 94 to Jacumba .
Then Interstate 8 to Ocotillo. Took S80 which is alongside of I-8 to 111 north around El Centro.
Took 111 north to 78 east. Pedaled through Glamis on 78 northeast to Blythe Took I-10 to outside Phoenix and took Beltline Rd through the reservation south to I -10 Advoiding Tempe.
I-10 down to Tucson. Pedeled through Tucson in town past the university util I got to the south edge of town and picked up I -10 again.
I -10 to to Las Cruces
State road 185 south to El Paso I -10 to outside of Junction to state road 290 through to Austin
Highway 71 east to I-10 Rode I-10 to Houston.
From downtown Houston on I-10 to Orange, Texas.
After crossing the state line on I-10 into louisiana I got on State road 90 to Lafayette. I-10 to Baton Rouge. State road 90 to Pascagoula mississippi I-10 to Mobile I-10 to State road 90 in florida 90 in florida to Pensacola. Southeast on state road 98 until Highway 19 south to Sarasota Florida I got a couple of rides. One through the tunnel in Mobile and one over the skyway bridge.
Time was 57 days I think?? (Sun was baking the back of my head and neck)I kept a white hand towel I stole from a hotel wet with water to keep my core temperature of my head down.
average amount of water carried in a bob trailer and extra water bottles was 3 gallons 3 x 8 lbs equals=24 lbs of water. About 15 lbs of clothing shoes and tubes tires and pump. another 3lbs for a laptop
Probally about 4 cans of peaches to keep up the blood sugar per two day period.
I'll do it again but will travel across the yuma desert this time. Planing around 2008.
Anyone interested??


Jean Andre Vallery
www.bicyclejournals.net
Sarasota Florida

This message was edited by bicyclerider on 6-28-06 @ 3:02 PM

[xterraracer]

My question was mid-January, not mid-summer.  Thanks for trying anyway.

[bicyclerider]

come on.... you know you can do it!! May through August Southern Tier. Follow the route that best provides drinking water from "know sources"
January through March would be fun, as well. Keep in touch with your ride when you decide to leave.
There is nothing like reading a journal of a rider's life pedaling across the USA. Or anywhere!!

Jean Andre Vallery
www.bicyclejournals.net
Sarasota Florida

[Turk]

This link might help. I didn't read it. It seems this has been discussed before. I went to the "online journals" page on this site, clicked on "southern tier", and then searched "southern tier" for the word January. I got 72 hits. The link below is one hit.

http://www.adventurecycling.org/forums/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=7&Topic=231

[mgarnett]

My husband and I did a slightly-modified Southern Tier from East to West, starting in mid-February last year.  We met people who had quite a bit of snow and cold nights in New Mexico in February and March.  Starting in the east we had no real weather issues.  We arrived at the Pacific in late April.  We kept a pretty detailed journal of our trip -- you may find it helpful for planning and to get a sense of the ride.  
http://thebigtrip.crazyguyonabike.com

Good luck!

[Simplygib]

I can only comment on a small portion of the route.  I rode from Phoenix to Tucson following the southern tier as far as Globe, then headed south from there to Tucson.  This was early February in the mid 1990s.  The weather varied from beautiful (60s to 70s) to stormy and windy over some of the mountain passes.  It was never what I'd call cold, although it did get wet part of the time.  I think January would be a great time to ride it - however I can't comment on anything east of there.  Good luck.

[litespeed]

I did El Centro CA to my home in Florida in November - December 2004. It was the final stretch of a circumnavigation of the US. I generally followed Interstates 8 and 10, or nearby roads, as far as San Antonio TX, avoiding major cities. My main problems were rain (It was a wet year) and, surprisingly, mild headwinds (Jet stream ate Texas causing NE winds).
After San Antonio I followed the Gulf coast except for Louisiana where I went north of Baton Rouge. Following the Adventure Cycling Route should keep you out of trouble with the bad Louisiana roads like 190 and bad coastal stretches like around Biloxi. Surprisingly the coldest weather was in Mobile - cold snap, just under freezing in the morning. But otherwise I suffered little from the cold. January and February would certainly be colder than when I did it. Have layered clothing. The best cycling roads you'll find are in Texas, the worst in Louisiana. You might be lucky but don't depend on tailwinds just because you're going west to east. One of the highlights of the trip was bicycling along the Galveston waterfront - miles of fine esplanade. I have also been fervently advised to NOT go through Houston. US90 in the Florida panhandle is a good bicycling road although 98 along the coast is more scenic.

This message was edited by litespeed on 12-14-06 @ 7:43 AM