Author Topic: Hello fellow tourers!  (Read 6729 times)

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Offline Bigtallfatbloke

Hello fellow tourers!
« on: August 26, 2008, 05:04:13 pm »
Hi,

I am a Brit cyclist from just outside London and just wanted to say hi to all here.

I have just returned from two unsupported cyclecamping  tours this summer:

1) From Bremen in northern Germany down the German rivers into Basel switzerland via the bodensee (lake constance). 12 days with ride partner

2) Calais in northern france down to Montpellier on the southern french coast. 10 days solo

I would happily help/share any info/experiences with anybody looking to do those trips sometime, or even just interested.

I have a 'pipe dream' to ride across the states sometime. I figure it must be about three times the distance of the trans France ride but given the right preparation I know I could do it. So i would be very interested in any route suggestions, best time of year for the routes, tips, hints etc etc that anybody might be able to offer. I know NOTHING about the USA in terms of geography, climate, locations etc so am looking to get edookated lol! I should say that I am not a big climber..I can handle hills but mountains aint my thing really, especially those big type mouintains you have in the states! I prefer moderate temperatures...by which I mean i would prefer to avoid extreme heat and freezing winter conditions if possible. Scenery is a good thing, but my aim is to cross America reasonably directly and as cheap as possible.

Oh one thing...my forum name is just something i use On a brit cycle board which I joined when i was seriously heavy...I lost a LOT of weight due to cycling and intend to keep it off...I'm a bit fitter now! I tend to ride between 100-120 km a day...(I guess thats around 80 miles approx??)

Anyway cheers.
Rolf. :) :)

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live"

This message was edited by Bigtallfatbloke on 8-26-08 @ 2:13 PM
"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live"

Offline CMajernik

Hello fellow tourers!
« Reply #1 on: August 26, 2008, 05:26:48 pm »
A good website for info, insight, and encouragement that has many
journals from touring cyclists:

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com


 
Carla Majernik
Routes and Mapping Program Director

Adventure Cycling Association
Inspiring people of all ages to travel by bicycle.
800/755-2453, 406/721-1776 x218, 406/721-8754 fax
www.adventurecycling.org

Follow Routes & Mapping on Twitter: @acaroutes

Offline MrBent

Hello fellow tourers!
« Reply #2 on: August 30, 2008, 11:48:14 am »
Hey, Rolf: Are you sure you could not develop the fitness for some mountain grades?  Avoiding them would mean missing the best this country has to offer--really.  Also, I'm not sure it's even possible to ride coast to coast without climbing a few mountains.  The entire west coast is blocked by at least one mountain range at any given point: the Cascades up north; the Sierras in the middle/south; and other ranges to the south!

A trans-continental crossing will involve, for most people, two to three months of cycling.  That means that you'll probably hit a wide range of conditions.  I think that the ACA "Southern Tier" route started very early in the spring--like February--might provide some of the most temperate conditions though you'd almost certainly hit some sub-freezing conditions through New Mexico.  It is possible, however, to find lower, warmer routes that run pretty close to the Mexico border in places.  After April, the southern US starts to get very hot and humid--the conditions I hate the most.

For my crossing last year, I started in the NE (Maine) on Aug. 10th and finished in Ventura, California, on Nov. 15th.  I hit every imaginable condition with the exception of snow: hot/humid, windy, sub-freezing, perfect clear autumn beauty.  Crossing a continent is a full-on expedition, so I think the variety is to be expected.  You'll find plenty of hard times, but these provide excellent pub stories when the riding is over.  Gusto, mate, gusto!  Cast off your lines and throw yourself into the journey!

Cheers,

Scott


Offline Bigtallfatbloke

Hello fellow tourers!
« Reply #3 on: August 30, 2008, 01:37:29 pm »
That is helpful Scott thankyou. I pretty much expected the complete' range' of weather conditions and terrain. The mountains are something I will need to learn to conquer...I mean they ain't going anywhere so to get there I guess I'll need to climb a few :)



"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live"
"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live"