Florence, OR to Fallon, NV to connect with Western Express

[bikinggrandma]

Some friends and I are planning to go cross country this summer and want to leave from Florence, OR and connect with the Western Express which we will take to Pueblo, CO where we will connect with the Transamerican route.  Would appreciate suggestions on the best route(s) to take to get to Fallon.  We were thinking of crossing OR to get to 395 (there are several options for doing this - suggestions appreciated), going south on 395 until just North of Arturas, CA where we would then cross over to Garlach, NV, then south to Fallon.  Is this doable?  Thank you!

[John Nettles]

You might consider taking the new Sierra Cascade route that is coming out this spring.  It appears you can go south from Sisters, OR to Woodlands, CA and turn east with the Western Express.  You would have researched routes the whole way and be a First Year rider on the Sierra Cascade route.

Hope you have an enjoyable ride!

John

[staehpj1]

I am curious why Florence and the Western Express?  It seems like kind of an odd route choice.  I thought that most folks who pick the WE do so either because they want to start or finish in San Francisco or because they are looking for a shorter route than the TA.

I'd think that either the full Trans America or the Lewis and Clark into the TA would be better choices for most folks.  Assuming you want to get to the WE from Florence...  I would look at the Sierra Cascade route as John suggested or maybe even consider riding down the coast to SF.

In any case I hope you have a great trip.

[mikedirectory2]

Where is Florence OR?

[FredHiltz]

Where is Florence OR?

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=florence+or

Fred

[daletsteele]

I've never biked the stretch you describe but have traveled around the area. I think you may find some long stretches with limited services and depending on timing, some challenging weather with some good tail winds. You might want to look at options like connecting to CA highway 89 to head south towards Truckee, Reno, and on to Fallon.

I'd like to hear more about your planned trip too. Sounds like something that will give me ideas. I really enjoyed a couple of weeks of riding in Oregon this fall including riding through Florence heading east on highway when it was mostly one way traffic for miles.

Best of luck, Dale

[bikinggrandma]

You are correct; this will be challenging!  First, we live in Oregon (one of us on the Oregon coast between Lincoln City & Newport, and one in Portland).  We have now decided to ride from Bandon, Or (on the southern Oregon coast) to Powers, OR, then take the Glendale to Powers bike route to Glendale, then somewhat follow last years Cycle Oregon route but end up going via Butte Falls to Rocky Point (along the north end of Lake Klamath), then via Chiloquin & Bly to Lakeview.  We will head south to just north of Alturas, CA where we will head east over Cedar Pass to Gerlach, NV.  We will then ride south to Fernley, NV where we will pick up the Western Express Route.  There will only be 2 - 3 of us but we are supported.  If conditions become too extreme (and they may in August) we have an RV available.  This is not a route I would probably do that time of year without support.