What would this be called?...

[ronnie421]

I am planning my (what was supposed to be) my cross country  trip for next May.  Was going to begin in Bar Harbor, Maine and navigate myself to San Francisco.  However, I have changed my route and decided to start at my own front door in Corpus, Christi, Tx, straight up north to casper, Wy, then nw to Oregon, then down the west coast to SF, Ca, then come back home following the west coast and ending at my own front door again in Corpus Christi, Tx.  I know thats not a cross country tour because I did not technically cross the country.  Is there a name for that kind of route? Just curious. 

[indyfabz]

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."--W. Shakespear

[charliedid]

Circuitous tour
Loop tour
Circuit tour
Long A$$ Bike Ride

 

[FredHiltz]

"Circle" is good because when you're done you can tell your friends "I rode in a circle for 68 days."

Fred

[o2tour]

I'd call it a good time. Left my garage this spring for a wonderful 40 day loop tour. Spent $3 for gas.

[Lucky13]

"Loop Tour" sounds good. I've done that in the past and hope to do it again.

It's great to avoid the cost and hassle of planes, trains and automobiles.

[ronnie421]

"Loop Tour".  Cool. I like it. Now I got something to say. "I'm doing a loop tour of the western U.S." Sounds good to me! Thanks!

[happyriding]

The riding from Jackson, WY up to Glacier National Park, all on ACA routes, is so beautiful it would be a shame not to do it while you are in the area.  Unfortunately, that will make your loop about 17,000 miles long.  If you do make it as far north as Glacier National Park, then you can ride west on the Norther Tier until you hit the ocean, and then ride south along the whole coast!

At least make your way to Jackson, WY and ride north a little ways on the ACA route.  The Tetons are spectacular.

Why are you changing your route?  If you don't mind mosquitos, riding across the U.S. on the Norther Tier would be much cooler.

[ronnie421]

I mainly changed my route because after all the mapping I did from Bar Harbor, Maine heading west, I really didnt know anyone until I got to Casper, Wy.  It was basically going to be a sight-seeing venture.  But, if I start from S Tx, which is where I am from, I have family and friends in almost every major city going north that I can see and visit. Some of whom I have not seen in YEARS. I realized that visiting friends and family would make my trip more worthwhile than visiting Niagra Falls, lights of NY and the biggest, baddest roller coasters across the country.  If I head straight up north from my front door, I have friends/family in almost every major city until I get to Casper, which is where I will visit an old Troopers friend (Its a Drum and Bugle Corps that I marched with years ago) then head to Oregon, where a Blue Devils friend (whom I also marched with many years ago) lives. I haven't seen them in years! Then follow the west coast back home, which tons of my family are scattered through-out northern and southern California.  I can catch Times Square in NY, "The Rocky Steps" in Pennsylvania and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Ohio another day! LOL!   

[Westinghouse]

Cycling from ocean to ocean is just for so. It is comparatively irrelevant to the matter of long distance bicycle touring. When I first started long tours by bike I just wandered without any particular destination or mile requirement for the day or even the  entire trip. The tour you mention is just that---a long-distance bicycling tour, and it goes where you go. It does not have to be called transcontinental or transam or by any other other twelve cylinder name. It's not the starting and ending points that define your journey, your enthusiasm, your enjoyment, your strength, courage, and the challenges that you overcome. It is the journey and yourself.

[ronnie421]

Very well put! I AM the journey.  Whether I go this way or that way.  Its not where I start or finish, its whats in between that counts.  I am super excited and i think I will have a blast.  I have contacted relatives and friends along my new route and they have gladly invited me to come over and visit.  I wish June 2012 would get here already!

[JayH]

Loop sounds good..

When I do hikes or bikes where i follow a common path out and back and then do a loop, I call it a Lollipop. :-)  Because if you were to plot it out on a map, it would look like one!

Jay

[Westinghouse]

There you go ronnie421. A long cycling tour can be a very rewarding and gratifying experience. I haven't cycled 37.000 miles (59,000 kilometers) through nineteen countries because I have found it to be a grind. I love it. Sure, there are times when you might become frustrated, angry, and tired, or caught out in unexpected storms, but what can I say. It's part of the human experience. I recommend you keep a detailed daily journal. It's time consuming, yes. Later you will be glad you did.

[happyriding]

I like big loops too.  I don't fancy the idea of having to fly/drive/train to the start or finish.