Supertick
03-04-07, 01:58 PM
I am leaving in a couple of weeks to ride from San Diego to St. Augustine Florida. Can't make up my mind if I want to take a 15 or 25 degree sleeping bag. Anyone done this ride in March, April and or May.
Touring - ACA Southern Tier
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jagraham
03-04-07, 02:27 PM
May I suggest a sleeping bag liner for your 25 degree bag? Adds warmth to a 25 degree bag, if you don't need it, ship it home.
Judy
Judy
Cyclesafe
03-04-07, 04:43 PM
It can very easily snow in the mountains of New Mexico in April. I'd take the 15 and then swap it out for the 25 or even just a liner after you reach the Gulf. You can mail stuff to yourself enroute.
cosmo starr
03-04-07, 05:09 PM
15
vosyer
03-04-07, 05:28 PM
you guys are scaring me again - my southern trip begins mid April. I was orginally planning to take a 30 degree bag with a liner, but was in Houston on another trip a week or so ago and camped out in 85 degree weather and the 30 degree bag was to hot to sleep in by a long shot even zipped apart. So I just ordered a 45 degree down bag and with a liner that gets me to 35 degrees and 5 degree for the tent gets me to 30 degrees. In addition I am taking a thermarest Pro 4 pad. Again there is a month difference to when Supertick and I start our trips? Mw
gpsblake
03-04-07, 10:25 PM
I'd go with a 25 degree bag and liner or even a 15 degree bag if it isn't too much more weight. It will be fine on cold nights and on warm nights, just sleep with the liner and the use the bag for an extra layer of comfort underneath you. You need to plan for the coldest weather possible though, go to weather.com and check out the averages & record lows for the areas you will be passing thru.
Once you hit Eastern Texas, the extremes between day temps and night temps are much less than in the mountains and desert.
Lordsburg NM for example on April 18
Avg High 80 Avg Low 38
record high 94 record low 21
El Paso TX on May 1
Avg High 82 Avg 56
record high 96 record low 38
Also remember that for each 1,000 feet of elevation, it is around 5 degrees colder. So if Lordsburg sits at 5,000 feet and you are camping at 8,000 feet... it's going to be 15 degrees colder on average and more on a clear night.
Once you hit Eastern Texas, the extremes between day temps and night temps are much less than in the mountains and desert.
Lordsburg NM for example on April 18
Avg High 80 Avg Low 38
record high 94 record low 21
El Paso TX on May 1
Avg High 82 Avg 56
record high 96 record low 38
Also remember that for each 1,000 feet of elevation, it is around 5 degrees colder. So if Lordsburg sits at 5,000 feet and you are camping at 8,000 feet... it's going to be 15 degrees colder on average and more on a clear night.