Touring - Florence, OR to Eugene?

I know the classic TransAm route leaves 126 & follows Rt 36 to Triangle Lake before rejoining at Eugene. Is 126 straight through all that bad?

Thanks -=

Jim

I've never cycled on 126, but I've driven it many times. There's a fair amount of traffic (a lot on a summer weekend) moving at a high rate of speed, and of course a mountain pass with a tunnel. I've never toured before, so maybe this is no big deal.

Oregon DOT traffic data show that Hwy 36 has about 500 vehicles per day while Hwy 126 has 5000+ vehicles per day. Probably much more on weekends. I've never biked it either - have driven it. Although most people are courteous - there are always those in a mad rush - wanting to pass on a blind curve, etc. Plus beach = booze for a significant minority of folks out there. I've biked in from the coast 6 or 7 times - never had the desire to do 126.

We cycled it last summer, up to Eugene on the last day of the 4th of July weeked.... foolish, then back down to the coast a two weeks later. Needless to say, it was busy. There are lots of curves on the road and very little shoulder. That said, it is not much different from highway 1 through Northern California.

The trooper manning the weigh station just before Eugene will let you roll your bike onto the scale.

noted - will stick with the route to Triangle Lake. Thanks for the info. - Jim