Touring - ?'s about Adv. Cycling's Transamer. route

I just bought the 12 section map set that starts in Astoria and ends in Virginia. I'd be interested to talk anybody who has experience using their maps, in particular, this route. It looks like they have broken up the route in 25 mile segments, and I am trying to gauge how far I can go each day. I will actually be leaving from Seattle and may have to skip the first Astoria-Florence section by taking Route 90/82from Seattle through the Snoqualmie Pass to link up with the route in Pendleton, OR or Missoula, Montana. So I'd also welcome any advice from anybody who has riden this route. Thanks!

Hi sommers,

I rode this route last summer. It really depends on YOU!! I went E->W. At first I was doing 40-60 mile days. In the flats of Kansas I was doing 80-100 miles. Then in the Rockies I was slower (who wants to speed through that territory!). I would recommend to take your time. It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance so don't rush it (unless there are headwinds or it is 115 degrees out....which I got to experience)

If you have any specific questions feel free to PM me

Adventure Cycling has it's own forums too, FYI. You could also post something in their forums...

http://www.adventurecycling.org/forums/index.cfm

Jay

I just bought the 12 section map set that starts in Astoria and ends in Virginia. I'd be interested to talk anybody who has experience using their maps, in particular, this route. It looks like they have broken up the route in 25 mile segments, and I am trying to gauge how far I can go each day. I will actually be leaving from Seattle and may have to skip the first Astoria-Florence section by taking Route 90/82from Seattle through the Snoqualmie Pass to link up with the route in Pendleton, OR or Missoula, Montana. So I'd also welcome any advice from anybody who has riden this route. Thanks!

I did it west to east in 4 months, because I added the part which runs up to Jasper, Alberta as well and then doubled back to colorado. Don't rush it. I averaged 60-70 miles a day. Let your body and your mind tell you whether to ride more or less on any given day.

roughstuff

Roughstuff, How about cutting the rest of us a break and taking the political disclaimer off your posts? This forum isn't the proper venue to convey your opinions. As a member of this forum I don't come here to get your view of the world. There is enough aggrevation with all the lies, spin and BS going on 24/7 via the media without the need to have it invade the forum. You, as are we all, are entitled to your beliefs. I respectfully ask that remove the political message from your posts. As always, I respect your bicycling experience and look forward to reading your posts.

I just bought the 12 section map set that starts in Astoria and ends in Virginia. I'd be interested to talk anybody who has experience using their maps, in particular, this route. It looks like they have broken up the route in 25 mile segments, and I am trying to gauge how far I can go each day. I will actually be leaving from Seattle and may have to skip the first Astoria-Florence section by taking Route 90/82from Seattle through the Snoqualmie Pass to link up with the route in Pendleton, OR or Missoula, Montana. So I'd also welcome any advice from anybody who has riden this route. Thanks!

Go to www.crazyguyonabike.com

There is a journal of the this route at this site.

Glad to hear you're thinking about doing a cross-country tour - it's da best, man.
East to west or west to east?? Depends on the time of the year.
Don't start too early in the west - snow at higher elevations doesn't melt until June.
A sweet run is W to E is to start in mid July and get to Virginia by early fall, but that doesn't usually fit into most people's schedules. The heat and humidity increase as you head east as do the mongrel dogs.

WHY DO I-90 or I-82??? You can do the Adventure Touring Northern Tier out of Anacortes to Sandpoint - then cut down to Missoula on Route 200 - no need for maps for Route 200 - pleasant ride, plenty of camping and supplies. Pretty steep early on crossing the North Cascades - especially if this is your first tour - but a superb ride. Or you can consider the Iron Horse Trail from Cedar Falls - just east of Seattle to the Columbia River - then a number of possibilities to get to Spokane and Sandpoint or Lewiston and Lochsa River Valley.

The Lochsa ride in Idaho is incredible - especially downhill - but still fabulous going east. Make sure to overnight near Jerry Johnson hot springs unless it's a weekend - too many drunken parties then.
The Montana section is great, too - but then how can you lose in western Montana. Yellowstone can have heavy traffic - bike early and late - check on contruction schedules on the park website - consider some hiking and/or camping the the backcountry. Eastbound is the better direction in Wyoming - known for its killer winds. You can miss riding I-80 by heading due south from Rawlins and cutting over on a dirt road to Saratoga - more hot springs. Colorado is sweet, too - esp the Walden area - Highway 9 - north and south of Frisco/Breck has heavy traffic.

By the way - eastern Colorado is FLATTER than Kansas and Kansas is a breeze with lots of small communities along the way. I would consider taking the Katy Trail across Missouri instead of the TransAmer - Missouri is famous for its killer goathills - straight up/straight down mile after mile - it's the limestone. Also, I'm convinced that parts of the TransAmer in Kentucky are NOT the best routings.

I mention rail trails because they have minimal grade and no car traffic - this is less of an issue in the west, but it becomes important as you head east. My comment about dogs also applies to some people in the Southeast. Some in the south view cycle touring with less tolerance than elsewhere. I have had more things tossed out windows - words & beer cans - in the south than anywhere else - always by men who, I guess, feel their masculinity is threatened. Friends of mine who have toured - esp women, minorities - have reported numerous incidents. I not dissing everybody in the south - its only a few - but just one incident can ruin one's day - in fact cause serious injury. Cycle cautiously in the south.

Back to the route - the Virginia Creeper Trail in SW Virginia is incredible - ending up in Mount Rogers Park.
You can cycle practically any 600-number road in Va with confidence. Virginia has one of the best networks of backcountry roads in the US - so feel free to venture off the TransAmer.

If you really want to go ocean to ocean you can take the ferry to Tangier and across to Onancock than head out to Chincoteague. Likewise, starting. Consider a day or two touring the San Juan Islands. By taking the ferries at the start and end of the trip you will have a strong physical connection to the oceans and time to reflect. Happy cycling.

John - - johnegan@vcn.com

Glad to hear you're thinking about doing a cross-country tour - it's da best, man.
East to west or west to east?? Depends on the time of the year.
Don't start too early in the west - snow at higher elevations doesn't melt until June.
A sweet run is W to E is to start in mid July and get to Virginia by early fall, but that doesn't usually fit into most people's schedules. The heat and humidity increase as you head east as do the mongrel dogs.

WHY DO I-90 or I-82??? You can do the Adventure Touring Northern Tier out of Anacortes to Sandpoint - then cut down to Missoula on Route 200 - no need for maps for Route 200 - pleasant ride, plenty of camping and supplies. Pretty steep early on crossing the North Cascades - especially if this is your first tour - but a superb ride. Or you can consider the Iron Horse Trail from Cedar Falls - just east of Seattle to the Columbia River - then a number of possibilities to get to Spokane and Sandpoint or Lewiston and Lochsa River Valley.

The Lochsa ride in Idaho is incredible - especially downhill - but still fabulous going east. Make sure to overnight near Jerry Johnson hot springs unless it's a weekend - too many drunken parties then.
The Montana section is great, too - but then how can you lose in western Montana. Yellowstone can have heavy traffic - bike early and late - check on contruction schedules on the park website - consider some hiking and/or camping the the backcountry. Eastbound is the better direction in Wyoming - known for its killer winds. You can miss riding I-80 by heading due south from Rawlins and cutting over on a dirt road to Saratoga - more hot springs. Colorado is sweet, too - esp the Walden area - Highway 9 - north and south of Frisco/Breck has heavy traffic.

By the way - eastern Colorado is FLATTER than Kansas and Kansas is a breeze with lots of small communities along the way. I would consider taking the Katy Trail across Missouri instead of the TransAmer - Missouri is famous for its killer goathills - straight up/straight down mile after mile - it's the limestone. Also, I'm convinced that parts of the TransAmer in Kentucky are NOT the best routings.

I mention rail trails because they have minimal grade and no car traffic - this is less of an issue in the west, but it becomes important as you head east. My comment about dogs also applies to some people in the Southeast. Some in the south view cycle touring with less tolerance than elsewhere. I have had more things tossed out windows - words & beer cans - in the south than anywhere else - always by men who, I guess, feel their masculinity is threatened. Friends of mine who have toured - esp women, minorities - have reported numerous incidents. I not dissing everybody in the south - its only a few - but just one incident can ruin one's day - in fact cause serious injury. Cycle cautiously in the south.

Back to the route - the Virginia Creeper Trail in SW Virginia is incredible - ending up in Mount Rogers Park.
You can cycle practically any 600-number road in Va with confidence. Virginia has one of the best networks of backcountry roads in the US - so feel free to venture off the TransAmer.

If you really want to go ocean to ocean you can take the ferry to Tangier and across to Onancock than head out to Chincoteague. Likewise, starting. Consider a day or two touring the San Juan Islands. By taking the ferries at the start and end of the trip you will have a strong physical connection to the oceans and time to reflect. Happy cycling.

John - - johnegan@vcn.com


thanks for the tips. Here's the situation: I am riding across the country this summer to raise money for my organization here in New York. We have sites all over the country, and the plan was, to ride to four of those sites over the summer to raise money and awareness. I have to start in Seattle on June 18th, arrive in Denver, arrive in D.C on 8/5 to meet up with a group of New York Riders to do the last leg to New York. I originally went with the adventure cycling transamerica route because 1) I did not have time or the luxury to plan or create my own route 2) because other people are going to join me along the way at different points, so I wanted to be able to map my course the best i could beforehand, with set dates and locations, so people could plan when they could meet up with me. I know this takes half the fun away from touring (spontaneous excursions, the unknown, exploring other ways etc.) but I wanted to get something that was tried and proven so that I could post my route on mywebsite saying I will be in X town on this date etc. The adventure cyclying maps seemed to be the best way to do it this way. So, having said that, I like the idea of possibly going north from Seattle to hook up with the AC's Northern Route, maybe connecting at Sandpoint or Newport, then heading down to Missoula and continuing with the Transamerica trail from there. My friend in Seattle said that her husband bikes I-90 out of Seattle heading Yakima and it's doable and it looks like it would be quicker than heading North first to Sandpoint--however, I have open to anythign at this point. Is I-90 that bad?

I rode 700 miles from Colorado to Missouri last summer on the TAT. Unfortunately, we got a late start, and ended up in Kansas in early June with 95 degree sun and massive headwinds. It was like biking across a convection oven. Everyone going East to West were getting in 90 mile days and we were getting 45-50 mile days (and hating it, lol...) ... I think it depends on you and the weather.

I have to start in Seattle on June 18th, arrive in Denver, arrive in D.C on 8/5 to meet up with a group of New York Riders to do the last leg to New York.

Hmmm.....that seems awully fast to get from Seattle to DC. Yes, people have done it in that amount of time, but that is by putting 100 mile days every day. That's a month and a half to travel some 3500 miles. Do the math from there. 45 days of riding, you need to do 77 miles a day, a couple days off in there, and you will need to be doing 100 mile days every day. You might need to re-think this schedule.

yes, that seems to be what everybody is telling me too so I am trying to tack on an extra week of riding at the end. as per the headwinds, I was under the impression I had a better chance of not encountering strong head winds going west to east. but then again, we are talking about the weather...

...I was under the impression I had a better chance of not encountering strong head winds going west to east. but then again, we are talking about the weather...

Yeah, I think that last year was a bit unusual in that respect. All of the wind was coming out of the east or the south, and of course the only directions we were going were east and south. lol.