Living Car Free - Moving myself/Dog/stuff from Massachusetts to Oklahoma

I am planning a cross country move on my bicycle from Massachusetts to Oklahoma. Coming with me is my dog, stuff, and another bike. As of right now I don't have any exact numbers on anything, i.e., weight, dimensions. I will be outfitting my Trek with everything possible to make the move easy and as safe as possible. I have never owned a car so my possessions are few, so I hope to limit myself to 3-18 gallon rubber made tubs. All of which, including the dog, will fit on a trailer. I guess I am posting this just in hopes of getting comments, suggestions, experiences, etc.

-Figge

I am planning a cross country move on my bicycle from Massachusetts to Oklahoma. Coming with me is my dog, stuff, and another bike. As of right now I don't have any exact numbers on anything, i.e., weight, dimensions. I will be outfitting my Trek with everything possible to make the move easy and as safe as possible. I have never owned a car so my possessions are few, so I hope to limit myself to 3-18 gallon rubber made tubs. All of which, including the dog, will fit on a trailer. I guess I am posting this just in hopes of getting comments, suggestions, experiences, etc.

-Figge

One of those longest Bikes To Work trailers should carry anything you need. Are you planning on camping or using your credit card and booking into motels?

And a picture of your dog please. :D

What part of Oklahoma? Oklahoma City? Tulsa? Muskogee?

If you decide that you need a larger pod and are going to ride lighter, you might try one of the U pack units from ABF (http://www.upack.com/). I used one when I moved from California to Arkansas. It made things much easier.

In any case, I'd split up the moving goods and trip. You have both the Appalachians and the Ozarks to get over. I'd make it the most fun you can for you and your dog and let most everything else ride in a box.

If three 18 gallon tubs is the extent of your possessions to move from MA to OK, why not just box the stuff up and haul it over to UPS and ship it to yourself to be held for pickup at the UPS office in the city you are moving to. They will hold it till you arrive. That way you take only the bare minimum of items you need for your trip (plus dog) from MA to OK, and the rest gets safely hauled there by the guys in brown trucks. I have known lots of people who have self moved from A to Z by shipping most of their stuff in small to medium sized boxes via UPS. The U pack ABF containers or PODS are mainly for people who have a lot more household stuff than you have described.

I vote UPS also. (Like we can vote on the guy's life ;))

Riding would be a dream trip with you and the dog and the camping stuff. It might be a nightmare if you have to schlepp all that cargo. Also, most of your stuff will get ruined if it turns out to be a rainy trip.

How big is the pooch?

When are you going?

I am planning a cross country move on my bicycle from Massachusetts to Oklahoma. Coming with me is my dog, stuff, and another bike. As of right now I don't have any exact numbers on anything, i.e., weight, dimensions. I will be outfitting my Trek with everything possible to make the move easy and as safe as possible. I have never owned a car so my possessions are few, so I hope to limit myself to 3-18 gallon rubber made tubs. All of which, including the dog, will fit on a trailer. I guess I am posting this just in hopes of getting comments, suggestions, experiences, etc.

-Figge
Before planning on cross country, try cycling a full day in your own area pulling that load. Don't forget to include clothing for inclement weather, hills and headwinds in your test. Then do it three or 4 days in a row. Just to get a taste of what the experience may be like.

Before planning on cross country, try cycling a full day in your own area pulling that load. Don't forget to include clothing for inclement weather, hills and headwinds in your test. Then do it three or 4 days in a row. Just to get a taste of what the experience may be like.

+1.

Try it on a rainy, windy day also. And make sure the dog can handle long days of confinement in the trailer.

You will find some good info on the Touring subforum also.

It wasn't 100% clear to me whether you intended for the dog to run or to be carried on your bike or trailer. I figure you already know this but just in case:

If the dog is to run/walk any significant portion of the distance, be ultra-careful about your dog's health. Some dogs will, quite literally, die of overexertion or dehydration before they tell you they're too tired to continue.

It wasn't 100% clear to me whether you intended for the dog to run or to be carried on your bike or trailer. I figure you already know this but just in case:

If the dog is to run/walk any significant portion of the distance, be ultra-careful about your dog's health. Some dogs will, quite literally, die of overexertion or dehydration before they tell you they're too tired to continue.

He did say "All of which, including the dog, will fit on a trailer. " I assumed that meant that the dog had space reserved on the trailer. I would hope that it's on the curb side of the trailer so if the dog jumps, it will not jump directly into traffic.

Oklahoma! Tulsa, and Norman would be the most bike friendly cities we have(which aren't really bike friendly at all) Watch out for drivers because they really won't watch out for you. You will enjoy the space the state has to offer, but won't enjoy the humid summers, the winds, twisters and how the weather changes in a day! Be prepared your about to enter a time warp with 3.2% beer, tattoos just became legal 2 years ago. All 77 counties went for John McCain(the only state to do so). The roads are some of the worse in the country. The east side of the state is the most scenic. The people are somewhat friendly and the cost of living is lowest in the country. Remember half of the state was taken from the natives and given away in a land run(mostly west side of state and you'll see why!) Oh yeah we don't have one natural lake, they are all man made. Safe travels!

Oklahoma! Tulsa, and Norman would be the most bike friendly cities we have(which aren't really bike friendly at all) Watch out for drivers because they really won't watch out for you. You will enjoy the space the state has to offer, but won't enjoy the humid summers, the winds, twisters and how the weather changes in a day! Be prepared your about to enter a time warp with 3.2% beer, tattoos just became legal 2 years ago. All 77 counties went for John McCain(the only state to do so). The roads are some of the worse in the country. The east side of the state is the most scenic. The people are somewhat friendly and the cost of living is lowest in the country. Remember half of the state was taken from the natives and given away in a land run(mostly west side of state and you'll see why!) Oh yeah we don't have one natural lake, they are all man made. Safe travels!

Something tells me that you don't work for the tourist board. :D

Be prepared your about to enter a time warp with 3.2% beer, tattoos just became legal 2 years ago. All 77 counties went for John McCain(the only state to do so).

Geez....I thought the 9 months I spent in Wyoming were bad! Oklahoma sounds like hell....3.2% beer?!?!?WTF?:twitchy:

3.2%


beer

Call it one or the other; it's certainly not both... :p

Call it one or the other; it's certainly not both... :p

:lol::thumb:

Oklahoma! Tulsa, and Norman would be the most bike friendly cities we have(which aren't really bike friendly at all) Watch out for drivers because they really won't watch out for you. You will enjoy the space the state has to offer, but won't enjoy the humid summers, the winds, twisters and how the weather changes in a day! Be prepared your about to enter a time warp with 3.2% beer, tattoos just became legal 2 years ago. All 77 counties went for John McCain(the only state to do so). The roads are some of the worse in the country. The east side of the state is the most scenic. The people are somewhat friendly and the cost of living is lowest in the country. Remember half of the state was taken from the natives and given away in a land run(mostly west side of state and you'll see why!) Oh yeah we don't have one natural lake, they are all man made. Safe travels!

jeez, i am contemplating a job offer in oklahoma, now i dunno:lol:

I dont get people who hate the places they live. Just move.

Anyways, I am a big human powered advocate but if I had over 200 pounds of gear there is no way i would try to pull it in a trailer across the country.

The most i've pulled across our city is 320 pounds and its a bit$@ up some of the hills. I'm not sure its possible up some mountain grades and you can forgot pushing it. If you cant pedal a load that big and you try to stop and get off the bike your brakes wont hold it (no weight on the bike) and the whole thing will go back down the hill at about 40 mph with your bike getting drug on its side.

Basically if you do this I think it will be cool and I doubt any other human has ever done it.

How much stuff do you have? Weight?

Oklahoma! Tulsa, and Norman would be the most bike friendly cities we have(which aren't really bike friendly at all) Watch out for drivers because they really won't watch out for you. You will enjoy the space the state has to offer, but won't enjoy the humid summers, the winds, twisters and how the weather changes in a day!

That probably describes a lot of states besides OK. Hey Anthony, I've been to your town! Yes, I went to the Will Rogers museum on the hilltop above Claremore about 5 years ago. I thought it was great, I wish we had a contemporary version of that guy that could talk some common sense about what's going on in this world.

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk51/badmother-bikes/Royashorse.jpg