Touring - Has anyone ridden Coast to Coast America?

This is my dream to ride this event put on by Cycle America. I'll be 55 years old this summer and it will stay a dream for at least 11 more years until i retire when I turn 66. Can an old guy like me make such an epic journey? Could my wife who is the same age as me make it? We are both relatively new to cycling as I picked up the sport about a year ago and my wife picked it up shortly after me. We have 11 years to prepare.

Do it now...How sure are you that you have 11 years?

Do it now...How sure are you that you have 11 years?

Can't do it now. I have a job and responsibilities etc...

Can't do it now. I have a job and responsibilities etc...

Summer time?

Ken waited till his wife had Alzheimer's
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=RrzKj&doc_id=4767&v=FI

Can't do it now. I have a job and responsibilities etc...

So I guess your wife, kids, and boss told you to wait ;)

My 55 year birthday present to myself is going to be a first attempt at a coast-to-coast this summer, just a couple weeks away :). Yes, it takes some doing to structure your life to take three months or more off. It took me 20 years.

The older (80+) cyclists I meet, and I see plenty in AZ, all say literally the same thing, "Never stop riding." After a "certain age", you'll never get it back. If you start now (can you commute by bike?) and don't stop, you can make it.

Even though you can't go now, teachme, it's not too soon to get a touring bike(s) and start accumulating some gear. This is the perfect time to learn the tricks of the trade by doing some overnight or weekend tours.

Check out this website: www.bikeovernights.org

This is my dream to ride this event put on by Cycle America. I'll be 55 years old this summer and it will stay a dream for at least 11 more years until i retire when I turn 66. Can an old guy like me make such an epic journey? Could my wife who is the same age as me make it? We are both relatively new to cycling as I picked up the sport about a year ago and my wife picked it up shortly after me. We have 11 years to prepare.

1) You never know where you'll be in 11 years ... if you really want to do it, do it sooner, rather than later.

2) What's the distance ... approx. 5000 km? You probably ride 5000 km each year already. If you are able to do that in your local area, you can do it elsewhere.

3) Over the next few years, do it in increments during your holiday time. Take 3-4 weeks this summer, and cycle out as far as you can get. Next summer, take another 3-4 weeks drive/fly/train out to where you left off the summer before, and then cycle out as far as you can get ... and repeat till finished.


(And no, I've never cycled 5000 km across the US. I did, however, quit my job in 2004 and cycle 5000 km in Australia)

I know nothing about that company or event. From their web site it looks like supported sagged touring. So basically you just have to ride. No reason you can't do that.

I can't imagine planning 11 years ahead. Figure out a way to make it happen now would be my advice.

Personally, I'd rather go self supported instead of with a tour company. I did my first tour, a self contained self supported Trans America at age 56 and have been doing long tours once a year or so since then. Most recently I did Seattle to San Luis Obispo last September and San Diego to Sarasota in February both at 60 years of age. I figure I have at least another 20 years of touring in me, so your age is probably not a problem.

I know nothing about that company or event. From their web site it looks like supported sagged touring. So basically you just have to ride. No reason you can't do that.


From the Cycle America web site, it looks like they also sell one-week segments in addition to the entire nine-week trip. If you can't go the entire distance at once, this might give you a chance to try it for a week and get an idea of company and riding. If the company is good, they should be able to give you referrals of people who have done trip before and their experiences. They may be able to answer the age question more directly [though my two cents is less individual age and things you know about general health and family history].

There are trade offs between doing your own trip vs. a supported company - and some it is a matter of preference. A group like this will have a mostly fixed schedule and each day you either ride or catch the SAG vehicle for some of the time. They will carry your gear and so your role is to show up and ride.

Your own trip should be less expensive and you get more options on how you structure things. You can adjust distances a little easier for weather, mechanical issues or your own pace. You'll end up carrying more but also be able to adjust things as you work things out.

Even before such a ride, you can also experiment with your own shorter trips - both looking for local rides or on web like National Tour Directors site: http://www.bicycletournetwork.com/. You can also do some of your own mini-trips over weekends and the like to get your own preferences.

I have done a little bit of both. I've done some organized supported rides like Ride the Rockies or this summer will be Bicycle Tour of Colorado. I've also done a fair amount of my own touring including two trips across the US and once along each coast. There is a time and preference for both types of rides.

Can an old guy like me make such an epic journey? Could my wife who is the same age as me make it? We are both relatively new to cycling as I picked up the sport about a year ago and my wife picked it up shortly after me. We have 11 years to prepare.

Teachme, you ain't old, and won't be when you're 66. More an attitude than a number. You and your wife oughta stock up on touring gear NOW, and start easy. Overnighters, weekends, whatever you can work into your schedules. A tandem maybe? But, be careful. It can be addictive, especially for us mid lifers. I was 63 when I got hooked, now 71. Not old yet.

I'm 58 and rode my highest annual mileage in 2011 (over 8,000 miles), about half of that commuting. So far I am on a pace to top 9,000 this year. I figure that if I can ride that much in a year, there's no reason why I couldn't ride across the country. Like you, I may not be able to do until until I retire -- if riding unsupported. However, the idea of riding cross country on a supported tour is very appealing because it could be done in much less time. It might not even cost more money to ride supported because you would need to take less time off work and spend less money on food, hotels and campsites. I could accumulate enough vacation time to ride a supported tour before I retire, but would probably need to wait until retirement to ride unsupported because it would be hard to take off that much time without pay.

Thanks to everyone in the previous threads for the advice and encouragement. This endeavour is a dream, but great things often begin as a dream, therefore I will dream until it becomes reality. Louis, I am currently looking for pannier racks to mount on my roadie. :thumb:

teachme....life is short and unpredictable. I'm 53, and have developed cardiac issues that preclude me doing any major touring til I get healthy enough again. Don't put it off until suddenly you can't....it's very unsatisfying, I can assure you and life sneaks away on you all to fast.

teachme....life is short and unpredictable. I'm 53, and have developed cardiac issues that preclude me doing any major touring til I get healthy enough again. Don't put it off until suddenly you can't....it's very unsatisfying, I can assure you and life sneaks away on you all to fast.

Thanks Tom, its just not going to happen anytime soon, not a cross country tour anyway... I am going to try for a weekend touring adventure in the near future. Until then I will continue to enjoy the few hours I get to ride my bike. My buisness keeps me really busy, but I am close to hiring someone to help me with the workload, and when that happens my time will free up and some touring will be in my future plans.
Tom, I hope you can achieve a level of health and fitness that will allow you to make your touring dream come true also. :thumb:

why do it all in one go? you say you've got 10 or so years until retirement.
how 'bout you get your gear together this year, do some short self-supported
tours....(and if you find you enjoy it)....and starting next year, and until you
retire, use your 3-week vacation to tour one state. pick the routes in the states
with the stuff you want to see. there's no reason you have to do it all at once
consecutively. after all, is the point to touring enjoying yourself and the sport,
or being able to tell people you did it? bicycling across/around/through ten
states is just as impressive as biking across the country.

This (http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1&doc_id=6467&v=ud) is a great blog on CrazyGuyOnABike.com where Tim Johnson (I think he was in his early 50's) road across the country in seven "legs." He'd get cheap Southwest Airline tickets, fly in with his bike (and sometimes his 12 year old son), and ride for two weeks to another airport. You could do one or two of these trips each summer and be across the country long before you retire!

Do it now teachme, the time is now. Post photos and stories for us.
You're only here once, and can get another job another day.

Do it now teachme, the time is now. Post photos and stories for us.
You're only here once, and can get another job another day.

Yep. When I was 34 I begged to get donwsized when my company was being acquired. Ended up taking two years off and doing 3 long trips. And it doesn't sound like he needs a job but rather owns his own business. He could possibly train some people to run it for him. It's only a few month trip.

You never know where you will be at 55. My old may kicked the bucket at 63.

See all sorts of folks showing up here.. in the Summer ..

I'm on the end of the trail E>W, Middle of the Pacific Coast route .

I am amazed by how many people who say "do it now" and "take three or four weeks off and start"... Some of us (myself included) have commitments...jobs...house payments...bills that won't wait...and no ability to just stop it all for a few weeks, or a few months and take off on our bikes. I would LOVE to walk into my boss and tell him that I'm taking three months off to ride across the country on my bike, and by-the-way, keep paying me so I can do this....CAN'T DO IT. I don't have the vacation, don't have the money, and as much as I want to go, I have to WAIT. In my case, another 10 years or so, probably more, until I can retire from the job, collect social security payments, and the like. THEN, I will be able to ride across this great nation of ours. NOT UNTIL then.

Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL

I am amazed by how many people who say "do it now" and "take three or four weeks off and start"... Some of us (myself included) have commitments...jobs...house payments...bills that won't wait...and no ability to just stop it all for a few weeks, or a few months and take off on our bikes. I would LOVE to walk into my boss and tell him that I'm taking three months off to ride across the country on my bike, and by-the-way, keep paying me so I can do this....CAN'T DO IT. I don't have the vacation, don't have the money, and as much as I want to go, I have to WAIT. In my case, another 10 years or so, probably more, until I can retire from the job, collect social security payments, and the like. THEN, I will be able to ride across this great nation of ours. NOT UNTIL then.

Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL

It makes a big difference what choices you make in life. Granted, luck also plays a role in this. I live in a very modest home, drive modest vehicles, and generally try to live well within my income. I made career decisions that allowed me to have generous leave benefits. Then I saved that leave up. Strangely I wasn't thinking bike tour when I saved it up, but knew I wanted to do some "big adventure". At that point the chance to do a Trans America with my daughter came up. I told my boss that I was taking 9-12 weeks (some of it unpaid) and asked if I would have a job when I got back. The answer was yes, but I was going either way. When I returned I found that I was missed in my absence and I think it actually helped my career.

I am not saying that everyone is in a position to do that even if they made the same choices I did. That said lots of folks who could don't.

I'm fortunate enough to be able to handle my critical daily work remotely. I carry a small (Asus) laptop. The laptop lets me connect to my office PC so I have access to all my applications and documents. My only restriction (other than the extra 3.75 lbs in my panniers) is that I find internet access each day for about an hour. (In a pinch, I can connect my laptop to the internet via my phone [if I have cell service].) Work does accumulate when I'm on a tour, but I can go for 2-3 weeks before I need to get back and dig through it.

I am amazed by how many people who say "do it now" and "take three or four weeks off and start"... Some of us (myself included) have commitments...jobs...house payments...bills that won't wait...and no ability to just stop it all for a few weeks, or a few months and take off on our bikes. I would LOVE to walk into my boss and tell him that I'm taking three months off to ride across the country on my bike, and by-the-way, keep paying me so I can do this....CAN'T DO IT. I don't have the vacation, don't have the money, and as much as I want to go, I have to WAIT. In my case, another 10 years or so, probably more, until I can retire from the job, collect social security payments, and the like. THEN, I will be able to ride across this great nation of ours. NOT UNTIL then.

Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL

I see your situation resembles mine... We should start a "10 years down the road" club! :thumb:

One of my favorite T-shirts (from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy) lists the days of the week on the back. At the bottom of the list is the saying, "See, there is no 'Someday'."

When I hiked the AT, so many people I met in towns or hiking sections of the trail would say, "I'm going to do that someday." Or, "I'd love to hike the trail but I don't have the time." Well, I had news for them--you'll never "have" the time for five months of hiking. What kind of life would that be--five month looming with absolutely nothing else to do? Those who are out there hiking have been working to make the time, some for decades. It's not easy, but nothing worth doing ever is easy.

Thanks Tom, its just not going to happen anytime soon, not a cross country tour anyway... I am going to try for a weekend touring adventure in the near future. Until then I will continue to enjoy the few hours I get to ride my bike. My buisness keeps me really busy, but I am close to hiring someone to help me with the workload, and when that happens my time will free up and some touring will be in my future plans.
Tom, I hope you can achieve a level of health and fitness that will allow you to make your touring dream come true also. :thumb:

Here's an idea for you....you could do it one way and have someone run you back in a motor vehicle.

http://g.co/maps/yahb2 Real slow easy pace, and this could be a weeklong tour.

I am amazed by how many people who say "do it now" and "take three or four weeks off and start"... Some of us (myself included) have commitments...jobs...house payments...bills that won't wait...and no ability to just stop it all for a few weeks, or a few months and take off on our bikes. <snip>

I think the barrage of "do it now" replies are because, as andrewclause posted, many of us have learned that if we don't have pressure, either internal or external, our dreams will never become realities. We’re giving teachme a gentle push. Maybe not this year or next, and maybe not the year after that, but knowing that lots of people are out there touring, some for a few days and some for a few years, should be encouragement for teachme and others to begin living their dreams ASAP.

I am amazed by how many people who say "do it now" and "take three or four weeks off and start"... Some of us (myself included) have commitments...jobs ... I don't have the vacation

If you've got a job, having 3 or 4 weeks (or more) off each year is just normal holiday/vacation time.

What you do with that time off each year is up to you. Even if visiting family and friends is a priority on our trips, we bring the bicycles and try to get in as much cycing as possible in the areas we visit.

If teachme has commitments to visit family in other parts of the world during his holidays, perhaps he and his wife could see about cycling there or doing a short cycling tour while there.

EDIT: Sorry 'bout the long post.

I'm approaching 50 years of age. It's only a couple of years away.

Recently a buddy of mine was helping me freshen up my resume and he remarked "Holy mackerel, you've never had a good job in your life, have you?" I had to admit the truth of that. Right now I fix computers for a living. That's a dead end job if ever there was one. With laptops, smart phones, smart TVs and pad devices, the desktop is going to be a thing of the past soon enough.

My wife and I live in a house that's paid off. I just finished paying off my child support. I have no credit cards and I don't buy anything on payments. If I don't have the cash for it I don't need it - or I need to save the cash to buy it. I guess I'm a bit different in looking at it this way - why pay some guy for the privilege of using his money when I can simply save the money and not pay interest?

Instant gratification isn't a big thing w/ me.

So, as I approach 50, and I realize that I'm past the half-way point of my life I've started thinking about my own mortality. I know that if I take care of myself I should have another 20-30 years in me (according to the statistics). However, I also hear regularly of guys my age simply dropping dead - or contracting cancer and going the hard way. I also realize that those 20-30 years won't be 20-30 years of "young and strong", they're the fading years of one's life. Those are the years that your powers slip away gradually until - if you're lucky - you live to be a feeble old man that dies quickly of a heart attack or a stroke.

Bummer way to look at it, isn't it? But, you have to admit, it's truth. There's nothing wrong with recognizing truth.

Right now my goal is to become as fit as I can be at my age and maintain the best level of fitness that I can in the coming years to make those years as good as possible. What good is it to be 78 if all you can do is sit in a chair and look out a window?

That's one of the reasons I started bicycling in the first place.

I also had another realization. The years I've lived thus far were all dedicated to taking care of other people. I worked to support a family. I worked hard so my boss would realize the value in keeping me around. He made out - I didn't. I've done my best to do right by other people, and I've realized little economic gain from it myself.

Now, I'm not crying about it. This isn't me sobbing into my coffee about how unjust life is. Again - simply reality. No harm in seeing things as they are, right?

So, in the realization that I've never had that "big adventure", and that the opportunity to have one comes rarely in one's life, I'm thinking that I should do it soon. I don't think I'll ever be in as good a position for it as I am right now. I've minimum responsibilities. Our household bills can be handled by either my wife's or my income. I have no debt to speak of. I can find yet another dead end job at any time. It's not like there's a shortage of crappy jobs. I'll never be healthier than I am today (although I could stand to be quite a bit more fit than I am now).

So why not?

There's my rant. My goal is to get in shape to do something of exactly this nature.

EDIT: Sorry 'bout the long post.

I'm approaching 50 years of age. It's only a couple of years away.

Recently a buddy of mine was helping me freshen up my resume and he remarked "Holy mackerel, you've never had a good job in your life, have you?" I had to admit the truth of that. Right now I fix computers for a living. That's a dead end job if ever there was one. With laptops, smart phones, smart TVs and pad devices, the desktop is going to be a thing of the past soon enough.

My wife and I live in a house that's paid off. I just finished paying off my child support. I have no credit cards and I don't buy anything on payments. If I don't have the cash for it I don't need it - or I need to save the cash to buy it. I guess I'm a bit different in looking at it this way - why pay some guy for the privilege of using his money when I can simply save the money and not pay interest?

Instant gratification isn't a big thing w/ me.

So, as I approach 50, and I realize that I'm past the half-way point of my life I've started thinking about my own mortality. I know that if I take care of myself I should have another 20-30 years in me (according to the statistics). However, I also hear regularly of guys my age simply dropping dead - or contracting cancer and going the hard way. I also realize that those 20-30 years won't be 20-30 years of "young and strong", they're the fading years of one's life. Those are the years that your powers slip away gradually until - if you're lucky - you live to be a feeble old man that dies quickly of a heart attack or a stroke.

Bummer way to look at it, isn't it? But, you have to admit, it's truth. There's nothing wrong with recognizing truth.

Right now my goal is to become as fit as I can be at my age and maintain the best level of fitness that I can in the coming years to make those years as good as possible. What good is it to be 78 if all you can do is sit in a chair and look out a window?

That's one of the reasons I started bicycling in the first place.

I also had another realization. The years I've lived thus far were all dedicated to taking care of other people. I worked to support a family. I worked hard so my boss would realize the value in keeping me around. He made out - I didn't. I've done my best to do right by other people, and I've realized little economic gain from it myself.

Now, I'm not crying about it. This isn't me sobbing into my coffee about how unjust life is. Again - simply reality. No harm in seeing things as they are, right?

So, in the realization that I've never had that "big adventure", and that the opportunity to have one comes rarely in one's life, I'm thinking that I should do it soon. I don't think I'll ever be in as good a position for it as I am right now. I've minimum responsibilities. Our household bills can be handled by either my wife's or my income. I have no debt to speak of. I can find yet another dead end job at any time. It's not like there's a shortage of crappy jobs. I'll never be healthier than I am today (although I could stand to be quite a bit more fit than I am now).

So why not?

There's my rant. My goal is to get in shape to do something of exactly this nature.

what an excellent post. I think that way at 40 now!

I'm approaching 50 years of age. It's only a couple of years away......

when i was 40, i went in for my regular cholesterol test. things were going well, hdl/ldl was okay, triglycerides
a tad high. then doc says.....you seem fine. um, you know about that murmur right? oh-oh.

doc at the va gives me an echo, says that valve's gotta go. not this year, or the next. within ten for sure.
aortic valve actually only held out for five years.......

when i was 40, i went in for my regular cholesterol test. things were going well, hdl/ldl was okay, triglycerides
a tad high. then doc says.....you seem fine. um, you know about that murmur right? oh-oh.

doc at the va gives me an echo, says that valve's gotta go. not this year, or the next. within ten for sure.
aortic valve actually only held out for five years.......

Exactly what I'm talking about.

There are no guarantees of tomorrow. I figure I should live as well as I can now. I've noticed that as I've gotten closer to fifty "long term planning" has taken on a whole new meaning.

Exactly what I'm talking about.

There are no guarantees of tomorrow. I figure I should live as well as I can now. I've noticed that as I've gotten closer to fifty "long term planning" has taken on a whole new meaning.

yep, gives you a whole new perspective. sold the house and the car and the motorcycle,
move to china, learned chinese. valve went bad, so had a replacement in india. then to thailand
for a year to learn a little thai. finally back to china to teach english.

got a new valve, ran a marathon, cycle across thailand and vietnam and laos and cambodia
and southern china. two week vacation this summer, will tour myanmar, then from bangkok
will cycle back to china.

new valve should last twenty years or so, then get a new one. unless i'm bitten by a black
mamba or stomped by a rogue elephant or wake up with a cobra or miss the landmine markers.

but now you've got me thinking...what should i do to celebrate 50?

got it....i'm gonna bicycle uphill all the way to lhasa.

got it....i'm gonna bicycle uphill all the way to lhasa.

Wow.

That's a LONG way uphill.........

That's a reward? :p

the reward? it won't be on a single speed with solid rubber tyres.

the reward? it won't be on a single speed with solid rubber tyres.

:lol:

Yes, Seattle to NY via Canada (Ice Fields Parkway! Yeah!). I was 21. I'm 57 now and I'd do it again in a heart beat if I'd the time. Budget 50-60 miles a day and in a month you'll be 1/2 way. A long x country trip is like no other. Takes ~2 weeks to adjust to pace. Our 6 person group started slow and finished strong though we had more than our share of broken spokes, flats, wrecks, broken bike frames (mixte), arguements, etc. After a month I felt like I'd been on the road my entire life. Do it now.

I'm one of the do it now responders but by all means, start with short trips, overnight, 2-3 days. Most X country cyclists only do one major trip in their lifetime because of the time committment (which is significant). Any advantage in age will make the trip easier. A coastal trip (say 101) is about a 3-4 weeks. A state round trip (in the west) can be 2 weeks or less. Consider a group trip with sag wagon. One of my all time fav trips in Puget Sound included riding all the ferries (except to the State Pen on McNeil Is.!).

If you haven't done so, check out Adventure Cycling Association, which is the organization that has developed bike routes across the USA. They also run supported and partially supported tours. Their Southern Tier supported trip takes about 2 months (58 days) and costs $5,149 (might be less for members). Although that is a lot of money, they provide routes, meals, lodging, SAG support and carry your gear. You could easily spend that much money on a do-it-yourself loaded tour when you take into account equipment needs (racks, panniers, etc.), lodging (would take more time solo so you would spend more money on hotels or camp ground fees), and food (would spend more money on food carrying more weight and riding longer period).

http://www.adventurecycling.org/tours/

I am seriously considered this option if I decide to ride cross country. I could take 2 months off work because I have 6 weeks already accumulated and earn 4 weeks/year. I am reasonably convinced that the cost for the ACA supported tour wouldn't be that much more expensive that riding solo and carrying my own gear because the self-supported tour would take much longer, requiring me to take unpaid leave from my job, and I would spend more on food and lodging. In addition, you could ride the ACA with any decent road bike that fits you well because you wouldn't have to carry any gear. A person could easily spend $2,000 or more on a touring bike with racks, panniers, etc.

If you haven't done so, check out Adventure Cycling Association, which is the organization that has developed bike routes across the USA. They also run supported and partially supported tours. Their Southern Tier supported trip takes about 2 months (58 days) and costs $5,149 (might be less for members). Although that is a lot of money, they provide routes, meals, lodging, SAG support and carry your gear. You could easily spend that much money on a do-it-yourself loaded tour when you take into account equipment needs (racks, panniers, etc.), lodging (would take more time solo so you would spend more money on hotels or camp ground fees), and food (would spend more money on food carrying more weight and riding longer period).

http://www.adventurecycling.org/tours/

I am seriously considered this option if I decide to ride cross country. I could take 2 months off work because I have 6 weeks already accumulated and earn 4 weeks/year. I am reasonably convinced that the cost for the ACA supported tour wouldn't be that much more expensive that riding solo and carrying my own gear because the self-supported tour would take much longer, requiring me to take unpaid leave from my job, and I would spend more on food and lodging. In addition, you could ride the ACA with any decent road bike that fits you well because you wouldn't have to carry any gear. A person could easily spend $2,000 or more on a touring bike with racks, panniers, etc.
Good points.

I agree that you can do the trip in less time that way.

On the "You could easily spend that much money on a do-it-yourself loaded tour", I will qualify that by saying that while true, it is also possible to do it for about half that. I know that I did even when factoring in the bike and any new gear. It depends on your touring style though.

Also I will add that the two will be vastly different experiences. Having a sag vehicle changes the trip in many ways, some good and some bad (at least to me). Riding with a group similarly makes the trip different, again in a very fundamental way. Which of the two is for you only you can answer.

If you haven't done so, check out Adventure Cycling Association, which is the organization that has developed bike routes across the USA. They also run supported and partially supported tours. Their Southern Tier supported trip takes about 2 months (58 days) and costs $5,149 (might be less for members). Although that is a lot of money, they provide routes, meals, lodging, SAG support and carry your gear. You could easily spend that much money on a do-it-yourself loaded tour when you take into account equipment needs (racks, panniers, etc.), lodging (would take more time solo so you would spend more money on hotels or camp ground fees), and food (would spend more money on food carrying more weight and riding longer period).

http://www.adventurecycling.org/tours/

I am seriously considered this option if I decide to ride cross country. I could take 2 months off work because I have 6 weeks already accumulated and earn 4 weeks/year. I am reasonably convinced that the cost for the ACA supported tour wouldn't be that much more expensive that riding solo and carrying my own gear because the self-supported tour would take much longer, requiring me to take unpaid leave from my job, and I would spend more on food and lodging. In addition, you could ride the ACA with any decent road bike that fits you well because you wouldn't have to carry any gear. A person could easily spend $2,000 or more on a touring bike with racks, panniers, etc.

You bring up some good points about unpaid leave and gear costs. On the other hand for me the Southern Tier doesn't have the greatest scenery. If you compare costs on the supported TransAm and self-supported it's about a 5k difference. The gear investment sets you up for years of self-supported touring. Not to mention the considerable down sides of traveling with a group. There are no doubt upsides too but I would rather spontaneously pick up riding partners along the way and ride on my own schedule. Everyone is different though and luckily we have lots of choices.

Good points.

I agree that you can do the trip in less time that way.

On the "You could easily spend that much money on a do-it-yourself loaded tour", I will qualify that by saying that while true, it is also possible to do it for about half that. I know that I did even when factoring in the bike and any new gear. It depends on your touring style though.

Also I will add that the two will be vastly different experiences. Having a sag vehicle changes the trip in many ways, some good and some bad (at least to me). Riding with a group similarly makes the trip different, again in a very fundamental way. Which of the two is for you only you can answer.

I'm a little intimidated about the idea of riding coast to coast unsupported. How do you get over the fear of just riding a bike such a far distance?

First let me say that I mis-typed a bit in my previous post. When I was mentioning both cost and duration I was talking about doing the Trans America.

I did the Southern Tier this winter and took 33 days to go from San Diego to Sarasota, so at that pace I probably could have gotten to St Augustine in under 40 days. I am only moderately fit and am 60 years old, so the I don't think going with the ACA necessarily saves you a lot of time. I got rooms quite frequently on that trip and still spent less than half of the sagged tour cost. I did camp for free a lot of the time though.


I'm a little intimidated about the idea of riding coast to coast unsupported. How do you get over the fear of just riding a bike such a far distance?
My first tour was the Trans America and I have done a few other long tours after that, but while I always kind of have the nervous jitters leading up to a long tour, I can't say I ever was really fearful. What specifically is it that you are afraid of? Maybe if you are more specific I could set you mind at ease a bit.

Good points. I mention the supported option because it's not feasible for many cyclists to take 3-4 months off work, and the costs of buying a touring bike and gear can be considerable. There are pros and cons to both ways. On the plus side, I have ridden many week-long supported tours and have always enjoyed the comradery of touring with others. We usually don't ride at the same pace, but I enjoy talking to others in the campgrounds, eating out after the rides, etc. Also, most cyclists would probably agree that it is much more enjoyable riding an unloaded bike than one carrying 40-50 lbs of gear. Certainly there are many advantages to riding unsupported as well -- setting your own pace, choosing your own route, meeting people along the way, etc.

I typically ride a couple of supported tours every year, ranging from 3 days to week long, and I've always had a great time.

I did the Southern Tier this winter and took 33 days to go from San Diego to Sarasota, so at that pace I probably could have gotten to St Augustine in under 40 days. I am only moderately fit and am 60 years old, so the I don't think going with the ACA necessarily saves you a lot of time. I got rooms quite frequently on that trip and still spent less than half of the sagged tour cost. I did camp for free a lot of the time though.

You must be more than moderately fit! By my calculations, you must have averaged about 100 miles/day. I'd like to know more about your trip. Did you do a blog or journal on Crazy Guy?

First let me say that I mis-typed a bit in my previous post. When I was mentioning both cost and duration I was talking about doing the Trans America.

I did the Southern Tier this winter and took 33 days to go from San Diego to Sarasota, so at that pace I probably could have gotten to St Augustine in under 40 days. I am only moderately fit and am 60 years old, so the I don't think going with the ACA necessarily saves you a lot of time. I got rooms quite frequently on that trip and still spent less than half of the sagged tour cost. I did camp for free a lot of the time though.


My first tour was the Trans America and I have done a few other long tours after that, but while I always kind of have the nervous jitters leading up to a long tour, I can't say I ever was really fearful. What specifically is it that you are afraid of? Maybe if you are more specific I could set you mind at ease a bit.
I'm a good 10 years away from really taking off for 2 or 3 months for a cycling tour, but I do see where a 5 or 6 day tour could be in my near future. I don't think that I'm really scared about this, but what bothers me is family and friends will probably think I'm crazy when I tell them this is something I want to do.

First let me say that I mis-typed a bit in my previous post. When I was mentioning both cost and duration I was talking about doing the Trans America.

I did the Southern Tier this winter and took 33 days to go from San Diego to Sarasota, so at that pace I probably could have gotten to St Augustine in under 40 days. I am only moderately fit and am 60 years old, so the I don't think going with the ACA necessarily saves you a lot of time. I got rooms quite frequently on that trip and still spent less than half of the sagged tour cost. I did camp for free a lot of the time though.


My first tour was the Trans America and I have done a few other long tours after that, but while I always kind of have the nervous jitters leading up to a long tour, I can't say I ever was really fearful. What specifically is it that you are afraid of? Maybe if you are more specific I could set you mind at ease a bit.

I wanted to answer this honestly...

On a long tour, I am afraid of:
Getting hit by a car, riding along on a highway dosen't seem very safe to me. Are there safe roads? How do you cycle defensively to keep from getting injured or killed out there?

I'm a little intimidated about the idea of riding coast to coast unsupported. How do you get over the fear of just riding a bike such a far distance?

In some ways, there isn't as big a different in what it takes to ride a week vs. riding two months. The home front needs to be arranged differently to cover things while one is out but I found most equipment is similar and one washes clothes a few more times. So what I did was a progression. By the time I cycled across USA, I had done three trips over 1000 miles and many many short two and three day or four day weekend trips. Two of those thousand mile trips were pretty gonzo since I was young and ambitious to cycle 1000 miles and 1194 miles in 9 days each and not do much else other than eat sleep and ride, the third one was 1288 miles in five weeks so was closer to my cross-USA ride.

So when I did my first cross-USA trip, I still had a mixture of excitement and some nervous jitters as I got everything underway at least a day or two prior to departure. However, once I was on the road it was all very familiar to things I had done many times before before and I quickly settled into routine and focused on the moment of cycling from day to day. Similarly, I had equipment well worked out and while I didn't end up needing it on it - I also passed enough post offices (to mail things home) or stores (to buy missing things) that it could all adjust if I hadn't gotten that together.

No one got hit on The 42 Ride. NY to LA 4200 miles on The Southern Route. 5,000 miles on The Northern Route.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgPlcE5Epys&feature=related

Rode at Night to beat the heat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNL16aNqOwE&feature=related

I wanted to answer this honestly...

On a long tour, I am afraid of:
Getting hit by a car, riding along on a highway dosen't seem very safe to me. Are there safe roads? How do you cycle defensively to keep from getting injured or killed out there?
That is the most sensible reason for concern about touring I have heard. So often people are worried about all kinds of stuff that really isn't that much of a real threat. They worry about bears, snakes, bad guys, and so on. You have named the actual main risk with your concern.

I can say that traffic risks are pretty much the same threat you would have riding near home or maybe less depending on where you live vs where you tour. You do have choices on which roads you ride, so that helps some. I personally just accept that there is some risk and manage it as best I can.