Touring - U.S. Touring

I was thinking about touring across the U.S. Has anyone done this? I have a recumbent bicycle and was wondering what it really takes to make across the whole coutry

I rode across the US in 2002 - my journal can be found at denise2002xc.crazyguyonabike.com (http://denise2002xc.crazyguyonabike.com).

I'd recommend that you head over to www.crazyguyonabike.com (http://www.crazyguyonabike.com). For journals about cross country rides in US or Canada, click on Routes and the country that interests you.

Thanks for the link. Do you happen to use a trailer? I'm trying to decide if the trailer would be the best option for my recumbent. Since the front wheel is only 16", I think panniers wouldn't work that well.

Arkel (http://www.panniers.com) has recumbent-specific panniers. You can also check out the other journals on http://www.crazyguyonabike.com) to see how other recumbent owners dealt with the luggage issue.

I was thinking about touring across the U.S. Has anyone done this? I have a recumbent bicycle and was wondering what it really takes to make across the whole coutry

Some free time, basically. Do you have a route in mind?

Well, I'm a junior in high school, and I don't think I could take off 4 months before college starts, and I wouldn't be prepared for this summer. I'm not sure how to choose a route. Do you ride down major highways? or use backroads? I'd rather find someone who has done it, and follow them as a basis. When you did it, did you ride alone?

You should contact Catfish. He's a member of the forums and he's done it a few times. He's also written about it in the Touring section.

Koffee

Denise's advice about crazyguyonabike is spot on. There are almost as many journals on their by recumbent riders doing trans-Ams and similar rides. You might have to sift through some good (and not-so-good) stories, but for you it will be an unsurpassed resource on recumbents, trailers, camping gear and locations,riding styles, abilities, route planning, challenges, achievements, and everything in between.

Hey dingpat
I'm a junior in high school and I live in Georgia too. This summer I will be going to the to the Pacific Ocean.
I'll be going alone because my friends aren't as crazy as I am. But I just think they're missing out. I always try to use the backroads.

Heidi Domeisen (http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journal/?o=as&doc_id=430&v=18s/) just finished a 317 day tour from North Carolina to Alaska and Back. So, touring via recumbent is a great way to go.

The Adventure Cycling Association (http://www.adventurecycling.org/index.cfm) has 3 east to west routes across the US:

TransAmercia (http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/transamerica.cfm)
Southern Tier (http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/southerntier.cfm)
Northern Tier (http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/northerntier.cfm)

You can also go from North to South. They've got tons of maps and routes. Also, why not go half way this summer and go the other half next summer?

Well, this summer's definitely out of question, although riding half-way is a cool idea. My summers are always full, but next summer, my senior summer, I wanted to do something awesome, so I was wondering about it.