cyclezealot

How did it go.. Were you able to find routing for cycle touring that felt safe. Did you pretty much avoid large cities.. Were roads narrow. Did you mostly feel a margin of security between you and fast moving vehicular traffic. Did if feel 'safe.' Considering safety factors would you do it again. Or did the experience so frighten you; You'd never do it again. ?

valygrl

Hey, you might want to post this in touring, lots of us in there have. I thought I've seen you in there before...

I've done it, I avoided large cities for the most part, but did go through Portland, Kalamazoo, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Cites are a pain, but you can deal with them with a little planning.

There are definitely hazards, but if you do a good job planning, you can feel safe most (not all) of the time. If you blow the planning, you can end up on roads that really suck.

In case you don't know, www.adventurecycling.org has maps of several cross country (and other) routes, so if one of those routes meets your needs, you don't have to do any planning. They already did a good job selecting safe roads with reasonable amounts of services. I used part of one of their routes and part figuring out my own.

Also, if you were looking for a supported experience, there are lots to choose from - if you want to go fast, I would recommend Pactour - I'm doing (another) one of their training camps and they do a great job.

I would bike tour again, for sure.

cyclezealot

I have some of the Adventure Cycling maps Valygrl. Ca ,Nv, Az., Utah. My tours have mostly been regional in nature. Guess, my fear. Those Adventure cycling maps just end up giving us "the best of the worst."?
The Adventure Cycling maps, i've used and the routes I took were pretty good . Not sure how good a sample I had of their recommendations. Cause we were in really remote areas.
.. Guess, I can just cut and paste and take this thread over to Touring. ? Then we' d have duplicates. ?

Tom Stormcrowe

Welcome to the Touring Forum CZ. THis spot will get you more touring specific answers rather thah from the viewpoint of an endurance racer or randoneur.

staehpj1

Everyone is different in what conditions they find acceptable. That said three of us did the Trans America and liked the route a lot for the most part. There were a few places where we didn't like the particular roads AC picked and we improvised there. The places we improvised were not because of safety concerns. Mostly it was all good.

lighthorse

Cycle,
You have received some good points so far. I will just add a point that I found on a popular bike site before I began my first tour. "If you are not comfortable riding with traffic nearby, you will not be comfortable when touring." The point the poster was trying to make was that you need to do a lot of riding where there is traffic before you depart on a long (cross country or multi country) tour. As much as we try to avoid busy roads, we invariably hit a busy road. Maybe it is normally a good road but just now it is under repair and the shoulders are gone. Maybe it is just rush hour, maybe you miss the best route and end up in the middle of a city. My guess is that by the time you have completed a long tour you will be reasonably comfortable riding in traffic. I certainly spend a lot of time planning to miss all traffic, but I also spend a lot of time riding in traffic. I also spend a lot of time riding on sidewalks when I find myself in a city with a lot of traffic. Just take your time and enjoy the ride.

Josef Taylor

I used the Adventure Cycling maps (Trans-America route, mostly. I went West through the middle of the country, then north through Yellowstone to Seattle). Though there are certainly times you'll be in heavy traffic, most of the time you'll be alone on smooth two-lane blacktop. I had concerns about the traffic before I left (my folks had more) but it really wasn't a problem. Finding places to stay was my biggest hurdle, just because I wanted to stay away from hotels, didn't want to pay for camping, but didn't have the cojones to stealth camp frequently. My favorite lodgings ended up being church basements and picnic shelters, because I didn't need to set up my tent, and could have breakfast in a cafe, instead of cooking oatmeal and having to clean up the stove.

John Nelson

In most places, you have a choice between high-traffic roads with good shoulders, and low-traffic roads with no shoulders. Some people prefer the former, and some prefer the latter. Everybody would prefer a low-traffic road with good shoulders, but those roads are few and far between.

The high-traffic/good-shoulder roads are usually shorter and less hilly than the low-traffic/bad-shoulder roads. But for many people (myself included) the high-traffic/good-shoulder roads are just not much fun. I do believe that the high-traffic/good-shoulder roads are probably somewhat safer however--the traffic is often moving very fast, but it is often a good 10-15 feet away from you.

cyclezealot

Thanks to the above. .. ....Yes. I have been in heavy traffic quite often. Limited dosages of that would be ok . But, say hundreds of miles of trucks on my rear wheel would certainly wear me down.. .. I feel lucky living in California. Where I've lived or toured, I've experienced mostly either wide shoulders or designated bike lanes. I'd hope crossing the USA, those conditions would prevail for almost all of the long stretches of road.. Large cities, I know I'll often be in traffic. That I can hack... Should Great Adventures, maps, not find a way to avoid them.. That certainly would be my choice.. I'd gladly miss St Louis' Grand Arch for a chance to cross the Mississippi on a ferry boat some where near the Missouri, Illinois border.

bykemike 

I went alone with virtually no planning, left too early in the year and froze my butt off, stealth camped most every night, had a very tough time of it but wouldn't have passed on the experience for anything.
I met some great people, got helped out everytime I needed it without even asking.
I started grilling a few friends before I left and one of them told me, "just go and it will work out", he was right.

cyclezealot

A tough time, Mike?. traffic, fitness.? In general , I like spontaneity.

catfish

IPretty much what the others have said. I had Adventure cycling maps they came in handy I picked up a state map when I crossed into each state. Some times, I would trade maps with another cyclist going the other way. The AC maps showed the route and maybe a mile or so on each side of the route the state maps helped me make some interesting detours.

I most times felt safe, I avoid the large cities and or plan ahead to get through them early oin the day. My advice is go with your gut feelings if it feels bad move on!

Some roads were narrow. I had a few close calls with trucks and RV's but more good times than bad times. Each day was an adventure
Catfish

cyclezealot

Think it possible to cross the US and avoid all large cities. The thought of traffic in St Louis, Cleveland , and Buffalo sounds nightmarish. Maybe a spin down Massachusetts Ave in D.C. would be worth the risk .?... But, generally, for me, touring means seeing the country side.

staehpj1

The Trans America only passes through Eugene OR, Missoula MT, and Pueblo CO. These are not that urban and are quite pleasant, the rest of the towns you pass through are much smaller. We always joked that if there was a comma in the population that it was a big town.

On the TA you will ride thousands of miles that have no or minimal shoulder, but mostly the traffic is light. Personally I found most of it quite pleasant as did my two companions. I know at least one guy who was really bothered by the traffic in some sections though.

staehpj1

What route did you use?

foamy

You're gonna love it. The only epiphany I came away with is that the U.S. has a lot of really nice citizens. Good people everywhere. I did the Rt 76 thing, East to West.

Had two days of traffic that I really didn't like—made me a nervous wreck. Aside from those instances, everything was generally wunnerful. That and everyone knows I'm not keen on RV's (it's the un-practiced drivers). Particularly in Yellowstone.

staehpj1

By that I assume you mean the TA (Bicycle RT 76), right?

bykemike 

I went west to east along the northern route either on or shadowing US 2, then Rt 10. Due to lack of preparation and not watching the weather I needed to beg rides over the higher passes, big population centers and anywhere I was worn out...it wasn't pretty. Loved N Minnesota.

Much like Mr Catfish, I felt safe and people, with only a couple of exceptions, are very nice and love to talk and help out. One thing about the USA, you are never all that far from a Slurpee machine.

Since the "misery tour" I have crossed the US on an enduro motorcycle taking US10 through Texas to San Diego and was thanking the stars I wasn't on a bicycle when I was in West Texas. (August)

staehpj1

Thanks. The reason I asked was the comment about mostly stealth camping. I can't imagine the need to stealth camp most of the time on an AC route like the TA, but can see where it would make sense more frequently on a self planned route. Then again maybe some folks prefer stealth camping even when there are free places to stay with no need for stealth in most of the towns on the route.

rhm

For general impressions, I'd have to say riding across the west --west of the Missouri River-- was truly amazing, and I'd love to do it again; but there's a big boring area to the east of there, which I didn't enjoy so much.

staehpj1

Interesting. I have a hard time imagining eastern Colorado and Kansas as more interesting than the area east of the Missouri River. I guess everyone has different preferences. I would agree that in general the west was more interesting, but not until as far west as Pueblo or so.

kayakdiver

Last summer on my Northern Tier cross country trip the only place that I really got burned out on traffic was going through eastern Montana. Really no alternate and the rumble strips are in such a crappy place. For those of you who have done the trip you will know what I'm talking about. For those who haven't....... well, the rumbles are on the outside edge of the asphalt forcing you to ride close to the white line with big trucks going by at high speed. The trucks aren't as bad as the RV'ers though. Most big trucks would give lots of room if no traffic coming the other way. I didn't really enjoy riding through Cleveland and Buffulo but it wasn't that bad. Get an early start and the routes keep you out of the worst of it for the most part.

I felt safe the whole way in regards to security. Just use your head and you will be fine. I did lock up my bike every night even if it was just to the tent. I also kept it in sight. If I didn't feel comfortable leaving my bike locked up..... I didn't.

The tip about getting a state map along with the ACA maps if a good one. I did get off track twice during my trip and the state maps make things more clear. Route maps are great if your NOT lost. If you get lost having a state map makes it easy to see where you went wrong and how to get back on track.

I wouldn't hesitate to do the trip again. I'm planning the pacific Coast this summer and my biggest concern will be RV'ers..... Always the damn RV's.

I'm a big fan of a flag on the back of the bike also. I also run a superflash planet bike rear light as well. Lots of bright clothing as well.

Good luck in your dreams. Get on the bike and ride. In the end it will be a trip that will be in your memory for the rest of your life.

rhm

no, not eastern Colorado and Kansas, my bad! my bad! I noticed this distinction while riding across South Dakota.

staehpj1

Oh. That makes more sense, I was assuming the Trans America. Apparently a bad assumption in this case.

John Nelson

If you've lived your whole life in the East, you may find the West more interesting and vice versa. However, the West is always interesting.