Deleted User

I'm looking to do a tour from coast to coast.

I'm thinking of December as the month for my tour -

Can someone direct me to the appropriate location to find maps - and ideal travel times?

valygrl

I think if December is your month to start, I would recommend Australia - sorry, don't know any maps.

But I assume you mean USA? https://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/southerntier.cfm

December is not exactly ideal.

xyzzy834

We have participants from many countries here, but I assume you are planning a coast to coast tour of the US. If so, my experience with the Adventure Cycling Association maps has been first rate. They are bicycling specific with good routes and lots of pertinent information about camping, eating, libraries, and bike shops.

I've never ridden across the entire US, but I've used the ACA maps for all or portions of other tours. I strongly recommend them.

jamawani 

Southern Tier
Either direction

December?
It takes at least six weeks. (500+ miles per week)
Eight weeks (400- miles per week) for most people.

Remember, the days are very short in December and January.
Yeah, it's easy to do 80 miles in a day in July in Montana.
But 10-hour days that start off damp/chilly are different.

Cyclebum

The ACA Souther Tier starting in December, perhaps modified thru AZ to avoid the highest elevations, is very doable as long as you can deal with the low temps and are prepared to hole up for a few days in the very unlikely event of freezing rain. The short riding days and very long nights are the biggest problem if you're camping. I do short tours in January in Texas and Louisiana every year with no problems so far.

The ACA maps are great. For a long winter tour, they'd make your trip a lot easier, mainly by pointing out places to overnight.

Deleted User

Cyclebum - pm me - i noticed you are in Texas - if you are interested in doing some short tours around the state.

i said December because of the Holiday's- it would make getting the time off needed to complete the tour easier.

Deleted User

I forgot to mention - my intention is to tour on a recumbent Trike

jcostanz

I would definetly check out Adventure Cycling's Southern Tier route and maps. To confirm overnights and find other options I would use Google Maps and zoom into an area and then search for your choice of campground/motel/b&B.

I tour with a Greenspeed GTE trike. The only difference I find is that finding transportation for the trike before/after the ride is sometimes harder. ie, If I had to end a tour early and find transport home or where the car is, I would either have to rent a Uhaul/penskie ect or find a car rental with a one-way pickup truck rental. A wedgie bike can usually fit in a smaller suv ect.

Happy touring

BILLB58

In December there are two areas on the normal Southern Tier I would bypass....if heading west, The McDonald Observatory area (6,600'), I would skip.....head from Alpine direct on 90 to Van Horn....

At Los Cruces, head due west in I10 to Lordsburg, then NW to Safford, Globe and Phoenix.

Cyclebum

I was thinking maybe stay south to skip the Safford to Phx routing, as it climbs to 4300 feet. But if the weather allows, that is a much nicer route and it's shorter. ACA had good reasons for choosing it. I think continuing west from Lordsburg would involve a lot more interstate riding.

Machka 

Maps ...

1) American Automobile Association
2) Tourist Info places along the way


Timing ...

December? Yeah, come to Australia or New Zealand. December's a great month over here!

December in the US? How are your winter camping skills?