Hi guys,

I'm off to cycle the Southern Tier in November, from East to West.

I'll be using ACA maps, but won't be able to see one in the flesh until literally arriving in the States. So I wondered if anyone who has done it could help with a few questions:

Are bike shops fairly close by, or should I consider taking significant spares / tools?
Has anyone ever got across purely (or mainly) wild camping? What's access to subtle sites like? Do ACA maps help with locating any?
Is it likely that there'll be a lot of other cyclist doing the route at this time of year?
Security / safety-wise, are there any specific places along the route that feel unusually dodgy / sketchy?

Cheers,
Dave

Long time reader first time poster, thanks for such a great resource.