Across America at 100-150 miles/day
 

I like to hear from someone who has experienced going across America in a fully supported tour at a rate of 100-150 miles/day. I tried this question before but got no response from a tour member. Thank you for any input.

A century a day for an entire month. Makes my butt hurt just thinking about it.

Sounds like my dream vacation. One day I hope to have that much fun.

Check this out: http://www.transamracing.org/

Across the country at 155 to 221 miles a day, unsupported.

that would be cool, but look at the qualifications :P

any race where i have to complete RAAM just to ENTER is too much for me, at least for the next half decade or so.

I am not qualified for RAAM or 155 to 221 miles/day with or without support.
The tour I am training for is America By Bicycle (ABB). The tour leader wants us to be capable of 100 miles in 6 hours. I can do that. What scares me is the elevation changes of up to 11,000 ft/day. I am trying to find someone who has done this and shares his/her experience.

You don't have to complete the RAAM for the Trans American Cycling Classic
http://www.transamracing.org/

Exact qualifying standards have not been confirmed yet, but it will most likely include one or more of the following palmares:
• Paris-Brest-Paris or other 1200km randonnée finisher
• 2006 Furnace Creek 508 Expedition Race finisher
• Furnace Creek 508 finisher
• Race Across America finisher
• or comparable

There are lots of us who have done the Paris-Brest-Paris and other 1200K events, but who haven't done the RAAM, who would still qualify.

You've only got to finish a 1200K -- approximately 750 miles -- in 90 hours to qualify, so it's much easier (relatively speaking :rolleyes:) to qualify for the Adventure CORPS race than it is for RAAM (which requires finishing a 1200K in 65 hours, if you're a guy who is under the age of 50).

I wouldn't think there'd be too many back-to-back 11K foot days involved. The entre RAAM route is only 100K elevation change over 3000 miles, which is 10K a day on average for the folks who do it in 10 days, and less for those who take the maximum time of 12 days. If you've got 30 riding days, you're likely talking 3-5K per day, on average, which isn't too bad. You'll have a couple of heinous days -- getting across the mountains in AZ will be some work -- but this route doesn't look that bad. In the East, it takes probably the easiest way across the Appalachians possible -- looks like the route travels along the Erie Canal and then through Massachusetts, which is more rolling/hilly than mountainous (you could be going through West Virginia).

Also hoping that someone with actual experience, rather than simple musings such as mine responds -- sounds like a very, very fun project.... Good luck!

I appreciate your comments and can pick useful information from them.
I am 63 and a fanatic biker (say my friends). I bike in Wisconsin and Illinois. That is why the 11,000 ft scare me. I cannot try it out.
The ABB route goes from Irvine, Ca to Savannah, Ga. Total elevation change is 98,000 ft.
I am thinking to use a modified (for mountains) C'dale R2000 with 28 mm tires if they can be fitted. Part of the trip is on the side of Expressways. That is another thing I have never done. That is why I am trying to find someone who has done this.

Interstate highways have nice wide shoulders so there is plenty of room for you. The biggest problem with interstates is the debris, especially fine wire from tire belts, and the noise from traffic.

The other biggest problem is that in many states you can't legally ride there.

Well, when I did my transcontinental journey #1, it was unsupported. May I still comment? Mileage varied from a minimum of 80 miles to a one day high of 155 miles (great tailwind, 4th of july weekend, nowhere to camp, just kept going and going...) What would you like to know?

Dave

don't worry too much about the mountains they're not as scary they sound. especially in the west, the roads tend to follow the contours of the terrain, whereas in the east from what i've heard they tend to go right up and over.
is the tour leader planning on 100 mile days in 6 hours on days with a lot of climbing? that might be pushing things a bit, but it would be tough on everyone not just you.
maybe he's just wants everyone to be able to do 100 miles in 6 hours to set a level for all the riders in the group?
i havent done the tour your talking about but i have done some fully loaded touring in the mountains out west and the climbs were never as bad as i expected them to be, i think you'll be fine and have a great time :)

Supcom:
Thanks again. The tour leader recommends cheap tires and 28 mm relative heavy material. I have good luck with upscale Conti's. He recommends against it.
Your opinion please?
I do know about the debris and noise.
I am leaning to mountainize my C'dale R2000. I am scared of 30 MPH +++ downhill and gusty side wind. The R2000 is very sensitive to that and the heavier Trek 7700 is not. I am 10% slower on the Trek.
What do you think?

I think it sounds like the tour leader is an adventure nazi, the last type of person I'd want to have leading a trip. They exist in every outdoor sport, avoid them like the plague.

Recursive:
The Tour leader says that it is legal in states where that is the only road. One advantage of joining a tour. That does not mean that I am not question what he says.

Bunabayashi:
I am most worried about the choice of bikes. Light and fast C'dale R2000 or a
Trek 7700. The former is at least 10% faster, the latter is safer. See my comments to Supcom above.

Shaharidan:
Thank you, I needed that. It is 100 miles flat, no wind, in 6 hours. I can do it with my C'dale R2000 consistently and not quite with my Trek 7700. I keep training. See my exchange with Supcom above please.

Illegal in all but five, I believe. Texas is a legal one (except where cities have made it illegal - but you wouldn't want to ride on an interstate in Dallas anyway).

For flat resistance, you can't beat Specialized Armadillo tires, though they are a bit heavy and suffer from tread separation problems after about 2000 miles. At least the All Condition style does. Continental UltraGatorskins are my second choice. Lighter but with less sidewall protection.

Whatever you take, pack a spare set in your luggage.

One area you need to concentrate on is nutrition and recovery. Especially if the leader wants consecutive 6 hour centuries. When I first started doing ultras, I found the hard part was not riding 100 or 200 miles in a single day. The hard part was doing the same mileage the next day. That's what killed me.

OK and thank you TomM:
I have done four centuries consecutive. My nutrition idea was to eat like a pig so I did not loose weight. I felt great.
My weak spot is total inexperience of high elevations and expressway riding. Boy, that worries me. Any ideas?
I just found a post on this forum from 2004 of a guy who did this same trip called "what I learned on a bike Across America." That post is very informative and funny.

Supcom:
I read your advise and will follow it as to the choice of tires. Thank you.

I think you will do fine. I would take the lighter bike. I am female and about 50 pounds overweight. I have twice cycled 4 centures back to back in the rolling hills of northern Michigan (DALMAC). I have cycled on Pedal to the Peaks where there were days of over 100 miles (but not back to back) with a total week of 30,000 feet of climbing. I have cycled on the side of interstates (not scary, truckers give you plenty of room, just the noise level and debris are problems). I have had a year where my total mileage was around 8000 miles. If the 6 hour century is not including breaks and will be adjusted for the days that are in the mountains, it shouldn't be a problem if you usually cycle around 16-20 mph. I have found that the first day is easy, and then either day 2 or 3 is rough, after that each day becomes a little bit easier. If the tour is supported, it will take the worry and pressure off of you. If you have any type of recurring health problem, etc... tendonitis, sore knee, etc, it will become worse each day. Another thing, I found going down hill in the mountains to be exhausting mostly due to the concentration level. If you have a 10-20 mile down hill,come to a complete stop every 5 miles and rest for a couple of minutes. I did find my pectoral muscules (which I never knew I had) to be sore after a couple of downhills. On hills around Michigan, I can reach speeds of 45 mph for distances of under 1 mile. In the mountains, I try to keep my speed to 30-35 mph so I don't go out of control. The weather is usually cooler at the top of the mountain, so the rims don't overheat up there, but you are usually "cold". I think it sounds exciting, write and tell us how it went.

On another note, I have a friend (age 71)who has cycled across the US a couple of times. He is on blood pressure medicine and one time had a terrible time with low blood pressure . If you are on any medications, make sure your doctor knows your plans and adjusts your medication for the effects of long-term "endurance" exercise.