Nebraska tour to Oregon. Need Advice
06-11-07, 06:23 PM
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Nebraska tour to Oregon. Need Advice
Sup everyone. I'm starting from Lincoln, NE on a ride to Oregon and I didn't want to pay the $90 to buy a map from the ACA. What a ripoff! So I was wondering what other people thought was the best route to take out of NE into North Dakota.
06-25-07, 07:41 AM
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I can't speak as a touring cyclist....but I have been in NW Nebraska on a motorcycle. I would try to head out near Hwy2 from Grand Island and head north on some smaller roads out near Thedford. Should be a nice ride for you to Valentine. It is beautiful and will be less humid than the East side of the state. North through SD....you are on your own.
05-11-09, 06:32 AM
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Well, total miles was 2200, riding everyday for 25 days(except one day I didn't ride). Everything went well except for a few spots. The most dangerous spot was this 5 mile stretch of rode going east. There was no shoulder on it and quite a few cars. I wish I could remember the road but it's been so long. For the most part, traveling through Nebraska, South and North Dakota were easy. There were some days when the wind was right in your face blowing 20 mph that really made you want to quit and hitchhike but I just put my head down and pedaled until I got to my destination. But the winds weren't all bad. From Helby SD to Strasburg ND along Hwy 83 I had awesome 30 mph southerly gusts. I averaged 25 mph for 20 miles and once maxed out at 47 mph down this long hill. Scary but fun.
Montana was as you'd expect. Beautiful, cold, sometimes mountainous. But if you stayed near the interstate it's not that bad. Once I got to Missoula I went on Hwy 12 through Lolo Pass and passed into Idaho which was awesome. Everyone should ride that at least once.
Then I went through Lewiston, and made the bad decision to ride along the Columbus river. If you are planning on going West along the Columbus river, please do yourself a favor and make a different route. If you're going East though, by all means take it. You'll probably be done with the 147 miles in half a day. That being said, the winds there are fierce and interminable. I almost went insane doing that stretch. In fact, I finally through in the towel and hitched a ride with a friendly Portlander with a pickup.
After that, I got dropped off in Portland where I saw the cool sights. Made my way along the Columbus via Hwy 30 and finally made it to Seaside. Whew! Definitely worth it though.
Montana was as you'd expect. Beautiful, cold, sometimes mountainous. But if you stayed near the interstate it's not that bad. Once I got to Missoula I went on Hwy 12 through Lolo Pass and passed into Idaho which was awesome. Everyone should ride that at least once.
Then I went through Lewiston, and made the bad decision to ride along the Columbus river. If you are planning on going West along the Columbus river, please do yourself a favor and make a different route. If you're going East though, by all means take it. You'll probably be done with the 147 miles in half a day. That being said, the winds there are fierce and interminable. I almost went insane doing that stretch. In fact, I finally through in the towel and hitched a ride with a friendly Portlander with a pickup.
After that, I got dropped off in Portland where I saw the cool sights. Made my way along the Columbus via Hwy 30 and finally made it to Seaside. Whew! Definitely worth it though.
