Bike across America companion(s) wanted!
07-24-18, 10:53 PM
#1
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Bike across America companion(s) wanted!
I am a student at UCSD, the coming fall quarter(semester) will be my last quarter and I do not have any class, so I plan to do something crazy like bike across America!
Date: End of Sep to End of Nov
Route: West coast to East coast
Accommodation(ranking from most preferred to least): Host family to Church(public center?) to Camping to Hotel
About myself: The longest bike trip I have completed was in the winter of 2014(12.20.2014 - 1.1.2015), I biked from Durham, NH to Philly, PA with several days off as breaks. Since I don't have an odometer on my bike, I cannot quantify how many miles I have biked in the past, but I do biked a lot.
Notes: I understand this is a big plan and the date is not ideal (perhaps 95% bikers in the student group will not be able to make it). So if you do not plan to join me but can offer any sort of help or give any suggestions, I will highly appreciate!
My email: maomingchen0817@gmail.com
Date: End of Sep to End of Nov
Route: West coast to East coast
Accommodation(ranking from most preferred to least): Host family to Church(public center?) to Camping to Hotel
About myself: The longest bike trip I have completed was in the winter of 2014(12.20.2014 - 1.1.2015), I biked from Durham, NH to Philly, PA with several days off as breaks. Since I don't have an odometer on my bike, I cannot quantify how many miles I have biked in the past, but I do biked a lot.
Notes: I understand this is a big plan and the date is not ideal (perhaps 95% bikers in the student group will not be able to make it). So if you do not plan to join me but can offer any sort of help or give any suggestions, I will highly appreciate!
My email: maomingchen0817@gmail.com
07-25-18, 06:55 AM
#2
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Its crazy to bike across a country? Hmmm, nobody ever informed me. Seeing as how you're a student, I wonder how you can have money for hotels. Lots of free camping to be had in this country - use it if possible. If you're in SD, do NOT stop in Brawley in Imperial county. My loaded bike got stolen there some months ago and the police didn't care (even tho tourers regularly go thru there on their tours).
07-25-18, 07:37 AM
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07-25-18, 12:30 PM
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07-25-18, 11:11 PM
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Its crazy to bike across a country? Hmmm, nobody ever informed me. Seeing as how you're a student, I wonder how you can have money for hotels. Lots of free camping to be had in this country - use it if possible. If you're in SD, do NOT stop in Brawley in Imperial county. My loaded bike got stolen there some months ago and the police didn't care (even tho tourers regularly go thru there on their tours).
I do not want to spend too much money on hotels, maybe not at all, that's why I put it in the bottom of my ranking. Could you explain a little bit more about the free camping you are talking about?
I just checked my planned route and Brawley is very likely to be a stop for me! Thanks for your warning and I will definitely avoid stopping there. This makes me wonder is there a website that can tell me which region I should try not to stay? (I tried the Crime Map, but what it basically says is that nowhere is safe
).
07-26-18, 12:32 AM
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You can pretty much camp for free in the western half of the U.S. until the mississippi river. You only need one day of planning. East of that it gets different.
07-31-18, 01:06 PM
#9
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The sector I'm thinking of the Army Corps of Engineers. Way back in the day (a good 25 years ago when I first started traveling this country by car), the public was welcome to camp for free on any of their land (usually they're next to/near dams, rivers, waterways, etc.). Don't know if it's still true, I think it is. Go to the bookstore and check out books on free camping in the U.S. BLM land is also free to camp on, but I think their land is usually up on mtns. where the forests are (tho not always). In AZ, you can stay a max. of 14 days within a certain range, then you have to move on.
You don't have to be scared about your route, just be aware and use common sense. The people of Brawley are nice people! But the d*ckhead who stole my stuff was not. Neither was the policeman who claimed the video was going to be looked at, but knew he had no intentions of doing so. Just don't use the library there. I've biked thru Wilmington in Long Beach, the first and only time I've found myself in "the hood" and had no problems. Tho decided not to stop at the supermarket.
You don't have to be scared about your route, just be aware and use common sense. The people of Brawley are nice people! But the d*ckhead who stole my stuff was not. Neither was the policeman who claimed the video was going to be looked at, but knew he had no intentions of doing so. Just don't use the library there. I've biked thru Wilmington in Long Beach, the first and only time I've found myself in "the hood" and had no problems. Tho decided not to stop at the supermarket.
08-01-18, 10:26 AM
#10
Hooked on Touring
There is some considerable misinformation on free camping on public lands.
Here is a website with clickable map that shows public lands:
https://blm-egis.maps.arcgis.com/app...0bfe20eddd7550
As you may notice, the bulk of public lands is from the Rocky Mountains west - not the Mississippi River.
In fact, the Great Plains states have the least amount of public lands of all the states.
You should know the different types of public lands - starting with state vs federal.
By law, most state lands have to produce income so they are much less likely to allow free camping.
These lands are often leased out to farmers or ranchers and are managed much like private land.
There are two major categories of federal lands that generally allow free dispersed camping.
The National Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
USFS lands tend to be forested and have streams, BLM lands tend to be desert or scrub.
The National Park Service (NPS) and National Wild Refuge system (FWS) -
almost always prohibit dispersed camping.
The two major (and competing) water agencies are
the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE or COE) and the Bureau of Reclamation (BuRec).
Before 9-11 some areas managed by these agenciespermitted dispersed camping, but it is now largely prohibited.
The primary reason is that ACE and BuRec operate dams that might be targets.
And please, DO NOT free camp on Indian reservations.
Here is a website with clickable map that shows public lands:
https://blm-egis.maps.arcgis.com/app...0bfe20eddd7550
As you may notice, the bulk of public lands is from the Rocky Mountains west - not the Mississippi River.
In fact, the Great Plains states have the least amount of public lands of all the states.
You should know the different types of public lands - starting with state vs federal.
By law, most state lands have to produce income so they are much less likely to allow free camping.
These lands are often leased out to farmers or ranchers and are managed much like private land.
There are two major categories of federal lands that generally allow free dispersed camping.
The National Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
USFS lands tend to be forested and have streams, BLM lands tend to be desert or scrub.
The National Park Service (NPS) and National Wild Refuge system (FWS) -
almost always prohibit dispersed camping.
The two major (and competing) water agencies are
the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE or COE) and the Bureau of Reclamation (BuRec).
Before 9-11 some areas managed by these agenciespermitted dispersed camping, but it is now largely prohibited.
The primary reason is that ACE and BuRec operate dams that might be targets.
And please, DO NOT free camp on Indian reservations.
08-01-18, 10:30 AM
#11
Hooked on Touring
PS - Many small towns - i.e. very small towns - in the Great Plains will let you camp for free in the town park.
However, the town has to be small enough not to have a motel or private campground.
If the town has either of these, they will usually want you to use those services.
The smaller the road, the smaller the town - the more likely they will allow free camping.
However, the town has to be small enough not to have a motel or private campground.
If the town has either of these, they will usually want you to use those services.
The smaller the road, the smaller the town - the more likely they will allow free camping.
08-01-18, 02:06 PM
#12
-
Take a look at the Southern Tier route, it starts in SD. Also look at Adventure Cycling's "companions wanted" as well as CGOAB classified ads. Look locally for tour companion too - velo clubs/LBS ride groups/craigslist/etc.
https://www.adventurecycling.org/rou...southern-tier/
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/classifieds/?o=1mr
https://www.adventurecycling.org/rou...southern-tier/
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/classifieds/?o=1mr
08-02-18, 12:10 PM
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PS - Many small towns - i.e. very small towns - in the Great Plains will let you camp for free in the town park.
However, the town has to be small enough not to have a motel or private campground.
If the town has either of these, they will usually want you to use those services.
The smaller the road, the smaller the town - the more likely they will allow free camping.
However, the town has to be small enough not to have a motel or private campground.
If the town has either of these, they will usually want you to use those services.
The smaller the road, the smaller the town - the more likely they will allow free camping.
I've been staying in towns that exist but have no services.....only a few homes, yet they are towns.
If this town has a ball diamond you are in luck.
They usually don't even have a police department.
Don't forget about the County Parks! Often free as well, but not on the state highway map. Google Maps has most of them.
Sometimes they are just poorly maintained plots of hunting land and no one cares if you camp there.
08-02-18, 12:31 PM
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Good luck with this ride, if I didn't have to work I would go with you. Get us a picture of the setup and let us know how it goes. Maybe you can collect money for a charity with this kind of ride.
