silversmith

I stopped at an I-80 rest stop today and picked up an official Iowa State cycling routes map.

It is decently done, overall. I like how it lists the average traffic levels of the highways and blacktops. The map also highlights roadways which have a minimum 4' of paved shoulder accessible for bikes. Of course, there are lists of all the bike trails along with details on whether they are crushed stone, asphalt or concrete.

I live right on the Mississippi in Clinton Iowa, adjacent to Illinois and right below Wisconsin, so I hope to slip over and see what types of state support neighboring bicyclists are getting.

Any other states have cycling maps?

Everest

nice I'll have to pick that up, also keep us posted on those wisconsin and illinois maps. I'm planning a tour this summer from my home in southeastern Iowa up into Minnesota, then back by way of Wisconsin and Illinois so I would be very interested in good maps.

silversmith

Cool.

I've long thought that a tri-state loop from Dubuque IA to Prairie Du Chien WI and then back down to Galena IL would be fantastic.

markw

Darn it! What are they thinking? The whole idea of routing I-80 through the boring parts was to keep people moving, so they wouldn't get any ideas of settling in Iowa. As for cycling Iowa, it's too darn cold in January.
Cool that they have the map though, may have to pass that on to some friends back there. FWIW, Sandag (San Diego area governments) puts out a San Diego county map. Iowa still doesn't have hills, or this:

https://www.efgh.com/bike <- starts at the county line. Oh, did I mention it's not freezing here in January?

silversmith

Hey, I'd love a ride in San Diego.


Yeah. But I love the horrified looks on my co-worker's as I slip on my balaclava and dart off into the frozen darkness for home.


No doubt, I-80 is a bleak piece of asphalt. But if you delve into the countryside there are some real cycling treats in Iowa. I guarantee you're in for a hilly, curvaceous, and scenic treat if you visit the loop I mentioned earlier.

markw

Yes, but they're short hills. I grew up there, joined the Navy in 86 to get to California. Now that I'm here, the thought of returning when I retire from the Navy keeps crossing my mind. I'm back there quite a bit, except in winter.

silversmith

That's just what my knees like as I'm literally completing my first half century on this lifetime tour.

---

It's just breaking into spring here with the grass only greening up in the last couple of days. So, yes, I'd kill for a ride in southern California about now.

markw

I did a 200k Brevet on January 28th. It was 40ish at the start, but by mid day I had the leg warmers off and was in shorts.

Here's a shot of the bike path by Saylorville taken last weekend by my buddy who just got a Catrike Speed.

https://tinyurl.com/pqsu7

I did 120 miles last week, and will do at least 120 this week. My commute has over 1200 feet of climbing in it's short 19 miles. When I go riding with the guys back home (Iowa), I'm amazed at how much higher my average speed is. There's another transplanted Iowan that lives out here in SD who holds the west->east Iowa crossing record, and a 2nd place RAAM finish in 2004. Ultra cycling must be big back there.

imafencer

Illinois has GREAT bike maps--9 of them actually, to cover the whole state. I ordered one of each just in case, but if you know you're going to a particular region, you can just order the map/maps that go with where you're going.

https://www.dot.state.il.us/bikemap/STATE.HTM

beatle bailey

check your private messages....I've just sent you one.

jamawani 

Nearly every state has either a bike map or a traffic volume map. I prefer traffic volume maps even though they do not contain information on shoulder width. Many state bicycle maps have only three arbitrary categories - good, fair, poor - and I'd rather see the numbers and make that decision myself.

If you Google the state name and "DOT" you will get that state's transportation department even if it is called "Department of Highways". It's easier to find the bike map since there is usually a tab on the main page - sometimes for "Bike/Ped" - sometimes for "Other" - I've always enjoyed being "Other". Traffic volume is harder to find but is there. Use the "Search This Site" box and type in "traffic volume", "traffic count", or "AADT" (Average annual daily traffic).

Iowa's Bike Map is one of the best - but still they don't but traffic counts on it: however, their scale is pretty good. The lowest category is fewer than 700 cars. I still like the 500 car total for very quiet road. By comparison, Arizona's bike map has fewer than 2500 as it's lowest category. Medium is 2500 to 7500. I don't know about you, but 2500 cars is a steady buzz - OK with shoulders, tricky without. 7500 is the pits.

Oregon still hasn't gotten their bike map on line. Here's the traffic volume map:
https://egov.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TDATA...ow_Map_GIS.pdf

Hope this is helpful info - - J

catfish

Hey Silver,
If yo get to Prairie Du Chine ride 30 miles farther north along the Mississippi (nice paved shoulders) stop by I live near De Soto
Catfish

silversmith

Catfish, You're definitely in God's country. My dad used to take me fishing up on the Lynxville float.

That's a kind offer and you may hear from me one day.

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And thanks to imafencer for that link to IL maps.

megaman

The Illinois bike maps are also available at their welcome centers, but you may have to ask for them(free). The BFW is working on new WI maps(not free) and should be out sometime in the next couple of months.