MrCjolsen

In other words, are there stretches where accomodations are more than a day's ride apart?

Has anyone done it?

What's the longest stretch without lodging?

Food?

Water?

jamawani 

I've done a half-dozen coast-to-coasts - but never credit card.
Not sure which route you are planning - but there are motels every 60 to 80 miles max.
I'm thinking Nevada on the Western Express - Ely, Eureka, Austin.
Or Wyoming on the TransAm - Rawlins, Jeffrey City, Lander.

The problem with "credit card" is that in some of the little-bitty towns, the motels don't take credit cards. (They just don't have the volume to justify it - it's not that they are stone-age.) If you carry some traveller's checks and, perhaps, a small reserve of cash hidden away then you should be fine.

nun

Its definitely possible as a company called America By Bike has a C2C route where they stay in hotels each night.
You could just crib their route and do it yourself. As far as longest distance between lodging is concerned I'd
plan on some 100+ mile days out West between lodging.

https://www.americabybicycle.com/AAN/AANPop.htm.

If you do attempt this unsupported I'd definitley take something like a bivy and some emergency equipment along and carry enough food/water for 2 days

Bacciagalupe

Just keep in mind that a typical TransAm is 10 weeks. That's a lot of hotel rooms & restaurants....

staehpj1

This is only based on my experiences with the TransAmerica route. Other routes may be different.

On the TA there were some fairly long stretches with nothing. I didn't pay too much attention where the motels were since we were camping, but I would guess that you should plan on some hundred mile days. I also agree on the comment advising carrying some minimal means of emergency camping and emergency food and water for a couple days in a few places.

A minimum of a bivy, or space blanket, or at least a couple large garbage bags would seem like a good idea as emergency shelter. For food, at a minimum a handful of extra powerbars (over and above what you think you will need) might get you by.

I think there were a few places where we couldn't count on finding water for 70-80 miles. Also once we got to somewhere that was supposed to have services, sometimes we found they no longer existed or were closed for some unexpected reason.

Remember that breakdowns, injury, illness, or other setbacks can occur. Also in most of the remoter areas cell coverage is non existant. OTOH, we found that most folks were extremely helpful and you could probably hitch a ride if you were to have an emergency of some sort.

Old Hammer Boy

On the ST it could probably be done, but why?

cooker

I ain't got seventy days.

spinnaker

Then you better make other plans for a different tour or be ready for 100+ mile days every day. The TA trail is 4,247 miles long. That's 60 miles a day for 70 days (assuming you don't have any problems or don't take any rest days).

ken cummings

I've crewed RAAM twice and driven across several times. The longest lodging/food gap I've ever seen was 107 miles in Utah along I-70. Know the time you have, the max you can do in one day considering you might be doing nearly that distance every day, plan your route carefully, and go for it. Even so I'd carry a space blanket or some such anyway. Or have a personal sag.

lighthorse

The answer to your question is yes.

I rode the Southern Tier a couple of years ago solo unsupported without carrying camping gear. There are a couple of 100+mile stretches without motels but they can be done by taking alternate roads nearby.

This year I rode from Melbourne, Fl. to Eugene, Or. solo unsupported and, although I did carry camping gear, did not have to pitch my tent once.

Sometimes you may need to call ahead on weekends or holidays when there is only motel awaiting your arrival.

I also carry some food with me because there will be times when the restaurants are closed in small towns: Sunday/holiday.

No problems with water anywhere.

cyclezealot

I have known friends to have done such. Across the west it might be good to be able to ride 140 miles a day tho. Water might be the biggest problem across states such as Arizona , New Mexico, Nevada. Mechanical failures might be the next bigger problem. My friend rode with a group offering sag support; but, still they were required to normally make it on your own. The sag car might be 70 miles ahead. It would only turn around for emergency conditions.

Bacciagalupe

You could do it in 10 days, if you skip on sleep: https://stats.raceacrossamerica.org/2.../overview.html

The RAAM route is much shorter (3,000 miles) but is chosen not for tourists but for the needs of an utterly insane Ultra race. At 100 miles a day, that's 30 ride days, or 5 weeks if you do 1 rest day per week.

Unofficial map:

cyclezealot

To me, it's the ultimate ride of a life time. so, slow ride, take it easy. Maybe three weeks is about right. If I can. I think a ride of such magnitude requires one day off per week. And that is the advice given to me, by those who have done it.

jamawani 

Mr. C hasn't weighed back in with details.
Since his tag says Davis, CA - I might guess he plans on doing the Western Express.
I suggest looking a journals over at Crazyguyonabike.

Nevada has the longest stretches as mentioned before, but there are a few in Utah, too.
From W to E -

Middlegate to Austin - old road - 60 miles (new road has possible H2o/beer stop at Cold Springs)
Austin to Eureka - 70 miles (rest stop halfway has no water but does have covered picnic tables)
Eureka to Ely - 77 miles (Illipah Reservoir has no drinking water but possible to beg water from RVers)

Baker to Milford - 82 miles (running water? at the abandoned house at the bottom of Wah Wah Valley)
Hanksville to Hite - 40+ miles (but Hite Crossing is largely shut down - store/ no motel?)
Hite to Blanding - 88 miles (water available at Natural Bridges Visitors Center 8 to 5)

Food and lodging available at all of the above endpoints with the possible exception of Hite.
Hite Marina has been largely closed down because of low water levels on Lake Powell.
I would DEFINITELY Glen Canyon Natl Rec Area and confirm what is currently available.
Hwy 95 can be brutally hot in summer.

Again - Check journals over at Crazyguyonabike
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/c...octype=journal

kipibenkipod

Don't this small towns have automatic cash machines?

msnoonan

The answer is yes, it is possible to ride across America with only a credit card and never once pitch a tent or even sleep in the homes of kind strangers who take you in.

I can say that for certain because I did it in June/July 2007.

I rode from San Francisco to Boston, 4,628 miles, in 54 days and stayed in a motel or occasional B&B every night. I rode the Western Express to Pueblo, CO, then the TransAm to Charlottesville, VA, and then cut over to the Atlantic Coast route. On my route, the only long stretch with no motels, or really any services at all, is the 127 miles from Hanksville, UT, to Blanding, UT. If you don't feel comfortable with that distance under those conditions, you can always go off-route up through Green River and Moab where services are plentiful and turn 1 long day into 2 or 3 shorter days. My journal shows where I stopped every day and even has a picture of the motel where I stayed. Here's the link:

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/sftobostonbybike

cyclezealot

Is there no some web site posting cycle friend people who will take in cyclists as they cross the USA? Seems I heard some banter about that. I'd expect to pay something for that kindness, unless they bunked me in a barn or something similiar to that. My friend who crossed about 60% of the USA all alone, said among the friendliest populations were those in western Texas. he broke down there on his bike, and someone gave him a lift to some town , quite some distance in pursuit of the closest bike shop. Seems he had to replace his bottom bracket.

msnoonan

Here are a couple of sites I have heard of from other cyclists I met while touring, but never used myself:

https://www.warmshowers.org/

https://www.couchsurfing.com/

MrCjolsen

OK, I didn't realize the term was literal. They take American dollars, right?

I was mainly just curious. Big hurdles before the idea ever becomes a reality. Not sure what I'd do with my wife for all that time. She doesn't really bike (except to local bars, restaurants or farmers markets) and likes me around during the summer to do stuff. I don't think she'd follow me in the car either. She generally hates most rural locations. Trucks, cowboy hats, and American beer start to piss her off pretty quickly.

If I somehow latched onto a coast to coast charity ride for a cause she felt really strong about, there might be a remote chance.

cooker

I'm not the OP - just a music fan.

cooker

Re motels etc not taking credit cards...presumably there are ATMs all over so you wouldn't have to carry thousands in cash.

cyclezealot

Thanks. This could be an invaluable service for those venturing out in the great hinterlands. ? I found a couple entries that would get me across outback Nevada. That is about as outback as one can get. Might have to change my route some, but it's appeared it's get me across the state and not sleep under some cacti.

spinnaker

Actually not. Your chances of finding a host in the "hinterlands" are probably pretty slim. Most hosts (at least for couch surfers) are in the larger towns.

spinnaker

And a fan of controlled substances???

cyclezealot

Crossing Nevada has always seemed a challenge. West to east. Think I found couches available in Reno, Carson City, Winnemucca, and Elko. that might be enough to get me across Nevada? Some towns in Nevada, I recall don't even have motels.