jamawani 

I'm planning on bagging all responsibilities in early Feb and taking my first ever winter tour. So then, what is the consensus on the best direction for the Southern Tier - - East to West or West to East?

First off, a confession - I won't really be doing the Southern Tier in many places. I'm planning on skipping all sections that put you on the Interstate. Also, I'm going to avoid Phoenix and the nasty stretch of US 60. Plus I'm going to do Deep Bayou in Louisiana - - but basically, the Southern Tier.

Here are the comparisons of each as I see them:

E to W - Feb 1 to April 1
Less average precip in both the Southeast and California.
Lots of easy riding to start the tour.
Sunnier riding on the north side of the road.

W to E - Feb1 to April 1
More tailwinds. Prevailing westerlies.
Easier for me to get to the start.

I lean East to West except I am worried about lots of headwinds.
What have other folks experienced?

Thanks!

vosyer

Well last year West to East April to June there were almost no tail winds and lots of headwinds - had a couple chilly spots and then it warmed up alot. Those leaving in West to East in mid March to Early April were slamed with cold weather.

Lots of tornado's and rain last year we were glad of a weather radio. I think you can bypass Phoenix which is a good idea and if you get around the unpleasant stretch around Globe that would be good. We tried detouring in Louisanna and I don't recomend it because most the roads are not very good and forget the interstate.

I think there were a lot of ridders who started in Feb for the east to west trip
check crazyguyona bike.com to check out their journals. By the way depending where to start in Florida is far from being flat. Lots of up and down hills just not mountains.

deadly downtube

west to east is always the best way to go imo.... just did the southern tier in february, was a good time! great weather nearly the entire way... the mountains east of san diego had snow and enormous winds, but it was fun

ken cummings

It is still cold and wet in SoCal at that W to E time. Try a month or two later.

staehpj1

Is that statement limited to the ST or do you mean it more generally?

vosyer

For the nothern tier it especially applies E TO W ( start date april/May) and for the nothern tier I would't start W to East until June - this year and currently there is record snow fall because of El Nina currently running 30 to 50% above normal for the Cascades and probably the same for the Rockies.

jamawani 

Thanks everybody -

As for temperatures - I live in Wyoming and cycle all year.
I don't think there is anything on the Southern Tier than will give me that much concern.
If I catch a little snow - I'll just hole up for a day or two.
Will be heading thru Bidbee and Ajo rather than Globe and Phoenix.
So I'll miss the high country around Silver City.

With the recent rains in So Cal, I'm hoping for good flowers in Antelope Valley -
So that might be the clincher for East to West.
Thanks again - J

jamawani 

Testing photo embedding - -

Sapelo Island, Georgia
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Dirt Road, Palmettos, and Live Oaks
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jamawani 

Testing Again - -

Dirt Road, Palmettos, and Live Oaks
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valygrl

fixed it for you