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I'm not counting Ryan out yet. First of all, and most important, he's 22. Most of us are so far past 22 that we don't remember how much your body can take at that age, and how quickly it recovers.
Second, many touring cyclists start slowly and build up. This is especially likely to be true for somebody such as Ryan who was so incredibly poorly prepared and equiped. On the other hand, it seems he may be stuck in Phoenix for a while trying to accumulate enough gear to be self-supported. And he's likely to be in for some surprises about how much more work that is. Some of you seem to be hoping he'll fail--I really hope that's not true. Regardless of whether you support him or not, you've got to admit that he does generate a buzz. 342 posts have been recently entered about him in this forum alone, not even counting the 85 posts entered in the "Assistance or Freeloading" thread which seems to have been inspired by his trip. |
Originally Posted by axolotl
(Post 7976066)
Ryan's gone 220 miles in 4 days WITH car support. He's got knee problems already. He says he'll have car support until Phoenix. He will then be unsupported for the next 3 weeks when he'll be in isolated areas and will encounter some very cold temperatures (and possibly snow) in the mountains of Arizona & New Mexico. But he still doesn't have panniers or camping gear and is seeking gear, either as a gift or to borrow. He's in for another rude awakening when/if he gets panniers and camping gear and has to start carrying all of his gear himself. This has been an object lesson in poor planning and unrealistic expectations.
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Originally Posted by CardiacKid
(Post 7976336)
It was 23 degrees in Alpine, TX this morning.
Where are you guys getting the info about where he is - I tried his site but didn't see anything updated at all. Does he have another blog he's posting to? |
Originally Posted by John Nelson
(Post 7976720)
342 posts have been recently entered about him in this forum alone, not even counting the 85 posts entered in the "Assistance or Freeloading" thread which seems to have been inspired by his trip.
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Originally Posted by nancy sv
(Post 7976774)
Yikes!! We'll be there in 5 or 6 days... (But I guess we shouldn't complain - at least it's not 12 degrees like it was up in Wyoming!!)
Where are you guys getting the info about where he is - I tried his site but didn't see anything updated at all. Does he have another blog he's posting to? |
Originally Posted by axolotl
(Post 7976563)
If you look at the historic weather data for towns along the Southern Tier route, there are places in AZ & especially NM with some pretty cold average low temperatures (in the 20s) this time of year.
I have no idea if Ryan ever got lights. His website is asking for money for lights so I would presume not. That's going to be another major impediment if he has to stop by sundown each day. My take on this is that this is all doable, but requires some real toughness and determination. It is a challenge, but probably not foolhardy if he plans better than he has so far. Regarding the weather, a little good luck wouldn't hurt and some bad luck could easily set the schedule back a few days. Then again I have not ridden the ST, so I have no first hand knowledge. |
Originally Posted by John Nelson
(Post 7976720)
Some of you seem to be hoping he'll fail--I really hope that's not true. |
Originally Posted by staehpj1
(Post 7976808)
He will have at least 10 hours of daylight. That should be enough, but it will be necessary for him to get going at first light and it will be cold then as you mentioned above.
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Originally Posted by John Nelson
(Post 7976720)
Some of you seem to be hoping he'll fail--I really hope that's not true.
I kind of frown on funding the tour with donations, but that doesn't stop me from wishing him success. It doesn't sound like he is off to a very good start and I hope he is better prepared once he is in the desert and at higher elevations. If he isn't it could be dangerous. |
I just thought of something - we're picking up the southern tier here in El Paso and will be on it til Del Rio. He may come flying past us!
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Originally Posted by axolotl
(Post 7976563)
Most, but not all, and there are large stretches at a fairly high elevation nonetheless. If you look at the historic weather data for towns along the Southern Tier route, there are places in AZ & especially NM with some pretty cold average low temperatures (in the 20s) this time of year. There's a pass in NM over 8,000 feet high. And although Ryan said someone at Adventure Cycling told him that people ride the ST in the winter, if you check crazymanonabike.com and search for "Southern Tier January", you'll find that few have attempted it in the winter. Fewer have succeeded, even over a much longer time period than Ryan has. Most of the hits you'll get are for journals that were updated or posted in January, but the cyclists actually did their trips in the spring or fall. Among the few who were actually riding in the winter, one guy encountered snow in NM in November and had to get a ride in a pickup truck across than stretch. Another guy went south into Mexico. Others talked about their frozen solid water bottles. Another stopped riding about halfway. Adventure Cycling organizes their own tours along the ST in the spring & fall, but not in the winter.
When is the best time to ride a specific route? Southern Tier: early fall to late spring, and into summer in the east. Caution: snow can occur at any time in the higher elevations in the Southwest, with the highest pass in New Mexico being over 8,000 feet. In the southeast, hurricane season is from June 1 to November 1. |
Originally Posted by nancy sv
(Post 7976914)
I just thought of something - we're picking up the southern tier here in El Paso and will be on it til Del Rio. He may come flying past us!
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I just left a comment on his blog telling him we're on the road - hopefully he'll stop and talk rather than blasting past!
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Originally Posted by The Historian
(Post 7976719)
Still no word. His last posts mentioned picking up a rack in DC from a poster here.
thanks. This isn't looking too good. Things will be getting really interesting around Phoenix. They just started construction on his route Hwy 60 yikes. GLOBE AZ PTCLDY PTCLDY SUNNY SUNNY SUNNY SUNNY SUNNY 34/58 46/53 43/51 35/61 39/64 43/62 42/57 00/10 20/20 10/00 00/00 00/00 00/00 00/00 Event Id 287988 Location On US Highway 60, EW-bound from mile post 236.0, 6.70 miles West of Miami to mile post 238.0, 4.70 miles West of Miami Duration from December 2, 2008 to February 27, 2009 from 6:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Sunday, through Saturday, Description lane closed. Possible stop and go traffic Restrictions Width: 11 ft. Public Notes Concrete barrier closing west bound slow lane - Flaggers - speed reduced Daytime Buss Ph: 928-402-5620 This should be downhill. Brrr I hope he has some warm clothes or at least a tarp. |
Originally Posted by wheel
(Post 7977669)
It looks like his posts are locked out for some reason for me.
thanks. This isn't looking too good. Things will be getting really interesting around Phoenix. They just started construction on his route Hwy 60 yikes. GLOBE AZ PTCLDY PTCLDY SUNNY SUNNY SUNNY SUNNY SUNNY 34/58 46/53 43/51 35/61 39/64 43/62 42/57 00/10 20/20 10/00 00/00 00/00 00/00 00/00 Event Id 287988 Location On US Highway 60, EW-bound from mile post 236.0, 6.70 miles West of Miami to mile post 238.0, 4.70 miles West of Miami Duration from December 2, 2008 to February 27, 2009 from 6:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Sunday, through Saturday, Description lane closed. Possible stop and go traffic Restrictions Width: 11 ft. Public Notes Concrete barrier closing west bound slow lane - Flaggers - speed reduced Daytime Buss Ph: 928-402-5620 This should be downhill. Brrr I hope he has some warm clothes or at least a tarp. |
Originally Posted by FlowerBlossom
(Post 7978016)
Does this mean you can't post on his blog? And, in particular, this information?
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Originally Posted by The Historian
(Post 7978039)
Two different posters. The "locked out" one is Immorality, a guy riding from Philadelphia to Mexico. He left in October.
Originally Posted by FlowerBlossom
(Post 7978016)
Does this mean you can't post on his blog? And, in particular, this information?
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Accuweather predicts highs in the upper sixties and lows in the upper 40s for Phoenix over the next five days.
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Originally Posted by The Historian
(Post 7978066)
Accuweather predicts highs in the upper sixties and lows in the upper 40s for Phoenix over the next five days.
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I have it on good authority that a Bike Forums poster and cross-country cyclist is meeting Ryan tomorrow. I understand Ryan is going to be a little better equipped after that meeting. So it looks like the young man is going to be a bit better prepared for what he's facing.
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Originally Posted by wheel
(Post 7978082)
Globe Arizona is at 3500 feet. He goes from 1200 to 3500 60 miles Phoenix to Globe. highest point is 4500 known as Top Of The World.
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Originally Posted by The Historian
(Post 7978093)
I have it on good authority that a Bike Forums poster and cross-country cyclist is meeting Ryan tomorrow. I understand Ryan is going to be a little better equipped after that meeting. So it looks like the young man is going to be a bit better prepared for what he's facing.
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Originally Posted by The Historian
(Post 7978097)
Just looking at your post has me reaching for the Ibuprofen. I'd hate to imagine actually climbing it.
Yea the 60 miles is misleading since the last twenty miles or so is where you do the real climbing. At least it is pretty!! http://www.worldssmallestmuseum.com/...leapsunset.jpg |
Originally Posted by wheel
(Post 7978105)
That is good to hear. Keep the dream (him ) alive.
Also, I'm helping pay forward the favors I received when I had busted spokes in Confluence, PA, on my August tour. A poster in Texas offered to ship me a new rear wheel at that time. |
Originally Posted by The Historian
(Post 7978166)
Yes. While I think his ride is bogus and he's a jerk, it's my duty as both a Christian and as a member of the 'touring community' to keep him alive. It's amazing what a PM or two on Bike Forums can arrange.
Also, I'm helping pay forward the favors I received when I had busted spokes in Confluence, PA, on my August tour. A poster in Texas offered to ship me a new rear wheel at that time. I am happy, I can save my tarp. :) |
Originally Posted by The Historian
(Post 7978166)
Yes. While I think his ride is bogus and he's a jerk, it's my duty as both a Christian and as a member of the 'touring community' to keep him alive. It's amazing what a PM or two on Bike Forums can arrange.
Also, I'm helping pay forward the favors I received when I had busted spokes in Confluence, PA, on my August tour. A poster in Texas offered to ship me a new rear wheel at that time. Good luck at inspiring and keeping the kid going. Get him to gear down and save those knees. |
Originally Posted by The Historian
(Post 7978097)
Just looking at your post has me reaching for the Ibuprofen. I'd hate to imagine actually climbing it.
I am glad to hear he is getting some gear. I hope he has a decent sleeping bag lined up. |
I have done that route a couple of times - and hopefully he won't get a head wind when he heads up. It's a nasty road no shoulder at times and lots of trucks. It is steeper than 6% in places. With a head wind it feels at time like two steps forward and then two steps backward. We hit wacko weather both times we've done it.
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Originally Posted by axolotl
(Post 7976563)
If you look at the historic weather data for towns along the Southern Tier route, there are places in AZ & especially NM with some pretty cold average low temperatures (in the 20s) this time of year. There's a pass in NM over 8,000 feet high.
However, my suggestion would be to bypass 8200ft Emery pass and instead go from Silver City to Deming on US 180 and then follow I-10 between Deming and Las Cruces. I did that route in 2001 and there were frontage roads for all but ~12 miles of the I-10 stretch. Journal page for that day: http://www.mvermeulen.com/oneyear/Jo...11.htm#March20 Looking at Ryan's remaining distance and time, it looks like he would need to approximate distances I did in 2001 (http://www.mvermeulen.com/oneyear/usa.htm). I passed through Julian on March 11th and came into St Augustine 37 days later. He would need to go at approximately similar pace to have enough time to get north to Washington DC after that, though he doesn't need to go south all the way to St. Augustine. So I think it is do-able though arguably December is more challenging than March and I wasn't running into as many issues early. Worst comes to worst, Amtrak parallels much of this route not too far off. |
Mev, he's going to have ride much more than you did according to your blog. I noticed you rode better than 80 miles a day only 11 of the 31 days you rode in March and only 3 of the 19 days you rode in April. He needs to ride better than 80 miles everday and he won't be able to withstand the several days where you rode less than 50 miles. The young man's got a difficult but not impossible task in front of him.
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