Maps
#26
2 Fat 2 Furious
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,996
Likes: 2
From: England
Bikes: 2009 Specialized Rockhopper Comp Disc, 2009 Specialized Tricross Sport RIP
IIRC you can get a basic AAA membership for something like $40, which seems a pretty small expense for the number of maps they can give you and a pretty small expense when looking at a coast-to-coast tour. I don't know if things like the towing services would apply to bikes but if so it would at least give you some options if you were to break your bike and not be able to fix it (from what I recall the cheapest membership option only provides for a 5-mile tow, so it may be of limited use)
As an added benefit if you're expecting to pay for overnight accommodation anywhere along the tour you may find the AAA membership pays for itself in the form of discounts. I took an AAA Plus membership to cover an 8-week trip to the US which cost something like $120 and paid for itself within the 8 weeks I was there.
As an added benefit if you're expecting to pay for overnight accommodation anywhere along the tour you may find the AAA membership pays for itself in the form of discounts. I took an AAA Plus membership to cover an 8-week trip to the US which cost something like $120 and paid for itself within the 8 weeks I was there.
#27
What I've done before is to bring the detailed digital maps that I have into photoshop and chop them up so that I am only printing out my route with say 10km to either side. I also enlarged detailed areas, and shrunk areas with no detail. It's a lot of work, but you end up with maps customized for your route that fit perfectly into whatever you're using to protect your maps. I can usually fit a days ride on a small 8" x 6" map.
If I get disastrously off track, I buy a map from a gas station.
If I get disastrously off track, I buy a map from a gas station.
#28
Just a note about AAA: It is first and foremost a motorist lobbying organizatrion that has taken what can be seen as anti-cycling, walking and public transit positions. Here is one recent example:
https://www.railstotrails.org/ourWork.../news/AAA.html
https://www.railstotrails.org/ourWork.../news/AAA.html
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: TX
Bikes: Homemade Custom Tourer, EPX 303, Schwinn Homegrown, Trek 7.3 FX, Robinson SST, Trek Fuel EX7
Just a note about AAA: It is first and foremost a motorist lobbying organizatrion that has taken what can be seen as anti-cycling, walking and public transit positions. Here is one recent example:
https://www.railstotrails.org/ourWork.../news/AAA.html
https://www.railstotrails.org/ourWork.../news/AAA.html
Regardless I will take advantage of my friends membership for the maps.
#30
Crazyguyonabike

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 697
Likes: 4
From: Lebanon, OR
Bikes: Co-Motion Divide
I've found that the Benchmark series of maps (in large booklet format, by state) have good detail down to backroads, including fairly accurate indications of which roads are paved and which are dirt (very useful when trying to determine if a certain backroad is actually going to be a good option or more trouble than its worth). There are some forestry roads around where I live (northern California) which the DeLorme maps don't indicate as being dirt, but the Benchmark does. Although these maps are about $20 per state, you could just treat that as a cost of the tour and tear/cut out just those pages you want/need. Here's the California one, for reference - they do many other western states:
https://www.amazon.com/Benchmark-Cali...dp/0929591496/
Neil
https://www.amazon.com/Benchmark-Cali...dp/0929591496/
Neil
#31
Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 852
Likes: 0
From: Illinois (near St. Louis)
Bikes: Specialized Expedition Sport, Surly LHT
Here's download sites for Missouri and Illinois county road maps
https://www.modot.org/newsandinfo/CountyMaps.htm
https://www.dot.il.gov/maps/generalmaps1.html
https://www.modot.org/newsandinfo/CountyMaps.htm
https://www.dot.il.gov/maps/generalmaps1.html
#32
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: Pueblo, CO
If your route goes through Pueblo, Colorado, I have made a local free site which includes lodging, food suggestions, best local routes, entertainment and an interactive map. It's only good for a couple days of your journey, but hopefully it will make your stay in Pueblo more enjoyable and easier
https://www.alternativecommutepueblo....-partners.html

https://www.alternativecommutepueblo....-partners.html
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