erikh

Hi, I'm a Swedish guy currently planning for a bike trip across the northern states of the US next summer. The plan is to start in (or just outside) New York City as I will be landing at JFK. I aim to follow the bike maps by ACA as much as possible so from NYC I plan to bike to Fort Erie, Ferry over to Michigan (what ever town the ferry arrives at , straight across with ferry again to Wisconsin and then hop on to the northern tier (of ACA maps).

I'm considering following the northern route until it intersects "Louis and Clark" route and follow that one to Astoria/Seattle. From Seattle the plan is to follow the pacific route down to San Diego (I have relatives in Seattle and San Diego).

I have a couple of questions:

1. Any recommendations on where exactly to start the trip around NYC? The bike will obviously be packed in a box and I will need to reassemble and get my stuff organized before setting out. Is there some satellite town which is connected by some suitable road leading to Fort Erie?

2. What kind of ferry is going between Fort Erie and Michigan and how long does it take? Do I need to book in advance or is it just like a big vehicle ferry?

3. Heard a lot about lose dogs and that you need to have pepper spray with you? Is this recommended? Is it legal to have it in all states? Any other animal I should worry about travelling the northern states, bears for instance?

That's all I had to ask for now, doing some research on equipment apart from planning the route atm. Just got a Koga Randonneur (2011) which I will be using with panniers. The plan is to sleep in tent as often as possible.

I'm grateful for any recommendations/suggestions anyone might have.

Thanks!

erikh

Anyone?

indyfabz

For starters...

1. Fort Erie, Ontario, which is on the AC's Northern Tier route? If so, I had no idea there is a ferry from Fort Erie, to MI. I couldn't find any reference to it on line, although I only looked quickly. Seems like an awfully long ride.

2. Which AC route do you plan to follow from NYC? Their Atlantic Coast route has a spur that goes into NYC, but it heads SW, away from the Northern Tier. Their Atlantic Coast route crosses the Northern Tier in ME, so going SW just to head NE doesn't seem like the way to go. You would be better off taking the New York State bike route that goes from NYC to Middletown, NY picking up AC's Atlantic Coast Route north and then jumping on the Northern Tier.

3. Pepper spary is generally legal. Never carry it. Yelling at dogs usually scares them off.

4. There are bears in the Adirondak Mountains in New York and in several other states traversed by the Northern Tier and Lewis & Clark routes. If you keep a clean camp and follow generally-accepted rules when camping in bear country, you should have no problem. You can research these things on line.

chasm54

I'm not a North American, but earlier this year I did a tour in Atlantic Canada and New England. American dogs do seem keen to chase bikes, but I didn't have a pepper spray and I was fine. If I were to do it again I might carry a water pistol (seriously) to deter any that got too close, but don't worry about it. Bears don't bother you if you take elementary precautions with your food when camping.

I didn't go near NYC so can't advise on your starting-point. Going west, though, why bother with the ferry? Cross the peace bridge into Canada at Buffalo and go through Niagara, re-entering the States at Sarnoa/Port Huron. Nice ride along the north side of the lake through Southern Ontario, and the Canadians are nice.

Haven't cycled further west than that so that's the best I can do, sorry.

raybo

I don't know if any of these will help but here is a page with 9 links to information about bike touring in New York.

This biking page from NY DOT (Dept of Transportation) (one of the links above) might be a good place to start.

Ray

erikh

Well, I just know that I will be landing at JFK and that I need to find the best way to get on to the northern route. That route starts way up in Maine and I'm not planning to go all the way up there.

This is the route at ACA:

https://www.adventurecycling.org/stor...s_combo-lg.gif

It looks like there should be a way of crossing with ferry... I might want to go by Green Bay as well, that's why I prefer the Lake Connector-option of the northern tier.

Speedo

Somebody who posts here wrote about a trip from NYC up to Harriman State Park. I think they crossed the George Washington Bridge and went up the west side of the Hudson. Once you are in the Harriman area you can pick up NY Bike Route 17. That will take you along the southern tier of New York and connect with the Northern Tier ACA route in western New York. Of the New York bike routes, I think 17 would be the nicest.

Speedo

erikh

Ok, I will have a look at Route 17 then.

QueueCT

I'll make a suggestion . . . Head north through Manhattan and the Bronx into Weatchester County (east side of the Hudson River). Go north all the way to Albany then follow the Erie Canal to Buffalo and, as suggested above, cross into Canada. You can then head through Ontario and cross the St Clair River into Michigan.

If you don't feel like riding through NYC, and who can blame you, head to Grand Central Terminal and catch a commuter train north. You can check mta.info for the rules regarding bikes on the train.

indyfabz

That doesn't show a ferry from Fort Erie. Only the U.S. is shaded blue. Everything else in white is not water. Here is the detail:

https://www.adventurecycling.org/rout...?pg=detail&s=1

Someone mentioned the Erie Canal. AC's Northern Tier route incorporates the trail between Palmyra, NY and Lockport, NY. Having done the entire Northern Tier ( in '99), I can say that going into Canada to see the Canadian side of Niagara Falls is worth it. The Rainbow Hostel is nice, cheap place to stay that's away from the crowded tourist part of town but still close enough to the falls to be convenient.

QueueCT's suggestion about MTA is a good option. And he gets extra points for calling it by it's correct name: "Grand Central Terminal" rather than by the incorrect name "Grand Central Station."

QueueCT

That comes from far too many commutes into Manhattan on the train . . . and I can use all the points I can get!

BigBlueToe

Do you want to go to Astoria, Oregon, or Seattle, Washington? Portland is right on the Lewis and Clark trail. Seattle is not on any ACA coast to coast route.

If you go across the Cascade mountains on the Northern Tier, you can get to Seattle via Whidbey Island. Before you get to Anacortes (the western terminus of the Northern Tier) take a left turn towards Whidbey Island/Deception Pass. You can ride down Whidbey Island on the highway. There's camping at Deception Pass (north end of the island) and South Whidbey (about 25 miles north of the southern end.) Take the ferry across to Mukilteo and head south to Seattle. Find the Interurban trail on a map and it will take you into the city.

The Lewis and Clark route means you don't have to climb over the Cascades. The Columbia river has cut the gorge through the mountains so it's relatively flat. However, there's an almost-constant wind up the gorge from west to east (which is why it's a national mecca for sail boarders and kite surfers.) You won't have to climb mountains, but you'll have to fight a pretty serious headwind.

If you go to Portland and then want to go to Seattle you can follow the coast route maps from ACA, or get a copy of "Bicycling the Pacific Coast" by Kirkendall/Spring and follow that route. There's also a huge ride called the Seattle to Portland (STP) that follows a different route. You might be able to get a copy of it and ride it south to north.

My troubles with dogs have been isolated incidents - pretty rare. I've never been bitten. I yell at them, kick at their faces, and outrun them. I've heard that they're more of a problem in southern states, but I wouldn't know. I've only toured out west.

Most campgrounds that have bear troubles also have bear boxes to store your food at night. I suggest you keep food out of your tent for the whole trip so there are no lingering odors which might be attractive to bears (and, for that matter, raccoons - I've seen more tent invasions from raccoons than bears.) If you camp in bear country and there are no bear boxes, hang your food. You should bring a rope that is suitable. People I know that tour in areas where there might be bears have a pannier dedicated to food and only keep the food in that one bag. They hang it at night and, hopefully, none of the other panniers are attractive to bears.

Bear problems are extremely rare, but I still like to minimize the chances that I'll have one.

indyfabz

So I am sure you know about the whispering arch.

QueueCT

Indeed, but I've never tested the legend.