TransAmerica route 2013
 

Hello,

I'm looking into riding the TransAm route this coming summer on my Trek 520. My girlfriend would really like to accompany me, however, due to a knee injury is unable to handle a long physical ride as such. I'm curious how she would fare on a gas powered touring scooter.....has anyone seen or heard of this done? Any advice and/or opionions, of past riders or those familiar with the route would be appreciated.....Thanks

maybe she can motor-pace you in all the headwinds.. stay right on that wheel ..

Think BIG!
 

Have you looked into gas powered motors for bicycles?

I purchased mine, a 66cc engine from gasbike.net

In 2010 I took a 207 day, 10,000 mile trip double-crossing the US that started with a 2-cycle engine on an old 26-incher.

I managed about 4,000 miles from the engine - with a BIG smile across my face.

Engine-wise: 'complete' kit delivered to the door for about $150 and installed in long day. Fairly quite - I often listened to my portable radio carried in my shirt pocket. Reception in remote areas was more of an issue than the noise interference. 120 miles per gallon of fuel - carried a one-gallon fuel can to mix oil. Easy start - get to riding speed and drop the clutch to start - no shifting, just go - slick, motorbike-type hand throttle. Powerful enough to carry me (200#) and pull my two-wheel trail loaded with 30-35# of gear as fast as 22 mph (across Florida and up the east coast to Virginia where I turned west on the Trans-AM. Base cruising speed was about 15mph because I wanted the engine to last. Motor was 1) tired after crossing Montana going into the wind 2) didn't like 4,000+ altitude. Do some homework and carry a different needle for the carburetor when you get up to the high country - upper west US.

Bike-wise: It will go through rear tires and chains. I bought slightly heavier $10 chains from real bicycle shops but normal junk chains work; I bought my tires at Wal-mart for $20-ish and managed about 600 miles per tire.

Trip-wise: when you get near St Louis MO, turn north and catch AdventureCycling's Lewis & Clark Route - more stuff to see. I rode on the TA, L&C, Northern Tier, Cascades, Western Express, Grand Canyon, Southern Tier, and Mississippi Natchez Trace - L&C was truly enjoyed; because it had many L&C rode-side tourist stops.

Map-wise: get a gps and download AC's data - but the maps had info about free stops. I didn't have the maps but I stopped for free everywhere - I stayed indoors 3 days of the 207! I even stopped/tented in/near Wal-mart parking lots.

Legal-wise: Not so much, but you can trust that, unless you are being stupid, you will never be hassled. Well, other than the many many questions that will come e-v-e-r-y-t-i-m-e you stop for fuel.

Good riding --- and afterwards, come to Alabama to paddle our 631 mile Scenic River Trail - way more fun than biking because you can carry everything you want in big kayak or canoe.

Warren
findingwarren.com
AL-GA '08
GA-AL '08
ASRT '09
EDC 10,000 '10
FCT '11-12
GDMBR '13

http://vespa-vagabond.blogspot.com/

http://vespacrosscountry.blogspot.com/

http://modernvespa.com/forum/topic81350

http://www.littleblackstar.com/scoot66/

http://www.scootercannonball.com/

"Common" may not be the term for it, but it's definitely been done by lots of people.

By the way, have you asked her what method of transportation she'd like to use? ;)