Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Trina on April 8, 2012 at 4:48am

Hey Robert,

First off, I'm so excited for you and your upcoming ride! I took a self-supported cross country ride back in 2006, and it was the best summer I ever had. While I can't take the time for a trip this time around, I have lots of tips for you if you want them. 

My first advice is to keep looking for a riding buddy for as long as it takes. The people we met on the road who were riding solo mostly seemed very lonely and unhappy, and I have to say that Piper and I saved each other from some really egregious mistakes on more than a few occasions. For safety's sake, it's good to have a friend with you on the road. 

My partner is planning a cross country ride and leaving in May (building up his bike right now). We'd be happy to go for a ride with you and talk about long-distance biking. Might also be cool to organize a casual bar meetup for those who have completed long distance tours and those who are interested in touring.

Trina

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Permalink Reply by Robert Egwele on April 8, 2012 at 8:28am

Hey Trina,

Thanks for the advice. Ideally I would like to make this trip with another person, but I don't know if I'll find someone who'd be willing to make a 3 month journey. I'll keep looking though: if it's meant to be, it'll happen.

I would love to go for a ride with you and your partner. I plan to do alot of long distance riding this summer to prepare for the big excursion. Meeting up for drinks would be great too!

Thanks for your help, and I look forward to hearing back from you!

Bob
 
Trina said:

Hey Robert,

First off, I'm so excited for you and your upcoming ride! I took a self-supported cross country ride back in 2006, and it was the best summer I ever had. While I can't take the time for a trip this time around, I have lots of tips for you if you want them. 

My first advice is to keep looking for a riding buddy for as long as it takes. The people we met on the road who were riding solo mostly seemed very lonely and unhappy, and I have to say that Piper and I saved each other from some really egregious mistakes on more than a few occasions. For safety's sake, it's good to have a friend with you on the road. 

My partner is planning a cross country ride and leaving in May (building up his bike right now). We'd be happy to go for a ride with you and talk about long-distance biking. Might also be cool to organize a casual bar meetup for those who have completed long distance tours and those who are interested in touring.

Trina

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Permalink Reply by sara dykman on April 8, 2012 at 1:36pm

Howdy,

Sounds like a great trip.  Any one reading this and thinking about going...you should.

If not, I just wanted to give a shout out to solo touring.  Cycling solo is great and unbelievably freeing.  I've bicycle toured thousands of miles with groups (2-16 others) and solo. Solo and small groups make spontaneous adventure much more possible (ie. someone meeting you at the grocery store and offering up their pool, spare bedroom, beer, etc).   Also, if you are cycling on Adventure Cycling Routes there will be plenty of people to meet along the way.  Most will probably be going west to east (b/c of wind) but you could at least camp with them.

Also, warmshowers.org, is a great website to find a place to crash, shower, and visit with people so if you do go the solo route you can tell someone about some/all of the great epiphanies you have had on the open road.

Solo or not, my advice to new tourists is to under estimate your miles so that when opportunity strikes you won't feel obligated to keep with a schedule and turn down great adventure (ie a exciting route you didn't know about, a county fair, a invitation to a basketball game...).  My rule when bike touring is to never turn down an invitation, unless I get the really creepy dangerous vibe.  

Bike Tourists have been successful using a thousand different strategies.   In the first week you will have worked out what works best for you. I'd be happy to let you know what I found worked best, if you have questions on specifics.

Ride on!

Sara

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on April 8, 2012 at 2:21pm

There are partner-finding pages on crazyguyonabike.com and at Adventure Cyclist.

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Permalink Reply by Robert Egwele on April 9, 2012 at 7:58pm

Hey Sarah,

Thanks for your advice. I do have a question for you.

Do you think it's advantageous to ride west to east because of the wind factor? Does it make that much of a difference? What has your experience been? I wouldn't mind switching things up a bit if I had good reason to.

Thanks so much!

Bob
 
sara dykman said:

Howdy,

Sounds like a great trip.  Any one reading this and thinking about going...you should.

If not, I just wanted to give a shout out to solo touring.  Cycling solo is great and unbelievably freeing.  I've bicycle toured thousands of miles with groups (2-16 others) and solo. Solo and small groups make spontaneous adventure much more possible (ie. someone meeting you at the grocery store and offering up their pool, spare bedroom, beer, etc).   Also, if you are cycling on Adventure Cycling Routes there will be plenty of people to meet along the way.  Most will probably be going west to east (b/c of wind) but you could at least camp with them.

Also, warmshowers.org, is a great website to find a place to crash, shower, and visit with people so if you do go the solo route you can tell someone about some/all of the great epiphanies you have had on the open road.

Solo or not, my advice to new tourists is to under estimate your miles so that when opportunity strikes you won't feel obligated to keep with a schedule and turn down great adventure (ie a exciting route you didn't know about, a county fair, a invitation to a basketball game...).  My rule when bike touring is to never turn down an invitation, unless I get the really creepy dangerous vibe.  

Bike Tourists have been successful using a thousand different strategies.   In the first week you will have worked out what works best for you. I'd be happy to let you know what I found worked best, if you have questions on specifics.

Ride on!

Sara

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Permalink Reply by Robert Egwele on April 9, 2012 at 7:59pm

Thanks Kevin!
 
Kelvin Mulcky said:

There are partner-finding pages on crazyguyonabike.com and at Adventure Cyclist.

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Permalink Reply by sara dykman on April 16, 2012 at 8:36am

Most folks travel west to east across the USA because of the prevailing winds go west to east.  On the west coast the prevailing winds blow north to south, so most people travel north to south.  The wind in the summer is usually less of an issue than in the spring, but can still be a challenge.  

Of course you could can only plan so much.  You are bound to hit some crazy weather or storms and get changing winds. Certainly possible either way you go, chances for better winds lie heading north to south then out east.

Check out this awesome real time map of the wind:http://hint.fm/wind/

hope that helps

Robert Egwele said:

Hey Sarah,

Thanks for your advice. I do have a question for you.

Do you think it's advantageous to ride west to east because of the wind factor? Does it make that much of a difference? What has your experience been? I wouldn't mind switching things up a bit if I had good reason to.

Thanks so much!

Bob
 
sara dykman said:

Howdy,

Sounds like a great trip.  Any one reading this and thinking about going...you should.

If not, I just wanted to give a shout out to solo touring.  Cycling solo is great and unbelievably freeing.  I've bicycle toured thousands of miles with groups (2-16 others) and solo. Solo and small groups make spontaneous adventure much more possible (ie. someone meeting you at the grocery store and offering up their pool, spare bedroom, beer, etc).   Also, if you are cycling on Adventure Cycling Routes there will be plenty of people to meet along the way.  Most will probably be going west to east (b/c of wind) but you could at least camp with them.

Also, warmshowers.org, is a great website to find a place to crash, shower, and visit with people so if you do go the solo route you can tell someone about some/all of the great epiphanies you have had on the open road.

Solo or not, my advice to new tourists is to under estimate your miles so that when opportunity strikes you won't feel obligated to keep with a schedule and turn down great adventure (ie a exciting route you didn't know about, a county fair, a invitation to a basketball game...).  My rule when bike touring is to never turn down an invitation, unless I get the really creepy dangerous vibe.  

Bike Tourists have been successful using a thousand different strategies.   In the first week you will have worked out what works best for you. I'd be happy to let you know what I found worked best, if you have questions on specifics.

Ride on!

Sara

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Permalink Reply by JeffB on April 16, 2012 at 10:59am

I wish I had the time to join you, but this was my first thought when I read your post.  West to East seems to be the way to go.

Have you seen "The Ride" documenting Phil Keoghan's 40-day cross country ride (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMeqF5VxHaY)?  A more aggressive pace, but it might give you some insights, particularly the segment at the beginning of the ride in the CA desert when he had 30-40mph west tailwinds.  Imagine dealing with that going west instead.

Robert Egwele said:

Hey Sarah,

Thanks for your advice. I do have a question for you.

Do you think it's advantageous to ride west to east because of the wind factor? Does it make that much of a difference? What has your experience been? I wouldn't mind switching things up a bit if I had good reason to.

Thanks so much!

Bob
 

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Permalink Reply by Robert Egwele on April 16, 2012 at 12:04pm

Update: So I've changed my mind about the direction of this trip. Due to wind and other factors, I find that it would make more sense for me to go west to east. So it's looking like I will start in Mt. Shasta, bike down the coast to San Diego, and then take the Southern Tier to St. Augustine, Fl. I still plan to leave in early September, so if you are interested in coming along, let me know!

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