im going to bike across the United States next summer..

[guapo337]

can anyone point me to routes? my sister and i are so serious about doing this. we're gonna start planning soon.

we figure 50 miles/day (probably more). any ideas on this? food? where to stay? point me to routes? where on the west coast should my destination be? we're leaving from maine.

 

[minendo]

Route 80 all the way. Don't know if I-80 is in Maine though.

Not really sure what backroads you could take to avoid the highways.

 

[Glitchny]

there are only to big routes in maine if i remember right from living there. Route 1. and something else cant remember.. but search on goolge someone has to ahve something that will help you

 

Start with a map, move on from there.

 

[Fausto]

I can't give you an exact route per se, but I'd stick to the northern states if I were you (cooler for the most part and fewer people/traffic). You could cut through Canada and then bike north through Michigan into the upper peninsula (which is almost uninhabited and beautiful) and then west from there to Washington state or Oregon to the coast.

 

[Spac3d]

Originally posted by: Fausto1
I can't give you an exact route per se, but I'd stick to the northern states if I were you (cooler for the most part and fewer people/traffic). You could cut through Canada and then bike north through Michigan into the upper peninsula (which is almost uninhabited and beautiful) and then west from there to Washington state or Oregon to the coast.

But would their be enough places to stop along the route? If they plan on doing 50 miles/day, they will need stops pretty often I would think. But Fausto is the bike expert... I am just an enthusiast

 

[Spac3d]

Originally posted by: Fausto1
I can't give you an exact route per se, but I'd stick to the northern states if I were you (cooler for the most part and fewer people/traffic). You could cut through Canada and then bike north through Michigan into the upper peninsula (which is almost uninhabited and beautiful) and then west from there to Washington state or Oregon to the coast.

But would their be enough places to stop along the route? If they plan on doing 50 miles/day, they will need stops pretty often I would think. But Fausto is the bike expert... I am just an enthusiast

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: minendo
Route 80 all the way. Don't know if I-80 is in Maine though.

Not really sure what backroads you could take to avoid the highways.

Can't do that, Route 80 is partly tollroad through Ohio. they don't allow bicycles on toll roads. If I recall, state route 2 is parallel to 80 in the northern part of Ohio, so you could take that through that stretch.

 

[Rapidskies]

My tip for you is to get a flag for your bike, cars are pretty ruthless with bikers and you will be traveling at peak vacation time. One of those flags that stick up pretty high, might be a pain but better than someone not seeing you.

I read a book by a guy who biked across the US, he was doing 80-100 miles a day and packed a small tent. He stayed in camp grounds/rv parks along the way. The RV parks would often let him stay for free.

 

[bunker]

Originally posted by: Spac3d

Originally posted by: Fausto1
I can't give you an exact route per se, but I'd stick to the northern states if I were you (cooler for the most part and fewer people/traffic). You could cut through Canada and then bike north through Michigan into the upper peninsula (which is almost uninhabited and beautiful) and then west from there to Washington state or Oregon to the coast.

But would their be enough places to stop along the route? If they plan on doing 50 miles/day, they will need stops pretty often I would think. But Fausto is the bike expert... I am just an enthusiast

On US-2 that runs east/west through the UP, I don't think there's a stretch longer than 50 miles w/out a hotel/motel.

 

[WhiteKnight]

You could do one of those Bike Across America fund raisers or something. They had one here at Hopkins last year (maybe this year too) for cancer. All of the equipment is donated and food is provided and everything. Last year's folks even got to keep the bikes and stuff.

 

[idNut]

Good motherfvcking luck, man. That's a long-ass trip.

When you're around PA, stop by and I'll give you a whack on the head.

 

[RbSX]

Originally posted by: guapo337
can anyone point me to routes? my sister and i are so serious about doing this. we're gonna start planning soon.

we figure 50 miles/day (probably more). any ideas on this? food? where to stay? point me to routes? where on the west coast should my destination be? we're leaving from maine.

50 miles a day is.. alot. You've got to be in really good shape to do it, all the power to ya though.

 

[Bootprint]

Have you look here, at the Adventure Cycling Association.


Oh, and good luck.

 

[Armitage]

I did this about 12 years ago! Greatest experience EVER
get maps from these guys: Adventure Cycling, they used to be known as Bikecentenial.
The maps are great ... turn by turn directions, keep you off highways, and bad cycling roads. Well researched with campgrounds, hostels, bike shops, etc. marked and with address/phone number. Local history, side-trip/things to see suggestions etc.

Here are there Mapped Routes, I took the TransAmerica trail (original route, centrl, then NW through Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon), E. to W., then down the coast to S.F. The Great Parks North route is spectactular also.

They also do group tours, if you haven't done self-contained cycle touring before, that's a good way to learn the ropes.

 

[StageLeft]

I hope you're both fit. I could do 50 miles a day for a few days easy - but 3000 miles of it day after day is another thing altogether. I'd recommend a several day trip beforehand otherwise you might be in for a nasty surprise once you start. Needless to say do a lot of biking building up to it.

 

[kami333]

I-80 goes from NYC to San Fransisco, I think.

It get's pretty dull between Ohio and Wyoming, just flat fields and nothing to see other than some minor detours to Cleaveland and Chicago. I usually make 2 roundtrips between Utah, where I live, and Pennsylvania where I go to school each year, driving of course. Takes about 40hours including naps in the car.

 

[mfs378]

You should be able to do more than 50 miles a day. If you are in good enough shape to think about doing something like this, you can do 80+, at least until you hit the rockies. When you do, progress might be a little slower.

 

[Armitage]

A few specific tips...

If you're going self contained...
1. Get a real touring bike. A regular rode frame & wheels won't hold up, and a mtn. bike will end up killing your back & ass (plus heavier & draggier).
2. Get front and rear paniers ... bike is better balanced/easier to handle then just overloaded rear panniers.
3. Get panniers that remove easily.
4. You can probably plan on more miles/day. I averaged about 70 including days off & site-seeing. That was about typical among the people I met. And you will meet alot of people along the route.
5. Most places, don't bother trying to plan your stops more then a day in advance. Some places in the west you'll need a bit more planning. Don't turn down an offer of a bed & home-cooked meal just because you were planning to go another 20 miles today
6. And the TransAm route, every town of any size W. of the Mississippi has a public pool and ussually let cross-country riders in free , they'll often have some public park or such where you can pitch your tent as well.
7. Alot of people will insist that E. to W. is nuts due to the prevailing winds ... this may be more true on the northern route, but on the TransAm, local systems dominated more then "prevailing winds". I guesstimate that I had as much tail wind as head wind.
8. Order of difficulty in mountains: Appalacians > Ozarks > Rockies > Cascades

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: ergeorge
A few specific tips...

If you're going self contained...
1. Get a real touring bike. A regular rode frame & wheels won't hold up, and a mtn. bike will end up killing your back & ass (plus heavier & draggier).
2. Get front and rear paniers ... bike is better balanced/easier to handle then just overloaded rear panniers.
3. Get panniers that remove easily.
4. You can probably plan on more miles/day. I averaged about 70 including days off & site-seeing. That was about typical among the people I met. And you will meet alot of people along the route.
5. Most places, don't bother trying to plan your stops more then a day in advance. Some places in the west you'll need a bit more planning. Don't turn down an offer of a bed & home-cooked meal just because you were planning to go another 20 miles today
6. On the TransAm route, every town of any size W. of the Mississippi has a public pool and ussually let cross-country riders in free , they'll often have some public park or such where you can pitch your tent as well. Between the Mississippi and the rockies, I don't think I ever paid for camping/lodging, and from the Rockies on, it's primarily forest service campgrounds @ $3 to $5 a night tops.
7. Alot of people will insist that E. to W. is nuts due to the prevailing winds ... this may be more true on the northern route, but on the TransAm, local systems dominated more then "prevailing winds". I guesstimate that I had as much tail wind as head wind.
8. Order of difficulty in mountains: Appalacians > Ozarks > Rockies > Cascades

Oops, this was supposed to be an edit of the previous post, not a quote

 

[Bootprint]

Maybe you'll come across this Family.

 

[Eli]

50 miles a day seems easily do-able, especially if you're trained up for it.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
You could do one of those Bike Across America fund raisers or something. They had one here at Hopkins last year (maybe this year too) for cancer. All of the equipment is donated and food is provided and everything. Last year's folks even got to keep the bikes and stuff.

That would be cool, I'd like to drive and bike across the U.S. one day.

Preferrably before I turn 40.

 

[dcdomain]

Much props... I'd like to do this after I graduate college (next summer). Would be nice to find some people willing to go along with me. One thing I don't understand though... I know the highways are flat and all, but why would anyone want to ride on the highways? The pollution and the lack of sightseeing... which brings up my next question, why a road bike? It won't handle the trails well once you break off the roads to go sight seeing...

 

[dcdomain]

Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
You could do one of those Bike Across America fund raisers or something. They had one here at Hopkins last year (maybe this year too) for cancer. All of the equipment is donated and food is provided and everything. Last year's folks even got to keep the bikes and stuff.

Is there a website or some other place I can find more information about this?