Fellow local club rider is planning ride across USA

[Matthew_T]

When out on the Tuesday ride with my local club (VC Melyd), I heard that a cyclist in it was training to cycle right across America.
At the end of the ride, I caught up with him and asked him the typical questions (How far? How long? etc).

He is going to do 3600 miles over 2 months. At an average of 60 miles a day. But we both agreed that he would end up doing 100 one day, and 100 another, and having a day off to see the country and enjoy himself.

I didnt have time to catch if he was going to be doing it alone, or with someone (the wise choice). But he did have pannier racks on his bike, so I suspect he will be taking that one. He was also not the best in the world at hill climbing (minor hills). He was constantly in a very low gear (amazed me how low) and he ended up having a bit of chain difficulty.

I shouldnt be complaining about his riding style because he is capable of riding across the US. However, he was amazed when I told him I had cycled around the Great Orme from Prestatyn, it was only 45 miles compared to his 3600.

It is something that I would love to do, cycle acrosss America.

 

[ianrauk]

I have seen a lot of America. It's my dream also.

I was travelling through the Arizona desert once (by car) and came across a cyclist at the side of the road. Literally in the middle of nowhere. We stopped to have a chat and he was doing the coast to coast. He had a normal touring bike with a one wheel trailer. When I say he was in the middle of nowhere, it was just that. In the middle of the desert, hundreds of miles from the nearest town.

Over the years of me travelling around the US, I have seen many cyclists travelling across the country.
It's a tough ride. Some of the climbs and elevations are enormous.

 

[dellzeqq]

yup - SF2NY for me. If I don't do it in the next couple of years it'll probably never happen

 

[Andy84]

yup - SF2NY for me. If I don't do it in the next couple of years it'll probably never happen

Fridays Tour 2014?

 

[rb58]

Fridays Tour 2014?

That would make a cool jersey!

 

[ianrauk]

yup - SF2NY for me. If I don't do it in the next couple of years it'll probably never happen

Making sure you go south first to LA on the PCH.
It's one of the most spectacular drives/rides one could ever do.

 

[BigGee]

I rode the PCH all the way from San Diego to Vancouver back in 1988, those pictures bring it back, it is indeed fantastic, though in my opinion the best bits are actually north of SF, through the Redwoods and along the Oregon coast.

Doing North to South (with the prevailing wind),or the other way round (against it) as I did it, is more manageable in terms of time and distance. For me about 2000 miles in 6 weeks and is probably more spectacular in terms of scenery. There are a lot of cornfields to see if you go straight accross, but having said that I would still love to do that as well.

The scale of cycling in America is just completely different to cycling in europe, once you get away from the cities it is so vast and spread out, when planning your route you will find that it is a days ride from one town to the next and there will often be no habitation at all in between. You need to be very carefull not to get caught out in the middle of nowhere and always make sure you are prepared for any emergencies.

For all that I loved cycling in America, it is probably more cycle friendly now than it was then so I would recommend it to anyone.

 

[dellzeqq]

Making sure you go south first to LA on the PCH.
It's one of the most spectacular drives/rides one could ever do.


View attachment 7857 View attachment 7858

hhhmmm....

you are talking honeymoon with 1st Mrs DZ there Ian, so prepare yourself for incoming missile fire from you know who. That's also part of the problem. I wouldn't say I've got an old girlfriend in every town across the Midwest, but there's sufficient form to require a risk assessment. Ask yourself why LonJoG skirts round Milton Keynes........(actually there's a plethora of very good reasons for not going across Milton Keynes)