cycle across North America?

[cindysue]

:confused: Was talking to my beau this weekend about cycling across the U.S. (west to east coast). Although this wouldn't happen until after I graduate (2006), I'm wondering if anyone could recommend a book/website/etc. to get me thinking about it/preparing/saving $.

Thanks!

[Veronica]

Check out the blogs on crazyguyonabike. Lots of folks touring post there. Last year I met a couple in Yellowstone doing the ride on their tandem.

V.

[cindysue]

Check out crazyguyonabike.

GREAT site! Thanks Veronica!

[DeniseGoldberg]

:cycling across the U.S. ... recommend a book/website/etc.

Cindy -
Veronica definitely sent you to the right site (crazyguyonabike.com (http://www.crazyguyonabike.com)) for lots of journals about cross-country tours. I rode east to west in 2002 as a celebration of my 50th birthday, and you can find my journal at denise2002xc.crazyguyonabike.com (http://denise2002xc.crazyguyonabike.com). Let me know if you have any specific questions I can help with based on my own adventure.

--- Denise

[cindysue]

you can find my journal at denise2002xc.crazyguyonabike.com (http://denise2002xc.crazyguyonabike.com). Denise

Thanks Denise! I've started reading your post about panniers vs. trailer, and look forward to the rest of your journal.

[Surlygirl]

You might also want to check out Adventure cycling. They have some good journals, maps, equipment and a newsletter.
www.adventurecycling.org
If you sign up for a year you could also win a touring bike. Why not

[cindysue]

check out Adventure cycling.

Thanks! The membership is relatively inexpensive. Now I just need to think seriously about a date to start the trip and then sign up about 11 months before so I take full advantage of the planning capabilities of the site. Are you a member? If so, how do you like the magazine?

Et al:
I graduate late May 2006. Is late May a good time to start a two month (June/July) trek across the U.S.? Should I wait until September ('06)?

[DeniseGoldberg]

I graduate late May 2006. Is late May a good time to start a two month (June/July) trek across the U.S.? Should I wait until September ('06)?

It really depends on what route you plan to take and which direction you plan to ride. For example, I think in late May you could still hit snow in some of the higher passes in the west - but if you're planning a more southern route you shouldn't have that problem. And by the way you could run into the same type of weather problem starting in September, again depending on where you plan to cross the high mountains that attract that white stuff (snow).

Are you limited to two months? It's certainly rideable in that amount of time, but depending on the route you choose you may want to give yourself some extra time.

I'd advise looking at some of the coast to coast journals on crazyguyonabike.com, and looking at both the routes and the time of year the journal covered. That might give you a better idea of what others have encountered from a weather standpoint. You can get direcly to the list of coast to coast journals on crazyguyonabike: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journal/?o=ao&category_id=9.

--- Denise

[snowtulip]

Thanks for the crazyguyonabike link! I'll be doing an off-road tour in three months and am still looking for resources.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Thanks for the crazyguyonabike link! I'll be doing an off-road tour in three months and am still looking for resources.

In case you haven't found this one yet... Mike Morse has a journal on crazyguyonabike about his 2002 tour on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route - a good read, and it might have some good info for you. http://MikeMorse.crazyguyonabike.com

[DeniseGoldberg]

I'll be doing an off-road tour... looking for resources.

I just stumbled on another site that might be useful - it claims to focus entirely on mountain bike touring. Check out http://mtbtour.org/.

--- Denise

[snowtulip]

Denise, thanks for the links and the great journal you kept! There have been some things that I really didn't even think about. I'm getting so excited!!!!