any other AK riders out there?

[AKRoadie]

Hello! I am new to road bike riding in AK. I've done some mountain biking - and am familiar with the off-road areas - but where do you get in the good road miles. Turnagain Arm is a little scary to me, with all the tour buses and motorhomes.
I live 126m south of Anchorage. Anyone out there participating in the upcoming Clean Air Challenge? :D

[DeniseGoldberg]

I live in absolutely the wrong place to give you advice about reasonable roads for cycling in Alaska - but you might want to check in with some of the (sort of) local bike shops. It's possible that they either know of or sponsor rides, or can provide information on the roads in your area.

I just did a search in Google and came up with a possible source of information - and that is the Arctic Bicycle Club (http://www.arcticbike.org/index.html) which is based in Anchorage. It's likely that their rides are in the Anchorage area as opposed to close to your home, but it's possible that there are club members who have ridden in your area and can give you some tips.

Tour buses and motor homes are not the best vehicles to share the road with - although in my experience the buses are usually OK. The motor homes can be scary because the drivers aren't always as skilled as they should be. But my advice if you're sharing the road with them it to make sure you are far enough out into the driving lane that the drivers understand that they need to pull out to pass you.

--- Denise

[AKRoadie]

Thanks for the info Denise. I live in a beautiful area for riding - my town is small and coastal. Riding on our local bike path, I can watch sealions and sea otters playing in the Bay - last week my friend and I had to make a quick lane switch when we suddenly noticed a cow moose and her calf grazing a few feet off the road, in the brush.
The motorhomes scare me because folks are usually busy looking up at the mountains and the eagles (I know, hard to blame them there) and not watching the road too much. I watch them very carefully.

I will check out the website you recommended - Anchorage is 126 miles from where I live, but it may be worth a weekend drive up North to join in a club ride.

:)

[alison_in_oh]

Hello! I am new to road bike riding in AK. I've done some mountain biking - and am familiar with the off-road areas - but where do you get in the good road miles. Turnagain Arm is a little scary to me, with all the tour buses and motorhomes.
I live 126m south of Anchorage. Anyone out there participating in the upcoming Clean Air Challenge? :D

You're south of Anchorage -- Seward? Homer? I'm an Anchorage native, my folks are in Eagle River now. I've brought my hubby and his bike home with me on a couple of occasions. He *really* enjoyed riding south toward Seward, motorhomes or no there are wide shoulders and the highway is quite nicely paved! Or it was a few years ago, I know what multiple Alaskan winters can do to good blacktop. ;) I think I picked him up in Portage on the way down and just short of Portage on the way back from Seward.

I guess it seems to me that with the tourists driving so erratically and/or slowly, stopping for Dall sheep constantly, the other motorists tend to be fairly alert and perhaps appreciative of your being less wide-assed than the RVs. :D

[AKRoadie]

You're south of Anchorage -- Seward? Homer? I'm an Anchorage native, my folks are in Eagle River now. I've brought my hubby and his bike home with me on a couple of occasions. He *really* enjoyed riding south toward Seward, motorhomes or no there are wide shoulders and the highway is quite nicely paved! Or it was a few years ago, I know what multiple Alaskan winters can do to good blacktop. ;) I think I picked him up in Portage on the way down and just short of Portage on the way back from Seward.

I guess it seems to me that with the tourists driving so erratically and/or slowly, stopping for Dall sheep constantly, the other motorists tend to be fairly alert and perhaps appreciative of your being less wide-assed than the RVs. :D

Hi Alison- yep, I'm in Seward. I really hope to try the Anchorage-Seward ride this year. Probably during the week - when traffic isn't as heavy :)
The weather this spring has been great for riding - we've had lots of sunshine and very little rain...so unusual for us! Right now I'm in training for the Clean Air Challenge - it's a fundraiser for the Lung Association. Cross your fingers for me that this wonderful sunshine holds out! Take care

[alison_in_oh]

Hi Alison- yep, I'm in Seward. I really hope to try the Anchorage-Seward ride this year. Probably during the week - when traffic isn't as heavy :)
The weather this spring has been great for riding - we've had lots of sunshine and very little rain...so unusual for us! Right now I'm in training for the Clean Air Challenge - it's a fundraiser for the Lung Association. Cross your fingers for me that this wonderful sunshine holds out! Take care

Yeah, my mom keeps telling me that their weather is better than ours! Mother's day sounds like it was gorgeous. :) Good luck in training!