Have Bike Rack, Will Travel

[Ellen 06]

I'm planning a Utah to Mississippi drive later this month to pick up some family keepsakes. There isn't going to be room in the car for my bike and the stuff on the return trip, so I bought a rack to hang on the gate of my PT Cruiser. The bike sits very securely.

I figure an hour or so ride in the morning or evening (or mid-day, but I expect it will be too hot) will be a good way to break up a long distance drive.

I'll have a half day in Missouri for a ride on the KATY trail. I'll pick up my sister and her Townie in Missouri and we'll have a couple days in the hill country of northern Mississippi.

Ellen

[Tri Girl]

Sounds like a great trip you have planned!!! We took our bikes when we went camping, and had fun exploring small towns that we stayed in along the driving route. We'd get up early and tour the town on bike for an hour or two. I love taking my bike with me! Sounds like you'll have a wonderful time! Don't forget to bring a lock to lock your bike down when you need to leave it unattended (unless your bike rack locks the bike in- I wish mine did).

Have a great trip!!!

[TheMomBike2000]

I'm planning a Utah to Mississippi drive later this month to pick up some family keepsakes. There isn't going to be room in the car for my bike and the stuff on the return trip, so I bought a rack to hang on the gate of my PT Cruiser. The bike sits very securely.

I figure an hour or so ride in the morning or evening (or mid-day, but I expect it will be too hot) will be a good way to break up a long distance drive.

I'll have a half day in Missouri for a ride on the KATY trail. I'll pick up my sister and her Townie in Missouri and we'll have a couple days in the hill country of northern Mississippi.

Ellen

That is so cool! This is one of my bike goals: to do exactly what you're doing, to make riding a part of traveling when I go places. I find myself scoping out the local roads: "This would be a good way to ride...uh huh, bike path...hmm, construction zone, would be better to try another route..."

Thanks for sharing your plan--it sounds like what I'd like to do!

Nancy in central Florida

[Bad JuJu]

Sounds like you'll have a wonderful time. I love the KATY Trail, but have only had time to do half-day rides on it. Let us know how it goes!

[MomOnBike]

DH & I did exactly that once, on a cross-country trip from Colorado to Boston. When we stopped & camped each night, we'd take a short ride to get the blood flowing in our legs again. It was quite pleasant.

When we got to Boston, we parked the car and rode everywhere with our hosts.

All in all, it was a good plan, except for the bent rear wheel Walter (he's a Raleigh) got when we backed out of the drive in Colorado. I had a bent wheel & dragging brake the whole way. Dummy me, I didn't figure it out 'til we got back home.

In other words, you have a great plan there, tested and everything. You'll have a blast!

[SouthernBelle]

Ellen,
Where in N. Mississippi? I went to college in Columbus.

[Ellen 06]

I'm heading to Holly Springs. My parents live there, but I have never lived there and am not really familiar with the area-at least for biking. If you know of any good roads-low traffic or good shoulders, to ride I would love to know.

I'm hoping for a couple early morning rides. I wilt at over 30% humidity so I doubt we'll be planning anything more than about 10 miles.

Ellen

[Tuckervill]

Holly Springs is southeast of Memphis. The two counties in Mississippi just south of Memphis are growing like wildfire due to white flight and the casino traffic in Tunica. I can imagine some pretty nice rides down there, but the traffic anywhere northwest of Holly Springs, towards Byhalia and Olive Branch, will be horrendous, is my bet. So, go south and east, and not north or west.

Karen, former Memphian

[SouthernBelle]

I went to school on the other side of MS. I did have a friend in Olive Branch, but she has passed away.

If you aren't used to the humidity, I'm afraid you are about to get a big faceful of it!

[Tuckervill]

A big AMEN to that. Ride through sprinklers whenever you can.

You should also be prepared to have your respiratory system assaulted with all kinds of new pollens and allergens. Especially if you're already the allergic type. I never once had a sinus infection until I moved to Memphis, and I've heard the same story over and over from people who moved there from elsewhere. *edit: Holly Springs is not really in the Memphis metro, but close enough to the parts of MS that are.

By the way, I haven't had a sinus infection since I moved AWAY from Memphis 2-1/2 years ago, either.

Karen