Has anyone ridden coast to coast?

[brucemg51]

I love my motored bike, but a 50 mile round trip commute to work is quite enough.

Weenie

 

[brucemg51]

Weenie

Just kidding. Using a MB for a commute that long takes a good amount of stamina.

 

[bamabikeguy]

Would appreciate advice from readers in planning routes that afforded the basics in surviving the trip. Is there a way to research the actual dimensions or shoulder size for the safest roads?? Lots of frontage roads west of the Mississippi, but the south is largely narrow secondary routes that you litterally gamble your life on.

South Carolina now has one of my favorite stretches, north from Seneca, to Pickens, to Daccusville then up toward Tigersville, and all along that Cherokee Foothills Parkway. Plenty of the spandex croud were on the portion about 20 miles north of Greensville.

But the Daccusville part of the ride is in my top 5 30-50 mile stretches.


You know, from Charleston SC to San Diego CA is between 2,800-2,900 miles.

So if you pick a point 1,500 miles from your house (I'm thinking about the uppermost part of the Missisippi River/Iron Mountains of Minnesota), then loop on another route for the return, that could be considered the equivalent to a cross-country trek, without the hassle of Texas sitting in the middle of your considerations.

So a New Englander could run south to Savannah, then turn around. Or a Kansan could reach Virginia, then head back. I have a new bike owner, who bought a trailer, and is doing Louisiana as a warm up, then Taos as a target on a 3,000 mile "merit badge".



Just pick a point and go.

 

[lennyharp]

2008 Race Across AMerica Route is not a bad one and covers some great parts of the country.!!

NAME TS(mi)/(km) So Far(mi)/(km) Elev(Ft)/(M)
TS 01: Lake Henshaw, CA 54.7/87.9 54.7/87.9 2757.0/840.3
TS 02: Brawley, CA 88.6/142.6 143.3/230.5 -101.7/-31.0
TS 03: Blythe, CA 89.6/144.2 232.9/374.7 269.0/82.0
TS 04: Salome, AZ 61.1/98.2 293.9/472.9 1864.0/568.1
TS 05: Congress, AZ 52.6/84.6 346.5/557.6 3049.7/929.5
TS 06: Prescott, AZ 50.4/81.1 396.9/638.6 5458.8/1663.8
TS 07: Cottonwood, AZ 41.2/66.4 438.2/705.0 3346.8/1020.1
TS 08: Flagstaff, AZ 53.3/85.7 491.4/790.7 6840.1/2084.9
TS 09: Tuba City, AZ 72.0/115.8 563.4/906.5 4825.1/1470.7
TS 10: Kayenta, AZ 71.8/115.6 635.2/1022.1 5712.8/1741.3
TS 11: Mexican Hat, UT 44.6/71.8 679.8/1093.9 4181.0/1274.4
TS 12: Montezuma Creek, UT 39.6/63.7 719.4/1157.6 4462.2/1360.1
TS 13: Cortez, CO 50.1/80.7 769.6/1238.3 6166.4/1879.5
TS 14: Durango, CO 44.7/72.0 814.3/1310.2 6474.9/1973.5
TS 15: Pagosa Springs, CO 70.1/112.8 884.4/1423.0 7619.1/2322.3
TS 16: Chama, NM 50.1/80.6 934.5/1503.6 7782.0/2372.0
TS 17: Antonito, CO 49.0/78.8 983.5/1582.5 7900.4/2408.0
TS 18: Taos, NM 60.9/97.9 1044.4/1680.4 6975.2/2126.0
TS 19: Eagle Nest, NM 53.1/85.5 1097.5/1765.9 8205.1/2500.9
TS 20: Springer, NM 43.2/69.4 1140.7/1835.3 5971.3/1820.1
TS 21: Clayton,NM 88.8/142.8 1229.4/1978.1 5055.8/1541.0
TS 22: Elkhart, KS 82.3/132.5 1311.8/2110.6 3628.5/1106.0
TS 23: Plains, KS 82.4/132.5 1394.1/2243.1 2759.1/841.0
TS 24: Greensburg, KS 77.7/125.0 1471.8/2368.1 2234.1/681.0
TS 25: Pratt, KS 31.9/51.4 1503.7/2419.5 1865.6/568.6
TS 26: Colwich, KS 72.9/117.3 1576.6/2536.8 1383.6/421.7
TS 27: El Dorado, KS 38.1/61.4 1614.8/2598.1 1351.7/412.0
TS 28: Yates Center, KS 64.5/103.8 1679.3/2701.9 1105.8/337.0
TS 29: Ft Scott, KS 59.0/95.0 1738.3/2796.9 796.5/242.8
TS 30: Weaubleau, MO 66.3/106.6 1804.5/2903.5 980.5/298.9
TS 31: Camdenton, MO 49.1/78.9 1853.6/2982.4 1023.8/312.1
TS 32: Jefferson City, MO 58.5/94.1 1912.1/3076.5 617.1/188.1
TS 33: Washington, MO 75.7/121.8 1987.8/3198.3 546.9/166.7
TS 34: Mississippi River 72.2/116.1 2059.9/3314.4 416.2/126.9
TS 35: Greenville, IL 46.0/74.0 2105.9/3388.5 527.4/160.8
TS 36: Effingham, IL 50.2/80.8 2156.2/3469.2 593.8/181.0
TS 37: Sullivan, IN 74.2/119.4 2230.3/3588.6 457.5/139.4
TS 38: Bloomington, IN 65.1/104.7 2295.4/3693.3 790.7/241.0
TS 39: Greensburg, IN 63.2/101.6 2358.5/3794.9 946.5/288.5
TS 40: Oxford, OH 49.7/80.0 2408.3/3874.9 895.6/273.0
TS 41: Blanchester, OH 50.3/81.0 2458.6/3955.9 964.6/294.0
TS 42: Chillicothe, OH 58.1/93.5 2516.7/4049.4 604.4/184.2
TS 43: Athens, OH 59.1/95.1 2575.8/4144.5 613.9/187.1
TS 44: Ellenboro, WV 66.6/107.1 2642.4/4251.7 802.9/244.7
TS 45: Grafton, WV 64.8/104.3 2707.3/4356.0 1191.1/363.0
TS 46: Gormania, WV 44.5/71.6 2751.8/4427.6 2321.2/707.5
TS 47: La Vale, MD 46.0/74.0 2797.8/4501.6 974.4/297.0
TS 48: Hancock, MD 43.8/70.5 2841.6/4572.1 424.6/129.4
TS 49: Rouzerville, PA 48.8/78.6 2890.4/4650.7 732.1/223.1
TS 50: Hanover, PA 38.5/61.9 2928.9/4712.6 666.0/203.0
TS 51: Mt Airy, MD 38.3/61.7 2967.2/4774.3 788.7/240.4
TS 52: Odenton, MD 39.4/63.4 3006.6/4837.7 172.3/52.5
TS 53: Annapolis. MD 15.2/24.5 3021.9/4862.2 10.1/3.1

 

[Echotraveler]

thats a hard core trip!
supposedly "Ernesto Che Guevara" had an MB and did fequent trips indise argentina on it, parcially as it broke down lol...theres a movey called "motorcycle diaries" based in part on a book he made during his MB trips, and a longer trip to venezuela on a motorcycle

 

[brucemg51]

thats a hard core trip!
supposedly "Ernesto Che Guevara" had an MB and did fequent trips indise argentina on it, parcially as it broke down lol...theres a movey called "motorcycle diaries" based in part on a book he made during his MB trips, and a longer trip to venezuela on a motorcycle

I saw that movie. I don't know how accurate the movie was, but in the movie he was riding a 1939 Norton 500cc single.

 

[eDJ]

Just curious, how many here who are thinking about this have even driven a car coast
to coast ?

I drove from here, where Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky merge, to Denver, Colorado.
The trip took two 17 hour days of driving where I was traveling at 65/70 mph to St. Louis
and from there 75/85 mph till I got there. I drove mostly thru the night. Stopped at a
Motel 6 to sleep for about 6 1/2 hours. I was beat when I met my friends there in Colorado.

I'm wondering if I could even get to Lexington, Ky from here in 17 hours if I had to abide
a 30 mph speed limit that is imposed on motorized bicycles.

Last week I checked a DVD out of the Library that was filmed by Ken Burns for PBS. It was
titled "Horatio's Drive" where Dr. Horatio N. Jackson in 1903 drove an Ohio build 1903 2 cyl
20 hp Winton motor carriage from San Fransisco to New York....the first trans continental drive.
He did it in a little under 60 days with a lot of help traveling at 30 mph where roads permitted.
The car is now in the Smithsonian Institute.

I think I could safely say that this would be the ride of a young man's lifetime if he attempted it
and made the whole trip. Remember, these are the memories of a lifetime made on such
adventures and are usually done by young single men or men who have a truly "special" wife
who would suffer her husbands absence for an extended period of time. Even 40 year old
divorced men may consider trying it, but may ask themselves on the trip what they were thinking
when they signed on.

Horatio's Drive . About the Film | PBS

If anyone looks thru the web site for Horatio's Drive.....it may give them some insights to
their own plans for a trans continental adventure. I think everyone here would enjoy watching
the movie.

 

[brucemg51]

Many years ago, I drove from Connecticut to Colorado and back in a VW beetle.
I don't think you can really make an analogy between a coast-to-coast motor vehicle trip made in 1903 and what we're talking about doing now. Back then, cars were generally considered a novelty, nothing more than a passing fad that people would soon tire of and go back to their much more reliable horses. The only paved roads in existence were in major cities. There were no gas stations, roadside convenience stores, fast food joints, auto parts stores, or motels. On such a trip, they would have been completely out of touch and on their own. There were no roadside pay phones and many rural areas did not yet even have electricity. I can't even imagine what the state of emergency medical services may have been.
Now, comparing the access we would have to all of these things today, it almost sounds as though we would be pampered along the way. With our cell phones, we would never be more than a phone call away from whatever help we needed. We are also bringing along a support van, which would be loaded with extra fuel, spare parts, drinking water, snacks, first aid equipment, and whatever else we think we might need. Of course, there will still be situations arising that we can not forsee. That's part of what keeps it interesting.
As far as this being a young man's pursuit; at 58 I'm not ready to start passing up on things that I'm probably capable of doing just because I think I'm not capable of doing them because I'm 58. You're right about having the right spouse. At 40, you'd need a spouse who would be supportive and understanding of your need to do such a thing and would agree to let you take the time off from your responsibilities. At 58, well, you're more likely to have a wife who would be just as happy to have you get out of her hair for awhile and go do something with the boys and go have a good time and send a postcard now and then, but don't feel like you have to hurry home.
The goal is not to deliver your body to the grave perfectly intact, and unscathed, without so much as a bruise, but to slide in sideways while yelling, "WOW, what a ride!"

 

[lennyharp]

brucemg51 has the spirit of things. If you don't want to do it there are others who do. I might have trouble getting the funds together to do this trip but have had some of this type adventure before. I had a supportive wife and am sure glad I went on a cross America Adventure as well as a cross France adventure and a few I don't talk about. Lets make it happen for at least a few if not all who want to do the TRIP. If my buddy Jim could ride 22 hours a day and cross the country, more than 3000 miles, in 10 1/2 days we can use our motor bikes and cross in 20 days.

 

[Echotraveler]

i guess you dont really need that much money to do it...you need 2 spare kits, 2 spair wheels and a nice tool box, you hardcore camping supplys...and the willingness to do such a crazy trip....i wonder what happened to the spooky tooth planned trip..


and yeah motorcycle diaries, is a mix between CHE's MB years and his big motorcycle trip.

 

[lennyharp]

To do this trip unsupported would not be easy but would cost maybe a couple thousand dollars as a guestimate. An unsupported rider could end up stranded somewhere and waiting on parts shipped at Overnight costs and added food and emergency costs. Costs are hidden in any endeavour.

To do it supported it might cost 4-5 thousand as there are cost for food and gas for support people and the rider. So if one van supported a number of people and my guestimates are close a team of 4 or 5 bike riders could use one 2 man crew of van driver / mechanic people and make it closer to 3 thousand dollars per rider. I am thinking of gas, oil, rubber, parts, food, miscellaneous emergency expenses. Any other imagined costs??

I do know that in 1983 or 4 when Jim Elliott's dad spent about$15,000 on a 10 1/2 day crossing for his bicycle riding son, and I was a part of the team for that RAAM crossing. That included a team of 6 support people to assist one rider going all out at the limits of human endurance. Equipment was used up but I only remember 6 to 8 flats and a few broken spokes. Both could have been caused by 150 lbs air pressure in the $60.00 sew up tires. We repaired a few sew ups to keep from having to buy more but did purchase some in the Aspen / Loveland Pass / Denver area.

 

[butchatron]

Independently wealthy? If you haven't seen the film, "The World's Fastest Indian" go out today and get it. In 1963, New Zealander Burt Monro traveled half way around the world, on a shoestring budget, to set a world speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats. He did that with no sponsorship, on a 1920 Indian Scout that he had purchased new and spent 42 years modifying. And, at the time he set his first land speed record, he was a 67 year old grandfather. After he began to make a name for himself, he started getting offers of corporate sponsorship, all of which he turned down because he wouldn't let anyone else touch his bike.
What I'm talking about doing rather sounds like a walk in the park, compared to what he did.[/QUOTE

Actually, I don't think it would cost much at all. If you take a 2 week vacation from work, you could cover alot of ground. You get about a hundred mpg's on your bike, and if you're adventurious bring your camping supplies and save on motel costs, it could be the cheapest vacation a person could take!

 

[BAMFinCali]

The World's Fastest Indian & Horatio's Drive are on netflix, i'm off to watch them now!

I would like to do a trip from here (Cotati Ca. 50 miles north of San Francisco ) to the Mojave desert about a 610 mile trip one way.

 

[vooodooou]

sign me up!!!

 

[5-7HEAVEN]

At age 62 and 8 months, I'd considering doing the trip.

Since I live in Hawaii, I'd have to buy or borrow a motorized bike in California.

 

[FileStyle]

you could maybe do it! it would be a long trip! I would take along a trailer hooked up to the bike to haul tools and supplies, food, camping gear, tho it would be rough!

 

[the_edge150]

At age 62 and 8 months, I'd considering doing the trip.

Since I live in Hawaii, I'd have to buy or borrow a motorized bike in California.

hey i'll lend you a bike, you just might want to switch out the seat before 3000 miles of riding

 

[BarelyAWake]

To do this trip unsupported would not be easy but would cost maybe a couple thousand dollars as a guestimate. An unsupported rider could end up stranded somewhere and waiting on parts shipped at Overnight costs and added food and emergency costs. Costs are hidden in any endeavour.

To do it supported it might cost 4-5 thousand as there are cost for food and gas for support people and the rider. So if one van supported a number of people and my guestimates are close a team of 4 or 5 bike riders could use one 2 man crew of van driver / mechanic people and make it closer to 3 thousand dollars per rider. I am thinking of gas, oil, rubber, parts, food, miscellaneous emergency expenses. Any other imagined costs??

I do know that in 1983 or 4 when Jim Elliott's dad spent about$15,000 on a 10 1/2 day crossing for his bicycle riding son, and I was a part of the team for that RAAM crossing. That included a team of 6 support people to assist one rider going all out at the limits of human endurance. Equipment was used up but I only remember 6 to 8 flats and a few broken spokes. Both could have been caused by 150 lbs air pressure in the $60.00 sew up tires. We repaired a few sew ups to keep from having to buy more but did purchase some in the Aspen / Loveland Pass / Denver area.

Sponsorship and support vehicles? Tens of thousands of dollars? While this is a fine way to cross-country, indeed there's nothing at all wrong with it - it is quite a far cry from what I've done my whole life...

Wandering North America at my leisure, just to see whats about.

Starting from the young (and possibly quite naive) age of fourteen all the way up to the ripe old age of... thirty-seven? Is that how old I am now? ... Anyway, barring such detours as college and a few silly attempts at such foolishness as a career, I've spent my life on the American roadways with a couple of waterways thrown in for good measure.

Rarely were these adventures planned in any real way. Quite often there was no particular destination beyond "someplace else" and I've even been known to throw a dart at a map to determine a general heading. No time frame, no plan, no backup - this provides a freedom unfettered by goals and expectations.

It's been a source of amazement for me all those that would plan a trip down to the last minute, rationing out time, parceling out a day spent here - a weekend there. How would you possibly know beforehand what you would think of a place? Why would you constrain yourself to a mere moment spent in a new environment?

Even finance is a much worried subject, with budget taking precedence over the experience altogether way too often. I've very rarely left with more than a few hundred dollars or so in my pocket, a couple of times I've left with little to no cash at all. I spend all my concern on prepping whatever transport I'm using at the time, stocking up on parts, food, supplies, whatever I think necessary beforehand - then I cease worrying about it. I can always wash a few dishes if needful and even this has proved an opportunity to meet new people, see another place, and learn new things.

Despite being essentially lost and destitute, the vast majority of my trips lasted months - even years, depends wholly on how you look at it. It just might be I've never stopped. Thousands upon thousands of miles have passed under me as I sought places of interest and people of culture. Sometimes I'd find an enrapturing haven and I'd stay, days turning into weeks or more. Sometimes I'd just disappear into the early morning mist with nary a goodbye.

It all depends on your priorities. Is the destination more important than the trip - or is the travel itself the adventure you're after? I don't think I've ever actually made it to the place I planned on going, yet the places I've found have been so much more intriguing than expected - how would I have chosen beforehand? How could I pick a place unknown to me? It's this discovery that I value above all else.

I've traipsed about by foot, motorcycle, car and boat. I've even done a bit of drifting about by air in a small ultralight airplane. Each method has it's own advantages and limitations, each has it's own charms and curses. All I can say is look at all the people that have cross-countried with nothing but a mere pedal-powered bicycle and a pack on their rack. All the "support" so touted in the aforementioned method entails it's own support as well, an exponential equation of cross dependencies, all draining your resources, all distracting from the point as I see it.

Use these fine fellow adventurers, these other bicyclists as an example of what can be done. You just have an added advantage of not having to pedal if you don't want to. Sell that van and you've sponsored your trip, that "stranding" so feared in the above post just might be the goal after all, you simply can't know till you're there.

An adventure is an activity that comprises risky, dangerous or uncertain experiences. An adventurer is a person who bases their lifestyle or their fortunes on adventurous acts.

Be careful to not plan out the adventure from your adventure

 

[stv1jzgte]

Sponsorship and support vehicles? Tens of thousands of dollars? While this is a fine way to cross-country, indeed there's nothing at all wrong with it - it is quite a far cry from what I've done my whole life...

Wandering North America at my leisure, just to see whats about.

Starting from the young (and possibly quite naive) age of fourteen all the way up to the ripe old age of... thirty-seven? Is that how old I am now? ... Anyway, barring such detours as college and a few silly attempts at such foolishness as a career, I've spent my life on the American roadways with a couple of waterways thrown in for good measure.

Rarely were these adventures planned in any real way. Quite often there was no particular destination beyond "someplace else" and I've even been known to throw a dart at a map to determine a general heading. No time frame, no plan, no backup - this provides a freedom unfettered by goals and expectations.

It's been a source of amazement for me all those that would plan a trip down to the last minute, rationing out time, parceling out a day spent here - a weekend there. How would you possibly know beforehand what you would think of a place? Why would you constrain yourself to a mere moment spent in a new environment?

Even finance is a much worried subject, with budget taking precedence over the experience altogether way too often. I've very rarely left with more than a few hundred dollars or so in my pocket, a couple of times I've left with little to no cash at all. I spend all my concern on prepping whatever transport I'm using at the time, stocking up on parts, food, supplies, whatever I think necessary beforehand - then I cease worrying about it. I can always wash a few dishes if needful and even this has proved an opportunity to meet new people, see another place, and learn new things.

Despite being essentially lost and destitute, the vast majority of my trips lasted months - even years, depends wholly on how you look at it. It just might be I've never stopped. Thousands upon thousands of miles have passed under me as I sought places of interest and people of culture. Sometimes I'd find an enrapturing haven and I'd stay, days turning into weeks or more. Sometimes I'd just disappear into the early morning mist with nary a goodbye.

It all depends on your priorities. Is the destination more important than the trip - or is the travel itself the adventure you're after? I don't think I've ever actually made it to the place I planned on going, yet the places I've found have been so much more intriguing than expected - how would I have chosen beforehand? How could I pick a place unknown to me? It's this discovery that I value above all else.

I've traipsed about by foot, motorcycle, car and boat. I've even done a bit of drifting about by air in a small ultralight airplane. Each method has it's own advantages and limitations, each has it's own charms and curses. All I can say is look at all the people that have cross-countried with nothing but a mere pedal-powered bicycle and a pack on their rack. All the "support" so touted in the aforementioned method entails it's own support as well, an exponential equation of cross dependencies, all draining your resources, all distracting from the point as I see it.

Use these fine fellow adventurers, these other bicyclists as an example of what can be done. You just have an added advantage of not having to pedal if you don't want to. Sell that van and you've sponsored your trip, that "stranding" so feared in the above post just might be the goal after all, you simply can't know till you're there.



Be careful to not plan out the adventure from your adventure

Wow i got lost in there readin that..Wicked post

 

[vballspen]

i am in. this would be amazing when do we leave