Starting this route in April, and planning to end in September. 50-60 mile a day average. I would Love to hear some thoughts/advice
by Alternative-Dance560
Starting this route in April, and planning to end in September. 50-60 mile a day average. I would Love to hear some thoughts/advice
by Alternative-Dance560
2 Comments
rather large segments. It’s usual to break them down into “per day”, although enroute that will change a little of course.
I mean, it’s basically Greenville connecting down to the ACA routes of Southern Tier, westward to connect with Pacific Coast, and coming back on the TransAm. I’d look at getting those maps for all the resources, but also you’ll find a wealth of information about when people ride those routes. As someone who spends a lot of time thinking about timing on those routes, here’s some thoughts –
Southern Tier is best as very early spring or late fall. For example, the Adventure Cycling Association is running a westward Southern Tier tour starting in a month. Be prepared for some early season heat waves once you hit Texas all the way until the Pacific Coast.
Hitting the California border around two months in, which would be early/mid June, it’s gonna be decently hot. From Phoenix to LA is a lot of desert, so be prepared for that.
Pacific Coast in the summer is pretty busy on US-1, and closures/smoke from fires can cause issues.
You’re not gonna be starting the TransAm eastward until July. I would look up and find folks who have done that. The first third might be alright (eastern Oregon is a large desert though, and Montana has been getting hotter by the year…), but once you get past the Tetons it’s gonna be brutal temperatures with little shade until the Appalachian mountains.
Spend some time reading narratives of those routes with timing, and you’ll have a good idea of conditions/when you should start on what sections. [Crazyguyonabike.com](http://Crazyguyonabike.com) and the ACA forums are a great resource for that.