USA tour in Jan / Feb 2015. Where to begin?
Fatamorgana
Posts: 257
Hi.
I am toying with an extended trip to the USA in early 2015 and really have yet to make any headway into what I need in terms of visas and where best to be riding, routes and such-like!
Did a similar ride in Britain this year, 5 months around the isle was a delight and think the USA might throw up some more gems.
Can anyone recommend and reading material, books, web sites and a logical start point for late January - working my way north as I am not in the mood for winter riding nor anything above 40 degrees either!
I do not have to be home anytime in 2015, so the trip can last 1+yrs.
I am toying with an extended trip to the USA in early 2015 and really have yet to make any headway into what I need in terms of visas and where best to be riding, routes and such-like!
Did a similar ride in Britain this year, 5 months around the isle was a delight and think the USA might throw up some more gems.
Can anyone recommend and reading material, books, web sites and a logical start point for late January - working my way north as I am not in the mood for winter riding nor anything above 40 degrees either!
I do not have to be home anytime in 2015, so the trip can last 1+yrs.
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Comments
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You are going to want the west coast -- and more southern. Florida is warm but it is pancake flat & boring. As is Texas -- although a friend is doing some sort of tri camp there in jan.
A few years ago I did a very DIY group trip over Xmas / New Years with the San Diego youth hostel -- they run it every year. Parts were sub zero with snow until we hit palm desert area. http://www.sandiegohostels.org/christmas-bike-ride.php
When it does warm up -- June to July -- highly recommend the Rockies. There's a few cheap huge group multi day rides -- check out ride the Rockies. http://ridetherockies.com
A few people I know habitually do ragbrai -- ride across Iowa -- basically eating & drinking with 10000 people across the state. Doesn't appeal to me but as a foreigner it would be a great way to see small town America. Also cheap. Several states have similar events.
http://ragbrai.com/wp-content/themes/ra ... 7525300001
And I loved cycling around San Francisco & Marin county. An acquaintance raved about the blue ridge mountains (?) in the Carolina's
Skip the middle. There's a reason it is the fly over states.
And be wary -- just not as safe as cycling around Britain.
Sorry that I'm not aware of specific books, web sites etc. I can send you info from my route in Colorado. And you may want to see where organised tours go to get a sense. http://www.backroads.com/bike-tours. They are very well known -- not saying use them but check out their itineraries to get ideas ...0 -
Thank you.
Some good links and web sites to be thinking about. Wetting my appetite.
What security concerns should I be forewarned about, anything specific?0 -
Nothing specific. Unless you are cycling through downtown Detroit or North Philly. I grew up in New York City -- and so I'm not particularly alarmed by things. But I would lock doors, watch your personal stuff & not accept car rides with strangers. Just use commen sense I guess.0
