Posted on 02/14/2020 1:12:53 PM PST by rktman
A road trip may be the classic way to traverse the United States, but cyclists will eventually be able to make the cross-country bike trip a reality on a newly created trail system. Once it is completed, the Great American Rail-Trail will connect more than 3,700 miles of repurposed train routes and multi-use trails—all separate from vehicle traffic—across 12 states from Washington, D.C., to Washington State. Here’s everything we know about it so far. Where Will the Route Go?
In May 2019, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) revealed the route that will connect 125 existing trails with another 90 “trail gaps,” or sections that will need to be developed to turn the new Great American Rail-Trail into one contiguous path.
(Excerpt) Read more at getpocket.com ...
ABC’s Wild World of Sports used to cover an annual cross-country bicycle race. It looked absolutely grueling. How many people would really want to do this?
For you interest :)
My wife and I were talking about this just the other night. Great bucket list item that I’ll probably never get to.
My hunch is that the Rockies might be a bit tough.
“IF YOU’VE DREAMED OF A CROSS COUNTRY BIKE TRIP...”
Not ever, not once and the very thought horrifies me.
Railroads were built where it was flat as much as possible, so rail trails tend to be 2-3% grade at most and best of all, often run through small towns that the railroad left behind but which represent true America.
A Trump Country Trail, you might say!
It does take a real dedicated effort to ride across the country on shared roads with hills, traffic, and hazards. Rail trails remove most of those issues and are more scenic and can be done in much less strenuous ways.
I was fine just watching Forest run cross country.
“It looked absolutely grueling. How many people would really want to do this?”
Not many. I have a family member that did a coast to coast trip much far south. Took a month. Worst part supposedly was the Rockies segment with concern about getting hit by a truck. I saw all the daily photos and messages and have somewhat of an idea what it would be like. Major deal.
Piece of cake. Just ask the Donner family.
“Rockies might be a bit tough.”
You just follow the route laid out by the surveyors of the first transcontinental railroad. Those men did an amazing job finding the lowest way through the Rockies. I’ve read that you cannot find a better route than what they laid out.
IMO, rail trails are a great re-purpose of abandoned railroads so long as it’s done with private money.
Id bet before you got out of Virginia that your @ss would hurt like the mayor of South Bend’s after his honeymoon.
The TRANSAM was problematic in part because there were no stages. Racers would sleep at the handlebars and fall off cliffs.
This trail seems AWESOME! The dream of a lifetime.
“Worst part supposedly was the Rockies segment with concern about getting hit by a truck.”
Cummings vs cyclists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdDxjge5hmY
A lot of people do the Appalachian trail. This is pretty much the same thing except on a bike.
I have done RAGBRAI a half-dozen times. If I still had knees I’d be interested in doing part of it.
Part of it is actually within a mile of my house and I used to ride it all the time. I could start the trip from my driveway.
We already have the nuts hiking the Appalachian Trail north to south and back (it takes a year or so). Now we will have people spending months or more riding a bicycle to and fro east to west and back. Joy.
Donners made the Rockies, they died in the Sierra’s.
So, a bicycle version of the Pacific Crest or Appalachian Trail? It will likely be too crowded to enjoy. The Pacific Crest Trail is far too difficult and rugged for the vast majority of people to complete more than a small segment of it. No doubt the bike trail will be packed and have a Starbucks every few miles. Instead of complaining about cars, cyclists will whine and moan about hikers, especially those with dogs and kids.
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