Why the TransAm
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I've been touring regularly for 15 years. I've gone down the west
coast, I've done most of the east coast, I've crossed the country in
the south, and done a lot in Canada.
But the TransAmerica route is the one that started the whole organized bike touring movement back in 1976, when hundreds of cyclists went across the country to celebrate the bicentennial. It wasn't perfect, but almost everyone made it, fast friends were made, spouses were met and still in love after 45 years, and the non-profit Adventure Cycling was born. Adventure cycling pioneered and created maps for most of the routes I've ridden, and supplied a leader who rides along w/ everyone else as we carry everything on our bikes across the country. And if you look at the following map of where I've toured, there's nothing across the middle! So with this tour I'll start at the Atlantic Ocean on a Virginia beach just a couple hours south of home, traverse nine states (mostly the long way), go through multiple national parks, cross mountain passes with a couple near 10,000 feet and one at 11,600 feet, and end up on a beach in Oregon on the Pacific Ocean. Also, I'm 59 😠. |
