How Do You Plan Routes?

BostonJack

Hello everyone, new here.



I have what is probably a very stupid question for you guys... How do you plan your routes? Do you just use mapquest and specify "avoid highways"? Or is it more complicated than that?



Thanks for the help!

MNRon

Most states have bicycle routes suggested, as do many cities. If you do some googling you can easily find cycling maps that will give you shoulder width, presence of rumble strips, traffic counts, for Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Illinois, Wisconsin, Wyoming, South Dakota, Colorado, and Oregon, to name a few. Many cities (Minneapolis, Duluth do the same). Most counties in the US have maps available online, and you can see what roads are paved. Many local biccyling clubs have roads/routes/guidebboks online or fot purchase. Cross coujntry routes are easily available, too. If you look up sites for group rides like RAGBRAI, or fundraisiing rides like MS rides, they will have maps online.

Tell me where you'd like to ride, I may be able to help. If it is in the Midwest I can help you a great deal!

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from southern Minnesota

BostonJack

Thanks for the info.

I was thinking Boston-Montreal

Is that doable?

MNRon

Probably Google the state departments of transportation for each state you'd cross, searching for bicycling maps of trails/highways; do the same for counties you may cross, and cities you may want to pass by or go through. Google "Montreal Boston Bicycle trip/route/journal" and you may find a journal or blog of someone who has done it before, full of great hints. Look for cross-state or charity rides held I the areas you may ride thru, and see if they have maps online. Spend a couple of evenings surfing around and you'll probably have options to pick from.

It may take some time, but one or two good hits and you could be set. You might even find a riding (or tent) partner to ride with!

I'll do some looking on your behalf once the Super Bowl gets boring, say once it is 24-3 PATRIOTS!

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from southern Minnesota

MNRon

hey BostonJack -- MinnesotaRon here.

I did a quick search and if you Google Vermont and New Hampshire for biking maps, you'll hit paydirt. Lots of pdfs to download. Once you get an idea of your route, you can plot it on www.MapMyRide , which will let you customize nice maps with directions and a elevation profiles.

Boston-Montreal-Boston is also the biggest long distance radonneur (ultra long distance biking) event in the US and anyone who belongs to any of the zillion cycling clubs in New England could hook you up with info.

Keep us updated on the big trip!

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from southern Minnesota

Eden

Boston to Motreal is a Randonee route
http://www.geocities.com/b-m-b/

there is a basic map at this site and I'm sure you can dig up more information if you search a bit.

BostonJack

Wow, thanks guys.



Looking through all this stuff, I did find a pretty detailed map from the tip of Cape Cod to Boston. So, I think when you avoid the highways, we're talking about a 500 mile trip from Provincetown to Montreal.



I have no clue of even a vague idea of how long it would take to bike a 500 mile trip though. I've never done anywhere near this long of a ride… Any idea what kind of hourly pace a reasonably fit, but by no means Lance Armstrong, long-distance rider can keep while he's still trying to take in the scenery a little?

Eden

I'd say take what you are comfortable riding in a day without carrying stuff and halve it. For me personally I think that 30- 60 miles a day, depending on the terrain, is a good pace for unsupported touring. It gives you time to stop and enjoy everything along the way, and you don't end up at your stopping points late and exhasted. Its no fun trying to pitch a tent and cook in the dark.... If you plan to be at the end of your trip each day around 3-4 pm there's time to make camp, unwind, do a little sight seeing, take a nap, get dinner etc.

Keep in mind when you are planning that getting breakfast, breaking your camp down and repacking your bike all take time so unless you are an extremely early riser you probably won't get on the road until 8 or 9 at the earliest. That leaves 6 or 7 hours to ride and sight see and for lunch. While that sounds like enough time to pack 100 miles in, you will be carrying stuff, which does slow a person down, and it wouldn't leave much time for stopping to take in the sights.

Take a weekend trip with all of your gear first to work out the kinks too. Just packing up your bike can be a challenge if you are going fully loaded. You'll also get a feel for what your bike feels like loaded up and what sort of difference the extra weight is going to make to your pace.

Also if you plan your trip in smaller chunks, there's nothing to stop you from going on if you get to your next planned stop really early. When we went to Spain we had one day all planned out - well it turned out that from our hotel that morning to the next place we planned to stay was all down hill - seriously.... it only took us about an hour or two to do the whole distance we'd planned for the day, but the next town wasn't too far so we just went on.

MNRon

On my self-contained jaunts I have averaged about 70 miles a day, but wind and weather usually mean more than miles. My longest day (127 miles) was among the easiest, but a cold, wet, windy 35 mile day still haunts me. You need to try a few wekenders and see how you like to ride, develop your own style. I usually feel better getting up early and riding 20 miles before eating breakfast, but that is just me. I like to be done riding early in the afternoon, take a nap, then see the sights.

Bike tripping is the most cost effective way to have a great vacation, IMHO. Yer gonna love it!

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from southern Minnesota

EmPat

www.bikely.com

www.mapmyride.com

Both have search options, this is where I get new ride ideas.

TheDarkLord

You were fortunate! Just imagine how it would have been if your planned route was the other way around - all uphill!

Over here in Europe (ok, at least in Germany, but I imagine it should be similar in other countries), you can usually get maps showing bike routes - it includes information on whether the trail is paved or dirt, where it is shared with the road, places where you can get help, grades of the route, etc.

BostonJack

Thanks alot!