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| Name: | Greg Combs |
| E-mail address: | gcombs28@gmail.com |
| Comments: | Hi John,
Congratulations on your trip and thank you for the time, effort and detail you've included on your website. I found all your information very interesting and useful as I plan my third long distance ride. Thanks again, and safe travels, Greg |
| Name: | Ken Buford |
| Comments: | Fantastic!! |
| Name: | J |
| Comments: | That is SO COOL!! I want to do it someday... |
| Name: | baddrul |
| E-mail address: | settour@streamyx.com |
| Comments: | hi,
thanks for the reading/info. |
| Name: | Vic Faesser |
| E-mail address: | vf81617@windstream.net |
| Comments: | "Vestpocket cemetaries" - loveit! Great website. Retirement is around a couple of bends for me; what you have done has been on my mind for some years, as bike riding and touring has been a passion of mine since my early thirties! Thanks for the vicarious experience through your descriptions and photographs, and very useful tips and information! |
| Name: | Nathaniel Tombes |
| E-mail address: | thnkfst228@gmail.com |
| Comments: | Hey man, I really respect what you do. Just a quick question, you probably answer this somewhere on the website, but did you pack almost everything you brought in panniers? Or did you have a large backpack as well?
Thanks Nathaniel Tombes |
| Name: | Andrew |
| E-mail address: | andrew.macrobert@gmail.com |
| Comments: | I'm 20 and planning my first cross-country bike trip for this summer. I found your site while researching the topic, and found it very useful. Your writings have helped solidify my plans to tackle this great challenge. So thank you! |
| Name: | Joe |
| E-mail address: | Baseballkid9473@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | My girlfriend and I ride bike alot. I have been riding since the age of 15. (for a distance). My girlfriend started after she we started dating. I do not know how i got into riding like I do now. After i started riding I really got into it. I started racing when i was 17. But my big things in cycling are not with racing, im not even that good at racing.. I really enjoyed commuting and touring. This pass summer me and my girlfreind road to Portland maine and back total of 1400 miles. This year after finals we are doing another ride, destinations Hershey PA, DC, and Banner Elk NC and of course home. MY commuting is my second favorite thing. Im moved off my college campus in order to ride more. I commute year round to work or school. During the summer i ride 50 miles a day to work (im and lifeguard) during the winter only about 10 miles a day. Up state new york can have some serious winter whether.. Im going to be a teacher so i plan to ride to work or take the bus. And i plan to do a tour every summer..
Joe |
| Name: | James Powell |
| E-mail address: | powelltowel@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | hey I have a Few ?tions for you if you would answer them that would help me alot
1- I want to walk/bike America what should I bring? 2- How much money should i bring? 3- where did you sleep and where should i sleep? 4- can you tell me what you did and stuff. |
| Name: | michael o'toole |
| E-mail address: | floydmack@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | i am a 34 year old guy who hasnt gotten past a light jog for the bus since i was in my mid twentys but somehow the idea of riding a bike cross country has popped into my mind.
this has been extremely helpful.i havent read every last bit but i will.i'm up in boston so wouldnt get going until april/may.If i get really serious i will drop you a line.. thanks for taking the time and putting together a great site! |
| Name: | Greg Hoover |
| E-mail address: | ghoover25@hotmail.com |
| Name: | Greg Hoover |
| E-mail address: | ghoover25@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | I am just geting in to touring and I am looking around to see how it works. I enjoyed your page |
| Name: | Drew Muse |
| E-mail address: | muse_shop@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Nice site!
I have a similar aphorism to one of yours, you say "50% chance of rain gets you 100% wet," I say, "a 30% chance of rain means there's a 100% chance it's going to rain for 30% of the day." Happy riding and stay dry! |
| Name: | Barry Stewart |
| E-mail address: | bgstewart55@msn.com |
| Comments: | Hello John,
I am 64 years old and an avid cyclist, but have never done a unsupported tour. I have done two 7 day support tours in Colorado and enjoyed them. I am planning to cycle across the US from West to East, probably from Oregon to New Jersey or Virgina. I would probably not do it until summer of 2011 as this summer will be busy moving and getting settled in Oregon. I am semi-retiring, who can afford to retire and going to work in a bicycle shop in Bend, OR. I printed the text version of your site and will read it with great interest. I have book marked your site. Thank you |
| Name: | Frank T |
| E-mail address: | hendrixflow@gmail.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://facebook.com/tsyngauz |
| Comments: | Thank you sir for creating this website. It will be very helpful in planning my goal to bike across the US from Philadelphia to Los Angelas. I am 21 years old and so far I have one friend who seems to be up for the adventure with me. We plan to start the XC trip during Summer 2010. Probably early May as soon as the school semester ends. Big ups to everyone who has done this and thank you all for encouraging everyone who has ever thought about it to get off their lazy asses and spend 2 months of their limited lives to get up and do something extraordinary. |
| Name: | Bobby Goldberg |
| E-mail address: | bgdiceman@gmail.com |
| Comments: | This is a lot of fun to look at. I biked across the U.S. a couple of times in the '90's and your photos and stories bring back many fond memories of people and panniers and rain and tents and tarps. With family and kids and obligations today, I treasure my bike commute to work, which provides a link to this other part of life. Thanks for posting. |
| Name: | Al Phillips |
| E-mail address: | al.phillips@comcast.net |
| Comments: | Hi John,
Your story is an inspiration. I was interested in doing the same thing and went to the book store to find a good book about it....and I couldn't. I went web surfing and there was your website. It is exactly what I was looking for; the details on bikes, the list of things to take, the map of the route, the distances, and (of course) the great dialog. Thanks so much for ALL of the great information. |
| Name: | gerry godzwon |
| E-mail address: | gerrytrout@yahoo,.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://gerrytrout.tripod.com |
| Comments: | Thanks for the site and info, thinking about it myself and starting research.
Gerry |
| Name: | Ashley |
| E-mail address: | ashley@redd-design.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://redd-design.com |
| Comments: | Hi John,
I sent you an email with something you may be interested in. Let me know if you didn't receive it and I'll send it again. - Ashley |
| Name: | Jack Hanan |
| E-mail address: | nyc_bassist@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Hi,
I'm thinking of doing the same thing myself. Just trying to figure out the details and if I can finagle my boss as well. Thanks for the great insight. Jack |
| Name: | Bob Deusenberry |
| E-mail address: | Bikeabit@SBCGlobal.Net |
| Comments: | Sounds like you had a great time. My wife and I are planning on doing the trip across the U S, from Cleveland,Ohio to Corona,California. How far in advance did you begin planning youre routes. Did you have support along the way. Would like to pick your brain if at all posible. I really appreciate your site. Thanks. |
| Name: | Paul |
| Comments: | Great site and information.
Thanks for sharing. I might try in like 5 years. |
| Name: | Alecia |
| Comments: | Hello! That's amazing you rode across the US! I want to do it now... although I might have to work a year or two to get the funds required for it. Thank you for having such a detailed site about your trip. I will surely bookmark it for future reference. :) |
| Name: | Jeff |
| E-mail address: | jTabor@my.gcu.edu |
| Comments: | I dont know why, but when talking with friends we decided to bike across country next summer. I think it would be a legendary journey with a group of friends. You are the man for doing that journey by yourself! |
| Name: | Zach Donahue |
| E-mail address: | donahue.zach@gmail.com |
| Comments: | hey, you're website is good reading and just what i was looking for when i googled bike across country. your info is very thorough and and your site tows the line between too dense to stay interesting and not enough information.
I live in maine, 15 minutes by car outside portland. today i went on my longest bike ride of my life, into and around portland and back home. Total, with plenty of stops, i biked for 6 hours and traveled over 26 miles. During the ride, my friend asked me how long it would take to go across USA. i calculated its 3000 miles across, i might go 50 miles a day (a safe estimate), so about 2 months is what i told him. looks like thats a good timeframe. I'd love to bike across america someday. I'd also like to bike down to the suburbs of virginia, where my girlfriend lives, maybe as a warmup. you're website is inspiring. hopefully we'll meet somewhere on the trail. thanks. |
| Name: | Randall Smith |
| E-mail address: | rjsmit1@aol.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.twinoaksriding.com |
| Comments: | Thanks for sharing - it is most excellent to read about your adventure! |
| Name: | Mike Hairfield |
| E-mail address: | hairfield@live.com |
| Comments: | Nice contribution and interesting too.
I have read every book and article your father had every written. I really appreciate all of his works. His extreme sopisism is extremely hard to fully understand. Do you have an email address so I can ask you some questions? |
| Name: | Shanon K |
| E-mail address: | shannlynn04@aol.com |
| Comments: | I am 16 years old and i love riding my bike. I live sort of in the middle of nowhere and i just ride my bike for hours to get away. Me and my friend recently decided that we want to bike across the country. We are planning on doing it in two years, the summer after we graduate high school. We think it will be such a great experience, besides we love biking! You are someone that we look up to in that we can do it, thanks so much, and im so excited for my trip! |
| Name: | Ish Ennis |
| E-mail address: | ish_ennis@nps.gov |
| Comments: | I have cycled across country myself in 1974 & 77 the first time I was 18 and knew that I just wanted to do something to have an adventure. The second I did it with a friend a good time but doing it alone makes the trip different (better). For many years after the trips I thought they were a waste of time and energy. Now the trip are something special in my mind a give me undescribale feeling of nowing reel freedom. Now as I may find myself retiring I want to do another bicycling trip of some length. I only wander if can my body hold up? |
| Name: | Jim Rundle |
| E-mail address: | jrr10@cornell.edu |
| Comments: | I enjoyed your story. I bought a bike last July, did a 50 mile fund raising ride in September, and started thinking about old dreams. As a 14 year old in Iowa I did overnight rides with a friend of up to 60 miles on my Huffy 3-speed, carrying a canvas tent and a cast iron skillet in my newspaper baskets. The bike would rear up when I got off. I wanted to do much bigger trips, but things interfered, and now I'm 60 and thinking of an early retirement...and some bike riding. I really want to go across the country, but need to try a little touring closer to home to see if the old bones can still lie down in a tent. Thanks for making your own experience available on line. Jim |
| Name: | Josh Sizemore |
| E-mail address: | joshua.sizemore@yahoo.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://1homeinspection.com |
| Comments: | I want to cycle across the states too, any advice |
| Name: | Eric Matyas |
| E-mail address: | countfunkula176@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | I'm in the midst of my college career, but i'm putting it on hold to ride from Philadelphia, PA to San Francisco, CA this coming September 2009. Reading your story and your FAQ's have furthered my inspiration to actually go through with this f'in crazy idea. Thanks!!
I will be riding alone though, and am a bit nervous..... The site rocks! -Eric |
| Name: | John Crouch |
| E-mail address: | jcrouch4@jhmi.edu |
| Homepage URL: | http://myspace.com/johncrouchcomposer |
| Comments: | Thanks for the enjoyable read! Last summer I did a 1400 mile trip from Baltimore to my hometown of Springdale, Arkansas. Reading your web page reminds me of all the wonderful experiences I had on my trip and the kindness of strangers. I even went through some of the same places in Virginia. Some day I hope to ride from Baltimore to San Francisco.
All the best, John Crouch |
| Name: | Chris K |
| E-mail address: | colanderman@gmail.com |
| Comments: | Hey John, thanks for sharing your experience! Hoping to embark on a cross-country trip with my girlfriend someday... it's great to read about someone who has done it! |
| Name: | Frank Hanes |
| E-mail address: | pfrankhanesiii@aol.com |
| Comments: | I am looking into riding from Maine to San Fran.
I would like to talk about your trip and better understand what it is I am about to get into. Can you contact me for more discussion? |
| Name: | Allison Elliott |
| E-mail address: | ttoillenosilla@gmail.com |
| Comments: | hi! Thanks for sharing your trip... all those little details really made your experience real for me. I'm very encouraged by your 'anyone can do it' mentality. I think I might just!
I look forward to hearing about your next trip(s) - maybe in blog format? if you follow us trendies... :) Stay safe on the road, and cheers. |
| Name: | larry shulman |
| E-mail address: | larrys@lmstech.com |
| Name: | Kevin |
| E-mail address: | kevin@kreepyindividual.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://Kreepyindividual.com |
| Comments: | Very interesting reading. I hope to use a lot of your suggestions on my smaller tour. Thank you so much. |
| Name: | Ken Dreyer |
| E-mail address: | ldaploy@gmail.com |
| Comments: | Recently, due to the economy being what it is NY is facing a huge loss of revenue. This might be the end of my job here, for a while, so I needed a disaster/recovery plan and I came across your site. Thanks for your insight and experience conveyed throughout these pages.
Now I'm not so worried about the loss, as I would gain the freedom of the road. |
| Name: | David Plotts |
| Comments: | I've been contemplating a reverse of your trip, from Oregon (where I live) to Newport News, VA. We'll see if it happens. |
| Name: | Jesse Desper |
| E-mail address: | jdesper4@aim.com |
| Comments: | I love your site...i have very little biking experience but have decided to ride my bike from South Lake Tahoe, CA to Kennebunk ME this year. I stumbled across your site one day while researching and have found it extremely helpful and interesting...thanks for all the links and suggestions. |
| Name: | Caleb Williams |
| E-mail address: | raucousruckus@yahoo.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.myspace.com/robotsdontlikeyou |
| Comments: | i am about to ride from north carolina, up the east coast to new york and vermont, and then to california with a stop in wisconsin on the way. i plan on seeing pretty much all of my relatives along the way. i have found a lot of your site very helpful in planning for my ride. i was glad to so easily find someone that has done this before and is willing to give advice. thanks. |
| Name: | Maribeth M. Wester |
| E-mail address: | westergeekgirl@gmail.com |
| Comments: | Wonderful pictures - is there a group in PDX area?
I want help getting motivated about touring! |
| Name: | Stephen Kuzminski |
| E-mail address: | thereisastephenx@aol.com |
| Comments: | Love the site. Thinking about preparing for a xc trip. Though, I'm a beginner (I don't even own a bike and haven't ridden one in over a year.)
I'm still wondering what and how often you ate and drank to sustain your daily rides? Thanks. Stephen |
| Name: | Stephen Kuzminski |
| E-mail address: | thereisastephenx@aol.com |
| Comments: | Love the site. Thinking about doing it.
Can you give an idea of what and how often you ate and drank during your trip to sustain your daily rides? Thanks. Stephen |
| Name: | joe marsh |
| E-mail address: | mrjjmarsh@earthlink.net |
| Comments: | i enjoyed your web site--i went from seattle to portland maine a long time ago and had a great time---longing to go again this summer leaving from southern california area---
just looking for inspiration |
| Name: | Adriana |
| E-mail address: | adriana@aol.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://web51.happyhost.org/this-is-spinal-tap/free-registration.html |
| Comments: | You have a very good webpage here, so best greetings to you and all your visitors. Admin of <a rel="dofollow" href="http://anasi.110mb.com/space-jam/video-space-jam.html" title="video space jam">video space jam</a> ... <a rel="dofollow" href="http://iroldi.happyhost.org/mission-impossible-ii/direct-link.html" title="direct link">direct link</a> ... |
| Name: | Ethan B |
| Name: | peyton read |
| E-mail address: | peyton42racing@aol.com |
| Comments: | Thanks for poasting this site. I did the across Usa in 94, and on a mountain bike. Now I am in my mid forties and thinking about it again.I ended my trip in San Diego and headed north. well thanks again your story brings back many memories! thanks.Peyton |
| Name: | tim trepanier |
| E-mail address: | trepanierart@yahoo.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://myspace.com/enterthewild |
| Comments: | sorry posting again. i plan on doing a trip in the summer of 2009. i would love to ride parts of the trip with other people. anybody interested please contact me. thank you for your site, i plan on blogging about my trip and posting pics on my myspace page the entire time. |
| Name: | tim trepanier |
| E-mail address: | trepanierart@yahoo.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://myspace.com/enterthewild |
| Comments: | hey, your site looks like it is going to be very helpful. thank you. i'd love to talk to you by e-mail or on my myspace to get any other suggestions or info you can give me. thank you. |
| Name: | donnie shelton |
| E-mail address: | dcshelton@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | excellent capture of your trip ! alot of useful information that will help me plan my E->W transam trip in summer 09. |
| Name: | donnie shelton |
| E-mail address: | dcshelton@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | excellent capture of your trip ! alot of useful information that will help me plan my E->W transam trip in summer 09. |
| Name: | Dave Hull |
| E-mail address: | davehull04@yahoo.co.uk |
| Comments: | Hi John.
Excellent site:highly informative, very interesting and hopefully it will provide me with the impetus to get out and do it! Good luck with your future trips. |
| Name: | Bob MacCord |
| E-mail address: | rpmac55@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Am in the beginning planning stages for what my wife calls, The ManTrip: coast to coast on a bicycle. Wanting to see why I'd want to do such a thing in other peoples thoughts.
In other words, am I the only crazy person around??? Thanks Bob |
| Name: | Bob MacCord |
| E-mail address: | rpmac55@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Am in the beginning planning stages for what my wife calls, The ManTrip: coast to coast on a bicycle. Wanting to see why I'd want to do such a thing in other peoples thoughts.
In other words, am I the only crazy person around??? Thanks Bob |
| Name: | laurice galletta |
| E-mail address: | lgalletta3134@comcast.net |
| Comments: | Always joked with my husband we'd run away from the kids and be homeless in Hawaii. But wondered what it would take to bicycle across the US. So to start, i guess see what you have found. |
| Name: | Kiran |
| E-mail address: | kiran@comcast.net |
| Homepage URL: | http://vouga.as.ro/sporanox/sporanox-dosage.html |
| Comments: | A very nice and comprehensive site. I am glad i have found it. Surely, I will come back. Support my sites <a rel="dofollow" href="http://aluji.8k.com/botox/anti-aging-botox-treatment.html" title="anti aging botox treatment">anti aging botox treatment</a> ... <a rel="dofollow" href="http://uvoce.atwebpages.com/diazepam/" title="diazepam">diazepam</a> ... too. |
| Name: | Rob Weiss |
| E-mail address: | accrob@comcast.net |
| Comments: | I read your entire website with great interest, as I am planning a ride accross this spring 2009.
After reading your memoirs I think I am changing my route to yours. Originally I was palnning San Diego to Daytona Beach where I have a home, however your route seems far more interesting. I have been apprehensive about the mountains as I am a flatlander and have little experience in climbing. I think I'm ready for the challenge. I did not see in the FAQ's or otherwise if you are married, my wife thinks i'm crazy, however supportive. Thank you for your site. |
| Name: | Charles |
| E-mail address: | roach1@insightbb.com |
| Comments: | This is very interesting. All the information in it was things that I wanted to know or understand to do a trek like this. |
| Name: | Stephen |
| E-mail address: | sjd1980@verizon.net |
| Comments: | Hi John,
I did the Golden Spokes East trip (from West to East) in 1976 the summer Bikecentennial started it all. It was from Pueblo to Yorktown, VA. I had just graduated high school. I had such a blast I decided that when I graduate college I'd do the whole shebang (sp?) and that's what I did. Portland, OR to Williamgsburg, VA. Our first day on the road was Friday, June 13th, 1980 and Mt. St. Helens had just erupted the second time that year (May was the first time). It happened overnight so we awoke to wondering what was all the black stuff on the cars and roads. Good thing it was raining. So instead of heading north for 2 days and then south for 2 days (to get back to Portland basically) we headed straight south, so on day one we were 4 days ahead of schedule. I too stopped in Cassoday, KS as well as Pippa Passes. Nothing like small-town USA. BTW, are you still in the DC area? If so, next weekend, RABA is having an event/ride to make a presentation to the Cookie Lady. http://www.eventbrite.com/event/211510634 to read more about it. I am thinking of driving down from New York City to make it (considering I made a donation, I am thinking it would be nice to see them give her the final check). Since I am also single, I look back on both trips and consider them my greatest achievements or experiences, depending on what one might call them. Of course, parents usually consider their wedding day or the birth of their kids their greatest days, so maybe trips like this might rank 2nd or 3rd for them. |
| Name: | Sam |
| E-mail address: | wavelineboy96@gmail.com |
| Comments: | I've been wanting 2 ride across the US maube could u give me some tips 2 get started |
| Name: | Sam |
| E-mail address: | wavelineboy96@gmail.com |
| Comments: | I've been wanting 2 ride across the US maube could u give me some tips 2 get started |
| Name: | mark Fishler |
| E-mail address: | mark.fishler@gmail.com |
| Comments: | I am planning the trip next year 2009. I will be 60 years old and have always wanted to ride the USA. I ride about 30-0 miles per day weather permitting at about 6000 feet here in utah so I hope I will be good enough shape. Your web site has been a great help and has given me the confidence to go ahead
thanks |
| Name: | Debbie Jackson |
| E-mail address: | debbie@debbiejacksonproductions.com |
| Comments: | Hi, just found your site and still need to look around at it but wanted to sign your guestbook. I have a dream of riding across the US on my bike, thanks for the inspiration! |
| Name: | Tina |
| E-mail address: | cathy@1stallied.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://cheap.greatnow.com/shoes8141.html |
| Comments: |
Your site is special! Thank you for your work. |
| Name: | Biily Green |
| E-mail address: | green4672@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | This site really helps! |
| Name: | Bike the US for MS |
| E-mail address: | info@biketheusforms.org |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.biketheusforms.org |
| Comments: | Thanks for all the tips John. This is a great resource for bicycle touring. |
| Name: | Mark Axen |
| E-mail address: | N/A |
| Homepage URL: | http://N/A |
| Comments: | Don't mean to be evasive with that N/A crap, but it's the truth. My computer use comes via libraries & generous souls along the "yellow brick road". Mere words cannot express my admiration for website & Salient observations!! I prostrate myself on the Earth with respect. I am 61, retired, & pretty much live "in the wind"; am in OR at presemnt racing the seasonal changes, have an invite to AZ. Thanks again, wishing you all the best !!
the Axeman, (boyhood nickname) |
| Name: | Connor |
| E-mail address: | connor@telusplanet.net |
| Homepage URL: | http://homepages.pathfinder.gr/varon/accutane/accutane-no-prescription.html |
| Comments: | I like your page. It is a good one. Keep up the good work. Visit <a rel="dofollow" href="http://www.vegas-webspace.com/wwwzx/doxycycline/" title="doxycycline">doxycycline</a> ... <a rel="dofollow" href="http://apelin.as.ro/ultram/ultram-er.html" title="ultram er">ultram er</a> .... |
| Name: | Laurent White |
| E-mail address: | laurentwhite@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | Hi,
Congratulations on this great website and on the trip ! My brother and I did exactly the same in 1997 too ! But, that was July and August. We rode from East to West (DC, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, California). A wonderful experience ! I wish I had designed a website like yours. I am sure it inspires many people to plan a trip on their own ! Very Sincerely, Laurent. |
| Name: | Chad Wisham |
| E-mail address: | chad@wisham.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://chad.wisham.com |
| Comments: | I enjoyed your site. I plan to make this trip, hopefully, in 2010. Thanks for all the useful info. |
| Name: | Jon Casto |
| E-mail address: | jcasto@wsu.edu |
| Comments: | Wow! Thanks for all the info.
Touring cross-country is a post-graduation goal I have, and your site is inspiring and informative! |
| Name: | Jeff Kooistra |
| E-mail address: | jpkooistra@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | Mr Dorsey,
Great website. I am thoroughly enjoying your tales and experiences. I'm hoping to do the same thing ASAP. I'll have to quit my job in all likelihood to do so but am eager to get ridin'...!!!! Thanks for documenting and sharing. Sincerely, Jeff |
| Name: | Tim Davis |
| E-mail address: | uofmforever@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Congratulations on you doing what you want and having no excuses.
My glory days are way behind me and so are the years of non-activity. The star athlete in me has all but washed out on sport activities due to the twice-reconstructive knee and the never-ending excuses. As the pounds get larger and larger I have wanted to hop on my exercise bike and shed the pounds. I have even purchased a touring bike with my friendly poker winnings hoping to see my feet and just maybe play basketball again. But the excuses always seem to win out. Where has the desire to excel in something that was a second thought in High School and college? I know its there. My desire to be active is always in the forefront of my mind. I am now almost 45 years old, 6’3” – 335 pounds and the only sport I play anymore is golf and that is using a cart. How LAME! I know I have more drive then this…. Where is it?? Well I think I have found it. Check that!!! I KNOW I FOUND IT. It was in the inspiration of this google search I did bored at work and now I am ready to start the second half of my life like my first half. I thank you in sharing your awesome experiences with people. I will forever be grateful! Thank you and Congrats again, Tim Davis Orlando, FL |
| Name: | Chris Dobbs |
| E-mail address: | chris.dobbs.22@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | Enjoyed reading your site. |
| Name: | Kayleigh |
| E-mail address: | kcatron@uoregon.edu |
| Comments: | While I am no adventure cyclist, my boyfriend, Zac, is currently riding his bike across the country. I go to your page about once a day to use as a reference for his journey. Just yesterday, he was telling me about eating at this little restaurant in Elkhorn City and I asked, "Is it called the Rusty Fork Cafe?" Of course it was! (I knew because I had read your tidbit on Elkhorn City). Thank you for your detail about each state, it has been helpful to Zac and me!
~Kayleigh |
| Name: | A. W. (Doc) McNicoll, DVM |
| E-mail address: | amcnicoll@woh.rr.com |
| Comments: | I'll be 72 when I plan on a cross country recumbent bike trip from Whitefish, Montana to Greenville, SC. First time touring. Have no bike yet. Starting to plan early. Finances will be very tight. Going solo. Your comments seem to help a lot. Have always done stuff like this. Exited about the idea. Like your idea of letting each day develop on its own.
Any comments for me? Thanks in advance. Doc |
| Name: | Steven Sewell |
| E-mail address: | Stevenhasspam@gmail.com |
| Comments: | Hey there,
I am actually thinking about riding across country myself. I happened to come across your page and thought i would drop you a line. I'm here in California. My first adventure is going to be down to San Diego (about 95 miles from where i live). that would be a day trip. Then maybe up to San Fransisco. (which would probably take me between a week and two weeks) Then, that big adventure. Anywise, i will read through your site and see what kind of inspiration i can get and info on do's and dont's. congrats on the ride and have a great week! Steven |
| Name: | Dan |
| E-mail address: | dsatorius99@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Hi. Thanks for putting this site together. I recently developed an interest for long distance cycling and your site provided plenty of helpful/useful information. I would love to ride across America someday, but first I would like to ride up the coast of my home state, California. Thanks again! Best Wishes, Dan |
| Name: | Tom Bowden |
| E-mail address: | writeconcord@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Thanks for many good tips. I will be riding from LA to Boston late Spring 2009. This is charity ride for iPS research. Website will be up soon. all levels of riders invited to join us for short or all the way segments. P.S. I will be 71 next year...Keep on biking |
| Name: | bill heinemann |
| E-mail address: | heinesss@aol.com |
| Comments: | Thanks,
Great advice, my experience is maybe 20 miles on a mountain bike, but not really offroad. The links will really help me. I googled "how to bicycle cross country" and clicked "i'm feeling lucky" Glad to have found your notes. |
| Name: | Marcus |
| Comments: | I'm flirting with the idea of going on a cross country adventure but naturally it's quite intimidating to someone who has never even ridden out of town on a bike. Your site has eased a lot of my concerns. Thanks! |
| Name: | Alfred (Doc) McNicoll |
| E-mail address: | amcnicoll@woh.rr.com |
| Comments: | Hey, I'm 71 and seriously thinking about a cross country bike ride the summer of 2009. I wont ask you for advice cause I think there is plenty in your notes.
Thanks, doc McNicll |
| Name: | david p. |
| E-mail address: | pulsipherblog@gmail.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.cicle.org |
| Comments: | john,
i really enjoyed your perspective and writing. i'm just getting started on bicycle touring and your website was a lovely resource. |
| Name: | Dawn Young |
| E-mail address: | youngdawn@sky.com |
| Comments: | Well done I found this site very inspiring.
Me & my husband Neil are planning to do this ASAP but both our employers are not understanding & would never let us have 8 or more weeks off so when we do it it will be life changing in many ways. Thank you for efforts in putting this site together as it give confidence to people like us to give it a go. |
| Name: | Glen Thompson |
| E-mail address: | Shinobiteacher1@cox.net |
| Comments: | Nice site.
My family and I are fixing to start out on the Tranz AM |
| Name: | David |
| E-mail address: | dukeda1@gmail.com |
| Comments: | Thanks so much for putting this site together. I am a rising senior at Duke University, and a group of around 10 of us want to bike across the US to celebrate our graduation (well, hopefully we´ll graduate) and bring our college years to a close. Thanks for your help! |
| Name: | Lance Sutterlin |
| E-mail address: | cuda6977@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | It was intresting reading your page. I had an accident 6yrs ago leaving me a paraplegic. I have a handcycle and would like to take a long distance ride sometime. Im just reading as much stuff as I can to prepare myself if i ever decide to try a journey. |
| Name: | Federico Wild Biking |
| E-mail address: | federico@nofear.it |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.nofear.it |
| Comments: | Congratulations!!!
I have read part of your stories on your website and I would like to invite you posting the stories, or part of them, on the newly born blogsite www.nofear.it dedicated to nofear travel, like you did. Ciao and have a nice journey ;-). |
| Name: | Cody Hobson |
| E-mail address: | codyhobson473@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | I have been wanting to do this for a while now, you have motivated me to. Thank You |
| Name: | Duane Derek Drury |
| E-mail address: | dddrury@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | Found your page by searching "bike across America".
I did the trip in '87 from Rehobeth to Oregon. It's wild to read about the same places and experiences. Thanks for helping me relive my trip. ddd |
| Name: | Nick Jones |
| E-mail address: | nick9402@msn.com |
| Comments: | I plan on doing the same thing within the next few years. Your website has been very helpful. |
| Name: | Mark Gardner |
| E-mail address: | 2224@comcast.ne |
| Homepage URL: | http://2224.home.comcast.net/tour |
| Comments: | Hello John,
You may recall that we communicated a few times before your tour, but I couldn't go that year. I happened to check for links to my web site and realized you have an out-of-date link to my site. If you get around to it, you could update it to the link above. Since I was here, I reread your entire site today, verifying the opinion I already held - that it is one of the best written and well observed touring accounts I have read, and I've read many. From your logbook, people are still visiting, so I hope you will wrap up with Oregon! Regards, Mark Gardner Longmont, CO |
| Name: | Margaret |
| E-mail address: | joe_mamma176@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Hello! Thanks for sharing your experience with us. It`s definately something that I plan on doing in the future. I just hope I can find someone mad enough to accompany me. :) |
| Name: | Bud |
| E-mail address: | smilinzagdthng@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Congrats on a great trip. Just stumbled into your web site. Thanks for putting that site up...especially liked the log page. Quite an accomplishment you have. I'd like to find out how many people have done this. You don't know of any sort of organization of folks who have done this do you? |
| Name: | Danielle |
| E-mail address: | daniellesch@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | Biking across America is one thing I plan to do with my family within the next five years (the kids are a bit small yet; youngest is almost 2 yrs old.) We're avid campers, but bicycling has taken a bit of a back seat since having the baby.
Any advice you'd have for taking kids on the TA trail? |
| Name: | Adam |
| E-mail address: | adam@bikeargentina.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.bikeargentina.com |
| Comments: | Awesome Site, thanks for putting all that info up there to view. Also great guestbook, interesting reading everyone else's notes.
|
| Name: | Tyson L Sparks |
| E-mail address: | sparkstyson@hotmail.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://firefighter-photoblog.blogspot.com/ |
| Comments: | Just wanted to say hi and love you page here. |
| Name: | Kevin John Coe Jr. |
| E-mail address: | yn2kevincoe@gmail.com |
| Comments: | Great site thanks. I'm thinking on a trip after i get out of the navy in 2009. Take care.
R/ Kevin |
| Name: | Jamie Dorey |
| E-mail address: | JDoreyJr@aol.com |
| Comments: | I'm thinking of embarking on a similar adventure myself, and I've just started researching it. Thanks for your documentation of your trip. It's good stuff.
Jamie |
| Name: | Matt Belcher |
| E-mail address: | Surfcatmat@aol.com |
| Comments: | Thanks for the great trip outline and your inspiration to do it. That has always worked for me before. Cycling is a new venture for me, I'm headed out XC! Aloha |
| Name: | Alex Bosiljevac |
| E-mail address: | Bosiljevac@gmail.com |
| Comments: | Hey, great job on the trip however long ago it might seem to you. I made my first touring trip much in the same way you did. My cousin Dave and I were talking at a Easter family get together, and we eventually started talking about the Pacific Coast and how we wanted to go there. Eventually we got onto the topic of biking it, and how a bike is the perfect mode of travel to see your surroundings. Driving is far too fast and blunt, while walking is too slow to cover any ground.
We did it without panniers mostly like your vagabond Sam. The most surprising thing of the entire trip was that my Uncle Dave (my cousin Dave's father) at 55 completed the trip with us. When he heard about our idea he decided to go as the 'adult' (I just graduated highschool and Dave had one year left of college). It really was an stunning trip, and we had virtually no knowledge of touring. We flew into Portland, and eventually took route 101 to route 1, with a few detours along the way to San Fran. The Golden Gate Bridge was a perfect ending to our first trip. We went on a trip a through Tuscany, and Rome two years after that, which was equally as spectacular, and we are now getting the urge to do another trip. Now that I graduated from PSU the time seems right. Your story might have inspired us to do some more touring. Thank you, Alex |
| Name: | Amber Hartsburg |
| E-mail address: | backcountrybabe@live.com |
| Comments: | I really enjoyed looking through your cross country adventure. A friend and I have been talking about taking some time off soon and taking a coast to coast ride. I was just doing a bit of research when I ran across your page. It looks like a blast and I can't wait to share a similar experience one day soon. |
| Name: | Susan Biebuyck |
| E-mail address: | sbiebuyck@mac.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.susanbiebuyck.com |
| Comments: | I'm impressed. You have adventure in your blood. |
| Name: | Jim Carr |
| E-mail address: | bikebum1975@aol.com |
| Comments: | I like your site I'm looking to ride my bike around th country in the next couple of years once I get the money and gear. Currently I'm working on restoring my single speed for my trip
if you would like to you can email me back |
| Name: | Lara |
| E-mail address: | laraebee@gmail.com |
| Comments: | My Sister and I want to do a cross country tour this summer, NYC to CA. We have never toured before but are furiously looking, reading, writing, and gathering information everyday. I have really enjoyed your site - any other tips, stories, etc that you might want to share- would love to hear them!
Thanks, Lara |
| Name: | Andrew |
| E-mail address: | amclees@gmail.com |
| Comments: | I found your website to be both informative and inspiring. I'm planning a mini tour from Chicago to New Jersey in August 2008; it'll be my first extended ride ever. I plan on studying everything on your site and asking for professional opinions around town to make sure my first experience is incredible.
Thank you! |
| Name: | Bob Montagne |
| E-mail address: | dcbob@optonline.net |
| Comments: | Great site and very inspirational. You were very smart to take that trip. Adventures like that are as meaningful as going to college. It has changed you for the rest of your life in a very positive way. Everyone should do it, for themselves and for the good of all.
Keep living the way you do. Bob |
| Name: | Jim |
| E-mail address: | josouthpaw@bex.net |
| Comments: | Really enjoyed your site! Very informative!
...and non-riders think I'm nuts when I ride a century. Hats off to you! They really don't understand, do they? Doing this is on my "bucket list." Ride on. |
| Name: | Brad Cannon |
| E-mail address: | bradcannon_1999@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | I got the idea for this in my head a few months ago and found your website. I'm planning to take the trip now. I think it will work nicely because I live near DC and my parents are still where I grew up in Oregon. I was in Blacksburg, VA the other day and drove a car on Catawba Rd., which is on the route you took. It's a windy two-lane road with no shoulder. How much of the trip is like that? |
| Name: | Miriam |
| E-mail address: | mtbikerbetty@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | hey john, i really enjoyed reading about your trip. it was really inspiring..although i dont plan on doing this anytime soon it was great to see what it was like. it makes me wanna do this someday. for now i just bike around with friends or near by trails in the area. i have a mountain bike. my friend russell plans on doing a trip like this sometime in the summer. i told him about your site so hopfully it will give him a few ideas of what to expect and what not. thanks alot!
-miriam |
| Name: | Tom Quick |
| E-mail address: | quikx6@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | I love reading about the adventures of the cross-countriers! I would love to go someday soon, maybe when my son comes back from Iraq. He's a Marine, so he could probably pull me up the hills!:-) Cost & time are challenges - along with getting fit again - but...see you on the road! |
| Name: | Stuard Detmer |
| E-mail address: | stuarddetmer@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | Very nice website. Informative, inspiring and fun to read. I used to race, but now do a lot of touring in the Alps (I'm working in europe now) and have a cross country USA ride on my to do list. I suspect I will do a "credit card" tour to avoid camping, but it sounds doable. thanks for sharing your experience and keep the rubber side down! |
| Name: | brian |
| E-mail address: | bkelleyvb@yahoo.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.myspace.com/heybk |
| Comments: | im kinda like mark a few posts down......once i thought of making the trek i cant get the idea out of my head. im definately welcoming advice if anyone is feeling up to it. i look forward to the journey. |
| Name: | CitizenByBike |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.youtube.com/citizenbybike |
| Comments: | Wonderful! Hope to get some video of my own xcountry trip someday.
-CitizenByBike. |
| Name: | O |
| E-mail address: | o3131@aol.com |
| Comments: | I really respect what you did and one day i may want to do this, it looks as if you got a lot of insight into life with this experience. |
| Name: | Bill Molleran |
| E-mail address: | bill.molleran@fuse.net |
| Comments: | Love your site. I read through the entire thing in one sitting, and read several parts aloud to the rest of my family. Very inspiring. I hope to be able to do something similar one day.
One question. In one of Ken Coopers fitness books he talked about depression caused by terminating physical activity, usually due to injury. You were exercising 5 to 10 hours per day for two months. Did you suffer any negative mental consequences after the trip was over? |
| Name: | Maggie |
| E-mail address: | pedalmania@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | Cycled from Yorktown VA across to Florence OR in 2001 at the age of 53, best 3 months of my life and have lots of good tips to pass on |
| Name: | Mark Sullivan |
| E-mail address: | marksulli@gmail.com |
| Comments: | Love the site...I'm thinking of doing this trip myself. Once I thought of doing it I can't get the idea out of my mind. |
| Name: | Skylar |
| E-mail address: | bob@bob.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://bob@bob.com |
| Comments: | love it |
| Name: | kevin brown |
| E-mail address: | kevinabrown05@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | just rode into dc from Vermont for thanksgiving with family. i'll head out south in a couple weeks for it gets too cold, then westward. good site i like your "things I think i made up" section. |
| Name: | kathy |
| Comments: | good for you, my daughter and two friends did the same thing when they were 19 |
| Name: | Ray Irwin |
| E-mail address: | rirwin02@charter.net |
| Comments: | I just turned 65 and I am preparing to retire in about a year. I have ridden two 200 mile trips on the KATY Trail in Missouri. I joined Adventure Cycling Association and am starting to Plan a 400 to 500 mile trip for next year.
I found your journal very informative and motivational. |
| Name: | Bob Irwin |
| Comments: | I might do this |
| Name: | George Opryszko |
| Comments: | Well done. Your Website has been a great inspiration on the initial thinking of a trip. |
| Name: | jim blaha |
| E-mail address: | jimblaha1@msn.com |
| Comments: | I'm goin' across April 2008 by my lonesome . . . east to west |
| Name: | alex |
| E-mail address: | gaber.alex@gmail.com |
| Comments: | hey,
i did the john muir trail last summer and now i want to bike from the pacific to the atlantic. im 17 and it would just be me and my friend. now i have to convince my mom ill be ok. was the trip safe? did you almost get hit by a big semi or anything? were there any bad neighborhoods you were in? i need to convince her to let me go. |
| Name: | Bob Burns |
| E-mail address: | burnz@cox.net |
| Comments: | As I approach my 70th birthday, I'm looking for a new physical adventure. Perhaps a bike ride across the United States? |
| Name: | Pat McLaughlin |
| E-mail address: | mclaughlin5930@sbcglobal.net |
| Comments: | Hello John
Great information on your Transamerica tour. I am planning a tour from Lakewood, OH to the Pacific Northwest (my first) for spring 2008 and feel more confident about it after reading your story. I am so relieved to hear having jelly legs is not something to be ashamed of. I was looking for a route and the one you followed will fit the bill. Thanks for posting your adventure. If you see a guy on a maroon KHS Alite1000 mountain bike pulling a Burley Nomad cargo trailer it’ll be me. See you on the road! |
| Name: | Mike Fronckowiak |
| E-mail address: | michaeljf@gmail.com |
| Comments: | I stumbled across your site, as a co-worker and myself start our planning for our own cross country trip. Any words of advise would be much appreciated! |
| Name: | Joe Webb |
| E-mail address: | pedal2work@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Have been thinking about doing this for years. Need to retire first then maybe. I enjoy the reading, thanks |
| Name: | Rev Johannes Myors |
| E-mail address: | pprayers@pedalprayers.org |
| Homepage URL: | http://www,pedalprayers.org |
| Comments: | Came across your website through Cycling Travelogues at Yahoo!Cycling. I like your FAQ's. I'm going to have to come up with something like that for my website. I've been doing cycle touring with my ministry for the past 14+ years (around 175,000 miles with 14 ocean-to-ocean crossings.
I have to differ with your comment about not using a recumbent on a bike tour. I switched over to recumbents in 2000 and haven't been on an upright since then. I'm on my third recumbent. I recently completed a 9000 mile, 27 state tour, in less than 5 five months averaging around 62 miles per day. |
| Name: | JOE MCNALLY |
| E-mail address: | joemcnally@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | Well done - I enjoyed reading about your ride. |
| Name: | JoAnn |
| E-mail address: | nna5oj5n@comcast.net |
| Comments: | Hi John,
I loved finding your travel log! I've wanted to ride my bike cross-country forever and everyone thinks I'm nuts. I'm 50, so I want to do it now, before it's too late. I'm going to read every page of your experience and learn. |
| Name: | darrin mongitore |
| E-mail address: | droopydaelf@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | great page man. i loved it. i read everything on it. i live in western new york(jamestown)and am in the beginning of trying to plan a trip from here to the seattle area. i like the route you took. but i am unsure on how to get there from where i am. thank you for the knowledge that you have given me and im looking forward for more to come. good lick on all upcoming tours. peace be with you my brother.
one love, darrin mongitore |
| Name: | Bruce Dobie |
| E-mail address: | brucedobie@comcast.net |
| Comments: | way to go. this is one of the better websites i've seen about cross-country rides. i've long wanted to do this. kind of inspiring i must say. |
| Name: | niklas |
| Comments: | Your webpage was exellent.I´m from Sweden and planning to a trip like yours next summer next summer. |
| Name: | bob |
| E-mail address: | bobbieo@frontiernet.net |
| Comments: | Greetings from your home state, Camden, MI. |
| Name: | yossi boker |
| E-mail address: | bokery@red-c.com |
| Comments: | man,
i really envy you for this great journey. i hope that one day i could exploit the information in your website for preparing my own journey. regards, |
| Name: | joe williams |
| E-mail address: | joewilliams1@alltel.net |
| Comments: | your page was excellent. I'm a 60 year old guy-both parents just passed away- I used to ride a good bit 5-6 years ago, am active on my job and have always dreamed of a long bike tour. I think once you ride distance for awhile, it never quite goes away. I've gotten a ton of info from your pages. thanks----joe |
| Name: | Jack McAvoy |
| E-mail address: | jackmcavoy@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | Great information. I love your writing style. I've convinced my wife and kids I need to do it, now I must "finangle" time from work. |
| Name: | janice dulemba |
| E-mail address: | icejan1970@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | thank you for your "tips for first time tourers"....i still haven't worked up enough guts (or time, for that matter) to do a tour, but am dreaming and mentally planning a "someday" tour. |
| Name: | Timothy Sharlow |
| E-mail address: | Xularite@gmail.com |
| Comments: | I just finished back packing the entire country of china and I returned home with the intent to bike from my hometown in Lafayette, La to the Great Lakes of Michigan. In my googling I found your story and given your clear outlay of journey tales, I am encourage moreso to start this journey. Your realism and clarity of needs has been most assisting. Thank you very much for your blog. You seem like a really down to earth gentlemen, and for that...kudos to you. Good luck in life and again...thank you very much. Your journey is most impressive. |
| Name: | Dana Dill |
| E-mail address: | dill_1421@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | Great website! |
| Name: | dimitriosjones |
| E-mail address: | dimitriosjones@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | congrats on the accomplishment! |
| Name: | ALA OWERRI |
| E-mail address: | owerri@msn.com |
| Comments: | this is an intresting place to see.. |
| Name: | christina mcmann |
| E-mail address: | bikerbabe1991@comcast.net |
| Comments: | i am very much interested in touring this nation!! i cannot wait to get started!! |
| Name: | Neil Fein |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.neilfein.com |
| Comments: | Great site! You write very well - the page on Kansas is in particular very well done, but I like everything here so far. Hope you fill in the rest soon! |
| Name: | Brent Scott |
| E-mail address: | brent_scott.1@netzero.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.flownow.org |
| Comments: | I’m incubating the idea of riding from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., the down the East Coast, then into Africa to Zambia as a fund raising ride for World Bicycle Relief. Their goal is to supply 7000 bicycles to community health care workers. The health care workers can see about 100 times as many people with a bike. It makes a huge difference for them and the lives of their families. I’m shooting for a departure date of April 2008 when the construction project I’m on finishes. I’ll use he time to create the event to gather as much interest, and sponsorship as possible. The idea may fade, or evolve or grow. We’ll see. The self interest of most of the American experience is so boring, don’t you think?
Brent Scott |