Cross Country bike trip this summer!

[The Delegates]

21, headed to law school in the Fall of 2009, graduating in the winter of this year. Why not? If I manage to make it cross country this summer, I plan on possibly flying early in 2009 and biking Europe. Ireland looks beautiful and once I get into law school I won't have time for things like this.

Ventura, California to Yorktown, VA. 3500 miles. 38 days if I rush it, but I'm budgeting up to 10 weeks. I'm going to leave around May 16th.

Surly Long Haul Trucker bike.

I also plan to open up donations while I do it and keep a journal for charity. Any good charity suggestions?

[Art_from_Ark]

1. Cool

I used to do that sort of thing when I was in college. I had thought that 100 miles a day was doable, too, but I found things along the way that interested me, and I ended up only doing one 100-mile day on one trip, and two on another trip. You got quite a bit of difficult terrain to cross, too. Good luck, and don't forget to stock up on water for the desert part of your trip!

[The Delegates]

2. The desert problem

Definitely plan to stock water, but I'm hoping since I'll be hitting the desert in late may it won't be too bad. Better than going E-W and hitting it in July.

Also will ride in the evenings/mornings to minimize the time I spend riding in the heat.

[Art_from_Ark]

3. Another thing to remember

Unsavory types have a habit of coming out of the woodwork at all times, but especially at night.

I hope, though, that you meet nothing but decent people on your trip.

[AllegroRondo]

4. I biked Europe for several summer vacations

youre in for a great time!
We did Ireland in 1995, for two weeks. The one thing they dont mention - Ireland is very green because it rains a lot. Pack everything you carry in ziplock bags.

[Ptah]

5. . .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=user_profiles&u_id=214062

[underpants]

6. I grew up in Yorktown!

Well York County

Sounds like a blast.

I don't know what route you are taking but a lot of bikers that I know use Route 60 for long rides.


Actually rte. 60 goes all the way across the country (didn't know that)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_60

[SacredCow]

7. OP has been Tombstoned.....

I was going to PM him some suggestions, but..... Que Sera Sera

[bikebloke]

8. Bike treks are great.

I spent a year in the saddle biking New Zealand, the east coast of Australia, then a loop in Europe. The were some other biker trekkers I ran into who tried 200 - 250 km days. But they said they didn't see more of the countryside than their front wheels. The beauty of biking is looking around.