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21 May 2010
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Brit riding western TAT & CDT: Ride buddies, route suggestions, parking, tent space
Hi guys
I’m flying to/from Phoenix AZ from Manchester in England for 7.5 weeks between mid July and early September this year. As you can see from the map
I’m intending to ride the western half of the Trans Am Trail and the length of the Continental Divide Trail (Lines on the map aren’t wholly accurate). I’m borrowing a Suzuki DR400e with soft bags from Phoenix AZ and my trip starts and finishes there.
I have a couple of questions/requests that you might be able to help me with:
Route suggestions: The yellow CDT and red western TAT are pretty much set in stone. However it might be nice to take a few diversions. Do you have any suggestions? A friend told me about the Lolo Motorway in Idaho. Any other ideas? The blue dotted lines are very vague “liaison sections”. Do you know any good dirt roads en route?
Ride buddies: Any one in the same area at the same time as me and want to team up? Will aim to camp (ideally free camp) as much as possible. I ride a steady pace off and on pavement and want to take in the sights and sounds. I can ride long distances, but with the DRZ seat the way it is, my butt will be enforcing regular breaks!
Bike parking: I need to park the bike and kit between July 23rd and August 9th , ideally close to an airport (with connections to SFO and LAX) in Oregon/ northern Nevada. Can you help? Have you got a little space in your garage/ round the back of your house?
Tent space: If you live close to or on the western TAT or CDT or liaison sections, have you got any space in your yard where I could pitch my very small tent?
I have the following Timeline which might be of interest.
Sun 11th July: Arrive Phoenix, AZ from England
Ride east to NM and north to CO on CDT (yellow line) and northwest on TAT (red line) towards OR (definitely including side trip to Bonneville Salt Flats)
Fri 23rd July: Park bike and fly from Oregon or northern Nevada (?) to San Francisco CAL to meet wife and son for 2.5 weeks of car-bound tourism between SFO and Los Angeles.
Mon 9th August: Fly from LAX back to bike (in OR or northern Nevada)
Possibly (but less likely) 13 to 15 August: Horizonsunlimited Canada West meet at Nakusp, BC (too far off route in time available?)
Ride to northern end of CDT (yellow line) and head south to NM (quite likely to include attending Horizonsunlimited Colorado meet at Silverton, 27-29 August)
Fri September 03: depart Phoenix, AZ back to England
Any comments/tips/suggests very much appreciated.
Ride safely
Chris
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22 May 2010
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23 May 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Statdawg
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Hi Statdawg
Many thanks for the link. Lots of useful waypoints, tracks and info there.
cheers
Chris
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23 May 2010
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Salt Lake City and Oregon to Montana
A possibility: As far as bike parking (while I drive a car in California) goes, I've been looking at maps and as I wish to visit the Bonneville Salt Flats, Salt Lake City UT also looks promising as a bike parking location. Can anyone in SLC help me out there?
For my so-called "liaison" route from Oregon to the north of the CDT, the Oregon Discover Trail connecting to the Lolo Motorway has been suggested to me. I like that idea.
cheers
Chris
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23 May 2010
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It may seem like a silly question, but how technical are the TAT and CDT? From the pictures in RRs I've looked at, things seem pretty smooth. I can ride pretty much anything, but am asking ref sprocket combinations.
Here in England for trail riding (small tank, no luggage, just out for the day, I use the standard DRZe 14/47 ratio (lots of mud, sometimes technical single track/no track). DRZs models run as standard 15/44. In Morocco (hard packed and sand) I have run 14/45 (but would have preferred 14/47 at times in the sand). On my trip to Baja ( Baja California TBSdotCom) I ran 14/47 for the dirt/sand heading south and put on a 15 tooth front sprocket for the road ride from Cabo to LA.
How frequent are technical sections and how long are they?
Thanks
Chris
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23 May 2010
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Moab!
Chris.....a couple of thoughts...given that you expect to be in Utah, I would suggest you add a ride around the Slickrock Trail in Moab. Its a classic mountain biking route (12 miles) but was originally used by motorcyclists and the DRZ would be perfect. It will be hot in July which will keep many cyclists away. Also lots of other routes and trails in the Moab area (Porcupine Rim, White Rim). Completely different from anything in Blighty.
Also, in Idaho, consider the Magruder Corridor trail. Crosses the largest wilderness area in the states. Is west of the CD Trail but would give you a side option that you could link into the Lolo Pass route. (e.g. CD Trail to Missoula, over Lolo, across Magruder and cross country back onto the CD near Wise River) Here's a link to a map of the Magruder route MOTOWHERE?
Also, you might consider aiming for and leaving the bike in, Portland, before flying to SF. Would allow riding through the Columbia Gorge and up along northern Washington into BC near, say, Grand Forks, with Nakusp then about 1-2 hours north. Then a little highway riding into Kaslo, a stop at Ainsworth Hot Springs and across the ferry (free) to Crawford Bay and onto the Grey Creek Pass route into Kimberley would then set you up for Roosville and the start of the CD trail heading south. I took a week to ride from Roosville to southern Colorado using the CD. Here's a few pics from that trip.
Good luck with your further planning. You'd be welcome here (Red Deer) but it's probably too far off route given your schedule. Maybe see you in Nakusp.
Stephen
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24 May 2010
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Since your vague map shows you ending the CDT portion near Glacier Nat'l Park, be sure to set aside a couple of days for that. No trail riding there, but definitely worth a little hike.
Would also suggest posting in advrider.com under the regional forums to hook up with some locals that might go along on short sections of your long route.
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24 May 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by STG06
Chris.....a couple of thoughts...given that you expect to be in Utah, I would suggest you add a ride around the Slickrock Trail in Moab. Its a classic mountain biking route (12 miles) but was originally used by motorcyclists and the DRZ would be perfect. It will be hot in July which will keep many cyclists away. Also lots of other routes and trails in the Moab area (Porcupine Rim, White Rim). Completely different from anything in Blighty.
Also, in Idaho, consider the Magruder Corridor trail. Crosses the largest wilderness area in the states. Is west of the CD Trail but would give you a side option that you could link into the Lolo Pass route. (e.g. CD Trail to Missoula, over Lolo, across Magruder and cross country back onto the CD near Wise River) Here's a link to a map of the Magruder route MOTOWHERE?
Also, you might consider aiming for and leaving the bike in, Portland, before flying to SF. Would allow riding through the Columbia Gorge and up along northern Washington into BC near, say, Grand Forks, with Nakusp then about 1-2 hours north. Then a little highway riding into Kaslo, a stop at Ainsworth Hot Springs and across the ferry (free) to Crawford Bay and onto the Grey Creek Pass route into Kimberley would then set you up for Roosville and the start of the CD trail heading south. I took a week to ride from Roosville to southern Colorado using the CD. Here's a few pics from that trip.
Good luck with your further planning. You'd be welcome here (Red Deer) but it's probably too far off route given your schedule. Maybe see you in Nakusp.
Stephen |
Hi Stephen
Many thanks for your detailed information. The more I research, the more I find that there are so many options.
If I'm honest, Nakusp is likely to be that bit too far on this trip in the time I have. I've got my heart set on the TAT and the CDT. Bonneville might also be for another trip. I would have loved to spend the whole time just riding, but I have to spend time with the wife too... 
The Magruder and Lolo in Idaho routes look good as does the Slickrock in Utah (also the White Rim). Connecting Oregon via the Oregon Discovery Trail to the Lolo and Montana is probably what I'll do.
Your pictures look great.
All the Best
Chris
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24 May 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thermal
Since your vague map shows you ending the CDT portion near Glacier Nat'l Park, be sure to set aside a couple of days for that. No trail riding there, but definitely worth a little hike.
Would also suggest posting in advrider.com under the regional forums to hook up with some locals that might go along on short sections of your long route.
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Hi Thermal
Many thanks for your input. As mentioned above, I'm spoilt for choice. I've already posted on advrider and have received a lot of helpful comments.
cheers
Chris
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25 May 2010
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Chris
Have secure parking available in SW Washington if that would work. Also a shop to work on moto and camp site. Could fly out of and back into Portland. Sounds like a great ride.
Bob
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4 Jun 2010
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Hi Bob
Many thanks for your kind offer. I really appreciate it. I think Wanshington is likely to be a bit too far considering my time constraints.
cheers
Chris
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4 Jun 2010
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Many thanks again to all who have replied to my posts ref my TAT/CDT trip. In addition to what you can read here, I’ve also received some very helpful PMs. Thanks guys!
The first part of my trip between 11th and 23rd July is causing me most thought. After ploughing over maps and talking to people I’m going to try to get as far along the TAT as possible. I will ride as quickly as I can on pavement from Phoenix, AZ to Salida, CO (2 days) and then join the TAT heading west/northwest. In these 9 days I hope to reach Medford, OR or possibly even the Pacific Ocean. My early bailout option is SLC, UT (I’ve had 2 wonderful offers for parking here. Thank you!).
It all depends on how quickly I can leave Pheonix,AZ and my daily riding average on the TAT.
I’ve contacted an ADVrider inmate about possible parking in Gold Beach, OR (and then flying from Crescent City, CA), but would also like to have the option of Medford, OR.
So, does anyone know where I can park my (v small, easily fits in a corner of the yard/garage… ) close to Medford, OR for 2 and a bit weeks between the 23rd of July and 9th August, so I can fly to SFO and back from LAX for the “Mid adventure mandatory keep the wife happy” vacation?
All leads highly appreciated!
Ride safely,
Chris
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20 Jun 2010
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The Plan (until it changes again... I hope not)
Many thanks to all who have commented in this public forum or PMed/emailed me with route suggestions and kind offers of bike parking or allowing me to camp in your yard or sleep on your couch/in your guest room. Below is what I intend to do. It’s not entirely set in stone, but more like in slightly soggy cement/semi solid molten lava...
I will try to hook up with as many people as I can, but I’m sure you appreciate, I’ll struggle to deviate too much from my route and need to keep my daily mileage up, particularly on the CDT. You’ll be able to work out when I’m likely to be in the area.
You won’t need telling that the colours represent the following:
Green: CDT
Purple: western TAT
Light blue: ODT
Yellow: Lolo
Dark Blue: Magruder
I’m intending on doing the loop anticlockwise. Riding buddies for some of it/ for a day very welcome.
Timings:
Sun 11th July: Arrive Phoenix, AZ from England and do final tweaks on bike
13 July: Head East and meet Continental Divide Trail at Pie Town, NM (I like the name)
14 July to 23 July: Ride north on the CDT, possibly with side trip on Maguder
Fri 23rd July: Park bike in Missoula, MT and fly to SFO, CA
Vacation with family in SoCal
Mon 9th August: Fly LAX back to Missoula, MT
9 Aug to 27 Aug: Head south west connecting Lolo Motorway with Oregon Discovery Trail to where it meets the TAT, west to the Pacific and double back and ride the TAT south east to Silverton, CO
27 to 29 August: Attend Horizonsunlimited Colorado meeting at Silverton, CO
29 Aug to 02 September: Ride Silverton to Phoenix, AZ
Fri September 03: depart Phoenix, AZ back to England
See you on the road,
Chris
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