Hi All, I am heading to the US for my first experience in riding out of New Zealand.
The only plans I have is to arrive San Francisco about 19 December, travel through Death Valley to Las Vegas then wander down to New Orleans to fly out around January 8th.
I would like to hear if this is still possible in the US winter (email from bike hire simply said "stick to the coast")
Also any info on MUST SEE places and major sporting events, roads to travel (or not) in these areas around this time.
This will be a solo ride and will be my first experience in riding on the "wrong side" of the road, so all tips and advise will be helpful.
cheers RustyG

It can be done if it dose not snow in the pass and where you go. It will be a bit cool then and the wind chill and bring down the temps even more.
worst case the pass will be closed and you can go down to Mexico and over from there. The pass can be under feet of snow on one day and in 2 days be dry.
Roads to ride will depend on weather and where you are going. The coast most like 1 and 101 but it will rain. Riding back east you may want to ride south a bit on 1 then over to LV you can pick up old 66 for a bit some people like that road. I do not care for "Interstate" roads but to get some miles down not much beat them there the first roads to be cleared. But you are going in a bad time of year for most things many shops will be closed for the year. As far as games there is American Football. not much in the way of major sporting events that I can think of.

If it to bad to ride you can rent a car and use that it may not be the same but much nicer in the snow a 4x4 jeep will be gust the thing.

Thanks for the advise. I don't mind a bit of cold or wet but not keen on riding in snow or ice. Apart from the "pass" (I presume over into Death Valley) is the trip feasable or would you recommend a change of destination altogether. My plans are very flexable at this stage except the time frame. Cheers R

Mountain pass to much snow and they close them you will be going over 2 sets. The Sierra Nevadas in California. Most of that can ridden around more or less by going south near LA then north east to death valley. Then there is the Rocky Mountains bigger colder some of the pass are vary high you may need to stay south and ride New Mexico to get around that but you can still get snow along that whole way. You will have to vary flexible for the whole ride, one storm can change all your plans in a day. You can do the ride but there may be few things that pop up that you need to look out for and even if dose snow you can hire a small pick up moving truck (ute to you I think) for one way and get around many problems that way.

If it looks like the southern pass are to nasty there is Baja Mexico You may hire a new bike in Mexico.

I would like to add that winter storms often follow nearly the same path that you are proposing to take. They spread through Oklahoma and head east. They can be particularly bad with lots of snow. It can get quite cold also, below zero sometimes.

Make sure you have heated clothing as you will need it. It can be done, but timing is the issue. And you never know when a storm will brew, closing not only mountain passes, but many other roads, even sometimes the major interstates.

Now that you have the bad news, here's some good. Many of us ride year round. So don't think it cannot be done. And when you go, let us know so we can offer help should you need a place to stay or whatever. I'm in Central Illinois, so I don't know that you'll be coming this far north. But if you do, let me know.

First, learn to use Fahrenheit so that you can correctly interpret posts like the one above. "Below zero (F)" translates to "below minus 17 (C)."

Second, your will be staying overnight indoors--hotels, maybe a few hostels, people's living room couches. Every night, watch the Weather Channel. Then arrange your schedule and route to avoid the bad weather. And be sure to leave enough time to do so--you might have to hole up for a few days while a storm blows through.

Third, you need a way to stay warm while riding. Also dry, since wet equals cold....and cold equals stupidly unsafe on a bike. I don't use heated gear, but most people who ride during winter seem to do so. I use a lot of clothes and a few specialty items (overboots, Moose Mitts, stocking hats that fit under my helmet, windproof neck gaiters, etc.).

You might luck out and get fine weather. It does happen. You might also run short of luck and get pure misery. But I've been on a loaded bike on unfamiliar roads with bad tires in snow, and I've survived it. Probably so will you.

Of course, any half-sensible person would rent a car instead.

Hope that helps.

Mark

PS: and about riding on the wrong side of the road--it's not so difficult, really. I've driven cars and bikes on your side and survived this, too. The danger is that in panic situations you'll either revert or freeze. It's a good idea to practice visualization exercises of your own devising so that part of your brain, at least, knows what to do. But I find it scarier walking in places where they drive on the wrong side than I do driving. As a pedestrian in London, for example, I'm constantly terrified, while riding a bike in Guyana or driving a car in Zimbabwe cities is fairly straightforward.

Sounds like a good plan. Weather should not be to bad especially in the south. Good riding suit or trousers/jacket waterproofing and heavy gloves (snowmobile gloves will keep your hands warm) and you are good to go. The weather could be 70's or 40's so prepare.
Riding on the wrong side of the road can be a problem on small 2 lanes with no traffic, in Scotland I found myself drifting into the oncoming lane, put some masking tape on tank with arrow on end pointing to right and stay that way, it helped me. The daylight will be shortened and it will get dark really early so plan accordingly. Cold fronts should pass rather rapidly and getting a few hundred miles behind one will be fair skies but chilly. Have fun, sounds like a good trip.

thanks team , all good info, much appreciated

I've ridden quite a bit in the UK, Thailand and some other "Sui-cide" of the road countries. I did fine in Thailand but in the UK, after being at the Pub I did pull out onto the wrong side a few times. UK drivers are so good, I never had a close call. In the US this would NOT be good. Very dozy drivers. So THINK about it every time you pull out .... SUI - SIDE!
That is how I remembered to drive on the "Wrong Side" of the road!

My riding group ride from N. California to Death Valley at least twice a year. Been doing this for over 20 years. There are lots of scenic routes we take that are Winter friendly. But they vary depending on weather at the time and depending on which passes are open. Getting over there is normally never an issue ... and on good roads, not all interstates. You can most always come through Bakersfield onto Highway 58 and down to Mojave, then U turn North up to Death Valley by way of Ridgecrest. A great ride. PM me if you'd like a specific route down.

From D.V. You'd want to drop down to I-10. The most Southerly Interstate. (Interstate Highway) which will take you all the way to Louisiana. Parts of Arizona and Texas should be fine but colder storms do happen once in a while and in AZ you will cross over a few low mountain ranges. (5 or 6000 ft.) You could do some exploring off the Interstate if weather is good, it usually is down there. Arizona is great. Texas will take you about two days to cross. It pretty much blows. Flat, featureless. "Nah-lens" (New Orleans) is fascinating and fun, but I haven't been since Katrina. Another world from California.

I would spend a couple days getting down to Death Valley ... some of the best roads in the USA are right in that area ... and a day or two in the Valley seeing the sites. (Guide Book)
After that, unless you get off the main highway to explore .... its a long and boring ride on I-10 to New Orleans. As suggested, keep an eye on the weather, plan accordingly.

Have fun!

If you stay low-under 3000 feet- and south, you will miss most of the bad weather. Snow starts to be likely by 5000 feet-Flagstaff, Tucumcari. Less likely El Paso. Amarillo and Dallas have ice stoms, San Antino and Houston get rain. If you go to El Paso you can go the Rio Grande Valley up to Albuquerque and be dry most of the way. You can go to some Indian pueblos and buy direct from the Indians-Silver goods, pottery, rugs. In Louisiana try to see a festival. Have a good trip. Eric

If you stay low-under 3000 feet- and south, you will miss most of the bad weather. Snow starts to be likely by 5000 feet-Flagstaff, Tucumcari. Less likely El Paso. Amarillo and Dallas have ice stoms, San Antino and Houston get rain. If you go to El Paso you can go the Rio Grande Valley and be dry most of the way. Have a good trip. Eric

Just a quick mention, I've spent quite a bit of time interstate driving in the U.S. and, even when on 4 wheels, I felt uneasy driving at night due to the numbers of BIG animals that result in road kill over there. The amount of body part debris and blood spill was worrying, coming from sedate old UK, and I reckon that on two wheels I would be part of the mess!! Be in the hotel/motel before it gets dark.

Thanks again all , still very keen to do the trip his way around and as there will not any urgency to get from one place to another, I guess I can work around the weather.
Still learning to navigate this site, seems I'm not elligable to "PM" yet 'MickyD' but am keen to follow up with your offer when I pass approval from the powers that be .
cheers Russ

Ah, yes, rules. I think elements of the Taliban are running this site. (careful, whisper)don't want to offend the advertisers or put anyone off to this reader's digest version of world travel.

Here is just one of many routes you could take, and one that should be good for December. Before you leave San Francisco, I'd do a day playing tourist. Cross the Golden Gate (careful on the bridge). In San Fran, maybe see a bit of North Beach and China town. (do this all on foot)

Here is a basic route (that almost NO ONE knows!)

Google Maps

From San Francisco take highway 280 South (Not 101) Easy to find from nearly anywhere in the City.
Go about five miles SOUTH to the Pacifica / Highway One Exit. This will drop you over to the coast. Should be nice weather (no fog) in Winter if not raining.

Follow Highway One all the way to Santa Cruz. Stop at various Surf spots or Ano Nuevo if you like Elephant Seals. Notice the Redwood forests to your left. Take any road inland to get into Redwood groves. In Santa Cruz gas up, pee, coffee.

Google Maps

Google Maps

Continue on Highway One South to 129 Exit. Go EAST on 129 (Riverside Road) towards Highway 101. GO South on 101 a very short distance to 156
(Hollister) Go EAST to Hollister on 156. Gas up again in Hollister ... next gas is about 150 miles.

Take Highway 25 South out of Hollister. (main road South out of town)
Take 25 South to 198. On 198, go WEST so San Lucas. Gas Up. Cross highway 101 and continue WEST on Oasis road. Should only be one main road. Go WEST towards Jolon or Fort Hunter-Liggett. Should be signed.

To enter the Army base you'll need ID (passport OK) insurance proof and bike registration. No big deal. DO NOT speed on the base. Follow the main roads WEST to Nacimiento-Fergusson rd. Ask the guard. Fabulous twisty road that goes all the way down to Highway One near Big Sur. Check your maps.

Google Maps

Once back onto Highway One you could visit Hearst Castle at San Simeon. Spectacular opulence. Worth a visit, IMO. After that, start looking for a place to stay for the night. We like The Sea Crest in Pismo Beach. Not cheap but pretty nice.

more later ......

great stuff, this is exactly the type of tips I'm looking for
Google has been getting a bit of work over the past couple of months , but its the "To Do" along the track as well as those Special roads only the locals know about , that I'm interested to hear about
Thanks Heeeeeeeps Russ