Ride Registry
RIDE DETAIL
TRANSAMERICA WEST TO EAST -- Portland, OR to Yorktown, VA, June, 1985|
Total Miles: 4600
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Load: Panniers
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Rider: Kenneth Martin; 20 years old, Student, Member United States Email
Summary: A great, Bikecentennial (Adventure Cycling) led, West to East TransAmerica Trail trip during the summer of 1985.; Commercial Trip
How did ACA Help? The trip was organized and lead by a wonderful Bikecenntenial tour leader. I think it was also the first year of the waterproof maps, which are great!
Health Issues: No health issues except food poisoning or stomach flu one night. It was no fun riding the next day. I did have to hitch a ride for part of the day with my folks who were following us across Missouri with their Volkswagen Camper.
Motivation: As a kid, I read about Greg and June Siple and Dan and Lys Burden's trip from Argentina to Alaska. The idea of traveling by bicycle really appealed to me. Then I met a Bikecentennial group at a local Blacksburg, VA restaurant and they highly recommended signing up for a trip. So I did!
Most Challenging Aspect:I can't think of anything that was challenging. I was 20 years old. The trip fit perfectly within my summer break from college. I took the train to Portland, which was great. The biggest challenge was probably ending the trip and going back to school!
Favorite Experience: It was a great way for me to see the western half of the US. It took us 22 of the 90 days to just get through Oregon. It was a great way to see the country. I loved the very long downhill sections out West. Being in Virginia City, MT during a Barbershop Quartet Convention was a blast!
Least Favorite: Early on I broke 5 spokes on my rear wheel. They were a pain to fix because they were always on the freewheel side. My only flat tire was caused by me replacing a spoke. Eventually the spokes stopped breaking and I had no mechanical problems after that.
Tips: Go with the flow. Be flexible and don't worry if things don't go as planned, because they won't. That's part of the adventure! I highly recommend going with an Adventure Cycling tour group. Our group was great!
Date Entered: Aug, 2022
Photo by Dennis Coello
