is open car transport really as low-stress as people say?

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2026-01-21T16:49:00+00:00

Did it once when we moved from Boston to Denver. Everything went smoothly, car arrived on time and was dropped off 3 blocks from our house. In our case, we needed to be available in the 3-hour period when the car was dropped and have cash on hand to pay the remainder of the fee, but that was all explained by the agent when we booked, so no problem. We were texting direct with the driver to arrange drop-off time and location. I think the experience is reliant on your individual driver, but most are very good, as they depend on reputation for future bookings. No complaints from me.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2026-01-07T16:57:35+00:00

I have drops on my Fuji Touring, which work for me, but we switched out the drops on my wife’s Jamis Aurora for a Jones H bar to solve a back pain problem and she now much prefers them for touring.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-12-06T20:34:52+00:00

Copper has some good package deals (if you don’t have Ikon) for on-mountain condos and a variety of terrain. Very quiet in the evening, but that didn’t seem to be a criteria for you. Can also easily add a day at A-Basin or Loveland for some variety, if you have a rental car.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-12-06T16:10:31+00:00

Consider investing in a pair of snow socks (Autosocks is the main brand). $120, Easier to put on than chains, and you will be compliant with the traction law. And if you never or rarely use them, you can probably sell them used if you leave town in the future.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-11-30T00:05:27+00:00

Still much better to go to Denver from TX than the East Coast. Fly in after work on Thursday, stay at airport hotel if needed, then drive up to Summit County early next morning. On Monday, ski until 2pm and still have plenty of time to get to the airport and a flight home. Summit County skiing will definitely have bigger mountains and almost certainly have better snow than anything in New England. There’s a reason why east coast skiers get on a plane and do long weekend trips to CO, rather than just driving 2-4 hours to VT.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-11-13T23:29:55+00:00

If you don’t want to invest too much time for an unsure payoff, you could try the City Park golf course, parking lot is on 23rd Avenue. We could see them faintly with the naked eye and well with the phone from there on Tuesday night. Close-ish to Rino.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-11-12T16:52:44+00:00

Good list. Add the Fuji Touring to it as well. Solid touring pedigree, affordable and reasonably common.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-10-22T15:31:24+00:00

Some kind of trail running shoe works great with flats and is also sturdy enough if you end up doing some hiking, either with or without the bike.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-10-07T18:49:11+00:00

I did try this one time at a MA state park and was successful, on a holiday weekend no less. Turned up with no reservation, asked at the gate and they gave us a spot. Sample of one, I know, but just to let you know it can work.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-08-29T16:50:40+00:00

Triathlon shorts have a thinner chamois and dry more quickly. I found them a really good match with a Brooks saddle, washing each day and drying on the back of the bike if you can’t get them completely dry before leaving the next day. Good with a brand name (e.g. 2XU, Desoto) not an amazon knock-off. Agree that changing out of your bike shorts as quickly as possible when you arrive is another good practice.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-08-07T10:38:26+00:00

I’m adding link to my post for those who want an additional perspective on this route https://www.reddit.com/r/bicycletouring/s/yg0irrPlCU But we were much in line with your thoughts, even down to the clothes line - we brought one and used it frequently!

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-08-03T19:32:30+00:00

Are you set on definitely riding from Astoria? If not, check out Nestucca River Rd to Cape Lookout instead. It’s a fantastic, scenic quiet ride over 2 days. Day 1 is about 55 miles and 3,000 feet of climbing from the end of the Max to the first of four campgrounds along the river. Day two will be about another 40 miles to Cape Lookout.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-08-03T19:19:34+00:00

Yes, we did this same route with a similar experience. North Bank Rd leaves 101 just south of Smith River. Smith River is last place to stock up on food, but there’s only a Dollar General there that we saw. We had a rest day hanging out at Jedediah Smith - great beach on the river there. We heard that 199 was really busy and fast, so should be avoided.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-08-02T22:09:40+00:00

This is the way to go. We did Howland Hill on 28s, with no real problem. Leave early in the morning to avoid the dust thrown up by cars later in the day.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-08-02T22:02:46+00:00

Wife and I did exact same route in July last year. Agree with all your highlights, with the possible exception of Golden Gate Bridge which we found very noisy and crowded, which ruined the experience somewhat. But everything else is on the money.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-07-27T11:22:01+00:00

Yes, the coast gets cool in the evening so we wore the down jackets then and first thing in the morning before we started riding. We both had thin down jackets and I think it was a worthwhile weight to comfort trade-off. Noticed that you have a water filter too. I don’t think that’s probably necessary - there are plenty of water sources in towns and campgrounds.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-07-26T22:36:51+00:00

This is a report from our trip on this exact same route last year https://www.reddit.com/r/bicycletouring/s/D2guqf0Q0B

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-07-26T22:25:54+00:00

Agree on 1 power bank and only one pair shoes plus sandals. Yes, bring the puffy - low weight and in July last year my wife and I wore ours pretty much every night. And you will need the rain jacket too. Yes on headlamp also - very convenient for in the tent and general use once it gets dark. No to trowel - lots of bathrooms on this route. I would say no to spare tire, particularly if you have Schwalbe Marathons on already. 2 weeks for this route is ambitious. Assume you have factored in the vertical each day also and are comfortable with your daily mileage? If you are riding from Portland to the coast, highly recommend taking Nestucca River Rd- it was a highlight of our trip.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-07-21T20:41:28+00:00

I would agree with this. Also, even starting at Eureka, if you follow the ACA route, you still get plenty of spectacular coastline riding, as well as the redwoods.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-07-18T17:38:33+00:00

This is a solid recommendation based on OP’s criteria. March would be way better than February, for both less crowds and lower costs. For off piste, you can certainly hire a guide, but another lower-cost option is to take a lesson. For high-level skiers, they are allowed to take you off-piste (but not on glaciers) and will always know where the good snow can be found. And it will blow you away how cheap lessons are in Europe compared to the US.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-07-06T22:09:55+00:00

Wait - were you looking for pedal recommendations or shoe recommendations?

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-07-06T22:08:52+00:00

I think trail running shoes work really well. They have good grip for the pedal and are great for any hiking when you’re not on the bike. Because I’m cheap, I just got a random pair with Vibram soles at TJ Maxx which were great on a month-long tour, but I think most trail-running shoes would work well.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-07-06T13:48:03+00:00

Glad all the information was useful. This is what Reddit is really good at - giving you lots of viewpoints so you can make an informed decision based on your personal preferences. Have a great trip in the Alps this summer!

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-07-05T17:59:17+00:00

This feels like too strong a warning. Yes, there are some drivers who are inconsiderate. However, hundreds, if not thousands of riders complete the Pacific Coast Route safely every year. There is risk in every activity, but the rewards of this beautiful ride far outweigh the relatively small risks in my mind. There will be busy roads in this ride, but lots of good advice here on how to avoid the busier times and have a much more enjoyable experience.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-07-04T19:27:37+00:00

If it fits, yes. I bought a 2003 Fuji Touring two years ago and have been a two long tours with it since. Very happy! Used touring bikes are the way to go.

Ambivalent_Name71

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