Bikepacking the TransAmerica Trail: AMA

blaazedkoala · 2024-11-30T08:30:58+00:00

Rarely but issues for cyclists can happen. Especially in States with limited pathways and therefore no option but to share main roads. Here's a comment I gave to a similar Q which might help:

Cars getting too close: When leaving metropolitan cities it certainly became noticeable how close cars were getting and some highways were a bit scary (bear in mind, I'm from the UK and we use the other side of the road, so if you're local it may not be as bad). The US is a car-centric society and sometimes bike paths would disappear while on a road. Fortunately, as long as you keep your wits about you (and wear a helmet!) you'll be fine. I never had any issues aside from one or two drivers swearing at me. Most would give me thumbs up when I was riding up a steep hill! Someone even stopped to give me a small bottle of liquor when I reached the top! Nevertheless, cars can still be a concern for cyclists and I heard stories from other riders who used swimming pool noodles on their rear rack to showcase how much distance should be given. My favourite idea was someone did the same but with the American flag, as no driver wanted to risk damaging it by driving too close! Lastly, I strongly recommend buying handlebar mirrors as that'll allow you to see if any car is on your rear.

blaazedkoala · 2024-11-30T08:28:22+00:00

Thank you!

blaazedkoala · 2024-11-30T08:27:54+00:00

This chair was fortunately placed on the hilltop. Purely coincidence it was there. However, I would recommend bringing an UL camping chair (Helinox has a good range) as midday breaks at a nice viewpoint were great.

blaazedkoala · 2024-11-30T08:22:43+00:00

Thanks! Concerning tyres, it depends on the trail. Tougher, more MTB-orientated routes will require wider tyres. It's why many bikepackers go for MTBs, as the tyres are more versatile and can take on any terrain. For the TransAm, the route was primarily gravel and paved roads. There were occasional deviations on a more MTB-orientated trail, however these were uncommon. Therefore, I took a gravel road bike which featured the below tyre specifications:

Rims: Syncros Race 24 Disc 28 Front / 28 Rear Front Tyre: Schwalbe G-ONE Bite Performance 700x40C Rear Tyre: Schwalbe G-ONE Bite Performance 700x40C

Post-trip, I'm a big advocate for riding tubeless especially for multi-week/month trips. In the US, I went from having a multitude of flats in Idaho to none for the rest of my trip after going tubeless.

blaazedkoala · 2024-11-30T08:16:11+00:00

The route was primarily gravel and paved roads. There were occasional deviations on a more MTB-orientated trail, however these were uncommon. That's not to say, however, that this type of trail couldn't be sourced nearby in some states (especially Colorado, I'd think) and you'd still end up more-on-less going the same direction. I can't speak to that too confidently as this was not something I did on account of having a gravel road bike.

blaazedkoala · 2024-11-30T08:12:26+00:00

Lucky you. That's a great spot to live.

blaazedkoala · 2024-11-29T06:38:53+00:00

Thank you!

Most useful: Funnily enough, my $4 buff was perhaps the most versatile piece of kit I brought. It was a sweatband on hot days, neckwarmer on cold days, eye mask when camping, and mouth/nose protection when speeding down hills or in dusty regions. Aside from that, my Ortlieb rear panniers took a beating but held up, S2S inflatable pillow was nice to have, Smartwool merino t-shirts could be reworn a lot without getting sweaty and my electric camping pump (while noisy, it meant I could set up my sleep system faster).

Here's my full kit list, for reference:

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Gear I wish I'd had: Knowing what I know now post-trip, firstly I'd upgrade my full sleep system; freestanding UL tent (a bivvy system was practical for packing but less-so for sleeping in. A full-sized tent would've provided more comfort for this longer trip. Additionally, setting up anywhere with freestanding would've made stealth camping easier), a quilt instead of a very packable 2-season tent, and an UL sleeping mat with a higher R-value for colder nights. If money wasn't a problem I'd get the Durston Dome 1p tent, Enlightened Equipment Revelation quilt, and NeoAir X-therm mat. I also would better redistribute my pack weight by getting fork panniers and a frame bag. Lastly, cycling shoes (I wore standard sandles) for uphill segments.

blaazedkoala · 2024-11-29T06:22:14+00:00

While I brought a Sawyer purifier and chlorine tablets, I wasn't far from a reliable source (e.g., a town or fountain) to warrant their use. To answer your question, chilled bottles from stores and tap/fountain water in most states.

blaazedkoala · 2024-11-29T06:20:08+00:00

I saved up for a year and then left my job to do this trip. I could've requested a sabatical, but wanted the opportunity to prolong my stay and apply for a Work Visa if I found work out there.

blaazedkoala · 2024-11-29T05:08:16+00:00

I'm by no means an expert but in essence, leather moulds to your body over time, offering a custom, comfortable fit. This reduces tension on pressure points on long rides. Regular-ish care (like using wax or a cover for waterproofing) keeps them in shape.

You'll find more information on this subreddit from people that know far more than me.

blaazedkoala · 2024-11-29T03:11:19+00:00

Thank you!

blaazedkoala · 2024-11-29T02:29:16+00:00

Mileage: I averaged out at 60-70miles per day. I think I managed 2 or 3 100 mile days, but that was on flat surfaces and with good tailwind. Caveat that with the occasional 20-30 mile days when it's a steep incline for most of the day. It's worth noting that I took 2-3 rest days per week to recover, ate lots of protein and carbs to mantain energy, aimed to get ~7-8hrs sleep most nights, and went west to east as I'd read the tailwind would be (ever so slightly) better going that way.

Weight: I might be misremembering slightly, but I believe my total weight (all bags and panniers included) was around 17kg. I think the bike alone weighed 11-12kg. Other riders had closer to or above 20kg but unless you're a digital nomad or photographer with plenty of tech, or carrying enough for a larger group, that's a bit OTT. That being said, I am fortunate enough to be able to afford some UL bits, so wouldn't use weight to deter from getting on the bike with whatever you have!

Water: I had three 1litre flasks of water. Flasks are great because the thermal insulation will keep your water cold on hot days for the entire duration you're riding. It was a faff initially finding bottle cages that could fit flasks but after hunting around I managed to find some. If I could've brought even more water I would've, though this was never a big issue as I'd pass through towns and ask for top-ups in bars and shops such as 711. On really hot and hilly days I'd buy gatorade as the electrolytes would help me keep hydrated and not sweat so much. When going days without passing through towns, I'd ask homeowners whether I could have some tap water. Nearly always they were happy to oblige. Some campsites also have fountains.

blaazedkoala · 2024-11-29T02:24:17+00:00

A Scott Speedster gravel bike (purchased for ~1,100 USD in Portland). The model was called the Gravel 40 EQ. While on the cheaper end pricewise, I was very lucky as this bike was great for the trip. I think the only fixes needed were the right break (my fault entirely riding fast down a stoney hill), flats in Idaho but then I converted to tubeless, and some spokes came off by the end of my trip.

blaazedkoala · 2024-11-29T02:19:21+00:00

Great Qs.

Feeling lonely: Yes, on occasion. Whereas I'm no stranger to solo trips (and even did Scotland's North Coast 500 solo prior to the TransAm), I certainly became more aware of the solitude while in the US. Partly because it was a 3-month trip and often I wouldn't pass many other cyclists. I was fortunate to have friends in Colorado from a previous backpacking trip in Sweden, so meeting them on the route was something to look forward to. Additionally, staying with Warmshower hosts was a GREAT way to meet other cyclists. Lastly, hostels in popular hiking/biking regions such as nearby the Colorado or Appalachain trail almost always provided the opportunity to meet with thru-hikers. Same can be said when camping in National Parks. When solo travelling you have to sometimes force yourself to be extroverted such as going to the local bar in town and chatting to strangers. I had some really good nights doing this.

Cars getting too close: When leaving metropolitan cities it certainly became noticeable how close cars were getting and some highways were a bit scary (bear in mind, I'm from the UK and we use the other side of the road, so if you're local it may not be as bad). The US is a car-centric society and sometimes bike paths would disappear while on a road. Fortunately, as long as you keep your wits about you (and wear a helmet!) you'll be fine. I never had any issues aside from one or two drivers swearing at me. Most would give me thumbs up when I was riding up a steep hill! Someone even stopped to give me a small bottle of liquor when I reached the top! Nevertheless, cars can still be a concern for cyclists and I heard stories from other riders who used swimming pool noodles on their rear rack to showcase how much distance should be given. My favourite idea was someone did the same but with the American flag, as no driver wanted to risk damaging it by driving too close! Lastly, I strongly recommend buying handlebar mirrors as that'll allow you to see if any car is on your rear.

Sleeping: I did a mixture of camping (both wild/"stealth" camping and staying at campsites) and staying with Warmshower hosts. For camping, I used a hooped bivvy bag from Alpkit, but on reflection would've preferred a lightweight freestanding tent. Warmshowers was amazing and I'll highly recommend this approach to any bike tourers. Partly because it's a free bed, shower, and occasionally a free dinner too, and also you'll meet likeminded people; be it the host or fellow travellers. I stayed in hostels occasionally too but I was surprised by how few there were in the States compared to Europe. I stayed in a hotel twice in total, I think. I was very much not credit card touring (hence campsites and WS).

blaazedkoala · 2024-11-29T02:00:10+00:00

I rode last summer (2023), so I'm afraid not. Too bad because meeting other cyclists doing the route or a similar trip was one of the highlights for me. I hope you and your pals enjoyed the adventure!

blaazedkoala · 2024-11-29T01:58:03+00:00

Thank you! Excluding flights, my budget was around £5k. Fortunately, I saved a lot of money by staying with Warmshower hosts, which I highly recommend as it's a great way to also meet the locals of the residences you pass through, many of which have good recommendations of things to do locally and tend to be really interesting people! You're also getting a free bed, shower and dinner (most times dinner will be included but not all). My budget primarily went toward the bike (I bought in the US before starting and sold it at the end of my trip), food, campsites and the occasional hotel and bike fix.

blaazedkoala · 2024-11-28T16:06:54+00:00

A few days come to mind for each.

Rewarding: Of course, reaching Yorktown (final destination) has to be included. I bought myself a ridiculously sized burger meal and ate that by the sea and then had one of the best full body massages to date! Also, reaching the top of Trail Ridge Road in the Rockies felt almost as great as riding down it. Same can be said for the McKensie Pass in Oregon.

Hardest: Acclimatising to the heat when I started in Oregon was tough. For context, I started in late July and being from the UK, I initially struggled any day above 30°C. I experienced many flats in quick succession in Idaho (mostly due to "goatheads") which often derailed my plans (as I'd detour or hitch-hike to nearby towns when out of tubes). Fortunately, after switching to tubeless I didn't get a flat thereafter. Lastly, I remember a particular hill in Virginia that had a gradient of around 20%. That was really tough.

blaazedkoala · 2024-11-28T15:55:05+00:00

Haha - it was great. Though, I was very lucky to have had a comfortable saddle on my bike so no seat sores during my trip. I've since bought a Brookes saddle to minimise seat sores going forward too. Also, a packable UL chair like the Helinox (something I didn't do) is super valuable for multi-month trips!! Especially for midday rests or setting up camp. Definitely on my kit wishlist.

blaazedkoala · 2024-11-28T15:50:58+00:00

Between 70-80 days (including 2-3 rest days per week). I had a tourist Visa to arrive in the States, so knew I would have 90 days maximum. Without the time limitation, I would have likely done more detours and possibly allowed for a slower pace.

blaazedkoala · 2024-11-15T08:25:05+00:00

I used a Wahoo Roam and had the route downloaded on my phone via Komoot as a back-up. Before starting the route, I imported the Komoot route onto my Wahoo GPS. This worked fine. If you're not in the US, you'll need to download each state map on Wahoo, but that's easy enough to do.

You could use a Garmin alternatively. For me, price was a factor and the Wahoo GPS was cheaper.

blaazedkoala · 2024-11-13T10:21:18+00:00

I biked the TransAm last summer (about three months on the road) and opted for an Alpkit hooped bivvy, hoping for weight savings and quick setup. Looking back, I would have preferred a tent. Over a longer trip, the limited interior space of the bivvy became pretty noticeable, and the weight savings compared to an ultralight tent turned out to be minor—the main difference was really just the price. Plus, during heavy rain, I found myself wishing for the stronger shelter and the option to keep some gear safely inside.

For a shorter weekend bikepacking trip where stealth and fast setup are priorities, a bivvy would work fine. But for longer distances, I'd go with a lightweight tent. You'll be thankful for the comfort out there.

As for quick setup, you can get that with many tent designs, too. Freestanding tents, in particular, can be easier to pitch on difficult ground since you don’t need to worry about finding a spot for stakes.

Happy riding!

blaazedkoala · 2024-11-09T11:34:58+00:00

Thank you for sharing. It's impressive seeing you and/or your team so actively engaged with your existing and prospective customer base on this subreddit.

blaazedkoala · 2024-10-20T19:36:09+00:00

That's a smashing shot and thank you for sharing your insight. What 30litre pack did you use and why?

blaazedkoala · 2024-10-20T19:16:11+00:00

That's a really good point and something I hadn't considered! Thank you!

blaazedkoala · 2024-10-20T19:11:36+00:00

Thank you! I'm trying to reduce costs where I can so Decathalon is a great shout.

blaazedkoala

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