Currently in the panhandle of Oklahoma. Started my ride up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to reach the Missouri start of the Golden Gravel Trail westbound. Been a fun quest filled with detours, side quests, amazing people, and animal encounters.
Some guy honked while I posed. Glad he appreciated my sense of humor.
Hello folks,
I’m Kyle from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I started riding my bicycle from my home May 16th down to Cape Girardeau, Missouri to hop on the newly launched mostly cross-country bicycle route called the Golden Gravel Trail. I’m currently stuck in Pittsburg waiting for parts to ship here.
What is there to do around here? Preferably free or cheap! Good eats?
Stopped at the brewery for a drink yesterday. And then met up with a TransAmerica route rider for some Mexican food and margaritas somewhere on the south end of town.
Is the mountain bike trail system worth a visit to kill time?
Also how is the camping situations at the mined pit areas near town? I see it’s free and I’ll be out of my hotel tomorrow so I’ll most likely need to find a spot to spend a night or two, maybe three.
Hello everyone,
I have the atlas rack pack 12l currently on my bike. I’m trying to determine if the extreme rain I rode in yesterday soaked through or if somehow condensation got built up inside?
My ortlieb gravel panniers have stayed dry, so I’m thinking maybe it soaks through? As my quilt was quite damp as well as my pad and pillow which are in the rack pack.
So i found a bike shop along the Golden Gravel Trail that’ll hook me up with installing shorter cranks.
Problem is. I’m no mechanic and don’t know what’s compatible. Can anyone throw recommendations my way?
The bike shop said “we don’t have any thing in stock but just order what you need here and we’ll install for you” was hoping they’d throw a recommendation lol
Looking to get 160mm cranks on my grappler. I know nothing about bike parts and sizing. Shop that I’ll be stopping at on my tour said to go ahead and order it to their shop.
Can anyone recommend 160mm cranks with budget in mind? And a 30t chain ring?
Currently on tour. Been having a slight left knee anterior pain/discomfort. It seems to be doing slightly better with time (cutting mileage down a few days, rest day, minor adjustments to saddle) discomfort also seems to go away when pedaling but then I’ll feel it when climbing or towards the end of a longer mileage day.
I’ve monkeyed around with seat height and moving it 5-10mm backwards.
However, I’m wondering if my cranks are too long. I’m on a mostly stock Grappler medium size which has 175mm cranks. I’m 5’7 with a 30 inch inseam.
Would shorter cranks be an ideal upgrade?
I know the answer will be bike fit. Which I do plan on getting. But on my route I believe the nearest bike fitter would be somewhere in Colorado. Possibly Kansas/Oklahoma. I know from Cape Girardeau, MO to the Kansas/Oklahoma border there isn’t much in terms of cycling stores.
Started in the UP of Michigan May 16th. A whole darn tootin lot of farm land. But there was a lot of beauty amongst it. And have met some of the most down to earth folks so far. Getting close to the 1,000 ish mile mark.
Excited that the good is just going to get more good.
As I started in an area known for iron ore mining. A stranger in Wisconsin named my journey: Ore to Shore. I can stand behind that!
Michigan ✅ Wisconsin ✅ Illinois, we’ll give a check im close enough to St Louis.
It’s been real fun. But the fun is going to get more fun. And if I thought the nature of farmland was beautiful. The nature is only going to get more beautiful.
Currently on tour. Illinois country side paved roads are a hellscape. Over half the drivers passing within inches. Looking to get a mirror for my moloko bar. Not sure if I should put it at the bar end or on the horn? Anybody rocking a mirror on one?
On tour now, Michigan and Wisconsin, awesome. Mostly decent shoulders or rural roads along my route. Illinois currently, and outside of the gravel and select rural farm roads. Absolutely terrible shoulders and very inconsiderate drivers. Almost got my handlebars clipped a few times today.
Anyone else have a “worst” state for experiences with drivers?
Maybe ridewithgps is doing me dirty I’m not sure.
I’m currently biking across the country. I met this guy named Tim. He drives a mini van. Has a black labradoodle. He blessed me with chips, spring water, pop, cheese curds, and hamburger. He even gave me a camping spork when I mentioned losing mine as to why I wasn’t cooking a meal in the park where I was at. He was also with a lady.
I totally forgot to exchange contact information with him as he said it would be cool to follow along my journey. And would like to find him somehow lol.
Anyone have any free sight seeing suggestions. Parks, art, statues, etc?
Coming through on a bicycle tour.
Also any recommended cheap eats for a meal?
Anyone ever have negative encounters with the unhoused?
I went to a park to try to scout a stealth camp spot for the night. And two large dudes came up to me. They were giving bad vibes asking where I’m sleeping this and that. And how I’m lucky nobody messed with me yet. But they kept getting closer to the bike. One had a bike and one didn’t. I gave them each a shooter of whiskey and told them have a good day as they kept getting closer to my bike to check it out and my gear.
I mean maybe they were looking out for me in terms of they’re in the know of what goes on in the stealth camping in the area but I’m not sure what to think of the ordeal.
Got tired of looking for a spot so bit the bullet on a hotel
Headed out from Ishpeming, Michigan. Heading to cape Girardeau, Missouri and heading westbound on the Golden Gravel Trail bicycle route to Port Orford, Oregon.
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Day 1 and 2 completely awesome!! Day 3 I’m held up at my buddies house in Escanaba, Michigan to ride out the “storm threats” hasn’t been much more than a drizzle today thus far.
Hopefully be in Wisconsin by tomorrow or the next day.
Hello all. Going on a long bike tour from UP of Michigan to Oregon.
Highly considering ordering a Garmin Inreach with member discount sale thing going on. Looks like I’ll have till the 25th for the sale/discount? My nearest REI is like 400 miles away so I’m wondering if anyone knows how long an REI store will hold an item for pickup?
Ignore the horribly drawn “route” line from UP of Michigan to Missouri. I got a fat finger and no stylus.
Full of excitement and nervousness as this will be my longest tour over 4 days 😂
Hit a window of perfect opportunity in my life for a long tour in my young adulthood and decided to just go for it.
Originally was going to do Marquette Michigan to Denver but I’m not sure if I trust Komoot routes there was quite a bit of highways. Now my route from UP to Missouri will be quite a few rail trails from the looks of it.
Not sure if I’ll make it all the way to the coast, but I’ll be happy to cross a few states off on my 50 state bucket list.
Planning on biking to Denver from Michigan. Was gonna do the Katy trail across Missouri but half tempted to go further south and jump on the golden gravel trail. Looks like a blast
Hello all. I’m going on a bicycle tour from the UP to Colorado starting in about two weeks. Madison is my first “larger population area” and I was wondering if anyone has pointers on state land south or north of Madison. Or an off the path park or such?
Trying to make it the whole way without paying for a hotel/campsite.
Thanks in advance