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The Route - West to East

How do you like to spend your leave? I'm going to spend mine cycling across the USA!

 

How does that look, in terms of a route? I will be riding across the USA from California on the Pacific Ocean, across to Florida on the Atlantic Ocean. The ride will take me through deserts, over mountain ranges and hopefully via plenty of pancake diners...

I will get off the plane in San Diego, head across the nearest beach to dip my bike tyre in the Pacific Ocean and then cycle east until I hit the Atlantic Ocean on the other side of the country (repeat tyre dip action, different ocean). The route itself is known as the Southern Tier Route, an overview of which can be found at the bottom of this page; a more detailed breakdown of specific points along the way can be found by clicking on the map itself (link opens in a new window).

My schedule will be relentless, with an average of 8-10 hours in the saddle each day. Accommodation along the way will be very basic, I will spend most nights in individual bivvy bags (small, single man tents), which maximise schedule flexibility and avoid the requirement to pre-book accommodation.

​​To add some context, here are some key facts about the route I will be riding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The final statistic is probably the most telling, and gives some idea of the of the extremes I will be pushing my body to on a daily basis and over a prolonged period. Nutrition is going to be vital for me, as I seek to keep sufficiently fuelled to ride big distances, day after day.

Clicking on the map below provides detailed route data, including GPX info for all the cyclists out there!

Southern Tier Route Icon.jpg
I will be cycling the equivalent of 'Lands End to John O'Groats' four times, back to back.
The total height climbed will be 109,000 ft, which is equivalent to cycling up Mount Everest four times.
Temperatures on the route could reach up to 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) during the desert stretches through Arizona.
The highest point is Emory Pass at 8,200 ft, which is approximately twice the height of Ben Nevis.
I will burn 6,000 calories a day (the recommended daily intake for an adult male is 2,500 calories).
Desert Road
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