Get your clips on Route 66
The famed Route 66 is surely America’s most romantic drive, and journeys from Chicago to Los Angeles have been chronicled by writers as diverse as John Steinbeck and Jack Kerouac. Yet it is no understatement to say that almost all travel along the historic highway takes place in an automobile, be that a car, a truck, or a Harley Davidson motorcycle. Yet recent changes are afoot to get more bicyclists pedalling their way down this busy route, to give the ailing tourist attractions along the road side a much needed boost. Here is a look at how you too can cycle down Route 66.
Choose Parallel Roads
The Adventure Cycling Association of America has done more than anyone in recent years to get cyclists embarking on this All-American road. Yet, as a designated highway, many stretches of the road are simply closed off to pedal power, so for the foreseeable future you will have to find alternative, parallel routes for making your way from Illinois to California. Lots of alternative thoroughfares exist, plenty without busy traffic, often passing through more scenic areas than the road itself, so check them out before you depart on cycling holidays here. Thankfully, plenty of maps are available to help guide your path to the south-west and a multitude of biking enthusiasts on twitter are on hand to give advice should you get lost along the way.
Choose the Right Vehicle
Most on-road cycling trips utilise light-weight and aerodynamic road bikes, and long slogs such as this are perfect for these, easier to ride bicycles. Yet at times the terrain here can be testing, and with many of the more rural, country roads having uncertain paving, you may want to think about a more heavy-duty, durable bicycle such as a mountain bike. At the least, make sure your bike is in great condition before you set off, invest in a set of reliable tyres, and bring as many spare parts as you can afford to carry.
Set Aside Plenty of Time
At 2,400 miles in length, and plenty of cycle friendly detours and diversions on the way, it may take you quite some time to complete the entire length of this route. So think about tackling this epic journey in chunks, rather than in one go. It also pays to research routes ahead of time, so you can book nightly accommodation or find suitable camping sites and open ground in which to rest. Pay close attention to contour lines, local terrain and climate changes as well, so that when you have a huge mountain to climb, a scorching desert to power through, or humid marshes to cycle past, you are ready and prepared.
Stop and Smell the Roses
Any trip along Route 66 is as much about the sights and sounds you can sample on the road-side or in the nearby towns and settlements, as it is about the drive or journey itself. So while you are busy eating up miles of roads, make sure to stop at the vintage road-side diners that pepper the route to sample some old school American hospitality. Alternatively, when you see enticing local sights, such as the world’s biggest ball of yarn, or other idiosyncratic attractions, hop off your two wheels and check it out. Many of the sights are perfect for any age group, making a cycling trip along Route 66 perfect for family holidays. With the people in this part of the world famously open and welcoming, you cannot fail to be won over by their charms, so you just have to make sure you stop and have time to smell the roses instead of rushing to the end of your trip. As they say, often the journey is worth more than the destination itself.
John has crafted articles on bicycle themed content as varied as locating the best cycling holidays in France to conquering the Pan-American Highway on two wheels.
