Before you set out across America on a bike ride you need to know that even if you are a diehard, hardcore, no-prisoners, kick-but cyclist you need to plan ahead and have a decent route considered. Not all two-lane highways are safe and all roads are not created equal. Pick the wrong roads and you will have damage to your bike from potholes, lots of flats and dangerous or even disastrous incidents with automobiles. Okay, I see I have not scared you yet. Well, maybe you can do this then after all? It is a major undertaking to cross the country by bicycle and well I ought to know. When considering crossing the country at the lower elevations thru; CA, AZ, NM, TX (oh yah, let me tell you about TX; BIG), LA, MS, AL and GA you need to plan the most direct routes with the largest shoulders to prevent incidents and accidents. Also you need to choose those highways, which have the least debris to prevent flats. When crossing Alabama can I suggest a route that I like? The route starts at Meridian, MS and finishes in Chattanooga, TN. It is a Northwest Diagonal across the state. It is a direct and simple route with only a few detours and the construction on this highway is nearly all complete now. The route stays on Highway 11 the entire way and the route travels thru 4 states; MS, AL, GA (just 10 miles of hard hills) and into TN. When completed you will have ridden some 300 miles. It takes about two days to complete. Plan on hitting it hard the first day, because the hills at the end of this route are killer and you will need some energy for those. So, I recommend clearing Birmingham, AL the first day before stopping. Ashville, AL is a good stopping point about 2 miles off the main highway on the 411. That is if you have the balls to make this trip in 2-days; indeed, three or four maybe more preferable for newer riders who enjoy cycling merely for the sport of it. You will pass thru more than enough cities equal spaced apart for this such as Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Gaddsen-Atttalla and Fort Payne, Alabama. So, consider all this in 2006 on you bike across America. |
