Cadillac Ranch & New Mexico on Route 66 (Ep.18) Cross Country Cycling Adventure.

[@freddixon]

I-40, so damn noisy. I drove that route last year and thought 'what a long, dry, noisy section to be on a bicycle', yet there you are. Inspiring ;

[@brucebikesamerica2698]

Thanks. Yes the interstates were noisy and I just got used to it and ignored the trucks. It is counter intuitive, but I felt safe because of the wide shoulder, rumble strips, and good visibility but it was loud!

[@dennisyoung4631]

Like, uh, route 30, from Portland to St. Hellens?

[@andrewcarlson2955]

I was amazed at the number and frequency of deer bones/debris from Austin to El Paso!

[@brucebikesamerica2698]

Totally agree. I haven't mentioned road kill but I think there were about 5 animals per mile for the first 2,000 miles although almost none after I reached New Mexico. Deer, armadillos, squirrels and one big elk. I saw live rabbits but surprisingly none were road kill.

[@MrLotsabits]

In 2005 I biked 3415 (or so) miles from LA to Boston with Crossroads Cycling Adventures. A great adventure. We spend a lot of time on Route 66 and I-40. Here's some info about the tire debris. It is from Radial Tire Retreads and if you look closely, you'll see the very fine wires that were supposed to hold the tire together. When you run over them, you'll eventually get a wire all the way to the inner tube. Since its a fine wire, it'll take several to many miles for the tire to go flat. Changing the flat is easy enough (except there's not a lot of shade) but finding that darn little wire... is the challenge. I've been binge watching and seeing many familiar sites, great videos, great memories.🙂

[@brucebikesamerica2698]

Thanks for joining me on KZbin! You are correct, my early flats were mostly from the wire in radials, although I discovered Goatheads (aka Bullheads) in New Mexico which I highlight in Episode 21 that is publishing today. Add a couple nails and I became pretty experienced at changing flats in the direct sun lol.

[@johnn4637]

Thanks for the videos. I have watched all of them. It would be great when you are done if you would go over how you found your routes, what you brought with you that was useful, and even what you use to edit your videos on the go. I'm hoping to do a short unsupported trip with some friends in the future. I'm impressed with how calm you always are - must be your Midwestern roots. Please be safe and I look forward to future videos.

[@brucebikesamerica2698]

Thanks John! I will go over the bike, gear and what I brought when I reach Santa Monica. As for the route I wanted to ride the C&O Canal/Allegheny Passage, go through my hometown of Bettendorf and along some of the Mississippi River and a lot of Route 66 to start or end in Santa Monica where my son lives so it was just a matter of filling in the rest of the dots. I had no previous connection to Delaware but it was the closest starting point to D.C. I rode the opposite direction of most people to avoid riding across the upper Midwest in snow and avoid oppressive August heat in the Mohave Dessert. I knew I would have more headwind but it turned out much much worse than expected. I'd now recommend heading East and starting a different time of year. I do a lot of preliminary video trimming but then send it to an editor that know what he is doing. I'll be glad to fill you in on the specifics if you email me at [e-mail]

[@johnn4637]

@@brucebikesamerica2698 Thanks Bruce. I'll send you an email. Come to Georgia and ride sometime. Thanks for the response.

[@brucebikesamerica2698]

@@johnn4637 You never know! Where do you live in Georgia?

[@johnn4637]

@@brucebikesamerica2698 I'm in Athens, Georgia. The Bike Ride Across Georgia starts on June 3rd. This year's theme is libations and lakes.

[@dennisyoung4631]

I recently bought some of that “chamois butter” stuff, and will try using it “soon”. How does it work?

[@brucebikesamerica2698]

It works great! I try to use it whenever I'm riding over 50 miles.