Solo Southern Tier bicycle tour across the USA

2023 Southern Tier bicycle tour along Adventure Cycling's route. I travelled across the USA going east to west staring in mid-May.

[@donparsons1237]

Thanks for Sharing M,,, good on you for putting in the efforts and your adventures... wheels down and cranks spinning. Don from Western Canada

[@miseyrides]

Thanks for watching!

[@patjensen1450]

Enjoyed the whole video! My friend and I, both 68, just completed a tour from San Jose, Ca to Denver, CO mostly on the ACA Western Express thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Planning on doing the Pacific Coast route from Vancouver to San Jose next Spring. Keep riding, my friend!

[@miseyrides]

The Western Express looks like an interesting route and kudos on such a long tour! Thanks for watching! -Keith

[@DeanoRolls]

Enjoyed watching the ups and downs of your tour. You’ll enjoy having a video to revisit your journey for years to come. Keep on chugging!

[@miseyrides]

Thanks for checking it out. I'd love any constructive criticism of my video from an expert like you.

[@DeanoRolls]

@@miseyrides Just make the video you want to watch to remind you of the trip. Other people will watch that too! Every video on my channel is for me first and others second. I'm always surprised people watch my videos (I don't know why anyone would in most cases). When I'm old and can't get out and go anymore I'll watch them again. LOL

[@miseyrides]

@@DeanoRolls Good advice. I'm surprised that others would watch anything I put out there. I'm having fun learning this new to me medium. Yours are well done!

[@TwoBits76]

Hey. Been watching your videos. When you got to the hard section. Vanderpool,leakey, camp wood that is where i am from. Road’s are called the three sisters. Big influx of riders and car’s. Nueces is pronounced new-aces. Pecan in Spanish. The west prong is always dry. The gravel crossing before bracketville. That is where john wayne filmed alamo. When you went by the big orchard when you mentioned they the guy said you couldn’t buy them is not totally true. There is a turn off right passed where you were and a little store. They have pecans there and about 200 types of beef jerky. Totally worth the stop. That section u stopped at is well known for heat. Mexicali is close. I have seen 122 degrees at 11 pm.

[@miseyrides]

122 degrees at 11 PM, wow! Here in middle Tennessee, we are getting ready to enjoy 0 degrees in a few days. Thank you for the clarification on my pronunciation and education about that area. It was quite beautiful and I look forward to completing that trip and continuing north into AZ, UT, and CO starting in May. Thanks for watching!

[@RideAlongAdventures]

great adventure. great channel! Thanks for sharing your experiences. (new subscriber)

[@miseyrides]

That was a good trip; glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!

[@DaoNguyen-vp7ki]

@24:30, @32:14, @45:30 the dip is better than a movie. cheers from texas!

[@miseyrides]

Thanks for watching and pointing out some highlights! In retrospect, I was a bit harsh about Texas in my video and found it one of the most beautiful states since it served up a bit of everything.

[@MaxCarter8]

👍👍👍

[@miseyrides]

Thanks for watching!

[@MLacewell85]

Loved the documentary of your trip. Too many people only show the good parts, glad to see someone show the truth about the bad days on the road.

[@miseyrides]

Glad you liked it. It's not all rainbows and roses out there! We tend to remember the tough times more than the good times anyways. Thanks for watching!

[@hopecarino6022]

Hi! Are you cycling now in the Philippines?

[@miseyrides]

No

[@simpletruth5224]

2 truisms of bicycle touring- No matter what direction you’re going there’s always a headwind. And there’s always another hill.

[@miseyrides]

You got that right, though my touring friend and I did once have tailwinds for about 4 weeks as we did Route 66 West to East in 2019. No joke! That'll never happen again... Thanks for watching!

[@miseyrides]

Thanks for watching! Any distance on two wheels is always an adventure full of highs and lows.

[@T-Cat311]

This guy’s voice reminds me of Wally Cox. 😂

[@David-e1b3t]

59:38 Chi Whah Wan Desert

[@miseyrides]

Thanks for the pronunciation help, I'm an easterner and not that familiar with many western state named areas. Thanks for watching as well!

[@relsseab]

Awesome video. I am about to turn 65 and would love to do something like this. Very inspirational to see a person around my age doing what you are doing. Thank you SO much for posting this. My only suggestion would be to vary the incidental music in the background. It is the same tune for the whole video. Other than that, keep posting these kinds of videos. EXCELLENT!!!!

[@miseyrides]

Thanks for watching! In the year 2026, the ACA will celebrate their 50th year anniversary of the TransAm route. You can mark that on your calendar as a goal. I agree with you on the incidental music all being the same. I'm new as this video thing and have learned to vary it on other videos. Thanks for the tip.

[@carlosberrio2206]

From Colombia. With all respect, for some of us ,way over seventies , the music in the videos , any kind, it is kind of annoying. Great inspirational message for many of us. Thanks

[@miseyrides]

@@carlosberrio2206Very good point. I am new at this video thing and appreciate the feedback! Thanks for watching!

[@gsurfdog69]

I hate to tell you, but that was not the Blue Hole. You were about half a mile away down another path in the parking lot.

[@miseyrides]

I was wrong; thanks for the correction. Still a very beautiful spring.

[@vaughnmedford5147]

Great video and great job riding all that way! My brother and I rode the ST self-supported mostly stealth camping, West to East, March and April 2023 so I enjoyed seeing all the scenery again. People who haven’t ridden a big tour will never appreciate how much extra work it is to document that ride like you did - filming, editing, narrating, posting- SO much extra work! Thank you for your effort. I learned the same lesson you did: if I didn’t eat and drink enough the night before, the next day was a suffer fest - you could eat and drink tons during the ride but you’d never be able to catch up - the best time to refuel is the night before. Also if it makes you feel any better, even riding West to East we had WAY more headwind than tailwind - easily by a factor of 10. I think there is no proper direction to ride, the important thing is to just ride 💪🏼👍. Thanks again for a great video, I hope to see you down the road

[@miseyrides]

Congratulations on your crossing! You are 100% correct on all points, especially the refueling the night before. Thanks for watching!

[@GlennShay]

Sir I rode through Jacumba and ate in the bar/restaurant and stayed overnight in the motel ... so does that facility no longer exist ..? GREAT video is your co-motion a Americano with the 18 spd pinion ?

[@miseyrides]

Not sure what year you ride through there, but there was no open motel, nor bar or restaurant. Only a limited stocked convenience store. I asked around a lot for where to stay and got a very cold shoulder. I think that there are very cautious of any outsiders due to their proximity to the border. I’ll be going back through there next Spring as I complete the ST, though I’ll only be passing through next time. Yes, my Americano does has the P1.18 gearbox. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@davidburgess741]

Heat has also been my nemesis. On an overnighter in the new Jersey Pinelands, I got lost on the way home. I had prior experience in the area. At some point I heard a truck on a paved road buzz by. I was too far gone pushing the bike through deep sand. Nobody would ever find me. No phone signal. I approached an area that sloped down on my left and walked recognizing one of the Wading River sandy banks. I hurled myself in and drank down the water. Survival now means risking Guiardosis. I made it home by drinking all the Gatorade I could find at little country stores. One mile at a time, 1/4 mile at a time. 3 miles. After 5 days at home, I was back to normal. Respect heat. It's your most dangerous enemy!

[@miseyrides]

That sounds like a real tough experience. Glad that you made it home and didn't get sick. I'm back from RAGBRAI and the next to last day had heat indexes above 100 for the last 2+ hours of my ride. My computer stats indicated that I consumed about 1.75 gallons of fluid for the 70 mile day. It was hot and I did ok with the heat, but don't want to repeat that too many times. I'm starting to work on the video of that ride where I'll elaborate more on that day. Yes, we do need to respect the heat. Thanks for watching!

[@StarEssences]

It sounds like your soul connection points/supporters are 'raining on your parade' making it more difficult for you than it should be. I never blame GOD, I stare at all those who surround me; Some are helpful, but a lot are not. They would like to see you FAIL and then secretly laugh at you when you come tumbling down. :( This is what those who Follow Jesus Christ have to deal with; those who are against us making more moralistic choices in our freedom. Here is something think about too; If the activity is something that YOU WANT TO DO more than likely it is from your own will and as usual those who are of their own will, tribulations tag along on the journey. I have had many negative outcomes in my successes to choices of activities I choose to do. Disappointments are still happening....attitude when they do occur is the key to getting passed those who may be applying ISSUES to your little enjoyment in life.

[@miseyrides]

Thanks for watching!

[@blackthorne-rose]

Not sure ... but I think I would have helped that snake by finishing it off... it was just gonna suffer and die... Great to see you riding - you look about my age and i"m planning the same cross country trip for the Fall.. Florida to at least Arizona...maybe further.

[@miseyrides]

I thought about killing it, but I didn't have the heart to do so. Fall on the ST would be good! If you blog or video it, let me know; always like seeing other people's experiences. Thanks for watching!

[@AlexBaldini]

Te background music made it really hard to watch. Imagine hearing the same tones for about 1 hour and 43 minutes, was like torture. I did the same route, but I did not take the shortcuts by the Interstate like you did. My trip was the adventure of my life, and yours was like a really painful trip for you, I guess we all have different perspectives in the end. Thanks for putting it up!

[@miseyrides]

Yea, sorry about that music. It was my first video that I edited and admit it was not that good. I’ll try to do better!

[@andrewcarlson2955]

What’s the ducks name? I’ve done the Southern tour, I rode mostly I10 in Texas after Kerrvile!

[@miseyrides]

I just call him Lucky! Found him on the side of the road on my first real bike tour in 2007. Has kept me safe all these years. I-10 is not bad at all, but you do have to dodge a lot of tire debris. Route 66 had a lot of interstate riding as well. Thanks for watching!

[@jackiemcallister7330]

Great informative and inspirational story. You did the right thing. Live to ride another day. Will be watching for your next adventure.

[@miseyrides]

Thanks for the encouraging words. Yup, there’s always another day ! Thanks for watching!

[@robertpinto6515]

1.43 minutes of that insanr guitar! Thanks for ruining an otherwise nice video!

[@miseyrides]

Sorry about that. It was my first ever video. I’m learning

[@LifeTripped]

Im thinking on such an adventure. Did you mostly boondocked or paid camping?

[@miseyrides]

Most of my overnights were either hotels or paid campgrounds in my tent. Unfortunately, the Southern Tier route is not as conducive to tent camping as good as some other main routes. Most land on this route is privately held and Texas has fences along the road from one side of the state to the other.

[@LifeTripped]

@@miseyrides Okay thanks.. great to know.

[@beverleygibson1394]

I like seeing America from a cyclists perspective. There never seems enough bike paths. I would be afraid to bike on those busy, fast roads. Well done for your efforts!

[@miseyrides]

For the most part, the roads I ride have a decent shoulder and I feel are quite safe. Riding on interstates is not my favorite type of riding, but its doable. Bike paths are great and I enjoy them as well especially if they have some services along the way. Thanks for watching!

[@TheFreewheelinNomad]

i’m about to embark on the same journey in a couple days so I appreciate you posting its really got me inspired.

[@miseyrides]

You picked the right time of year to go west! Enjoy the journey and thanks for watching!

[@ericmartin6657]

If you're toes are cold you're suppose to start walking and get the blood flowing again

[@miseyrides]

Good advice; thanks. Unfortunately, I got a mild case of frostbite as a kid waiting for a school bus one morning. Ever since then, my feet don’t get excellent circulation when the temp drops. Thanks for watching!

[@blackthorne-rose]

Your comment says you started in mid-May... that was March right?

[@miseyrides]

My bad! You are correct; I started in mid-March. Sorry about that.

[@bgd73]

I think you went faster than horses and buggies did back in the day..and you did all the work. Truly amazing ride. I have an ebike at 100 pounds empty.. and I watched your ride in one sitting, due to my own daydreams of a long journey. I hope to see you make the next leg for true finale.

[@miseyrides]

I'm glad you enjoyed my trip and am impressed that you endured the entire video in one sitting. There were times, I could have used a battery on my heavy bike, but I made it through. I'll finish the tour next Spring. Thanks for watching!

[@Jarrod_D]

In 2022 I rode the southern tier from Florida to California and back on a motorized bicycle 😊 posted the trip on my channel I found that all the peddling kept ruining my adventures 😅😅😅

[@DEADLIESTMAN1]

first time I've seen an almost 2-hour bike ride video all the way, reason for that is because you are a Senior about my age, recently 10 days ago I bought an electric bicycle model CoswheelT20 damn thing looks like a motorcycle, where a live there's a nice, paved bicycle trail is just 20 mile long so 40 miles roundtrip, I've been going to that trail every day, oh, I live in Oregon.

[@miseyrides]

Wow! You watched all of that! I'm impressed and it was too long in my opinion, but thanks for watching! Glad you're getting out and riding. I'm 61 and have been riding for 42 years and am happy that I can still do it.

[@sailingaeolus]

Jacumba is pronounced ha-cume-ba (long "u"). Good job at the climb, that's a tough grade. Ocotillo is pronounced oco-tee-ya. The ll in Spanish is our y. Thanks for sharing.

[@miseyrides]

Thanks for the pronunciation education and watching! I plan on properly finishing that trip next year and then continuing on up north into California.

[@sailingaeolus]

@@miseyrides No problem. I first saw that area in 1987. There were no windmills or border agents. The town of Ocotillo (at the base of the I-8 grade to Jacumba) used to have a nice little cafe and ice cream shop. I bet you took a rest at the top of the grade. That is a tough climb. I spent much time in Anza-Borrego State Park (just north of I-8) Absolutely stunning country. I'm in Vegas these days and will head out for a cross country soon enough. Probably roll off my driveway and head east - Kingman, Hwy 66, Grand Canyon, etc. Stop in Maine. I'll be in absolutely no hurry. If it takes 120 days, so be it.

[@drnvss]

Kamran bhai, bahot mazza says aapke videos delhi kar. U have already done my 1/2 dreams. How to get tips from u? Any e mail?

[@miseyrides]

Sorry, not going to give out email, but I’d be more than happy to answer any questions here. Thanks for watching!!

[@miseyrides]

The site crazyguyonabike.com is also an excellent resource for info as well.

[@minethegap]

Does that guitar tune play for the whole 1hr 43?

[@miseyrides]

Yes, very sorry for that. It was my first YT video and I’m learning as I go. My apologies…

[@marcesto9431]

That’s a high fence to keep in exotic game animals

[@miseyrides]

I too thought that some fences were a bit high for that reason. Thanks!

[@cyndy_776]

I enjoyed this tour video, looks like it took a lot of fortitude and I’m pretty sure I couldn’t tour that long, so kudos to you.

[@miseyrides]

Don't sell yourself short. It's just a daily bike ride. Eat, sleep, ride!

[@giovannibonacquisto4906]

Thanks

[@johniott5446]

Thanks for sharing your trip and providing inspiration. I thought it was brave to share your hard times and good times. Good luck on your next voyage!

[@miseyrides]

Bicycle touring is not all rainbows and roses. 90% of the time its great, but its the tough times and triumphs over adversity that we remember. Thank you for watching!

[@ninjaregenesis]

that is cooolllll back ground music man. Who's the artist?

[@miseyrides]

The background music is: Name: Intense Guitar Drama from Sound Ideas. It is not mine, but is royalty free music supplied in the Power Director software I use to edit my videos. Thanks for watching!

[@ninjaregenesis]

@@miseyrides thanks mate. Found a yt video for this audio track .. and yeah I love watching videos of someone cycling off his/her adventure. Keep it up!

[@JeffRevell]

I really enjoyed watching your trip. I have done several long tours but nothing quite this epic. If you plan on taking another might I suggest that you invest in some electrolyte powder. You can drink a gallon of water and still be dehydrated because you need the electrolytes to replenish the minerals you are losing and to help pass the hydration into your cells. Water alone doesn't do it. Your hydration regimen needs sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium in order to maintain proper hydration levels. It seriously makes all the difference in the world, especially when you are sweating and breathing heavy from exercising.

[@miseyrides]

Agreed. I have used various electrolyte products over the years and have found that the Nuun products work well for me. They don't upset my stomach like some others had. I do use them religiously on longer rides over 2 hours as I do tend to sweat a lot. Thanks much for the tip though, it never hurts to be reminded of that. Thanks for watching and I hope you too get to do your own epic ride one day!

[@theadventurousgeezer]

Hey, I know you! I'm Steve who stayed in the motel room next to you at Jesse Lopez's hangout in Langtry. I finally finished the ST on 6/17 in St. Augustine. Hope you get to finish the ST next year. I see you are also doing RAGBRAI. So am I. I'll be doing it with my wife on a tandem. If you see a blue Santana Sovereign tandem with the stoker wearing a fluorescent pink helmet and the captain wearing a fluorescent yellow helmet - that's us! This is our first RAGBRAI. Should be an adventure!

[@miseyrides]

I definitely remember you. Glad you finished the journey! I’ll finish it next year. My touring buddy and I are in Fonda, IA tonight. We’ll get to Sioux City on Friday. It’ll be easy to spot you as I too had that exact tandem. We’ll be on our light touring bikes. My buddy will be recognizable by his Jason mask on the back. We’ll both have green fuzzy fins on top of our helmets. Get ready for a crazy time on RAGBRAI. It’ll be crowded this year, but fun,fun,fun! See you there.

[@theadventurousgeezer]

@@miseyrides I hope amidst all the humanity on bicycles we can meet up. We are using a charter service, Brancel Charters, you could look for us there after the ride. Our tent is a blue Zpacks brand three-person tent with fluorescent yellow guidelines and tie-downs.

[@miseyrides]

@@theadventurousgeezer I’ll try, but you know how busy it is and we all look alike. Ha!!

[@giovannibonacquisto4906]

Where did you get the maps?

[@miseyrides]

www.adventurecycling.org/shop/southern-tier-map-set/ They also sell gpx files of the entire route as well.

[@hejiranyc]

Great video! And I can only sympathize with long days in the saddle in the elements and the panic of not having the physical/mental wherewithal to carry on. You went through some dark moments in TX... are you okay now? Also, did you find camping to be a necessity or more of an option? My hope is to be able to cross the country someday without camping.

[@miseyrides]

The dark periods come and go on longish tours and don't last very long. It is easy to go from a low low to a high high in the same day. It's all part of the journey. Camping was not a necessity and I used more hotels than I wanted as they are more expensive. The TransAm route is best suited for tent camping, but with some planning and perhaps some longer days on the bike it is possible to do a crossing without tent camping. Thanks for watching!

[@ultrastoat3298]

How is this only in 720p?

[@miseyrides]

It was shot using an old GoPro. I now use a DJI Action 4 shooting in 4K with a remote microphone. I’m trying to get better at this and learning all the time.

[@DwightBurditt]

Totally enjoyed this. Thanks. When you got in a "dark place" on your trip. I've been there on a solo motorcycle trip from the East Coast of Canada to Argentina. It's been 10 years and I can still "feel" that day in El Salvador when I wondered how I talked myself into the trip.

[@miseyrides]

Canada to Argentina? Wow! That's impressive! There's always many highs and lows on every long trip. We always remember the hard days, but less so the easy days. Thanks for watching!

[@salimmeghjee769]

Excellent video blog..

[@miseyrides]

Thanks a lot!

[@RonMagaw]

Yawn..but thanks

[@miseyrides]

I felt like it was too long. It was my first video and have learned to try and keep them shorter. Thanks for enduring what you watched!

[@freddixon]

Thanks a lot for sharing your journey. Such an honest video of your journey. The ups and downs mentally that we don't even think about when we are planing and fantasizing about our bicycle adventures. I still think that I might like to try the route even though it looks really tough! but I would not want to do the ride alone. If you did the ride again might you start mid-April? Cheers

[@miseyrides]

Thanks for watching! I would not start in mid-April if going west. In retrospect, I think it best to start in early March if going west. The heat hit me out west when I started in mid-March. If you do more mileage per day than I did, then you could leave later than I did. I met a couple guys that had a 30 day plan for the 3000 mile trip. Aggressive, but they were very lightly packed.

[@mariobotelho32]

What a great adventure! Nothing to be ashamed of. Like you said, you can always go back and finish. You mentioned Utah and I'm planning a bicycle tour next february, march and april starting and ending in Las Vegas, passing thru Mojave NP, Death Valley, Barstow, Parker, Kingman, route 66, Sedona, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, Page, Monument Valley, Canyonlands, Arches, UT route 95, Capitol Reef, Burr Trail, UT route 12, Bryce, Kanab, Zion, St George, Valley of Fire, and back to Vegas. If I saw you along the way I say hi and the beer is on me.

[@miseyrides]

You're going to hit all the best parts of Utah. Impressive! I did Route 66 in 2019 W to E and the western part up to Oklahoma was the best. Perhaps we'll see each other on the road. I don't have an exact route and kind of leave it flexible. Thanks for watching!

[@zacharyhelget]

Fantastic video! This is really random, but I think I saw you near the Sand Dunes in CA. I was cycling that part on May 15th(ish). However, I was on the other side of I-8 heading to east. You were not kidding in the video it was hot out there. I also got to go down the hill you went up outside of Jacumba Hot Springs, that is one heck of a hill. There is actually a warm showers host near the top of the climb. Any way, great video!

[@miseyrides]

Funny that you may have seen me out there. Those sand dunes were pretty incredible and reminded me of the sand dunes in Colorado. That hill was a challenge to say the least in that heat as you well know. Wish I had known there was a warm showers host up there. That would have helped a lot. Thanks for watching!

[@davidburgess741]

Too bad about the sound. Have old Vaude 40L bags in back, and Ortlieb gravel low rider in front. Outlier has the better hook system, but neither brand has ever leaked. Those bags of yours is like my Dave Moulton. They will be around long after the artisan is gone. You could buy a Surly frame for what I handed Dave Moulton 45 years ago, but the memories that purchase is still providing have been worth it!

[@miseyrides]

I was not aware of any sound issues, but there could have been some that I missed. A Dave Moulton is a really nice bike. Love its design and enduring life. Your lucky to have one. Thanks for enduring my video!

[@freddixon]

8:22 I swam in that blue hole. You can feel the flow of the water when you are in the water, hard to swim to the center but the water flow pushes you back away from the hole. Trippy. So many great memories, thanks for sharing ;

[@miseyrides]

It looked very tempting to swim there, but the park was pretty much closed when I got there. Very pretty! Thanks for watching

[@Outlaw-Dashing]

Thanks for sharing your adventures 💯👍😁 I did this trip 3 times, last time i did it there and back in 40 days . I use a motorized bicycle now, because all the peddling kept ruining my adventures. Probably going to do corner to corner next year Florida to Washington and back. Here's a story ,in 2020 i was on tour on the southern tier . I had made it to Sanderson tx when the world shut down. I ended up having to leave my bike and jump on the Amtrak and head home. I still miss that bike 🖐️😔

[@miseyrides]

What a experience having to stop mid-tour and leave your bike. 3 times across; that's impressive! Corner to Corner looks like a great idea. Thanks for watching!

[@MishaDaBear]

My thoughts are to go West to East. Time; beginning around Qrartz-Fest HAM Radio HAMFEST in January, New Mexico Route #9 looks better than I10, no shoulders but still better minimal traffic, towns every 30 to 50 miles. The aim to be in Texas in March and finished in late April. West is always hotter than east, that makes another reason to start in the west in January!

[@miseyrides]

I was in the minority in my choice of direction. Anyway you do it is good. Agreed, west is hotter than the east. Thanks for watching!

[@FollowThomas]

You started from St. Augustine. I live in Jacksonville. I'm thinking of riding across the country at some point, starting from here too but I haven't decided yet if and when. I have actually done this exact route in the Florida section and got videos too. Wow, you did fit all across country ride into one video. You pretty much made it through. I actually met a guy in Harpers Ferry a couple of weeks ago. He was from England. He rode all away across the country from Seattle to DC but crashed on the last day in Harpers Ferry 60 miles from DC. He was okay but the bike was in half and he had to quit right there. He flew back to England the next day. Hope you can finish the ride next year. 👍

[@miseyrides]

Thanks for watching my too long video. I already have plans to complete it next Spring and go explore a few areas in AZ and UT. -Keith

[@FollowThomas]

@miseyrides Awesome! Looking forward to seeing the video. 👍😎 I'm heading up north next week to ride the Erie Canal Trail from Buffalo to Albany within 6 days. It's hot here in Florida right now but I did the Fernandina Beach 67 miles last weekend but got way overheated on the way back. I just uploaded the video if you want to check it out. 😊

[@thomashughes_teh]

@22:34 I know highway engineers adhere to standards when placing features such as rumble strips and guardrails. I've seen this same pattern and distancing in my home state of Indiana. These rumble strips and their nearby paint stripes can be challenging. Sometimes the distances do drift as the yards roll progress.

[@miseyrides]

Agreed, some states do a better job than others. As you know, it can even vary from county to county in a state. Gotta take them stride and just deal with it. Thanks for watching!

[@PRH123]

Riding in a downpour is OK... but not coming and drying out, but rather setting up camp in the wet with everything soaked is... pretty miserable... you're tough...!

[@miseyrides]

I'm not that tough, just a regular guy. I got lucky and the rain stopped before I had to set up camp, so I got lucky that time. Thanks for watching!

[@Luigi13]

Once you decide to be in a tour it is a challenging moment no kidding? I would think that you biked for a while before venturing off cross country to get some adaptation to your legs and mindset, but seeing how much you had to endure afterwards it is a challenging issue especially when you ride in wide open spaces where the road seems to never end, and on top of that the heat is the most challenging thing since your body also creates heat as you cycle, wasn't Florida humid and hot? Well you made it to California from where you started was it in Florida? Keep it up on your next segment looking forward to it. Cheers.

[@miseyrides]

I've been touring since 2007 and this was my 3rd longish trip. You can read about my other tours here: www.crazyguyonabike.com/directory/?o=3d2&user=keithmisegades&v=5 Florida was humid, but not as hot as the deserts out west. Amazingly, I was just up in Iowa and had multiple days over 90 and did better there than I did out west. After 42 years of riding, I still sometimes forget about how much hydration my body needs. When I drink a LOT, I do ok in the heat. Thanks for watching!

[@hotsyofvirginia7749]

Hey Keith, We met around Jesse's Wagon Wheel. I'm the guy on the recumbent trike with a dog. Great video, brings back some great memories. Good luck on your future rides.

[@miseyrides]

How could I forget that meeting! Very memorable and I'm impressed by your journey with your dog. I'm sure by now you've seen this KZbin channel, but if not, it'll hit home with you. www.youtube.com/@OmniTierra Thanks for watching! Keep the wheels turning and the dog treats at hand!

[@darrintouchet4063]

Would love to do something like this one day,retired and have the time, don’t think I could do it solo though, kudos to you for completing this monumental task

[@miseyrides]

It’s always nice to have company as you saw I got lonely. I’ve heard that a good percentage of cycling do that one route solo. You can do it, it’s just a daily bike ride as you know. Thanks for watching!

[@polo19681]

Wish I knew of you sooner, i would have joined you. I just did a ride across Texas back in Sept 22. I live in Atlanta so the next year or whenever hit me up and plan a ride.

[@miseyrides]

Texas was beautiful and bleak at times, but I liked it. I'll keep you in mind for future tours. Thanks for watching!

[@duncpol]

Was it the same route as Adventure Cycling organization recommends? Looks like it's a lot of freeway riding.

[@miseyrides]

From FL to Las Cruces, AZ I followed the ACA route. From Las Cruces to CA, I took a lot of the interstate to avoid Phoenix and Hwy 78 on CA, both of which some commented didn’t have very cycling friendly traffic or roads. Each rider should decide for themselves on which way to go. The ACA has mapped the interstate alternate on Ridewithgps. You can read more about that alternate in the ACA route updates on their site.

[@miseyrides]

Thanks for watching!

[@michaelnicholson572]

Congratulations on all you accomplished. And thanks for sharing.

[@miseyrides]

Thanks for watching!

[@devidasmarutigajewar5884]

Sir what is your near glass ( left side ) which is nearly 6 inch front side.

[@miseyrides]

I’m not sure exactly what you are asking about, but I think you are asking what type of mirror I use. It is attached to the left temple of my sunglasses. Take A Look Original Cyclist Mirror www.amazon.com/dp/B00629W08I?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_9F4GNQHS3ZVDJN73J6V8 I hope this answers your question. Thanks for watching! Keith

[@dcrisp8888]

Santa Fe New Mexico has a Miracle ❤ Loretto Chapel the St Joseph staircase

[@miseyrides]

Thanks for watching! Haven't made it to Santa Fe; yet...

[@stephenjacques554]

I never go east of the Mississippi so thanks for sharing what I will never see. I have ridden from Canada to Mexico from Oregon to Colorado. Had a great time always. Be well be safe. SJ

[@miseyrides]

I will agree with you that the western USA is overall prettier than out here in the east, but there are some nice areas to ride here. The Blue Ridge Parkway in NC is worth the effort especially in the Fall. You've dome some big rides and I plan on riding more out west. Thanks for watching!

[@BIKESnSKILLETS]

Electric bike or No

[@miseyrides]

Nope; the bike has an 18 speed transmission that is sealed. No more chains or derailleurs to worry about. It’s called a Pinion P.18 Thanks for watching!

[@BIKESnSKILLETS]

@@miseyrides wow you have endurance!

[@miseyrides]

@@BIKESnSKILLETSNot really; you just sit all day and pedal. Your body adapts to it as being normal after about 2-3 weeks on the road.

[@BIKESnSKILLETS]

@@miseyrides wow. I binge watch cycling and wonder how they do it.

[@jim-uu2db]

Would love to see your schedule of roads you used on this trip and your nightly stops etc.

[@miseyrides]

I used the Adventure Cycling Southern Tier Route from here www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/southern-tier/ My stops were only planned about 2 days in advance at the most to account for weather and how strong I was day to day. Thanks for watching!

[@jieqiufeng5422]

我欣賞你的騎行。可惜我聽不懂你的解說。但是也啟發了我。因為我也是單車友。

[@miseyrides]

Glad that I was able to inspire you. Thanks for watching!

[@johnmartinez7042]

One of the better cross country tour videos. gives just enough info on different days to tell where he's at

[@miseyrides]

Glad you enjoyed it! It was my first attempt at a video and am trying to get better with each new one. Thanks for watching!

[@ReganFreeman]

Keith - great video. Thanks for sharing. I have seen recently on the ACA website that a major bridge is out on the Pearl river between MS & LA, and there’s a 117 mile detour. Looks like it’s been this way since last year. What was your experience with this detour? Many thanks

[@miseyrides]

When I went through there this Spring, I talked to the locals at a convenience store very near the eastern side of the closed area. They said that the bridge(s) had been closed for quite some time and mentioned that the state has not allocated any funds to fix it. So it will be not be fixed any time soon, BUT it is OPEN to cyclists, motorcyclists and walkers. There are multiple bridges and I was never sure which one was actually the cause of the closure. Basically there are concrete barriers on both ends that keep 4 wheeled vehicles from passing through. So, there is NO detour that I experienced and you will have the road between the bridges all to yourself. On the western end of the closed area, there was a quite busy tourist trap that looked to be giving swamp boat tours. It looked like fun, though I didn't go on one and probably should have. Thanks for watching!

[@ReganFreeman]

Thanks for the info! Cheers!

[@markwinward500]

I am planning on riding the Southern Tier next year. FIrst, thanks for the video and congratulations on getting as far as you did! Given prevailing winds on oncoming summer heat, I’m curious why you choose to begin your tour in FL rather than CA? Do you think the outcome would have been any different if you had traveled with the prevailing winds or started at a different time of year?

[@miseyrides]

I have done three long tours. In 2008, I did the TransAm E to W from May 28th to Sep 9. For the most part the wind was from the south. In Wyoming, I did hit multiple days of good headwinds. I remember pace-lining another loaded tourist and all we could do was 5 mph into the howling headwind. When I met east-bounders in Kansas, we both thought each other had a tailwind. The winds in the middle of the USA are traditionally out of the south. In 2019, I did Route 66. I did amazingly have about 3-4 weeks of good tailwinds. This was very, very rare to experience in all my years of touring. This year on the Southern Tier from E to W, I only challenging headwinds once I hit NM, AZ. I choose to go E to W since I live in the east and usually want to save the beauty of the west for later in the trip. It is also nice to ride out of the humidity rather into it. With the sun at my back going west, it makes for a bit better photography as well. Most east-bounders I met on the Southern Tier this year complained about many days of strong headwinds. I did have to hold up in Las Cruces a day due to strong winds though. I never had multiple days of challenging headwinds going west. To answer your question, I should have left a couple weeks earlier to help avoid the heat in the west. I can ride hills and enjoy them, it is always the heat that gets me if I am not careful which was the primary reason I struggled at the end. If I had gone eastward, I could have possibly ridden with others which would have helped out with my loneliness. With all this said, its hard to predict what the winds will do. I have had the winds do a 180 degree turn on a single days ride. Its a crap shoot really; either way will be fun. An old cycling friend told me that once you make peace with always going uphill and/or into a headwind while touring, you'll do fine. Hope this helps. -Keith

[@MishaDaBear]

@@miseyrides That is a 100% success never look at anything as undone as is it not the destination that matters but the instead the adventure between the start and the finish. I have completed 35 plus, Sprint and Olympic Triathlons often finishing last overall and that is fine with me!

[@markowsley4954]

Great video and trip. This is a ride that is on my bucket list to do. I have to agree with you on your comments about New Orleans, I just don't get the appeal of that city. One question are those sunglasses prescription or did you wear contacts with them. If prescription where did you find them? Good luck on your future riding.

[@miseyrides]

Hello! Thanks for watching my long video. New Orleans was definitely not one of my most favorite cities to cycle through. Another one to avoid would Ft. Myers, FL due to all the sidewalks which double as bike paths. My sunglasses are prescription. I have terrible near-sightedness and I wear Rudy Project's Horus models that I purchased through SportRx. They were the best sunglasses that work great for cycling and can have my -7.25 sphere ground into them. I used Bolle' with prescription inserts in the past, but this is way better. You just have to handle them with kid gloves since they are not cheap. www.rudyprojectna.com/products/horus www.sportrx.com/ Hope you get to do the Southern Tier one day. Thanks again for watching.

[@markowsley4954]

@@miseyrides thanks for the information. I also used Bolle inserts years ago. It's tough finding a frame that can handle near sightedness and astigmatism. I will have to check on these Rudy Projects

[@dennisprice8798]

Very interesting and threre is no rule to finish. I also rode coast to coast (northern route, 47 days) but but recording it seemed like a lot of extra work. What people don't understand is it's really not that difficult, you just need time and money. My biggest tip to anyone planning a long distance trip is to try to keep your baggage to about 25 pounds. I feel some carry way too much weight. Anyone one can do it but take the northern or southern route not Hwy 50.

[@miseyrides]

Agreed; there is no rule to finish. Congrats on your Northern Route crossing! That's on my list as well. I carried too much weight this time and won't make that mistake again. It was only a bother on the long climbs, otherwise, it didn't slow me down. Thanks for watching!

[@The-GreenHornet]

​@@miseyrides Hi 👋, I happened to come across your video. I have done two long-distance tours. I have a Catrike 700 which I just bought. It is brand Spanking New, less than 100 miles on it. Prior to this one I own and still have a Catrike Expedition recumbent trike, which is the one that I did the tours on. My question to you is... How much weight were you carrying in just gear weight? And... What type of food did you eat and how many times did you stop to eat each day? Milage, I'd be satisfied with only riding 40+ miles per day. Any more than that, and your tour becomes a Forced-March! That's when you become grumpy and in bad moods. Instead, pull back the reins a little and do less milage per day for a while. Heck... take a few days off and give your mental a break. You'll notice a big difference when you get riding again. Thanks 👌

[@Idab_pimpin]

Got me scared of that desert 😂 wish me luck

[@miseyrides]

Be careful as it's a lot hotter out there now than when I passed through. I'm sure you'll do well. Don't be afraid to ask for water from the Border Patrol Agents. They usually have some extra for the migrants.

[@dondonner1095]

First off nice bike. I have a Rohloff hub and I thought thats what you had until I saw the pinion. I love belt drive bikes. Great job on the ride, great video and I remember riding to Salt Lake City in 1979 through desert and heat. In those days we did not commonly know about hydration to the extent we do today. Not prepared at all and in those days there was very little water available as the towns would have to truck it in for their use. I remember ordering a pitcher of orange juice from one restaurant and telling them to hold the orange as they said they would not sell me water. Thanks to Jack Nickelson for that one and the movie five easy pieces. Ha.

[@miseyrides]

I love orange juice. I’ll have to remember that one! I too like my belt drive due to the low maintenance. Thanks for watching!

[@chrisallen2005]

Do you love me Johnny? What do you think Rayette?

[@derelictxci]

Very bad ass! I did a trip on my motorcycle from SF to Boston and back in 2018 and it was hard, so I can kind of imagine being on a bicycle have to be ten times as that. I don't think I could do a tour like yours but this is definitely a motivator to improve my endurance and do a short bikepacking trip. Entertaining and educational, Kudos.

[@miseyrides]

I'm not bad ass at all. There are others out there doing way more than I am. Trips on two wheels of any kind can be challenging. Thanks for watching!

[@hejiranyc]

Pfft. You have the utter audacity to compare touring on a motorcycle vs. touring on a bicycle? Not even close in terms of physical/mental stamina. Not even within 10 orders of magnitude. Any idiot can hop on a motorcycle and ride it, as evidenced by all of the old obese porkers you see at Sturgis.

[@polo19681]

Wow as I continue to watch I see the rest stop near Alpine I stopped at. Love it!

[@miseyrides]

Alpine was a neat little town and a great oasis in a bleak, but beautiful area. I remember hitting the DQ as soon as I rolled into town. Thanks for watching! -Keith

[@jffbrk1]

Misery rides is a great channel

[@miseyrides]

Not really; it's just the ramblings of an older guy on a bike, but thanks anyways.

[@sonalmalhotra07]

Subscribed. Nice video

[@miseyrides]

Thanks for watching!

[@GoodOldMikeyP]

Is there anywhere I can find your exact route so I can plan my stays?

[@miseyrides]

Sure! I followed Adventure Cycling’s Southern Tier route here: www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/southern-tier/

[@GoodOldMikeyP]

@@miseyrides did you follow the gpx data? Or how did you go about it? I'm having trouble trying to figure it out

[@miseyrides]

@@GoodOldMikeyP I had both the paper maps and the gpx files. I used the paper maps about 90% of the time and only used the gpx files on my Garmin while in larger cities. Here's a link to the paper maps in their store: www.adventurecycling.org/cyclosource-store/route-maps/southern-tier-route/sp/adventure-cycling-association-southern-tier-map-set/ Here's a link to the gpx data set www.adventurecycling.org/cyclosource-store/route-maps/southern-tier-route/sp/southern-tier-map-set-digital/ If memory serves me right, they are moving away from paper maps for certain routes and once they're sold out, they may not be printing any more. Here's a link to an article that describes the difference between their gpx and App offerings. www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/going-digital-app-or-gpx/ I did not use their app. Hope this helps! -Keith

[@GoodOldMikeyP]

@@miseyrides thank you so much. Your an inspiration for my trip!! Thank you

[@jim-uu2db]

Thumbs down to the people in that last town that would not help,you any.

[@jerrywaters4814]

Hell most time you got the camera pointing at the ground. It's very boring watching the ground go by. Work on your video brother

[@miseyrides]

Yea, that was my first video I ever produced. I’m trying to get better. Perhaps some of my more latter ones are better, but I’m making them just for fun.

[@charlesstepp2083]

Motels. Restaurants. Not impressed

[@miseyrides]

As I have gotten older, I'm definitely not as hardcore as I used to be in my youth. Thanks for watching though.

[@rickute1458]

There is nothing wrong with hotels, motels and restaurants! Helps the local economy and you have a good sleep and rest ! Very important when your body is your motor for your form of transportation!

[@The-GreenHornet]

​@@miseyrides I've noticed there are quite a few people who have left negative comments. Ignore them, don't even respond to them They're not pedaling across the country doing long days in the saddle fighting headwinds, hills and heat while filming and narrating the whole time. Easy for them to criticize. Doing all this just because you want to for fun. You'll never please everyone. Folks like that don't get a reply from me. They're like the last milage marker, behind me and in the past. You did great 👍 Very inspiring 👏 😊

[@miseyrides]

@@The-GreenHornet Thanks for your kind comments. I'm really doing this so that my family and those that might be interested in can see places where they may not be able to see or just want to waste a bit of time. If it inspires or brings pleasure to anyone else, then that's great as well. Every touring cyclist does it their own way and I've yet to hear that there is a "right" way to tour. It sure beats sitting on the couch as I age. Thanks again for watching!