Route map for the cross-country bicycle journey

Route Rundown

We’ve broken the ride into seven stages. Starting in Newport, Oregon we traverse 3,730 miles that town’s namesake: Newport, Rhode Island. This Newport-to-Newport journey is planned for 55 days in the saddle, that’s an average of nearly 68 miles per day, with a rest day planned every 7-10 days.

Leg #1: Setting Off from Newport, Oregon

The first pedal stroke starts at the Pacific Ocean. With the waves at our pack and the smell of salt air we’ll climb into the Coast Range and the challenge begins. The first 4 days should be “typical” of our 3,730 mile journey. Day 5 across the Cascades promises some steepness as a foretaste of the Rocky Mountains. After 7 days we will roll into the Reali Family Vineyard (owned by Lecy’s sister and husband) for a rest day in the tasting room.

Leg #2: Crossing the Coeur d’Alenes

We’ll have to practice our brother’s keeper mentality to avoid starting this leg hungover, as the Cascade Range presents some major climbing challenge, with passes pushing above 5,000 feet. Eastern Washington farmland will be replaced by dense forests of Douglas fir and high alpine meadows. The middle of ride day 14 brings us to the highest elevation we’ll see: Pipestone Pass at 6,347 feet. Daily distance will average nearly 74 miles for 8 days of riding as we cross through Idaho, into Montana, and our next rest day at the Jerdee’s ranch in Bozeman.

Leg #3: The Great Plains Transition

This leg quickly departs the mountainous Montana splendor and traverses through nearly 600 miles of wide-open spaces. Overnight stopover options on this stretch are few and far between. There are less trees than people on this leg, so relentless winds on wide-open plains could be a factor, testing our patience and resolve. This leg has 3,200 feet of elevation drop, though most of that is spread over 600 road miles and 8 days of riding, it won’t feel appreciably downhill. The 106-mile day finishing this leg into Bismarck will be the first century ride. This is the leg where at some point Lecy will decry, “We have no business being out here!” But the silence and scale of the landscape has a beauty entirely its own.

Leg #4: Back into Midwest Nice

From the banks of the Missouri to the banks of the Mississippi, this leg starts with a few more days of North Dakota plains before starting the downward journey – flatlands of wheat, sunflowers and canola will be replaced with northern Minnesota forests and river towns. Overnight stays alternate between hotels and stealth camping before we arrive at my brother-in-law’s doorstep in Minneapolis (Mississippi blog readers may remember Shootman). This leg has an elevation drop of 1,200 feet and starts to bend from straight east to southeast over 6 days of riding.

Leg #5: Twin Cities to Windy City

Much of this route risks PTSD as we follow the path of the Mississippi River, with a long overlook of Lake Pepin where 3 years ago Lecy lost his s%$*. 62 miles on average over 7 days is reasonable, but there’s lots of ups and downs along the way that will make this home stretch a challenge. We expect the warmth of small-town hospitality and the thought of home will keep our spirits high. The final day on this leg puts us in Batavia where we have a 2-day hiatus for mental and physical reset and family reunions.

Leg #6: Biking Across Borders – from Cornfields to Canals

Alas, we will lose Lecy early in this leg as preparations for his 2nd daughter’s wedding constrains his freedom. For 9 days in mid-September we hope to enjoy the sweet spot of midwest biking with high temps in the 70’s, lows in the 50’s, low humidity and prevailing tailwind. We’ve chosen the northerly route through Ontario to spread the love to our neighbors to the north, taking flat roads and farmlands during Canadian harvest season. This 10-day leg will end at Geeto’s aunt Margie’s house in Buffalo, where we’ll stow bikes and gear for a 9 day hiatus while we fly back for the Lecy wedding in Door County.

Leg #7: Erie to the End of the Line

This last leg gets us across New York state, and slices through Massachusetts and Connecticut on the way to Newport, RI. Half of the 582 miles of this 9-day leg are along the Empire State Trail: a rails-to-trails bike path that promises a gentle scenic ride along the Erie Canal. Possibly saving the best for last, this will display some of the best scenery and small towns in upstate New York, possibly during the start of fall colors coming into prime. After 55 days and 3,730 miles, we’ll roll into Newport to the sound of crashing Atlantic waves. With our wives there to greet us, we’ll dip our wheels in the water and let the journey sink in.