Trans America Trail - 2008

Con – Worst things about the TAT

• Don’t do this ride by yourself.
  First and foremost this was the biggest downside for me. Anyone that has ridden the western section would agree that if you made a mistake and knocked yourself stupid, broke the bike/your leg, had a mech breakdown or all of the above it could be a long time before anyone came along to rescue you. To reduce this risk I rode like a granny in places and had a Satellite phone at all times. I still got a little uncomfortable at times.
  Also, it’s so much better when you share the experience with someone. I missed this a lot and anyone that rides will know half the fun is watching your friends ride off the edge of a cliff, drown their bike in a river, t-bone a cow, etc. Not having a partner makes it pretty lonely.
  
  
• Don’t do this ride to a schedule (like I did). Take unpaid leave for at least two months if you’re doing the whole trail. There are so many things to see and do across the US I found myself cursing the fact I had to stick to being somewhere on a certain day.
  
  
• Some of the days are llloooonngggggg. 250-300 miles of off-road is a long day. Be fit and ready for it. You can generally hit the asphalt if you are feeling it but better to get your riding fitness up to what it should be.
  
  
• LESS IS MORE! Probably the biggest regret I had was ‘kitchen-sink syndrome’. I was massively over-prepared. I carried too much and didn’t need a lot of it. I cringe when I think how much stuff I left behind.
  
  
• It’s in America, NOT the UK (or elsewhere). To quote Dorothy “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore”. Damn right! you’re not in your country of origin anymore. Things are done differently in the US, not worse, actually they’re generally better, but the point is the more willing you are to acclimatise yourself to the American way of doing things the more you’ll enjoy it!
  
  
• It’s not safe. You’re probably going to get mugged, shot, robbed or accosted, all at the same time. (Joke)
  Seriously though, I never once thought I was at risk or in a dangerous situation. However, bad things do happen, just like they do elsewhere in the world, so don’t make yourself a target.
  
  
• Maps – they’re going to be wrong here and there. Ride around, ride over, ride through – take bolt-cutters (Joke). Figure it out.
  
  
• Weather – go in July and you’ll cook, go in June and you’ll freeze. The Rockies have two seasons – July and winter. Good luck.
  
  
• Weather 2 – Hail. This ranges from mildly uncomfortably to life threateningly serious. If you get stuck out in the boonies when the grapefruit hail is falling it’s gonna HURT. Good luck.
  
  
• Tornados – good luck.
  
  
• Wind – the TAT runs east to west. This is against prevailing winds so they will hammer you now and again. A bike with a decent windshield would help.