Get Off the Interstate!

[wingland]

Yeah, slabbing it may be fun when you absolutely, positively have to be there tomorrow. But square tires and flat bugs aren't that fun anymore.

With Google Maps, you can easily set up a route that avoids nearly all 4-lane roads. Slow as a dog sometimes, but you get out and see the country! (also keeps you off that 75MPH+ autobahnn -- a very important consideration when your main touring bike is now a 250!)

Visit http://maps.google.com/, click 'Get Directions', then under the address boxes, click Show Options. Check the 'Avoid Highways' option.

You'll get a nice route along mainly 2-lane US, State and County roads! Usually only adds 15% to the miles (750 vs 820 miles to Kerrville for me) but seems like it'll add 150% to the sMiles!

Enjoy . . .

Will

[CliffC]

I recently made a trip to Kentucky. When referring to my paper map, I noticed that there were red dotted lines to denote "scenic routes" and I think this is pretty common. What I do not recall seeing before, or noticing anyway, is that there were dotted green lines to denote bicycle roads. I chose a number of these and the ride was superb. Some were narrow, tree canopy covered, but all were paved and in good condition and fair time could be made on some. One of the best rides I have had in a while.

I have not checked other paper maps to see if all have these offerings (bicycle route designations), but mean to do so soon. If so, the GPS is going to become a secondary reference.

[Buckeye56]

On our way to STAR we jumped off the slab at Kingdom City, MO and did US highways to Minturn, CO. I agree that it is a way to "see" the country and get to know the people. The services along the interstates are homogenized and not representative of the local culture. If you have the time it is a lot more fun IMMHO.

[HawkGTRider]

On our way to STAR we jumped off the slab at Kingdom City, MO and did US highways to Minturn, CO. I agree that it is a way to "see" the country and get to know the people. The services along the interstates are homogenized and not representative of the local culture. If you have the time it is a lot more fun IMMHO.

Randy Logan & I were on the interstate getting through Tennessee & Kentucky before getting onto some "better" roads in Missouri. Some of the US highways were 4 lane limited access cesspools, but I had tried very hard to avoid as much of that as possible. We were mostly on 2 lane roads and even found a couple of short stretches of gravel. :-) I know gravel isn't everyone's cup of tea, but with me on my BMW F650GS and Randy on his Wee-Strom, we were ready and willing.

[MSTASam]

Gets me wondering how many of the Iron Butt riders have done a 'no Interstates' Iron Butt ride.

[HawkGTRider]

Gets me wondering how many of the Iron Butt riders have done a 'no Interstates' Iron Butt ride.

I did a Tennessee in-state SaddleSore 1000 a few years ago. My route followed the general outline of the state. It was about 1150 miles and it took a bit over 22 hours. The only interstate I was on was to avoid downtown Memphis and downtown Chattanooga (about 20-25 miles total). With those two cities at corners, my route needed to go through those locations. Trying to get through them with traffic, traffic lights, etc., would have been brutal. Oh, and it was on July 4th a few years ago. The police were out in great force all over the state, and I had to be extra careful. Frankly, that's one ride I don't care to duplicate.

[Downs]

I've been preaching that for years. I usually setup via mapsource and avoid the boring ass interstates and whatnot. On our eastern loop trip we did in July last year we spent less than 500 miles on interstates on a 5000 mile trip.

[stevegrab]

Those boring ass interstates are even tough to do in a car. Trailered to Avon for STAR and a week plus trip after through various parks in CO/WY. Driving out and back across Kansas (and eastern CO) was brutal, could not imagine it on a bike. I do know that getting off the superhighway does have its merits as smaller roads mean less traffic, more things to see, and smaller towns with more home town services. However I also found in WY that sometimes there just are no services for quite some time, especially on 4th of July so be prepared with food & water so any place off the road (even without shade/seating) can be a decent break on a long hot ride.

[STDocLizard1]

After 7 cross country trips(5 on two wheels), I say thanks for the vision of President Eisenhower in the creation of the Interstate Highway System. It is the quickest way to get from point A to point B. Who doesn't enjoy the back roads, U.S. Highways, county roads, and forgotten byways, but when it comes down to time/speed/distance, you have to consider the slab.

[wingland]

'No Interstate' 'In-State' Ironbutt SS1K ride is on the ToDO list for this fall on the CBR 250. Just loop around Kansas - a bit hard to avoid interstates around the KC metro but I think I can pull it off . . .