Ride across the USA

[Stichill]

I dont mind superslab in rural america, only in and around major cities, even then mostly at " rush hour" when it doesn't rush at all. Personally I'd rather slab it to the next thing I really want to see, than to ride thru yet another typical small town with stop lights and their own traffic issues. Can't imagine going all the way across this country on back roads only.

Man, I would love to do that. Go across the USA without ever entering a "yellow zone" on a map.

[the Ferret]

yea the yellow zones are where I try and avoid freeways. Travelling just backroads thru Kansas, and Nebraska, and North and South Dakota for example can be agonizing, unless you like liking at millions of acres of sunflower fields and prairies at 35-45 mph.

[PowerDubs_imp]

Nope. Only if superslab the whole way, but then what is the point?

If I’m going all highway, I’m taking my W12 Phaeton and putting my foot down.


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Well, I guess it depends on what your objectives are. For me, I had a limited amount of time and certain non-negotiable points of interest - Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Graceland, BRP, Six Flags New England, New Brunswick to visit family - once I plotted those on a map it was clear that highway travel was necessary.

For me this was a bucket list trip as I was deploying to Afghanistan for 8 months immediately following my trip and there were no guarantees that I would be coming back or what shape I would be in if I did. Given the fact that I was wounded twice and can barely ride now I guess I wasn't wrong.

Also, I'm not as adverse to "slab" riding as some on here seem to be. Sometimes there is nothing I love more than a 1000km day ride and statistically speaking there are far less accidents on the highway.

You have a Phaeton? There can't be many of those around, Canada only got around 100 total IIRC.

Yes, the time really is the biggest factor in my mind. Which is the reason I haven't gone on any trips on a bike. Too busy working.

Yea- we have had 4 Phaetons in my family. I owned 2 at the same time for a while. I started with an '05 V8 4-seater, and then also bought an '06 W12 4-seater. I eventually sold the '05 V8 to a guy from Canada who drove down with a friend and drove it back. So now you have 101.

My father in law started with an '04 V8 5-seater and eventually upgraded to an '05 W12 5-seater. Then this time last year he sold that and picked up a Bentley Continental GT which is basically the same car with 2 turbos strapped on.

I've been waay further in either of my Phaeton than I have even been on a bike. They eat highway miles, the faster you go the more they like it.

[Django]

yea the yellow zones are where I try and avoid freeways. Travelling just backroads thru Kansas, and Nebraska, and North and South Dakota for example can be agonizing, unless you like liking at millions of acres of sunflower fields and prairies at 35-45 mph.

I think about to bridge the middle of the US by a Saddlesore (SS1000).

[pdedse]

I dont mind superslab in rural america, only in and around major cities, even then mostly at " rush hour" when it doesn't rush at all. Personally I'd rather slab it to the next thing I really want to see, than to ride thru yet another typical small town with stop lights and their own traffic issues. Can't imagine going all the way across this country on back roads only.

I can, but it's all about time and money. I'm from Kansas originally, but haven't lived there since I was 18. When I get to travel the midwest I love taking my time along the backroads...the seemingly endless fields, the "nothing out there" look, the small town funkiness--makes me feel at home. But if you got to "get there by..." then it's no fun.

On the flip side, after 30 minutes, I grow weary of curvy, forest-covered mountain riding--can't see anything because of the darn trees, and it all looks the same!

[LongRanger_imp]

yea the yellow zones are where I try and avoid freeways. Travelling just backroads thru Kansas, and Nebraska, and North and South Dakota for example can be agonizing, unless you like liking at millions of acres of sunflower fields and prairies at 35-45 mph.

I generally agree but the interstate is horribly boring in those areas too. I'd rather be in a car. One exception is the 275-mile Sand Hills Scenic Byway across western Nebraska. It really is very nice and vastly superior to droning down I-80 for hours on end. An added bonus (?) is spending ten minutes to admire the handiwork at Carhenge. It's not worth going out of your way to see, but if you're already there...

[the Ferret]

I dont mind superslab in rural america, only in and around major cities, even then mostly at " rush hour" when it doesn't rush at all. Personally I'd rather slab it to the next thing I really want to see, than to ride thru yet another typical small town with stop lights and their own traffic issues. Can't imagine going all the way across this country on back roads only.

I can, but it's all about time and money. I'm from Kansas originally, but haven't lived there since I was 18. When I get to travel the midwest I love taking my time along the backroads...the seemingly endless fields, the "nothing out there" look, the small town funkiness--makes me feel at home. But if you got to "get there by..." then it's no fun.

On the flip side, after 30 minutes, I grow weary of curvy, forest-covered mountain riding--can't see anything because of the darn trees, and it all looks the same!

I can, but it's all about time and money. I'm from Kansas originally, but haven't lived there since I was 18. When I get to travel the midwest I love taking my time along the backroads...the seemingly endless fields, the "nothing out there" look, the small town funkiness--makes me feel at home. But if you got to "get there by..." then it's no fun.

On the flip side, after 30 minutes, I grow weary of curvy, forest-covered mountain riding--can't see anything because of the darn trees, and it all looks the same!
that's great. That's how I feel about fields. Sure you can see further, but there is nothing to see but more wheat/corn/beans/sunflowers (take your pick). I live in a funky small midwestern town and ride thru them every day on my rides I know what a stop light, a stop sign or hardware store or post office looks like. That is what I am trying to get away from when I go someplace.

Different strokes

[Stichill]

I dont mind superslab in rural america, only in and around major cities, even then mostly at " rush hour" when it doesn't rush at all. Personally I'd rather slab it to the next thing I really want to see, than to ride thru yet another typical small town with stop lights and their own traffic issues. Can't imagine going all the way across this country on back roads only.

I can, but it's all about time and money. I'm from Kansas originally, but haven't lived there since I was 18. When I get to travel the midwest I love taking my time along the backroads...the seemingly endless fields, the "nothing out there" look, the small town funkiness--makes me feel at home. But if you got to "get there by..." then it's no fun.

On the flip side, after 30 minutes, I grow weary of curvy, forest-covered mountain riding--can't see anything because of the darn trees, and it all looks the same!

I completely understand this! I like riding in open country more than in tunnels of foliage. I'm from the piedmont region of Virginia, where it's generally hard to see the sky...you look up at it through a hole in the trees. No sunrises or sunsets unless you're on a bridge over a river. I lived for a year in Nebraska and was amazed at how much of the sky I could see, and how far I could gaze across the landscape. I like riding in Kentucky because in many areas you can ride along the ridgetops and get views of sky and land. Sometimes I ride to Indiana to experience quirky little roads and places that are off the beaten path. The roads are fairly straight but there's just something nice about being somewhere less traveled, without traffic, and with no rush to get anywhere.

[pdedse]

I dont mind superslab in rural america, only in and around major cities, even then mostly at " rush hour" when it doesn't rush at all. Personally I'd rather slab it to the next thing I really want to see, than to ride thru yet another typical small town with stop lights and their own traffic issues. Can't imagine going all the way across this country on back roads only.

I can, but it's all about time and money. I'm from Kansas originally, but haven't lived there since I was 18. When I get to travel the midwest I love taking my time along the backroads...the seemingly endless fields, the "nothing out there" look, the small town funkiness--makes me feel at home. But if you got to "get there by..." then it's no fun.

On the flip side, after 30 minutes, I grow weary of curvy, forest-covered mountain riding--can't see anything because of the darn trees, and it all looks the same!

I can, but it's all about time and money. I'm from Kansas originally, but haven't lived there since I was 18. When I get to travel the midwest I love taking my time along the backroads...the seemingly endless fields, the "nothing out there" look, the small town funkiness--makes me feel at home. But if you got to "get there by..." then it's no fun.

On the flip side, after 30 minutes, I grow weary of curvy, forest-covered mountain riding--can't see anything because of the darn trees, and it all looks the same!
that's great. That's how I feel about fields. Sure you can see further, but there is nothing to see but more wheat/corn/beans/sunflowers (take your pick). I live in a funky small midwestern town and ride thru them every day on my rides I know what a stop light, a stop sign or hardware store or post office looks like. That is what I am trying to get away from when I go someplace.

Different strokes

I stop for all small town hardware stores!

[Roper_imp]

I dont mind superslab in rural america, only in and around major cities, even then mostly at " rush hour" when it doesn't rush at all. Personally I'd rather slab it to the next thing I really want to see, than to ride thru yet another typical small town with stop lights and their own traffic issues. Can't imagine going all the way across this country on back roads only.

I can, but it's all about time and money. I'm from Kansas originally, but haven't lived there since I was 18. When I get to travel the midwest I love taking my time along the backroads...the seemingly endless fields, the "nothing out there" look, the small town funkiness--makes me feel at home. But if you got to "get there by..." then it's no fun.

On the flip side, after 30 minutes, I grow weary of curvy, forest-covered mountain riding--can't see anything because of the darn trees, and it all looks the same!

I completely understand this! I like riding in open country more than in tunnels of foliage. I'm from the piedmont region of Virginia, where it's generally hard to see the sky...you look up at it through a hole in the trees. No sunrises or sunsets unless you're on a bridge over a river. I lived for a year in Nebraska and was amazed at how much of the sky I could see, and how far I could gaze across the landscape. I like riding in Kentucky because in many areas you can ride along the ridgetops and get views of sky and land. Sometimes I ride to Indiana to experience quirky little roads and places that are off the beaten path. The roads are fairly straight but there's just something nice about being somewhere less traveled, without traffic, and with no rush to get anywhere.

A couple of years ago, when we were driving back home to Texas after visiting extended family in Idaho and Utah, my daughter exclaimed when we crossed the state line into Texas, "Finally! No more stinkin' mountains blocking out the sky!" We moved to Utah last year. I think she's getting used to those stinkin' mountains, now.