 Topic Name: Finding local dirt roads?
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on: June 07, 2013, 09:22:51 PM
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silver179951
Posts: 2
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« on: June 07, 2013, 09:22:51 PM » |
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I don't have the necessary gear to go on any extended trips, but I'm itching to get out and ride some dirt roads. I live out in BFE (Lubbock in this case), so I'm sure there's plenty of dirt roads that I can string together for a long, mostly dirt or gravel ride. My question is how to find them. I've stumbled across a few while out riding my road bike, but surely there is a better way to find them than to hope i stumble across one on a ride. Any suggestions?
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Topic Name: Finding local dirt roads?
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Reply #1 on: June 08, 2013, 06:02:29 AM
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Topic Name: Finding local dirt roads?
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Reply #2 on: June 08, 2013, 06:24:55 AM
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Colorado Cool Breeze
Location: Colorado
Posts: 271
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« Reply #2 on: June 08, 2013, 06:24:55 AM » |
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I like using forestry service maps. They cover a large area and provide just enough detail for dirt road treks.
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Topic Name: Finding local dirt roads?
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Reply #3 on: June 08, 2013, 07:37:41 AM
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silver179951
Posts: 2
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« Reply #3 on: June 08, 2013, 07:37:41 AM » |
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I will definitely check this out, thanks for the tip! |
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Topic Name: Finding local dirt roads?
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Reply #4 on: June 08, 2013, 08:46:20 AM
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drwelby
Posts: 38
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« Reply #4 on: June 08, 2013, 08:46:20 AM » |
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Also see if there are any motorcycle touring maps for the panhandle. The one's I've seen for Colorado do a good job of showing dirt roads.
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Topic Name: Finding local dirt roads?
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Reply #5 on: June 08, 2013, 04:11:53 PM
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AZTtripper
Moderator
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 1732
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« Reply #5 on: June 08, 2013, 04:11:53 PM » |
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Here's a free down load for a online map. http://maps4pc.com/download/ That might be as good as you'll get, I doubt there's much FS land around Lubbock. |
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Topic Name: Finding local dirt roads?
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Reply #6 on: June 08, 2013, 11:14:13 PM
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Adam Alphabet
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 968
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« Reply #6 on: June 08, 2013, 11:14:13 PM » |
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I use google maps and google earth. Zoom way in, hit the photo's tab and start checking out the terrain. If things look promising I'll try to dig up some info on various forums and sites related to motorbike and atv offroad touring, etc.. whatever I can find. Try to join things up and go from there. Local knowledge is hard to beat though.
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@adamalphabet
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Topic Name: Finding local dirt roads?
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Reply #7 on: June 10, 2013, 10:09:11 AM
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HOser
Too busy looking good
Location: Colorado
Posts: 50
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« Reply #7 on: June 10, 2013, 10:09:11 AM » |
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I second the recommendations for Delorme Gazetteer maps in conjunction with Google Earth. The Gazetteers do a great job laying out all the options and they color code roads according to how busy there are, which is nice. The Gazetteers are in book form with 11x17 inch pages, which photocopy nicely, so I make copies of the pages I need to carry with me.
With Google Earth, you can get a feel for the nature of the road surface or help find hidden routes through corn fields. Google Earth also makes it easy to scope out if there are convenience stores on the routes your planning.
Have fun!
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Topic Name: Finding local dirt roads?
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Reply #8 on: June 10, 2013, 10:38:00 AM
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bmike-vt
Location: Horgen, Switzerland
Posts: 1122
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« Reply #8 on: June 10, 2013, 10:38:00 AM » |
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ADV Rider, Google Earth, Google Maps, Bing Maps, and call or email your states transportation department. I have PDFs (24x36) of every town / county in VT - and they all have designations on the roads. When I have some $$$$$$ I want to print out all the ones where I ride on a regular basis.
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