Trans-Am route on backroads?

[JeffOYB]

OK, the Trans-Can route is 13,000 miles long...

The Trans-Am motorcycle trail seems LIKELY a lot of deep moto-fluff -- is the biking good where lots of motos have passed? My hunch is no unless you use a Pugsley which makes "good" into a new thing.

So how about a Trans-Am route that's like 3,000 miles of dirt road and back roads of low traffic volume. 2-tracks, rail-trail, what have you. A route for low-impact touring. OK, maybe even a route for fast touring. Like rotating the TD onto E/W axis.

??

I clicked thru the threads and didn't notice anything but I'm no expert. The ACA has lots of E/W routes, right? But any backroads/dirt?

Does RAAM ever use chunks of ACA routes?

I'd think ACA already designs routes for low traffic. Do people use these for UL fast crossings?

Basically, to me "bikepacking" doesn't mean just trail or even just dirt. But am I going beyond the pale? Off topic, anyway?

Just pondering things...

[digaaron]

Closest thing so far to what you describe Jeff is the American Discovery Trail (www.discoverytrail.org). Great concept. Sections go through Wilderness or other non-bike areas, but in some cases I believe they've developed alternates for cycilsts. I think they could really use more public support. The ultimate vision is for an entirely off-road, cross-country route that, including alternates, is entirely bike-able.

[Chunt]

This is a route developed by dual sport motorcycle enthusiast. It's not completely across the country but most of it's on dirt.

http://www.transamtrail.com/

[AZTtripper]

This is a route developed by dual sport motorcycle enthusiast. It's not completely across the country but most of it's on dirt.

http://www.transamtrail.com/

This looks like an interesting route just what JeffOYB was asking for I should think that most of the dirt roads would be very doable on a bike no motor needed. Sure you may run into some sand and other loose terrain that would be easier on a moto but anywhere they can go we can too it just takes us a little longer.

I went looking through the site to see if he has a GPS file available, I see he wants $290 for the maps and a rolling cue sheet. I can't see it he also says it can only be done E-W following the roll sheet. Seems that if you had a map and or even better a GPS track you could go either way.

Several years ago I mentioned to Scott that he should write an AZT mountain bike guide book, his answer was no I think it should be out there on line. One so we can make updates and two that it should be free for those who want to make the trip. This site does just that and so much more. Just sayin.

Tim