What I learned while riding through Oklahoma
07-17-13, 01:27 AM
#2
Senior Member
Good read. Yes, cycle touring is an adventure, and it doesn't take long to realise that what actually happens can be quite different to theory and what we envisage in our minds beforehand.
You seemed to cope quite well with the heat, and finding accommodation of some sort. And you have learned very early on what some of us forget... take your time and do the things you wouldn't think of doing travelling by motor vehicle.
Oh and friendly is as friendly does.
You seemed to cope quite well with the heat, and finding accommodation of some sort. And you have learned very early on what some of us forget... take your time and do the things you wouldn't think of doing travelling by motor vehicle.
Oh and friendly is as friendly does.
07-17-13, 04:46 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Sequim, Washington on the Olympic Peninsula
Posts: 438
Bikes: Co-Motion Mocha, Fuji touring, Trex hybrid, Bike Friday Tandem Traveler
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks for posting. It was a good read. We have our touring wings clipped for awhile, so it was good to live parts of your trip.
07-17-13, 06:04 AM
#4
Full Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Perkins, Oklahoma
Posts: 241
Bikes: A few
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Nice to see a local (almost) on here. I'll be following along!
So I spent the past 4 days riding though Oklahoma. I'm a Tulsa native and will be riding solo through South America for 5 months starting in December. I've spent the past year or so building by bike (with the help of bikeforums) and I used this trip as a time to test me gear, my abilities, etc. A lot of my pre-conceived perceptions changed once I started riding and I thought you guys might be interested in seeing a few photos and reading what all I thought about. I've linked to my web page but please note that I do not receive any compensation for views or anything. It's merely easier for me to update than posting photo by photo here and I'd still like to share it with you all
If you'd like to tak a gander, you can check it out here.
Cheers.
Andrew
If you'd like to tak a gander, you can check it out here.
Cheers.
Andrew
07-17-13, 06:39 AM
#5
Hooked on Touring
I biked across Oklahoma from Black Mesa east 101 years ago - early October - perfect time of year.
Took the GRE at OPSU - slept by the ball fields. Also visited the music faculty at Northwestern in Alva.
To this day, I had the best tailwinds of any trip - - ever - - stretched out my arms and went 20 mph.
A note about random camping in the Great Plains states:
Most of the states permit "roadside" resting and the counties own right of way on county roads.
If you ride 1/2 mile or so off of a paved road - maybe a mile -
You can usually find a nice spot where farm roads intersect with an area to the side that is semi-clear.
If you wait to evening - there will rarely be any traffic to speak of until morning - but tractors will be out early.
Nice write-up of your trip - - J
Took the GRE at OPSU - slept by the ball fields. Also visited the music faculty at Northwestern in Alva.
To this day, I had the best tailwinds of any trip - - ever - - stretched out my arms and went 20 mph.
A note about random camping in the Great Plains states:
Most of the states permit "roadside" resting and the counties own right of way on county roads.
If you ride 1/2 mile or so off of a paved road - maybe a mile -
You can usually find a nice spot where farm roads intersect with an area to the side that is semi-clear.
If you wait to evening - there will rarely be any traffic to speak of until morning - but tractors will be out early.
Nice write-up of your trip - - J
07-17-13, 07:04 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,411
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 55 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 32 Times
in
18 Posts
I'm a "born and raised" Okie and have lived here for 45 years and have been riding a bike for much of that time. I haven't read your article yet or the comments following it but here is my prediction: Some mention of WIND. 
ETA: I was curious about what your bike is so I went back to your blog and saw your photo and immediately was reminded of some of the family members of one of my best friends and then I saw your name. Do you have an uncle who is a veterinarian and another who was a science teacher for years? Do you have cousins named Steven, David and James? Do you have a cousin who is a professional musician? The family I know has roots in Tulsa and small town near Tulsa...maybe Chandler? The guys tend to be tall, analytical and to have a very adventurous spirit.
ETA: I was curious about what your bike is so I went back to your blog and saw your photo and immediately was reminded of some of the family members of one of my best friends and then I saw your name. Do you have an uncle who is a veterinarian and another who was a science teacher for years? Do you have cousins named Steven, David and James? Do you have a cousin who is a professional musician? The family I know has roots in Tulsa and small town near Tulsa...maybe Chandler? The guys tend to be tall, analytical and to have a very adventurous spirit.
Last edited by corwin1968; 07-17-13 at 08:13 AM.
07-17-13, 08:27 AM
#8
Full Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Perkins, Oklahoma
Posts: 241
Bikes: A few
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I biked across Oklahoma from Black Mesa east 101 years ago - early October - perfect time of year.
Took the GRE at OPSU - slept by the ball fields. Also visited the music faculty at Northwestern in Alva.
To this day, I had the best tailwinds of any trip - - ever - - stretched out my arms and went 20 mph.
A note about random camping in the Great Plains states:
Most of the states permit "roadside" resting and the counties own right of way on county roads.
If you ride 1/2 mile or so off of a paved road - maybe a mile -
You can usually find a nice spot where farm roads intersect with an area to the side that is semi-clear.
If you wait to evening - there will rarely be any traffic to speak of until morning - but tractors will be out early.
Nice write-up of your trip - - J
Took the GRE at OPSU - slept by the ball fields. Also visited the music faculty at Northwestern in Alva.
To this day, I had the best tailwinds of any trip - - ever - - stretched out my arms and went 20 mph.
A note about random camping in the Great Plains states:
Most of the states permit "roadside" resting and the counties own right of way on county roads.
If you ride 1/2 mile or so off of a paved road - maybe a mile -
You can usually find a nice spot where farm roads intersect with an area to the side that is semi-clear.
If you wait to evening - there will rarely be any traffic to speak of until morning - but tractors will be out early.
Nice write-up of your trip - - J
One thing has changed recently down here. Although we aren't getting the attention that North Dakota is, oilfield activity is having a MAJOR impact on localized areas. Be advised you might be disappointed if you are planning a nice quiet ride-if you are on the wrong road, it is going to be most unpleasant. Try to check with a local before riding through here.
07-17-13, 09:27 AM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: NE Tx
Posts: 2,766
Bikes: Tour Easy, Linear USS, Lightening Thunderbolt, custom DF, Raleigh hybrid, Felt time trial
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've done several tours in Oklahoma and consider it a top notch state for touring. People, roads, overnighting, attractions. Bunch of nicely spaced state parks.
07-17-13, 07:54 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,411
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 55 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 32 Times
in
18 Posts
Glad you all enjoyed reading it. I haven't got much pf an audience aside from my friends and family and I'm always looking to share my experiences. Hyhuu, I brought so much gear because I was trying to replicate what I would be riding while in South America. It sounds like a lot but a lot of my equipment is just heavy. Corwin, I've got a lot of family in Tulsa however none that meet the criteria you posted above.
