Far be it for me to give advice to seasoned riders, and I'm not going to. This page is about travelling from abroad to ride Route 66 and where I found I could have made it easier for myself.
I have been riding, not continuously, since 1974. That was mostly commuting to and from work, which for a few years was all year round, Maidenhead to Gloucester and back, plus a bit of joy-riding now and then.
I've only done serious riding since retiring, at 60, and joining the Royal British Legion Riders Branch. Annual trips to Belgium or France, multiple times to the NMA (National Memorial Arboretum), Iron Butt 'Saddlesore' RBLR1000 (1,000 miles in less than 24 hours) etc. I've also been through an advanced riding course and obtained a silver award. That was on a large Honda CTX1300. Probably could have obtained Gold if I'd done the course and test on my current bike, H.D. XL1200T Sportster.
However, I do intend to give advice to the not so seasoned riders who imagine Route 66 is that vision of a very long, straight, roads disappearing to a point on the horizon. It certainly is not all like that and there are some pretty nasty bends, the worst probably between Cool Springs and Oatman. Having said that, it wasn't the bends that worried me, it was the very sheer, and deep, drop off the right-hand side of the road. I love flying, but I don't do heights generally so those drops terrified me! See the graphic map below, which doesn't show you the drops of course. I didn't count them but I'm told there are 191 bends with two of them hairpin. I reckon there's at least 4 hairpin bends in there.
I have been riding, not continuously, since 1974. That was mostly commuting to and from work, which for a few years was all year round, Maidenhead to Gloucester and back, plus a bit of joy-riding now and then.
I've only done serious riding since retiring, at 60, and joining the Royal British Legion Riders Branch. Annual trips to Belgium or France, multiple times to the NMA (National Memorial Arboretum), Iron Butt 'Saddlesore' RBLR1000 (1,000 miles in less than 24 hours) etc. I've also been through an advanced riding course and obtained a silver award. That was on a large Honda CTX1300. Probably could have obtained Gold if I'd done the course and test on my current bike, H.D. XL1200T Sportster.
However, I do intend to give advice to the not so seasoned riders who imagine Route 66 is that vision of a very long, straight, roads disappearing to a point on the horizon. It certainly is not all like that and there are some pretty nasty bends, the worst probably between Cool Springs and Oatman. Having said that, it wasn't the bends that worried me, it was the very sheer, and deep, drop off the right-hand side of the road. I love flying, but I don't do heights generally so those drops terrified me! See the graphic map below, which doesn't show you the drops of course. I didn't count them but I'm told there are 191 bends with two of them hairpin. I reckon there's at least 4 hairpin bends in there.
Do's
Comfort/Air Pocket seat - It's a LONG ride;
I took my Airhawk Comfort Seat, it's proven to prevent 'Numb Bum' syndrome on many long rides and I thought I would need it on this one. I'm glad I did but, to be honest, we didn't normally ride for more than an hour at a time, although there were some exceptions, so I could have probably got away with not taking it. Would I take it if I did this ride again? Yes, so it's definitely a 'Do' on my list Do you wear spectacles to ride?
I'd advise that, if you need them for distance, and you are going to use a half shell helmet, you get a good pair of goggles that will accommodate your glasses. I only need glasses for reading so I found the following more than adequate. 3 sets, one clear, one sunglasses and one yellow for night riding. They have rubber around the inside of the lens so they fit snugly against your face, so no wind problems with your eyes. Plus, they were really cheap! The side straps of the half shell helmet held them in place and I used either the clear, during the rain on the first 2 days, or sun glasses versions throughout the ride. Found similar ones on Amazon, around £9 for the three. Do take your own helmet, unless;
This really is a matter of choice. On the first two days we had rain, I was wishing I'd taken my full-face helmet. However, I managed well with two neck warmers (it was also freezing cold), one of them pulled up over the lower part of my face, plus the clear glasses. Took me a few days to get used to the process of buckling up, and undoing, the half-shell. Ask your tour guide (if you use one) to teach you the knack of doing it. Photo shows me wearing the half-shell helmet and I found it fine in good weather. I also got the hang of doing it up, which helped. |
Don'ts
Don't Get 'The Dream' of R66 when choosing a rental bike;
Some will have the idea of riding a big Harley across America on Route 66, it's the dream journey for many bikers. Don't forget, it's not all long straight roads! Think honestly about your own capability and experience, do you already ride a large bike, maybe even a Harley? If you do, and you know your own level of competence, then go for it. If not, for example there was one UK couple who obtained their motorbike licence purely to do the Route 66 trip. No experience whatsoever and, not surprisingly, they were caught out on the incredibly twisty roads that are on the route. I ride a Sportster XL1200T and hired a Softail Heritage, just right. Bigger than the Sportster but very manageable and comfortable throughout the ride. If you hire the wrong bike for yourself, it could ruin your adventure Don't take too many clothes.
You only need a couple of decent shirts; I took them for the welcome and final dinners but wore them a couple of times in the hotels. Half a dozen T-Shirts should do you as many of the hotels have laundromats, or there is one close by. Apart from the machines they also have change machines which will take $1 or $5 bills to give change for the powder, washers and driers. First load of washing I did was in Santa Fe. If you go early, I went in April and encountered cold weather on all but 3 days, you may need some thermal leggings and/or waterproofs. Don't expect fabulous weather;
This mostly applies if you go early, or later in the year. As mentioned elsewhere, we had terrible weather in April. Rain and freezing cold all day when we left Chicago. Some rain the next day but the cold persisted on all but 3 days. The other thing we had, almost constantly, was high crosswinds. Up to 50 and 70 mph winds, which will knock you around and have you riding at an angle along the road. High winds can occur during the summer months too but the danger then is blazing sun. DON'T FORGET TO TAKE, OR BUY EN-ROUTE, SOME GOOD SUNSCREEN CREAM Even in April my nose peeled when the wind blew my neck warmer off my face. Come to think of it, the soreness might have been the wind! |
Do Take Plenty of Cash;
You will find that most of your expenditure will be on meals, drinks, and tips. Tipping is big in America but you get great service because of it.
I mentioned drinks although no-one drank alcohol to excess due to the early morning starts.
The other thing you spend a lot of money on is T-Shirts, and bits and pieces, stickers, patches, etc. in the many, many, gift shops along the way.
I took $1,300 in cash and $500 on a Post Office travel card. I spent all but a couple of hundred dollars.
You will find that most of your expenditure will be on meals, drinks, and tips. Tipping is big in America but you get great service because of it.
I mentioned drinks although no-one drank alcohol to excess due to the early morning starts.
The other thing you spend a lot of money on is T-Shirts, and bits and pieces, stickers, patches, etc. in the many, many, gift shops along the way.
I took $1,300 in cash and $500 on a Post Office travel card. I spent all but a couple of hundred dollars.
Do take a bike mounted video camera;
I say that, and I packed it, but when my wife asked me to take my bike boots and trousers, I had to change bags. Off I went to the States, while my TomTom Bandit and mount stayed in the original case DOH!
A lot of the riding is on fairly straight roads but you can edit out a lot of that while keeping the twisty bits and sights that abound along the way.
If you don't already have one you can pick up a GoPro fairly cheaply on-line.
Oh, and don't forget charger and adequate number of SD cards. Bikes are often equipped with a 12v accessory port 'Cigarette Lighter' socket, or USB port, so you can power your camera as you travel. Battery power alone wouldn't get you through the day on a camera without replaceable battery facility. GoPro enables you to change the battery but it's a pain having to charge multiple batteries during your overnight stops.
I say that, and I packed it, but when my wife asked me to take my bike boots and trousers, I had to change bags. Off I went to the States, while my TomTom Bandit and mount stayed in the original case DOH!
A lot of the riding is on fairly straight roads but you can edit out a lot of that while keeping the twisty bits and sights that abound along the way.
If you don't already have one you can pick up a GoPro fairly cheaply on-line.
Oh, and don't forget charger and adequate number of SD cards. Bikes are often equipped with a 12v accessory port 'Cigarette Lighter' socket, or USB port, so you can power your camera as you travel. Battery power alone wouldn't get you through the day on a camera without replaceable battery facility. GoPro enables you to change the battery but it's a pain having to charge multiple batteries during your overnight stops.
Do get a good guide book;
If you go with Eagle Riders they will give you an 'EZ66 Guide for Travellers' handbook as part of the package. However, I can highly recommend, especially if you are to go it alone, 'The Route 66 Adventure Handbook', by Drew Knowles. It gives very detailed information about every step of the way, the history of the places you will be passing through, motels that are still operating, how to stay on Route 66, where possible as much of it just doesn't exist any longer, roadside attractions, cafes, natural wonders and lot and lots of maps. Plus, it is easy to read up on where you are going the next day.
If you go with Eagle Riders they will give you an 'EZ66 Guide for Travellers' handbook as part of the package. However, I can highly recommend, especially if you are to go it alone, 'The Route 66 Adventure Handbook', by Drew Knowles. It gives very detailed information about every step of the way, the history of the places you will be passing through, motels that are still operating, how to stay on Route 66, where possible as much of it just doesn't exist any longer, roadside attractions, cafes, natural wonders and lot and lots of maps. Plus, it is easy to read up on where you are going the next day.
Do Give Yourself Time;
That's not so easy if you are on a guided tour with restricted time schedule. However, a lot of Route 66 is derelict motels, garages and cafes, even deserted small towns. On our 13 days of riding, we saw many fabulous places but there was no way we were going to see everything.
If you are going on your own, or with friends, give yourself 3 or 4 weeks. You might like to spend a whole day, 2 nights, in one place or another, as we did in Santa Fe.
That's not so easy if you are on a guided tour with restricted time schedule. However, a lot of Route 66 is derelict motels, garages and cafes, even deserted small towns. On our 13 days of riding, we saw many fabulous places but there was no way we were going to see everything.
If you are going on your own, or with friends, give yourself 3 or 4 weeks. You might like to spend a whole day, 2 nights, in one place or another, as we did in Santa Fe.
DO listen to your tour guide;
If you are going on a guided tour please listen to the morning and evening briefings, the hand signals that will be used for such things as changing from staggered formation to single file, and back again. If you are not used to riding in a group the staggered formation can take some getting used to, your tour guide will give you instructions about that.
If you are going on a guided tour please listen to the morning and evening briefings, the hand signals that will be used for such things as changing from staggered formation to single file, and back again. If you are not used to riding in a group the staggered formation can take some getting used to, your tour guide will give you instructions about that.