Mapping the Trans-America Bike Route

Many have asked how we follow our route. We follow 150 bicycle maps published by Adventure Cycling. The original Trans-Am bike route was set up for a large ride of thousands of riders going cross-country in 1976 to celebrate the bicentennial. The route became known as the “Trans-Am Route.” A bike touring association grew out of that ride called Adventure Cycling headquartered in Missoula, MT. If you want to purchase the maps, you join the association. Check them out at the following URL: http://www.adventurecycling.org/

The maps are sold in sets for each of dozens of routes set up throughout the world. Each map covers about 30 miles of the 4200 mile Trans-Am route so we have 150 maps each measuring 4” x 7” in size that fit nicely in a waterproof holder on the handlebars. The maps each show the route like a typical map (although north is not up) and each have two written descriptions of the route, one from East to West and one from West to East. (Why is north not up in these maps? Because the route although generally east and west often goes north and south, but they want to get thirty miles on each map. So the orientation of the particular 30 miles is left to right, not north to south. The map then fits into the map holder attached to the handlebars. Got that?) I have taken the descriptive data from the maps and written it out in spreadsheet format for Cimarron the Trail Boss to follow as I carry the actual map on the bike. We learned last year that the Trail Boss needs notes as he follows a highway map. The bike map is not good for car travel as it highlights the route boldly making backcountry roads look like major highways and making following the map difficult especially for car travel.