The Rockies
Criss-crossing the 3000-mile mountain range in nothern America
Culture shock
All home comforts are here and on the whole, Americans are very open and welcoming, and love our accent! Remember that tipping is mandatory — 20% in restaurants is the norm, as is tipping bar staff when they serve you a drink. Not tipping is considered a serious faux pas. Food portions are massive, so think about ordering to share and fresh vegetables are a rarity.
Road conditions
Cities can be big with traffic and rush hours to match while filtering (lanesplitting) is a no-no, normally enraging locals. You can (mostly) turn right on a red light though. Speed limits vary as they are set on a State-by-state basis, as are helmet laws, so check before you go. Watch for livestock and wildlife on rural roads at dusk and dawn and for the off-roader, the vastness of the US means plenty of dirt tracks too.
What’s it like to ride there?
The USA is so big and varied, it can be hard to know where to start. Route 66 is the best-known but others offer far better riding. We recommend a northsouth route through The Rockies — the rugged terrain that is the Continental Divide. Start in Seattle or Portland and finish in Las Vegas or Los Angeles. You can see some great parks — Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Arches, Canyonlands, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce and Death Valley — and cover more than 2500 miles. Use back roads, not interstates, which are arrow-straight and boring.
Must ride/see
See the magnificent views through Glacier National Park and along the ‘Going to the Sun Road’. See Yellowstone National Park, where the road passes bubbling volcanic mud pools, bison and Old Faithful geyser. Ride a loop of Chief Joseph Highway and Beartooth Highway, one of the highest roads in the USA at 3337m. Ride off-road on the awesome Shafer Trail in Canyonlands; the great dirt road to Toroweap Overlook at North Rim Grand Canyon in Arizona or the Valley of the Gods in Utah. Ride through Zion National Park — it’s a popular scenic ride and it will take your breath away. Ride the San Juan Highway and Million Dollar Highway, Route 550. Visit Las Vegas in Nevada’s Mojave Desert, famed for its vibrant nightlife, casinos and large-scale entertainment.
When to go
May/june and September offer milder temperatures, more settled weather and fewer crowds. Avoid July and August.
How to get your bike there
It’s only worth taking your own bike if you’re going to be there for three weeks or more. Air freight to the west coast (www.motofreight.com) is around £1700 but sea freight (up to eight weeks each way) can be much cheaper. Alternatively, rent bikes locally — Eaglerider (www. eaglerider.com) is by far the biggest provider but check insurance carefully. A BMW R1200GS starts at US$179 per day, third-party only but with proper insurance, you can be paying over US$300 per day.