Originally Posted by JMo (& piglet)

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Ultimately though, if you want something different, and are appropriately experienced and on the right bike, crack-on and incorporate as many of Kevin's red options into your own route - that is what I've been suggesting all along - get both sets of suggestions, study them, and put together your own ultimate 'trail' which suits you and your machine.


fwiw. There are any number of TAT ride reports from people who seriously underestimated their ability and stamina to ride consecutive days on rough terrain for weeks on end, never mind their actual talent when it comes to more challenging off-road terrain... and typically have either had enough by Moab, or broken themselves and their bikes somewhere along the route already.

Regarding a few of your comments above - Black Dragon - yep, great trail, and in my opinion Sam really should have kept that in instead of that silly 100 mile loop south to see a VW with a fence around it...

Temperature in Northern Nevada - you were there in September, I was there in the middle of July and it was over 100°F between Baker and Battle Mountain - and regardless, because of the mining operations south of Battle Mountain (and some other private areas) Sam elected to change his route to go past Bonnieville and Promontory Summit, which for visitors to the USA (and even US riders unfamiliar with this part of the USA) is likely to be more interesting than endless soft trails across the desert - there is still plenty of desert east of Baker to give you a taste without things getting tedious.

As for your [second-hand] comment regarding Idaho - I can only presume those riders went along the southern Idaho [boarder] route Sam has now included as part of his route west, while what is now his loop back east from Boise/Idaho City was actually the original east-west route to the coast - which he subsequently reversed for those riding from west to east along his new northern route.

Jx