Ride the world-famous 'Mother Road' on two wheels, enter history.
Bicycle Route 66 is a cycling route in the United States spanning approximately 3,800 kilometers, connecting Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, near Los Angeles, California. Route 66 has been celebrated in numerous books and films, songs, and TV shows, but it became a cultural icon thanks to Bobby Troup's song "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66," written after a trip with his wife through the American West. The song later became part of Chuck Berry's repertoire and was recorded by other artists like The Rolling Stones and Depeche Mode.
Route 66 is primarily traveled by people from around the world by car, given its length, but the leading U.S. cycling organization has spent years mapping out a route, partially alternative to the original, specifically for cyclists.
from April to October
Bicycle Route 66 travels west on low-traffic cycle paths, provincial roads and state roads. However, in order to meet these primary requirements for a bicycle touring route, the route does not always follow historic Route 66 but has undergone minor detours.
Given its length, the route traverses a great deal of landscape, from the prairies of Illinois to the northern part of the Ozark Mountains to the vast desert stretching across the Southwest. Since there is no particular relief, the main difficulty of the trip is the desert sections of New Mexico, Arizona and California, where services of any kind may be scarce. In these areas it is therefore a good idea to always have a large reserve of water and food, as well as all the necessary equipment to repair the bike in case of damage.
The best time to tackle Bicycle Route 66 is spring, between April and May, avoiding the more complicated climates of July and August, with the very high humidity of the Midwest and the scorching heat of the deserts. Alternatively, autumn can also be good, but not too late to avoid the risk of snow in the higher areas.
Quotation on request
