Too long a trip by bicycle?

[Farmer X]

More than a few of y'awl know that I am planning on moving later this year. I really didn't give a flying smurf if I had to walk the whole way. I recently mapped out one possible route, and the walk was expected to take 24 days. However, going by bicycle was expected to take six days. I'd expect a little longer in my case, as I'd be pulling a trailer. A bicycle with an engine could take some time off the trip and strain off my middle-aged body. That's one obvious pitfall: I am in my mid-40s and have bad knees and lungs.

I have heard of people using bicycles as bug-out vehicles. But bug-outs don't typically occur over six days and about 1,500 miles. So for you experienced cyclists out there, is this a brilliant way to save money or a stupid risk to my health and sanity?

[IMR4198]

  If I were you, I would rent a U-Haul truck and take a load of stuff with me.  Assuming I had a place ready to move in.  Best wishes.  G
 

[nate j]

I certainly don’t claim to be an experienced cyclist, but this doesn’t seem like a realistic plan to me.

Consider that elite professional cyclists on the Tour de France cover about 2200 miles in roughly three weeks, or a bit over 100 miles per day on average.  They are not pulling trailers, and they have support personnel providing food, water, bike repair services, medical assistance, etc.

[Farmer X]

Nate's reply made it abundantly clear that Google Maps presented me with something that came out of the north end of a southbound bull. Gary's idea is much better. However, U-Haul would charge me in the four figures for more truck than I really need. Maybe buying my own cargo van would be a better option, especially since neither Enterprise nor Amtrak want to give me a rate quote.

The bicycle idea turned out to be a bad one, and I've shelved it. Thanks, gents!

[bruto]

A lot will depend on various issues of your situation and how much you can risk, and also on insurance. Also the total cost of the move. But one possibility would be to buy a vehicle that will do the job, that can be sold at the end.  If your plan was even thinkable with a bike and trailer,  a small pickup truck would work, or for that matter almost anything with wheels.

I'm a bit old for that kind of bike excursion these days, though I might have thought of it 30 years ago or so.  However, that's a very long trip, and quite a commitment.  Add to that a lot of camping or other accommodation along the way.  More of a recreational adventure than a way to get places, unless you're really desperate.  And very weather-dependent too. 

Some of this also involves luck in finding a vehicle.  Some years ago my wife and I moved her parents a bit over a thousand miles, a similar sized move, except that they had a fair amount of stuff to move, requiring a vehicle bigger than a pickup truck.  We priced rentals, and it was quite expensive, especially if we left the van there and had to rent our way home again.  We would need an appliance dolly too, and I have one of those.  Luckily I found a slightly shabby but serviceable step van.  Bought the van, made the move, and was able to sell it when I got back for a little more than I'd paid, which about covered the short-term insurance I had to buy.  The move ended up costing the price of the gas.

Again this depends a lot on what you expect to take with you, as well as what sort of route is involved.  If one of your alternatives was to walk, which presumes you simply leave nearly everything behind,  a less elegant solution might be to see if there's a way to do it by bus.

[Farmer X]

Wayne County Veterans' Services might pay for me to move out of the county (but oddly enough, they don't cover moves into the county). I still need to confirm that's true. If so, taking the trip by bicycle is a definite no-go. There is also a possibility that I won't move until next year. Everything is just so up in the air.