BICYCLING THE PACIFIC COAST
a complete route guide, Canada to Mexico

Authors: Vicky Spring and Tom Kirkendall
Softcover; 269 pages; black-and-white photographs and maps
The Mountaineers Books; copyright 2005
42 days, averaging 52 miles
Road maps and elevation profiles

OVERVIEW:
If you could only take one route guide with you on a ride from Canada to Mexico down the Pacific Coast, this is the book you’d want. With meticulous turn by turn instructions, side trips, and brief synopses of points of interest, this book is incredibly efficient in laying it all out for you.

PACING:
Everyone rides at their own pace out on the road, but it seems most riders aim to ride around 50-70 miles per day. If you aim to ride border to border, it’s a great pacing to ensure you finish your trip in around one to two months. This book plots out campsites and daily rides according to this pacing, but also lists alternative campgrounds and side trips.

ROUTE:
While not always the straightest and shortest route, they do a good job at making it the safest and most scenic. Many day ride descriptions include the best times of day not to get hit by logging trucks or when to catch the ferry. While they do mention a number of points of interest, I would not rely on this book to be your only city guide.

FEATURES:
- Table featuring distance, difficulty, bike shops, beach access, hiking, youth hostel, and points of interest for each day of riding
- Map overview with route and elevation table
- Turn by turn instructions
- Daily synopsis of ride and points of interest

CONSENSUS:
This book is the best book I have found to use as a guide from the Canadian border to the Mexican border down the Pacific Coast. With turn by turn instructions, maps, elevation charts, and brief descriptions of what you’ll be getting yourself into on a day to day basis, this book is fantastic. However, it won’t tell you everything. Some people enjoy museums while others enjoy tourist traps. Some like hotdogs, while others like salmon. Be sure to research some of your own points of interest to supplement this great guide. Also consider carrying a good road map of the region your riding through (or a GPS device) just in case you get lost or sidetracked. The city maps in this book tend to be general overviews. Keep in mind that, like all books, the roads, restaurants, bike shops, and campgrounds have changed since publication. The latest publication of the book (4th edition) is from 2005 so there are bound to be some inconsistencies. Use good travel practices and check road conditions to avoid long detours and unfavorable circumstances.

AVAILABLE AT REI

Authors: Vicky Spring and Tom Kirkendall
Softcover; 269 pages; black-and-white photographs and maps
The Mountaineers Books; copyright 2005
42 days, averaging 52 miles
Road maps and elevation profiles

***Did we miss something or do you have something to add? Be sure to leave a comment for any suggestions or “hoorahs!”