Route 66 USA advice required pretty please

[Hitcher]

impossible.. we dont have km's over there

Ha ha. I'm surprised there isn't a US mile, to match the gallon, and the octane system...

And why is everything weighed in pounds, including really big shit, like Space Shuttles, suspension bridges and trucks?

[SARGE]

Ha ha. I'm surprised there isn't a US mile, to match the gallon, and the octane system...

And why is everything weighed in pounds, including really big shit, like Space Shuttles, suspension bridges and trucks?

its not always.. its measured in TONS (2000 pounds)

unlike the Metric Tonne which, by my estimation converts to about 2200 pounds

same reason that the US Dollar is used as a benchmark in many economies.. ( big news today.. the NZ$ is expected to plunge to 0.45 by the end of the week..) .. we may have hit a bump in the economy but the US economy still drives most of the world.. when the US sneezes.. the rest of the world catches a cold..

[longwayfromhome]

impossible.. we dont have km's over there

Well, hang on there my fine uniformed friend...I have seen km on numerous road signs in the US...quite confusing at times. The US has given it a go...but there were no free buffalo wings given out for participation so its languished a bit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrica..._United_States

Also, if I include the riding in Canada (full metrication), then I am creeping closer to literal truth.

[Hitcher]

its not always.. its measured in TONS (2000 pounds)

unlike the Metric Tonne which, by my estimation converts to about 2200 pounds.

That sounds awfully like a US ton. I raised this with some truckers whilst in the USA, who then got into a heated discussion about "long" tons and "short" tons, and then agreed amongst themselves that that was why people probably used pounds.

A "metric" tonne is 1,000kg, 1,000 litres of water at sea level. Breathtakingly simple really. That's 2204.622 US pounds.

[alanzs]

Well, hang on there my fine uniformed friend...I have seen km on numerous road signs in the US...quite confusing at times. The US has given it a go...but there were no free buffalo wings given out for participation so its languished a bit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrica..._United_States

Also, if I include the riding in Canada (full metrication), then I am creeping closer to literal truth.

The US attempted to go to the metric system in the late '70's if my memory serves me correctly (The 70's were a blur...). It didn't work. Many states even went so far as to change the road signs, but it never had full implementation or acceptance by the US public.



Bottom line, is they figure that metric is for non-Americans, therefore, inferior!

[Hitcher]

President Ronald Reagan (the 40th President of the USA, 1981-89) was the person who decided to pull the rug on plans to metricate the USA.

[SARGE]

Well, hang on there my fine uniformed friend...I have seen km on numerous road signs in the US...quite confusing at times. The US has given it a go...but there were no free buffalo wings given out for participation so its languished a bit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrica..._United_States

Also, if I include the riding in Canada (full metrication), then I am creeping closer to literal truth.

yea .. i was takin the piss man .. i am actually from the US ..

so ... not so uninformed ..

President Ronald Reagan (the 40th President of the USA, 1981-89) was the person who decided to pull the rug on plans to metricate the USA.

nope.. just following the will of the people.. huge outcry when they were taking about it..


we fear change...

[scumdog]

That sounds awfully like a US ton. I raised this with some truckers whilst in the USA, who then got into a heated discussion about "long" tons and "short" tons, and then agreed amongst themselves that that was why people probably used pounds.

A "metric" tonne is 1,000kg, 1,000 litres of water at sea level. Breathtakingly simple really. That's 2204.622 US pounds.

And ain't a 'real' ton = 2240lb??

112lb = 1cwt and all that.....

[pritch]

And ain't a 'real' ton = 2240lb??

112lb = 1cwt and all that.....

Thank you.

I was wondering what was happening to the younger generation there. Well, actually I was really busy reinforcing my prejudices

I'd have blinged you but...

[Bob]

Hi xgnr,

I rode it in '94, and stumbled across a wee town called Seligman, then tripped thru a Barbershop door of a Guy called Angel (First name) - can't recall his surname but could if needed. He and his Brother started the Route 66 Preservation Society which was the start of it all. Great Guy. My business card is on his wall.

He has a Juke box with dozens of versions of the Route 66 Song on it, and has been interviewed on camera by 100's of TV channels, - and me!

He wasn't a young Guy in 1994 mind, but may still be around in semi retirement.

Good luck Dude

Shafty

I've been to Seligman and to Angel's establishment - went there in 2005. That little town is what you want to find on Route 66, I think.

There is a website I found, by a specialist bike touring company, H-C Travel. Hope that is of use - link follows:

http://www.hctravel.com/

What follows is a link to their guided tour of Route 66, but you can arrange self-guided tours as well:

http://www.hctravel.com/html/route_66.html

Also, there is a DVD available, of a guy called Henry Cole, who rode Route 66 - he has also done a bundle of other rides, both in the USA and across Eastern Europe. These are available at:

http://www.travelchannel.co.uk/trave...cycleRides.asp

Brief details available at this link:

http://www.travelchannel.co.uk/Serie...s/riding66.htm

Hope some of this lot is useful!

[droopydawg]

East and North of Oklahoma is boring, all the way to Chicago. RT66 parallels Interstate 40, so some of the cool stuff you have seen pictures of, you can still see off to the side of the Interstate....Like that Big Texan or those Cadillacs that are half buried in the dirt and sticking up.
I'd say avoid RT66, unless it is just the nostaliga of it to say you rode it.
I rode to Sturgis in 07. It was ok, not my scene, daddy-o. I like the ride more than the destination.