At first glance, Bob Robinson’s “Bicycling Guide to Route 66” appears to be a budget-priced version of the Adventure Cycling Association’s “Bicycle Route 66” map series, as the book uses the ACA’s route.
But the “Bicycling Guide to Route 66” (200 pages, Spirits Creek, paperback, illustrations and photos, $19.95) should be considered as a companion to the ACA maps. It provides more detail on what a cyclist traveling on Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica will experience.
Robinson, an experienced cyclist who’s written two other cross-country travel books, breaks up the travelogue into 70- to 110-mile sections. The book contains listings for average weather, services, campgrounds, lodging, bicycle shops and elevations.
He even provides recommendations on equipment for such a journey — Fuji touring bikes and Jandd Large Mountain Panniers, if you’re wondering.
As mentioned, Robinson follows the ACA’s Route 66 maps (overview here). It doesn’t strictly follow Route 66 in large cities because of traffic and safety concerns, instead going to dedicated bicycle trails or less-congested side streets. The maps also use the Santa Fe Loop in New Mexico instead of the straight-west route from Santa Rosa to Albuquerque.
Like the ACA map set, the “Bicycling Guide to Route 66” also lists turn-by-turn directions, except it’s laid out in a reader-friendlier grid pattern. Unlike the ACA maps, don’t expect detailed directions heading east. Robinson’s book only is for traditional westbound travelers.
Robinson’s book shines when he describes what cyclists will see and discover during their Route 66 journey. Robinson even found a few attractions a short distance from the Mother Road you might be unaware of. An example in Davenport, Oklahoma:
As you make the turn in front of the old restored Sinclair Service Station in Davenport, continue straight on Broadway Ave. to visit the downtown area. I had a nice talk with a local who shared a lot of the history of the area, and also explained the unique method they used when painting the beautiful murals throughout the city. The would project the image of historic photographs onto the walls, then art students would trace over them. This resulted in some very detailed paintings and proved to be a great method of preserving their history.
He also helped me bag a bonus “-est”, the world’s largest spherical oil storage tank. This was pretty cool looking. It was the first round steel oil storage tank in the world. To reach the tank, ride north of town on Route 66 about a half-a-mile then turn on N. 3503 Rd., ride about a half-a-mile, then turn right on E 0890 Rd to ride another tenth of a mile on a dirt road. The tank will be in a field on your left. You can still see the faint trademark red Flying Pegasus on the side.
On the Amarillo, Texas, section, Robinson tells about this encounter:
Don’t make the mistake I later heard a group of women made. While I was eating at a restaurant further west, I overheard them talking to a local. They were saying how disappointed they were in the Cadillac Ranch. They had heard so much about it over the years; they thought it would be more than just a single restored pink Cadillac. After quizzing them about this, it turned out that the ladies had stopped in the Cadillac RV Park, located at the turn off Hope Road onto the frontage road, which does have a single pink Cadillac mounted on pole. I felt so sorry for them.
The book contains a few flaws. Some of the black-and-white photographs are fuzzy or squashed — probably a printing issue. Although the book lists an editor, a number of spelling errors made their way into the text. Examples: The Route 66 town of Sayre, Oklahoma, is listed as “Sayer’; Lake Overholser in Oklahoma City is listed as “Lake Overhosler” twice.
Robinson tells about the Twin Bridges near Catoosa, Oklahoma, failing to note the 1936 bridge there was torn down in 2011. This must have been a simple oversight, as his eye for detail along Route 66 is pretty sharp.
The occasional error doesn’t detract much from enjoying the book. Cyclists will find the “Bicycling Guide to Route 66” useful. And non-cyclists probably will find its travelogue engaging.
Recommended.