The adventure of the first person to use a motorized vehicle to ride across America is one of inspiration, determination and historical significance. It is important to remember that in 1903, life moved at the pace of the horse and buggy. The only exception was the Railroad, which by that time had transformed America in ways we continue to benefit from today. Motorized personal transportation was in it's exciting infancy. Automobiles were capturing the imagination and fostering change in the way 1900s America viewed personal transportation. The motor bicycle was seen as a novelty, a toy of young men who wanted to experience the freedom of cruising around the neighborhood and town.George A. Wyman had a passion for the long ride. He saw the "motor-cycle" as a means to extend his riding horizons. Being a competitive bicycle racer and adventurous soul, he would push this new technology beyond its novelty status. The saga that is his journey lays the foundation for the modern day sport and defines the spirit of the long-distance motorcycle rider.
The George A. Wyman Memorial Grand Tour - "Points Along the Way" captures the adventure by providing a chronological listing of the 160 waypoints along Wyman's original 1903 route. The Grand Tour: Rider's Guide, with the companion GPS waypoint file, enables modern motorcycle riders to experience the excitement of following in his tracks and visiting the Wyman points along the way. The Rider's Guide is available in PDF form, suitable for viewing on laptops, tablets and smartphone devices.
The self-paced Grand Tour is designed to be ridden by motorcycle enthusiasts during the George A. Wyman Memorial period of May 16 thought July 6. And, in the true spirit of the Wyman adventure, it is best experienced following the original route starting at Lotta's Fountain, San Francisco and ending at 1904 Broadway, New York City. The Grand Tour is available for Iron Butt Association Certification
The George A. Wyman Memorial Grand Tour, Points Along the Way, Rider's Guide PDF. An overview of each leg of the journey is below.
- Leg 1 -- Over the Sierras and Through the Snow Sheds, San Francisco to Reno
- Leg 2 -- Over the Great Deserts to the Rocky Mountains, Reno to Ogden
- Leg 3 -- Over the Rockies and the Great Divide Prairies, Ogden to Omaha
- Leg 4 -- Through the Valleys of the Two Great Rivers to Chicago, Omaha to Chicago
- Leg 5 -- Along the Shores of the Great Lakes and Down the Hudson to New York, Chicago to New York City
Listed below are the miles and riding times for routes to each of the Wyman waypoints accessible by paved roads. The routes follow the paved roads and highways available today that closely match Wyman’s 1903 route. You may choose any route between waypoints. Navigating point to point using the “Fastest” GPS route setting may reduce the distances and moving time. But, you will miss out on a lot of great riding between the points along the way.
Table of Distances and Times by State
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STATE
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WAYPOINTS
|
MILES
|
MOVING TIME
|
DWELL TIME
|
TOTAL TIME
|
California
|
18
|
217.3
|
4:21
|
2:50
|
7:11
|
Nevada
|
16
|
482.1
|
7:50
|
2:40
|
10:30
|
Utah
|
8
|
233.3
|
3:35
|
1:20
|
4:55
|
Wyoming
|
28
|
547.0
|
9:47
|
4:40
|
14:27
|
Nebraska/Colorado
|
19
|
474.9
|
8:54
|
3:10
|
12:04
|
Iowa
|
13
|
372.5
|
7:19
|
2:10
|
9:29
|
Illinois
|
10
|
184.1
|
5:29
|
1:40
|
7:09
|
Indiana
|
7
|
171.4
|
3:27
|
1:10
|
4:37
|
Ohio
|
11
|
261.7
|
6:25
|
1:50
|
8:15
|
New York
|
15
|
608.8
|
11:20
|
2:30
|
13:50
|
TOTALS
|
145
|
3,553.1
|
68:27
|
24:00
|
92:27
|
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