Days 13 & 14: AI and Bike Touring

The last couple of days continued to be some great cycling. Lots of ups and downs (hills that is). My book series, Destiny's Crucible, continues to entertain me along the ride.

In preparing for this ride, I used a lot of AI. Some of you also use AI, but many of you do not. You might find it interesting to hear how I used AI to plan this trip. That is covered at the bottom of this post.

Riding

Day 13: 57 miles, 2694 elevation (2 whees -- again,

traffic prevented some other downhills from getting this rating, no ughs).

This was a pleasant ride that was mainly along the ocean. This is getting old, but the ocean views continue to be spectacular. As you can see in the Relive video, the giant rocks sticking out of the ocean off the coast have a rare beauty to them. I broke one of my new rules, and a few times, I decided to stick to Highway 101, even when the ACA route took me off of it. I think this shortened the day by a few miles and the elevation by at least a few hundred feet. Traffic was light, so I felt OK doing it.

Day 14: 61 miles, 2835 elevation (1 whee)

Another good day of riding. I stayed on Highway 101 to Brookings (about 25 miles). It wasn't real busy, so I decided not to take the ACA recommended off-the-highway option. After Brookings I followed the ACA recommendations and was only on Highway 101 for a few miles. Chris called to tell me to get off the highway before Crescent City, because it got very busy, and very "freeway." I was off the main route and enjoyed a nice ride into town.

I am starting to meet some fellow Pacific Trail riders. At the "Welcome to California" sign I found out there was a line to take photos. Well, only a group of three young people (Elly, Kai, and ???), who started in Alaska. They were campers with loaded bikes. We took photos for each other and shared a few stories. Later, I met Nick and Hans (see Relive video for pictures), we rode together and chatted for 10-15 minutes. They were also loaded down campers, Nick heading from Astoria to "home" in Santa Cruz. Hans is from Chile and will ride a few more days and in a few weeks fly back home.

Off the bike

In Gold Beach and Crescent City, we again tried for a sunset, with only modest results. That special sunset is still out there; we just haven't seen it yet. In Gold Beach, our hotel hosted an outdoor movie showcasing local tourism and a heartwarming story about volcanoes. You can see the screen below.

We met Tom from the UK at a restaurant in Gold Beach. I didn't get a picture of him, but I did of his bike (see below). As you can see, an unsupported camper rider has to carry a lot of stuff. I will use a future post to explain more about Tom and others I am meeting on the ride.

After checking into the latest hotel I got a quick shower and we went out to Seaquake Brewing which served up a great pilsner and excellent food. A great choice Chris.

After that we had time to drive out to Redwood National and State Parks (not sure I get how it is both national and state). WOW! WOW! WOW! This is the first time I have seen the GIANT REDWOODS. They are very cool. No photos can capture these, but I tried.

Tomorrow we go on to Trinidad where we will have a rest day (Saturday) to explore more this park and see more redwoods.

AI and Cycle Touring...

Since ChatGPT came out a few years ago, I have been a big user of large language model AI. I subscribe (pay for the best models) from ChatGPT, Google (Gemini), and Claude. Part of this is for my job. I think AI is having a huge impact on marketing, an impact I expect to continue to expand.

Using AI to Build an Itinerary

About six months ago, I tested three AI tools—ChatGPT, Gemini (Google), and Claude. I gave them a detailed prompt:

• Plan 50–70 mile days

• End in towns with hotels (and list them)

• Start at the U.S.–Canada border and end at the U.S.–Mexico border

• Follow Adventure Cycling Association’s Pacific Coast route

• Include four specific rest-day stops

The results? AI did an okay job—but not flawless. For example, when I asked for a rest day in Cannon Beach, Oregon, it sent me 50 miles past Cannon Beach one day and then 50 miles back north the next. Not exactly efficient. In the end, I relied on my ACA paper maps to refine the route. The process became a true collaboration: AI gave me a starting point, and I fine-tuned it.

Beyond Routing: Daily Assessments

Once the itinerary was set, I fed it back into the AI systems and asked them to analyze each day across five categories:

• Safety – assess risks and rate the day

• Concerns – terrain, services, or traffic issues

• Highlights for the Cyclist – what I should look for

• Highlights for the Driver – what Chris could enjoy with a car

• Other Thoughts – anything else to consider

The responses were surprisingly useful. I reformatted them for clarity and added my own highlights. I even shifted my departure by one day based on AI’s risk ratings—reducing my “high-risk” days by about 25%.

Comparing the AIs

In my experience, the tools performed differently:

• Gemini – Most accurate and detailed safety reviews

• Claude – Balanced, cautious, often more conservative in risk assessments

• ChatGPT – Helpful, but more general and less specific than the others

To give you a better idea, here is what each AI told me about Day 13 (note that I would highlight more dangerous warning days in red, see below).

Gemini - Google's AI

Day 13: Wednesday, September 17, 2025 | Bandon, OR to Gold Beach, OR (61 miles, 3632 ft)

• Safety: Moderate Risk. The southern Oregon coast section of US-101 becomes narrower and more winding, with some sections having limited or non-existent shoulders. Traffic can feel fast on these curves.

• Concerns: Another day with a lot of climbing. The hills are often "punchy" — short, but very steep.

• Highlights for Cyclist: This is an incredibly scenic and wild-feeling section of the coast. The views from the pullouts along Cape Sebastian are spectacular. The entire ride is a parade of stunning sea stacks and natural arches.

• Highlights for the Driver: She can drive the full length of the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor (just south of your ending point), which contains some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in the state with numerous viewpoints like Natural Bridges and Whaleshead Beach.

• Other Thoughts: Gold Beach sits at the mouth of the famous Rogue River. A jet boat tour up the river is a popular local excursion.

Claude 

September 17 (Wednesday) - Bandon to Gold Beach - 61 Miles, 3,632ft elevation

• Safety: Moderate to high risk. Continuing on remote Oregon coast sections. Significant elevation gain suggests challenging terrain. Some sections have limited shoulders.

• Concerns: High elevation gain continues. Remote sections with fewer services. Potential for strong afternoon winds.

• Highlights for cyclist: Spectacular wild Oregon coastline. Gold Beach sits at the mouth of the famous Rogue River. Beautiful and dramatic scenery.

• Highlights for driver: Rogue River jet boat tours available in Gold Beach, numerous scenic beach accesses, Port Orford (historic coastal town).

• Other thoughts: Gold Beach is a good place for river activities and has reasonable amenities for cyclists.

ChatGPT

Day 13 — Wed 9/17/25, Bandon, OR ➝ Gold Beach, OR, Miles: 61 | Elevation Gain: 3,632 ft

Safety

• Risk Level: Moderate

• Some tight curves and short shoulders near Port Orford.

• Logging trucks are common. Light weekday traffic helps.

Concerns

• Be alert in curves and descents.

• Few services between towns—carry food and water.

Highlights for Cyclist

• Cape Blanco (optional detour), and Battle Rock Park in Port Orford.

• Rugged coastline views and lots of sea stacks.

Highlights for Driver

• Detour to Cape Blanco Lighthouse or Humbug Mountain State Park.

• Gold Beach is a relaxed town on the Rogue River—fishing and jet boat tours available.

Other Thoughts

• With fewer towns, it may feel remote—embrace the solitude and stunning views.

All three caught the essence: tough climbs, tight shoulders, stunning views, and a payoff at the Rogue River.

Adding a Personal Lens

What I liked most was how AI reminded me of the feel of the ride. When it warned of logging trucks, I could instantly picture those massive rigs blowing past, a reminder to stay alert. When it said “embrace the solitude,” it captured something I love about cycle touring: the mix of awe and aloneness.

For Chris, AI became a kind of travel guide. She discovered places like Cape Blanco Lighthouse and hidden beaches she might have missed if we stuck only to the main route.

Chris and I also use AI to ask about each town we visit (check out an example for Gold Beach).

Final Reflection

AI didn’t plan my ride—it enriched it. It helped me anticipate risks, uncover side trips, and see the journey from both the saddle and the driver’s seat. Like touring itself, it was a mix of detours, surprises, and collaboration. And that’s what makes both cycling and experimenting with AI so much fun.