As a reward, if you sign up and complete the Strava Challenge, you’ll not only earn the Strava Badge, but an IRL discount as well. Anyone who completes the challenge of riding 200km in one go between June 16-25 will earn a $60 voucher good towards the purchase of one of the Pas Normal Studios Midsummer Jerseys that are launching in conjunction with the challenge.

That should make the €200 jersey a little more approachable, plus you’ll have something to show for what is bound to be an epic day on the bike.

Make sure to sign up for the challenge through the Strava link above, and good luck!

pasnormalstudios.com

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The route starts in St. Joseph, Missouri covering 2200 miles as it meanders its way to Sacramento, California… crossing the beautiful states of Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and finally California.

The route has been in the works for years as Jan Bennett did all of the research and test-rode the route. Doing so she found some long-forgotten relay stations and water sources.

You’ll be riding a route that yields a whopping 85% unpaved roads in the way of dirt or gravel, using car-free trails to get you through some of the major cities. According to Bikepacking Roots, there are “some sections, particularly in the mountains of Nevada that are rough, rocky, and decidedly not dirt or gravel”.

So, when planning, keep that in mind.

This sounds like a great route for those of us who are history buffs, as the route will take you through the remains of the Pony Express stations along the way. There’ll be commemorative markers denoting important landmarks, graves, and other fascinating info.

You can click here to check out the highlights of the route.

How to get in on the Pony Express Action

For a $60 donation and the printed, 150-page spiral-bound guidebook as well as digital route data, go here.

For a $30 donation and the strictly digital,150-page PDF guidebook and the route data, go here.

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“Three days of riding, talking, and sharing ideas, from dealers, to engineers, to pros, and everyone in between,” event organizers shared in a press release. “This is how pioneers stay on the cutting edge, and further the industry-leading conversation, one weekend at a time.”

What can attendees expect? Well, plenty of eMTB action on Naramata’s surrounding singletrack, of course. THE MEGA VOLT’s website describes the trails as “biking above vineyards with rugged mountains as the backdrop and sparkling lakes and beaches within the vista.”

Organizers devised an interesting set of events over the three-day weekend (June 2-4, 2023). Friday’s “Consistency Enduro” will feature a set number of laps on a short circuit, and the differential between each rider’s lap will determine their score. Translation? Consistency is key. It’s a physical and a mental challenge.

Saturday holds two events with time to recharge in between. The morning ride is a “Tech Challenge,” while the afternoon’s flow stage is “100% Awesome.”

Sunday’s riding holds a bit of everything with a course dubbed “Tour de Local Fave’s.” It’s 14 miles of the best riding the area has to offer.

And if you’re feeling saddle sore, no worries.

“This year’s Festival will endeavor to grow the off-bike activities while continuing to focus on all aspects of eMTB,” festival organizers wrote.

Interested? Head over to THE MEGA VOLT’s registration page. Registration costs CAD 529 ($385) and includes access to four curated courses, the events mentioned above, post-ride beers, dinner on Friday and Saturday, an industry mingler, professional photography, and on-site complimentary bike charging, among other bennies.

Something to note — only Class 1 eMTBs are allowed. Festival organizers suggest a 500wh battery at minimum. Participants must be 19 or older to register.

THEMEGAVOLT.com

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In Home is Where the Trails Take You, Marcus Stitz brings his bikepacking rig, camera, and drone into this verdant wonderland to chronicle the bike-loving residents that call the park home.

In a series of short interviews with bike shop owners and residents, Stitz explores what makes the Cairngorms so special.

Partly it’s the landscape — a sweeping string of mountains and valleys (or glens, if you will) that are rugged while remaining accessible for riders of all skill levels. Partly it’s the Cairngorms’ importance to biodiversity. A title screen early in the film informs viewers that the park is home to one-quarter of Scotland’s native forest and 25% of the UK’s endangered species.

Finally, it’s also the relationship the park has with locals.

“Some folk will spend a year planning a trip here, and we can just go and [ride] without thinking,” one interviewee says in the film.

Starting to sound intriguing? Watch the film to get the whole scoop. After that, check out the 165-mile bikepacking loop Stitz took while making the film.

bikepackingscotland.com

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That’s the idea behind Rapha’s inaugural Yomp Rally: a 375-mile California gravel course that winds from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles starting on May 5, 2023.

“The concept is simple: complete the course in five days or fewer at your own pace, on your own or with your friends. Rapha provides the route, a celebratory send-off, one checkpoint, a bag transfer, and a warm welcome when you arrive in Los Angeles. The rest is up to you,” the company stated on the event’s web page.

Yomp Rally Course Design

60 percent of the Yomp Rally is on roads. For that reason, Rapha recommends a crossover, bikepacking-type build like a drop-bar gravel bike with good clearance, or a hardtail mountain bike with low-profile tires. In a similar vein, Rapha suggests gearing for long climbs while carrying loads. To complete the course in the required five days, you’ll need to average 75 miles and 8,000 feet of climbing per day.

Rapha athlete Dillion Osleger designed the course. Osleger is a scientist, environmental advocate, and trail builder in addition to the time he spends in the saddle. So rest assured, he paid close attention when dropping map pins.

“The route you will have traveled is not new. It is a reverse of the path the Spanish Padres took in 1769 to create the California Missions, which could have been noticed all along in Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, New Cuyama, and Santa Paula. The ecosystems you traverse — desert and coastal sage, high pine forests, and mountain chaparral — can all be seen in the construction material of Chumash baskets and Catholic Churches across the central coast. Every inch of land once belonged to the Chumash Indians, and their influence is still felt in supporting many of the projects that steward these roads and trails. Sooner or later, everything old is new again,” he said.

Yomp Rally sign-up and logistics

Riders can expect cell coverage and resupply points over most of the route. But a few sections are more remote, including passages in the Sierra Madre mountains and the Los Padres National Forest. Be prepared for a 165-mile stretch where you’ll need to carry food and filter water. Rapha’s Ride with GPS map covers camping and resupply points and also provides some bail-out routes just in case. Rapha will shuttle one duffel or bike transfer case from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles.

The Yomp Rally is open to 100 riders. Applications are open now and close on Feb. 24. Rapha will notify accepted riders on March 3. Rapha says it’s fine if you want to sign up with your friends, but each rider has to apply individually. Sign-up is free and involves a few questions about your riding experience and skill level.

Sign up here!

rapha.com

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Founded by Neko and backed by Dave LaMond (who funded Kanuga, too), the new park sits on 300+ acres of prime North Carolina forest, backing up to the legendary Dupont National Forest (aka Cane Creek’s proving grounds).

Five trails are open now, ranging from beginner-friendly to extreme downhills and freestyle sections, featuring a mix of natural features, jump lines, and built trails.

An onsite shop provides bike rentals, parts and gear for sale, snack, and a full-time mechanic.

Top to bottom, there’s about 800 feet of elevation change. The trails, like those at Ride Kanuga, have been designed and built by Neko and the Pisgah Trail Company with progressive features to help riders develop new skills.

It’s open year round, and day passes run $50-55, Monthly from $95, Season Passes from $449. All prices include shuttling on their custom-built bus with bike trailers. Trails are only open 10am to 5pm, Friday to Sunday, with shuttles provided during open hours. No access is allowed at other times, including self-shuttling or pedaling. In fact, access to the top is ONLY allowed by shuttle. Camping is available nearby at Rock Creek Campground.

RideRockCreek.com

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That last bit is key as this is Zwift’s first world designed exclusively for the eSports World Championships. There will be five new worlds at first with three of those being used for the new multi-format racing on February 18.

A combination of inspiration was taken from the Scottish city of Glasgow and the Scottish countryside, with the usual Scottish-themed Zwift Easter eggs thrown in to keep things interesting.

New Zwift Scotland Routes

Descriptions from Zwift:

Rolling Highlands – 14.1 kilometers with 105 meters of climbing. This rollercoaster ride around the loch will have Zwifters constantly going up or downhill. In races, the punchy course provides lots of places to attack. In riding and training, the rolling hills are the perfect place to train quick bursts of power as you push yourself up the repeated short climbs.

City and the Sgurr – 8.6 kilometers with 161 meters of climbing. Sgurr means “rocky peak” in Scottish Gaelic, and this route tackles Zwift’s newest hill from two directions. Roundabouts at the bottom of both sides of the climb mean that Zwifters can easily lap the climb, making it the perfect place for hill repeats, or very challenging racing!

Glasgow Crit Circuit – 3 kilometers with 33 meters of climbing. Zwift’s newest crit course is set in the heart of Glasgow’s city center and shows off the city’s distinctive architecture. The short course has short, punchy climbs, tight, twisty roads, and two arches. The course provides options for any length of race on the easily lapable route that’s sure to produce intense racing.

Loch Loop – 8 kilometers with 71 meters of climbing. This loop is a time trialists’ paradise – the long, lapable course, is mostly flat and incorporates some of the Rolling Highlands, but skips the bigger climbs, giving Zwifters only a few gentle hills thrown in to break up their effort. The course measures 5 miles, making it the perfect place for 5-, 10-, 15-, or 20-mile time trials or team time trials. Or, keep riding for harder efforts! For traditional racing, exploring, and training, the Loch Loop also offers a flatter alternative to the Rolling Highlands.

The Muckle Yin – 25.1 kilometers with 279 meters of climbing. This is the big one – a single route that incorporates almost all of Scotland’s roads in one single loop. The route starts in the heart of Glasgow city center and quickly takes riders out to the sheer cliffs on Scotland’s west coast before rolling along north to the loch, and then to the sugar and its dramatic views. This challenging route lets you take in all of Scotland’s most distinctive and engaging features in one ride or race.

How Do I Ride the New Zwift Scotland?

Initially, these routes will only be available for races and events. That means your first chance to ride it will be during Stage 8 of the Tour de Zwift, which will take place Feb. 3-12 (follow the link to register, then add the Scotland event to your calendar). You can also ride it during Ride Scotland and Race Scotland events from Feb. 6 – Mar. 7. Additionally, the February ZRacing series will be on the Scotland map – and if you complete a ZRacing or Ride Scotland event on the new map, you’ll earn a Zwift Tartan virtual cycling kit.

Complete map access will start in early March with free ride, club events, meetups being added in.

zwift.com

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Now, 135 years later, Norwegian organizers have devised a new expedition: cross Greenland’s icy landscape not with skis — but bicycles.

It’s called Coast to Coast, and they’re looking for someone like you to help them pull it off. Of course, that “someone” will need to withstand heavy winds, temperatures that reach -40°C, and bike for 500 kilometers over ice-choked terrain.

The expedition is slated for summer 2024, when “a group of 64 international cyclists will be the first ever to cycle across Greenland,” a news release said.

Ver esta publicación en Instagram

Una publicación compartida por Guttorm Christensen (@coasttocoast24)

Coast To Coast: Additional Details

The Greenland ice cap has been crossed many times since Nansen’s first crossing in 1988 — but only on skis. This ski tour has become popular among skiers from Norway and other nations, and typically takes 3-4 weeks.

Is it possible to do it with a bicycle? The event’s organizer thinks so, and expects the bike tour to only take seven days.

“The organizer has considerable experience in crossing Greenland on skis, and knows that with the right vehicle, right equipment and qualified support crew it can be done,” a Coast To Coast news release said. “To make the tour possible, a support crew and heated tents will be available, and participants will be fueled with up to 5-6 liters of water and at least 5000 calories of food per day.”

Bikers can expect to ride 50-120 km every day, with temperatures often plummeting to -30°C. There’s also possible snowfall and strong wind to contend with. While “everyone who finishes is a winner,” this is also a competition. Whoever reaches the highest point of the trail first will be crowned the winner of the Ice Cap Race 2024

“We already have participants from France, Indonesia and Norway,” Coast To Coast said in the release.

Sound like your kind of party? If so, you’ll want to start the process of getting involved now.

Ver esta publicación en Instagram

Una publicación compartida por Guttorm Christensen (@coasttocoast24)

Coast To Coast: How To Join

On its website, Coast To Coast calls the process for applying for this expedition “simple.”

But that depends on your definition of the word.

“Coast-To-Coast doesn’t do any ‘normal marketing’,” the group says on its Ambassador page (and also in the Instagram post above). “We are very clear about what is required for each participant: strength, bicycle experience, ability to handle pressure over time, ability to handle the cold and ice living conditions and still smile and help colleagues, just to name a few requirements.”

So where do you sign up? Well, you don’t. The process begins by following one (or all four) of the Coast To Coast ambassadors on Strava or Zwift. Then, you “might be invited” to the next steps, which involve submitting a “Sport CV” and eventually an online interview.

To this writer, it sounds a bit like the clandestine process of joining a superhero team. But we’re talking about an unproven expedition on bicycles to one of the world’s harshest environments — so perhaps that’s fair.

Best of luck, cycling superheroes!

coasttocoast.bike

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The company’s six-day, family-friendly mountain biking tour gives riders of all ages the chance to explore 140 miles of Bentonville’s world-famous single track.

“Thanks to its existing natural beauty, and a thoughtful rebrand, Bentonville is blossoming into a delightful haven for mountain biking adventurers,” said Jared Fisher, Director of Escape Adventures, in a press release. “From paved trails to mountain bike trails, bike parks, and pump tracks, Bentonville and the surrounding area has a little bit of everything for every style and level of rider.”

A Diversity of Outdoor Options

Escape Adventure trip leaders will tailor riding itineraries to match skill and age level, so go ahead and bring the whole family on this one. Bentonville’s trail systems feature flow, berms, rock gardens, long descents, and everything else you could want. Every day on the tour brings a different mountain biking location: leafy trails in Coler Park, urban singletrack on the Slaughter Pen trail system, and pine-studded woods in Hobbs State Park, to name a few.

But it can’t be all shredding, all the time, right? For that reason, the accommodations include an oasis pool, water slide, and hot tub for those after-ride soaks. Riding days also include stops like the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and a tour of the Walmart headquarters. In the evenings, trip leaders and personal chefs provide a range of home-cooked meals to fuel the family for the next day’s adventuring.

Escape Adventures offers tours in March, April, May, June, Sept., and Oct. The package starts at $1,999 a person, with additional charges for lodging. Learn more at Escape Adventures.

escapeadventures.com

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Depending on where you look, it is a “genre-defining event with an awe-inspiring itinerary,” “the toughest trans-alpine MTB ride,” or “a wormhole between two otherwise mutually-excluded zones.”

Dizzy yet? Wait ‘til you ride the thing. The six-day, 24-stage course zig-zags along 160+ rugged miles from the Italian high country to the Mediterranean coast, covering a staggering 28,311 meters of elevation change.

Or at least it did in 2022. The Stone King morphs each year, based on its organizers and various route gurus’ whims, so it’s still unclear where exactly this year’s route will take riders come late June.

But if you want to get a head start, you can check out the recently-announced Stone King Touring Club. The club exists as a “structure of information to help all avid, experienced mountain bikers enjoy their own adventure along the annually-renewed route.”

Translation? It’s a trail guide you can use to ride the route without entering the race.

If that sounds cool, well, it does to me, too. The Stone King Rally not only looks rad based on the topography, location, and last year’s event footage — it’s also the self-proclaimed “spiritual successor” to the Trans-Provence, the legendary six-day big mountain enduro race from the French Alps to the Mediterranean that ended in 2019.

Psyched? Check it out. The Stone King’s organizers like French enduro luminary Ash Smith have gone the extra mile to make sure you won’t be under-endorsed in terms of information.

stonekingrally.org

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Last year, cycling events producer Monuments of Cycling put on four races for its Quadrupel Crown of gravel rides: in Arizona, California, North Carolina, and British Columbia. For 2023, it’s adding events in Utah, Kansas, and Mexico.

Created in the spirit of the great European one-day Spring Classics, the Belgian Waffle Rides offer multi-surface courses for a diversity of riding. Those surfaces include single track, sand, rocks, gravel, water crossings, cyclocross features and some asphalt.

To continue driving attendance, the cycling company will not raise entry fees to reduce the impact of “inflation affecting everyone’s wallets,” it said in a news release. However, each Belgian Waffle Ride will have its own pricing and registration cap with lower prices for those who register early. Once the caps are reached, prices will go up.

What is the 2023 Belgian Waffle Ride Quadrupel Crown?

Riders looking to win the Belgian Waffle Ride’s Quadrupel Crown will compete in a points-based omnium format throughout all seven events.

But riders don’t have to ride all seven races to win. Points of their top four races are combined to decide who gets the Quadrupel honors and prize purse.

That allows riders to choose their spots — except for April’s waffle ride in San Marcos, Calif., which is mandatory for all Quad contenders.

Belgian Waffle Ride Locations

Below are the dates of the seven Belgian Waffle Rides for 2023. All of them will feature in the omnium for the Quadrupel Crown of Gravel Series.

• Inaugural BWR AZ in Scottsdale, Ariz. on March 3 – 5, 2023
• 12th Annual BWR CA in San Diego on April 14 – April 16, 2023
• Inaugural BWR BC on Vancouver Island, B.C. on May 26 – 28, 2023
• 3rd Annual BWR NC in Asheville, N.C. on June 10 – 11, 2023
• 4th Annual BWR UT in Cedar City, Utah on August 25 – 26, 2023
• 3rd Annual BWR KS in Lawrence, Kan. on October 13 – 15, 2023
• Inaugural BWR México in Queretaro, MX on November 25 – 26, 2023

Each of the seven race courses will showcase the “unique topography these beautiful locations have to offer,” organizers wrote. The variety of landscapes stretch from the old-growth forest of the Hell of the Great White North in British Columbia to the cobblestoned streets of the Infierno Del Sur in Queretaro, México.

Waffle courses range in length from 110 to 144 miles, with Wafer courses between 68 and 84 miles. A few of the events will also feature Wanna Rides — shorter courses typically around 40 miles. Elevation gain will range from 6,500 feet to 14,000 feet for the various Waffle courses.

How to Register for Belgian Waffle Ride

Registration for the new Belgian Waffle Ride events opened on Jan. 10. Learn more about how to register here.

belgianwaffleride.bike

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The Bonneville Shoreline Trail Advancement Act (BSTAA) passed through Congress in December, and and President Joe Biden later signed it into law.

Located throughout the fast-growing Salt Lake Valley, the BSTAA will expand the famed Bonneville Shoreline Trail and bring more biking trails to the area. The bill accomplishes this by adjusting land management boundaries and adding more trail connections for a larger network. 

Mountain bikers have led the movement to expand the trail, and the latest victory is the culmination of years of hard work, David Wiens, Executive Director of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), said in a news release. 

“This is a monumental and historic day for trails and mountain biking!” Wiens said. “We’re stoked.”

Though the Bonneville Shoreline Trail already passes through dozens of communities, there are still plans for further expansion. While more than 100 miles of trails have already been built, organizers hope it will stretch 280 miles from the Idaho border to Nephi, Utah. 

A Coalition of Support

Other groups that support the trail expansion include the Bonneville Shoreline Trail Committee and Trails Utah, which introduced the bill in July 2020 and again in March 2021.

It’s been a long road to finally get the legislation passed. The IMBA has been involved in the Bonneville Shoreline Trail for more than 20 years, working with local stakeholders on planning and development. 

The IMBA worked closely with Rep. John Curtis (R-UT) and Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) to make the bill a reality. 

“The Bonneville Shoreline Trail provides great outdoor recreational opportunities for Utahns, but several wilderness-designated areas along the trail are hampering full use of the trail,” Sen. Romney said in the release. “I’m proud that our legislation has made it across the finish line.”

As Salt Lake City continues to grow, it’s important to provide more opportunities for recreation, Rep. Curtis said. 

“As someone who loves walking and biking this trail, I am excited to bring greater access to more Utahns and proud to see this expansion pass into law.”

More Plans In the Works

Organizers at the IMBA have more ideas than just expanding the trail, however. 

Small segments of overlapping wilderness designations currently prohibit biking on parts of the planned Bonneville Shoreline Trail. If that continues to be an issue, it would prevent the “full vision of a shared-use trail that connects six counties and more than one million residents in the Salt Lake Valley,” the group said.

But the bill makes progress on that issue by releasing 326 acres of wilderness divided over more than 20 locations. That will improve trail connections and sustainable trail development, the IMBA said. The bill also designates 326 acres of contiguous wilderness in Mill Creek Canyon to ensure the overall land area for wildlife remains the same. 

Find more information and maps about the Bonneville Shoreline Trail Advancement Act here.

For more history on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, enjoy a three-part series about how local communities made it a reality.

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What could be the “longest contiguous off-road-centric bikepacking route in the world,” the Eastern Divide Trail (EDT) makes the Great Divide route look like a walk in the park. OK, not really, but the EDT is almost twice as long and claims to have a lot more climbing with Bikepacking.com listing it at 315,00′ of total ascent.

Eddie’s spot tracker showed quite a bit less at only 165,556′, which is still more than the claimed 149,664′ of the GDMBR. But being the first person to ever finish the entire route, Eddie noted a few times on his ride recaps that the GPS track of the route wasn’t always possible to follow, and it seems like the route is still in development in spots.

Still, it was an epic total of 6,018.5 miles that was completed with an average moving speed of 9.5mph.

Divided into 8 slightly more manageable segments, Bikepacking.com states that the route was the idea of Brett Davidson and has been in the works for at least six years now. Recently, the project has been led by Logan Watts and a team of local riders to complete all eight segments. You can check out each of those segments individually over at Bikepacking.gom.

As a co-founder of what is now the Georgia Cycling Association, Eddie used the ride as a charity opportunity to raise funds for the organization with help from a number of sponsors. That includes sponsors for his ride – a Rodeo Labs Flaanimal with a Redshift Kitchen Sink Handlebar, and RockGeist bags.

Having rolled into Key West on the 18th, Eddie successfully completed his journey, and has raised 76% of his $45,000 fundraising goal. Want to help him reach that goal? There’s still time, check out the link below.

We’ll be hosting Eddie on the Bikerumor Podcast after he grabs some much-deserved rest. Have questions for Eddie or about the EDT? Drop them below, and we’ll do our best to find the answers.

Congratulations, Eddie!

georgiacycling.org

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In mid-September, I was invited to camp and ride bikes in Gunnison County, Colorado for 5 days. The trip was put together by polar explorer Eric Larson, his wife, and outdoor industry vet, Maria Hennessy of Smak Strategies, working alongside the Gunnison Crested Butte Tourism and Prosperity Partnership  (TAPP).

The trip was to highlight the amazingly diverse area of Gunnison and show off some of the stellar gravel riding that can be done there.

There are approximately 1200+ miles of unpaved and groomed gravel roads throughout Gunnison County.

The topography of the area varies drastically, from winding gravel roads through forests to summiting treeless, alpine passes then back down to the scrubby high desert and riding through huge valleys of hay fields.

All of which provided endless views and dramatic landscapes that were, quite simply, jaw-dropping.

I took in quite a bit during the trip. I saw several new, up-and-coming companies that were local to Colorado. We used a lot of different gear that was supplied to us by many different brands, which I’ll touch on.

But, after going through what I’ve gathered and the photos I’ve taken, as well as going through all of the amazing photos that Eric and his assistant Emma took, I decided that first, we should let the photos do the talking. 

This will be the first part… Part One: A Photo Journal.

Day One

Founded by Sam Degenhard, an avid cyclist, Campfire Ranch is a campground with a mission of helping people “create authentic experiences in the great outdoors while promoting stewardship of our shared playgrounds.” The campground offers potable water, vault toilets, and free firewood. If you don’t have enough gear, don’t worry, they’re there to make it easier for you to experience a great camping experience and offer gear rentals. That’s right… whether you need a tent or a stove, you can rent what you need to help make your camping trip great.

After getting picked up at the airport, and taken to camp, I unloaded my stuff and was shown my very own Peak Design duffle bag. The bag was filled with gear provided by some of the sponsors of the trip, like GORE,  Topeak, JackWolfSkin, and MPOWERED who provided some cool solar-powered Lucci Lights for the camp as well as front and rear lights for the bike.

I assigned myself a place to lay my head for the next 4 nights. All of the tents for the whole crew were supplied by another sponsor for the trip, a 75-year-old canvas tent company called SpringBar Tents. They were really nice tents.  I’ll touch on the tents a bit more in Part Three, but for now, just know that my tent was really, really nice.

Upon meeting the other writers, we then took off to Gunnison’s ICELAB. The lab is a joint venture with both Gunnison and Western Colorado University. They work within the community to develop ways to help small companies develop and grow. The goal is to build sustainable businesses in the area in order to rely less on tourism.

Here we had hors-d’oeuvres, and dinner while being introduced to some of the cool local start-ups hailing from Colorado. Like Goodday Bikes/Curiosity Bags, SheFly Apparel, First Ascent Handcrafted Instant Coffee, and PACT Outdoors Bathroom Kit.

I will be doing a deeper dive into these five companies later in Part Three, so stay tuned!

After the visit to the lab, we took off to go back to the camp and hang out before hitting the sack.

Day two brings the first ride!

But, before we move on to ride #1, let’s meet the other riders of bikes that are also writers of bike stuff.

Maureen Gaffney

Hailey Moore

Jayson O’Mahoney

Laura Killingbeck

Bill Plock

Day Two, Ride #1

Revel Bikes supplied their carbon gravel steed, The Rover for all of us to ride.

I was prepared to ride the carbon Rover, like everyone else, but to my surprise, my pal Chris, at Revel/Why Cycles made sure that there was a  WHY Cycles R+ V4, titanium bike available in XL for me. What a guy!

I guess he knows I prefer to ride metal!  

Don’t worry, we’ll definitely be diving into the details of both the Revel Rover and the Why Cycles R+v4 in Part Two.

First up for the day on the bike is 46.8 miles ride that starts and finishes at the campground if you wanted. The ride route was dubbed the Spring Creek to Taylor Canyon ride.

Out of the 6 writers on the trip, 3 of them were from Colorado, and I imagine, were acclimated to riding at altitude. I am not. But I still had a blast riding at my own pace.

Riding a partial route granted me the unique privilege to hang With Eric in one of the support vehicles for a good bit. We chatted about the good ol’ days and ended up having quite a bit in common, and I got to learn a bunch about some of the polar adventures he’s gone on. They’re insane. Ask him about them if you get the chance.

Then we ate, chilled, sat around a fire, and chatted. It was such a pleasant group of like-minded people. The campground was perfect, the founder and host of the campground came and sat with us as did the owner of the tent company.

Day Three, Ride #2

Ride number two, loaded and ready to go. This ride is a rollie-type ride that is approximately 41 miles in length. The ride route was dubbed Sargents to Middle Quartz. And upon rolling to the starting point, it looked pretty amazing!

Joined by Bill n Gus in the van, Bill and I decided to pick up the ride at a later point in the route.

Gus, Bill, and I got a little lost but eventually caught up with everyone later, at the top of a sweet-looking downhill section. Yatzee!

After we all arrived in Pitkin, we loaded up and headed back to camp.

Once we got back to the camp, some rest and relaxation were in store.

All of the food for the entire trip was very, very good!

After dinner, we all hunkered down in the heated tent and watched a slide show of a 70-day polar expedition of Eric’s…that he did on foot… while pulling a 400lb sled. And, oh nothin’…the sled only weighed around 400 lbs carrying everything he needed for the 70-day journey. That was pretty crazy to see.

After the presentation, it was off to bed, putting another great day in the books.

Day Four, Ride #3

While sleeping the night before our last ride, I heard some sprinkles that eventually gave way to a pretty steady rain. It was a little bit expected, and a little disappointing. We all woke to wet tents and a slightly soggy campground, but no rain for the moment and scattered clouds that didn’t look too ominous.

Because of the possibility of rain in the forecast, we had made a plan as a group the night before, to be on the road no later than 9am. The goal was to try get some riding in before the sky opened back up on us.

Here we are, ride number three, the final ride of the trip.

The ride was called Cochetopa Dome to Blue Mesa it was approximately 60 miles and beautiful. I was experiencing a smidge of knee pain and opted out of the ride and stay in one of the support vehicles to snap my pics.

The landscapes on this ride were amazing, enjoy!

The weather at the point of unloading the bikes was still pretty unpredictable. But everyone was eager to get started! And there was no rain yet…

Near the end of the ride, the view of the ancient mud cliffs above the Blue Mesa Reservoir was magnificent!

Everyone had made it down to Blue Mesa safely. Eric, who had been driving one of the support vehicles, however, was not there yet.

He ended up rolling in…without his car. He was on my bike, which we just so happened to have loaded “just in case” I decided to ride. He seemed unphased by the fact that his car was sitting up on the trail and wouldn’t start.

My guess is that the man that has walked for 70 days straight up on the North Pole, pulling a 400 lb sled, almost dies while doing it… probably looks at a car that won’t start as a “minor inconvenience” and nothing to stress over.

And, you know what? More power to him.

Being down to one car to get us back to camp meant we needed to fit everything in the 15-passenger support van. So, we proceed to start removing wheels and turning stems to get everything in.

We did it.

After the ride, we all went to the Gunnison Community Center and grabbed showers, changed clothes, then headed back to camp to unload the bikes and gear. We then got back in the van and headed to Crested Butte for our farewell dinner.

The dinner was really fun. We all shared our favorite parts of the trip and the rides. Told stories, talked bikes, and laughed. Eric gave a great,t heartfelt speech and then handed out fun parting gifts to the writers. It was a great way to end an amazing trip with such stellar people. Seiously.

We didn’t stay late. After dinner, we all said our goodbyes. Laura and I were headed back to camp but had to be at the airport super early the next day. Maureen drove back home to Carbondale from dinner. Jayson also left from dinner and drove to a hotel in Denver to catch a butt-ass early flight back to Florida. Hailey also came back to camp but instead of leaving the next day, stayed on to do a bikepacking overnighter the following night before heading back to Boulder.

I will be back to ride that area again, without a doubt. A shout-out to all fo the other writers and cyclists, I really enjoyed all of your company!

And a special thank you for the invite and the opportunity to Eric and Maria!

Next up is Part 2… the bikes!

GunnisonCounty.org

GunnisonCrestedButteTAPP.com

SmakStrategies.com

EricLarsenExplore.com

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Then there’s the national parks, with Yellowstone and Grand Teton just a short drive away. And like any upscale ski resort, there’s all the manufactured fun available for kids and adults, plus legit activities like a Via Ferrata climbing that’s also accessible by adventurers with limited physical capability.

But the important thing, and perhaps most impressive, is that none of the accommodations made for accessibility come at the expense of radness. None of it waters down the experience, it just makes a killer experience more accessible for all.

About Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

JHMR has been here for 60 years, and the bike park trails started 10 years ago with the Teewinot chair lift, which serves the bunny slopes in the winter.

The original trail network was created by Gravity Logic out of Whistler, and it feels similar to that area. And is very reminiscent of Park City. Then, in Summer 2021, they expanded up the mountain with the Sweetwater gondola and added four more, longer trails.

The Lower flow trails’ open-air berms are scraped every year to smooth the slopes for beginner skiers, then rebuilt every summer. Meaning, they’ll be a bit different each year. The stuff in the woods stays intact year round, but gets buried with snow off season.

The Upper trails are a mix, some being built by Cam Zink’s Sensus RAD Trails group, including the super rocky, gnarly Dirty Harry trail. And that wood ramp you’ll see further down that drops into True Grit. Others are built by the park staff, with past input from Gravity Logic and others, and there’s more planned in the future.

There are a few techy-er trails, either with small drops or tough technical rocky sections, but the majority of it is wholly enjoyable by intermediate riders with plenty to entertain more advanced riders, too. That’s kinda the beauty of it, the trails are fun whether it’s your first time at a bike park or a season pass holder.

Take the Sweetwater gondola up higher and the trails get bigger, with larger jumps (mostly tabletops, and everything has a chicken line), taller berms, and more exposure. The highlight is the all-new Deeper Darker trail. More on that in a minute…

It’s Forest Service Land, which is important

The slopes are on Forest Service land, they’re a case study, and they have two uphill eMTB-specific trails that will get you to the top, then you can ride down the bike park trails.

This is actually a big deal, because the trails are on National Forest land, and JHMR has a long-term land lease, and technically you can come here, ride up the trails under your own power (assisted or otherwise), then come down the trails, and not buy a trail pass. Obviously, they’d prefer it if you did, but either way, you assume all risk of using the trails.

So, if you come here and ride your eMTB up and down for free, appreciate what this means for all types of riders. Enjoy the fact that you ride trails that cost a lot of money and time to build, without paying for it, even if you wreck. Especially if you wreck, or see someone riding something different than you. Don’t be a dick. Because there’s more to this story, and a lot more at stake…

Back to the Deeper Darker trail

Deeper Darker is no joke. Huge berms, big jumps, and incredibly steep sweepers that let you build up massive speed. Scary speed. And it was designed with input from riders like Joe Stone with Teton Adaptive, who broke his back and now rides an e-trike MTB.

Joe and JHMR built Deeper Darker to work for every type of rider. And to be equally fun and flowy, no matter what type of bike you’re on. Have a look:

JHMR and Teton Adaptive’s goal is to have an outdoor recreation area that facilitates “human powered adventures”, and the resort and surrounding areas have adaptive options for paddling, climbing, road cycling, mountain biking, and even paragliding.

And I promise, Deeper Darker is every bit as much fun on a regular bike as he makes it look on his Bowhead Reach adaptive bike.

Here’s a little taste of the other trails accessed from the Sweetwater:

A day pass at the Bike Park runs a reasonable $49, with bike rentals and gear available for an upcharge. A Season Pass is $225. As of this writing, they’re changing their fleet over to Scott Gamblers and Ransoms, but you may find other brands still available.

We had a great time riding the Ransom, but I highly recommend bringing your own bike so you’re comfortable on it from the first run. A proper 170mm enduro/all-mountain bike is plenty, but a DH/Park bike works great, too. Capable riders would have fun on a good 160/150 bike, too, but slacker angles help on some of the steeper bits for sure.

Get all the options, including guided rides, camps, lessons, and more, on their Bike Park web page. The Bike Park opens June through September, with ideal weather and trail conditions mid- to late-June and early July, depending on weather. If you can time it a day or two after some rain, you’ll likely have perfect dirt. And as with any bike park, the earlier in the season you get there, the fewer braking bumps you’ll encounter.

What about XC riding in Jackson Hole?

Nearby Munger Mountain has stellar cross country mountain biking, with thousands of feet of climbing rewarded with ripping fast ribbons of flowing singletrack. Wind past wildflower meadows, broad views of the Tetons, and a real workout considering the ~6,300 foot elevation starting point.

If you’re traveling through the area with an XC or trail bike, or park riding just isn’t your thing, Munger Mountain’s loops are easy to combine, ride in both directions, and explore. It’s easy to loop together 60-120 minutes of riding, or just keep lapping it if you want more. The Forest Service has info on the area, and you’ll find trail info on Trailforks, AllTrails and MTB Project.

And when you’re done riding, hit the Streetfood @ Stagecoach Bar for a perfectly giant and delicious plate of loaded fries. Trust me, worth it. Lots of other great food there, too, but Loaded Fries.

Jackson Hole Lodging, Food & Drink

For the budget-conscious, there’s The Hostel and you can bring a cooler. Otherwise, this is a resort in a resort town, and prices reflect that. We stayed at the Continuum, which was nice and comparatively reasonable. Expect most meals in and around the Teton Village area to be between $20-$35 during the day, and a bit more to a lot more in the evenings.

Hit the Mangy Moose for drinks, including a Sloshie, which was a fan favorite among our group. Food was also really good, but keep in mind that summer hours aren’t very late at many spots, so check hours to make sure a late ride in the long summer days doesn’t preclude a good meal.

Should you go to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort?

In terms of pure bike parks, this one ranks pretty good. There are enough trails to fill a single day, and enough variety to make it interesting. I’ve been to bike parks with higher quality trails and/or greater variety, but these aren’t far behind…maybe 7 out of 10. The Munger Mountain singletrack is closer to an 8.

What pushes JHMR to a solid recommendation is its proximity to the national parks and other amazing outdoor adventures. I want to go back with my family and try all the things. As an avid mountain biker, it’s nice to know that I could bust out for a big day of riding while they relax, and then we’re back onto other things with a conveniently located home base for all the activities.

Think of it as an adventure sports destination that also has some great riding.

Check out all the options, a Bike Park map, and more at JacksonHole.com.

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But it’s those overnighters that are getting some love with their recent contest. Appropriately named the Fill In The Map Local Overnighter Challenge, Bikepacking.com has partnered with Ride with GPS to add many more routes to make bikepacking more accessible to riders everywhere.

To add some inspiration to the mix, they’ve partnered with some great companies including Austere, Cedaero, Forager, High Above, Wolf Tooth Components, and more, to create prize packs that will be awarded to the best 20 routes.

The contest is open to riders anywhere in the world, and submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, August 15th, 2022. You’ll need to provide photos of the route, a link to a map (preferably Ride with GPS), and 150-300 words describing the route. Head over to the link below for more details and official rules!

bikepacking.com

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Long known for their guided (and hard) road bike rides throughout the world, Thomson Bike Tours’ new Gravel series combines their signature level of challenge with the added fun of dirt backroads, off-the-beaten-path routes, and the ability to explore a little more.

Make no mistake, the focus is on the quality of the ride over a pampered experience and gourmet dining. But it’s still a well-appointed tour. Nice lodging, good food, some wine, and plenty of snacks mean you won’t be hurting for anything except maybe good WiFi. Which should be considered a bonus.

We booked at trip on Thomson’s inaugural Portugal Gravel tour in fall 2021, where they led us through southern Portugal, from mountains to coast, across six days of riding. The guides wiggled us through small towns, forest roads, local paths, and more, with many days loosely following the historic Algarve trail.

If all that sounds interesting, here’s a quick day-by-day recap of our trip, followed by a few more thoughts on why we like Thomson’s approach to guided bike tours…

DAY ZERO – Don’t do what we did

Which is go out walking, eating and (mostly) drinking all day.

Nay… DO what we did. This is the way.

We’d say hit the ground running, but, mostly, it was walking. A lot of walking, with the idea of shaking off the jet lag, getting fresh air, finding a coffee, and maybe, perhaps, a drink or two to check out the local scene.

Instead, we embarked on an 8-hour hike up and down the very hilly streets of Lisbon, led/followed/joined a political protest march, and found plenty of fun refreshment stops.

Lisbon may be on the coast, but it’s packed with hills. And rooftop bars, which offer great views over the city. And if you pick the right ones, perhaps even a sunset view. We actually finished our last day of the trip at that castle there in the background, which is definitely worth a visit.

As dark settled in, we continued our cultural exploration, happily stumbling upon shoes and booze at The Lisbon Walker. A handmade shoe store with local wines and a full bar, whose unexpected owner will mix up a custom cocktail based on your personal likes was a treat.

Then we revisited Saccarabos Beer Co, which we’d stumbled upon earlier, and eventually we found a Mexican restaurant (naturally) where the chips took entirely too long to arrive but the margaritas were good plentiful. And where we also met a freshly married young lady woman who did not hesitate in trying to make out with us. In front of her new husband. It was weird, but these are the stories that only come from drinking your way around a new town without worrying about the next day.

Just a few more hills and we were back at the metro, then safely in our room for a few hours sleep to prepare for…

DAY ONE – The Warmup / Shakedown Ride

The six day tour starts with a 3 hour drive from Lisbon to Tavira, a small spot near the Spanish border. The entire trip runs east to west along the southern tip of Portugal. To say it’s an early start after a full day of “exploration” is an understatement. I slept the entire van ride.

First stop is lunch and a quick meeting to get bikes built, meet the team, and have lunch.

Bring your own bike, or you can rent a Felt Breed alloy gravel bike with 1x drivetrains. They’re a great bike with plenty of mounts to attach a top tube bag and extra bottle cage.

Following that is a shorter ride to get even better acquainted with the bikes and the staff and shake out the legs. The days are all different, and this one was an even mix of wiggling through a small town…

…pedaling along the coast to check out salt farms…

…and hit a little gravel. Then dinner, and then bed. The real riding starts on…

DAY TWO – Olives and Cobbles

Day two is ~85km with 1,160m of climbing, winding across aged cobble and dirt roads and through small farms and villages. Each day is a highlight of its own, and we had the luxury of being there to document it, which allowed for plenty of stops to actually enjoy the scenery.

I say that because some folks are there to ride (read: hammer), and others are there to pedal somewhere new. If you’re like us and enjoy frequent photo stops or picking fruit, it’s worth having that conversation with the group and the guides at the start. They’ll break into “A” and “B” groups anyway, so it’s best if expectations are known in advance.

Because there’s plenty to stop for most days. Like wild pomegranate trees and freshly fallen citrus samples that you can harvest.

And traditional tile makers, all of which are worth stopping to take in.

Olive fields are everywhere early in the trip, and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time…

…passing folks as they shake the fruit from the trees and gather it in baskets to be picked up later.

Lunch stops are fully catered with sandwich makings, fruit, drinks, and snacks. They provide plenty of on-bike snacks to grab and go, too.

Homes (or what’s left of them) for sale became a running joke amongst us as we became more and more enamored with the landscape and simple lifestyle throughout the area.

One of the remarkable aspects of this tour was the sheer volume of gravel and cobble roads Thomson Bike Tours combined to traverse Portugal. We were off the pavement and away from cars most of the time, and often away from people, too. The landscape was the entertainment, and we could soak it in without distraction.

It’s also impressive that they didn’t water down the experience. It’s hard.

Sergi, our trip leader, says many cycling tours are focused on things like the wine, or a particular destination. But Thomson focuses on the ride, because at the end of the day, that’s what you’re going to remember.

Throughout Europe, most good hotels (and they do stay at good, if not great, hotels) will have good meals. And good wine. And, honestly, beer in Europe is hit or miss anyway, with only one or two options available at any given hotel bar. So, if you have a great place to stay and decent food and drink, then the real thing to look for is the quality of the ride, and having great guides.

On our tour, the guides had been with Thomson for 3 to 10 years. Sergi says the average is 4-5 years for their current guides across all of their rides. And they do a LOT of rides, about 70 planned for 2022  across road and, now, gravel.

DAY THREE – Via Algarviana

Much of our route follows or criss crosses the Via Algarviana, a ~300km hiking trail that goes from the Spanish border to Cap São Vicente on the southwestern tip of Portugal, crossing through the central Algarve region.

After wiggling out of town, and past numerous small citrus patches, Day Three gets a lot more remote.

So, grab an orange (or two)…there’s often perfectly good ones just fallen if you’re not one to grab straight from another’s tree. I’ve found it’s a good idea to have spare room in a jersey pocket or frame bag for just such things.

Rolling out of town, we passed Eucalyptus trees. Forests, even. Which were planted here en masse in the 18th century as a reforestation effort and to prevent erosion.

The non-native tree, however, burns easily and is blamed for the massive wildfires in 2017 that burned much of the countryside here. The charred proof remains today, even as the trees make a come back. For better or worse, they’re coveted by the paper and pulp industries, so they keep them.

While Day Three may not look like much on the elevation profile, the ~1400m of climbing over ~65km of riding makes itself known.

Long, gradual climbs provide expansive views of the recuperating tree farms.

The long climbs provide long descents, too, where the old adage “go slow to go fast” is wisely adhered to.

Today ends at a spa hotel, so be sure to book your massage immediately upon arrival and then remember that a spa’s idea of a “sports massage” might be a bit more low key than what you’re used to, but still quite nice.

DAY FOUR – Screaming down the Monchique Mountains

Day Four was about half pavement, half gravel, but oh what glorious pavement it was. With about 1250m of climbing split almost evenly between first and second halves of the ride, today’s a speedy start (bring a windbreaker) followed by a long gravel road overlooking the valley.

Unfortunately, I didn’t stop to take pics on the road side of the ride. But imagine the most glorious ribbon of smooth asphalt you’ve seen, hugging the side of the valley, and descending for mile after mile after mile with barely any traffic at all, and you’ll understand why I didn’t stop. Photos wouldn’t do it justice.

The turnaround point put us onto gravel, with a snack stop about halfway..and, thankfully, near the top of the climb back out of the valley. Local sweets and cakes got our sugar back up for the rollercoaster ride back into town.

The gravel side is in the sun, providing a warmer finish to the day…

…with a lovely lunch at Velochique cafe and bike shop. Great coffee and excellent food (the burgers looked amazing, but my chicken avocado panini didn’t disappoint) make this a perfect post ride stop before a short pedal back to the hotel. We stayed at the same spot, so if you missed your massage opportunity the first day, book it for the second day before dinner.

One caveat…the pools at all of the hotels were freezing cold on our November trip. Thomson offers an April trip to Portugal as well, which may be slightly warmer, but we wouldn’t count on taking a dip to relax post ride at any of the stops. Hot showers worked out better.

DAY FIVE – A big ride to the beach

Day Five starts the same way Day Four did, up an 18º cobble road climb just a few meters from the hotel. It’s rough, and the climbing doesn’t stop for quite some time on this day…but it’s worth it.

Just don’t forget to turn around and enjoy the view while chugging up the climbs.

Today’s elevation map is straight up from the start and looks the biggest (though another day just beats it in total gains). But once at the top, the view to the coast proves that it’s mostly all downhill from here.

Riding past and directly next to windmills is a true highlight, and there’s a long stretch of them to enjoy. The whooshing sound the blades make as they spin past drives home just how big they are.

Portugal reportedly makes over 400 million cork wine stoppers per day, and it all comes from Cork Oaks and a delicate stripping process followed by a not-so-delicate heaving-of-the-bark-onto-a-giant-pile process. Imagine driving that truck trailer.

The descent to the coast is steep at times, subtle at others, and runs through a wide variety of landscapes. We even found a little singletrack that was worthy of a trail bike…and super fun on the Felt gravel bikes.

As we neared the coast, the flora and fauna changed to more tropical types. The brush became more dense. And the scenery more interesting.

Small villages dotted the landscape, and several new apartment buildings were under construction. For a coastal town with amazing beaches and monstrous waves, southern Portugal seems both quaint and isolated.

As much as I’d love it to stay that way, it’s only a matter of time before it’s developed…to a point. The coastal areas where the best beaches are are protected, so  you’ll have a short (couple of minutes) transit to get to the water. Regardless, it’s an incredibly chill vibe that’s getting harder to find. Go now. Or just stay an extra week after your Thomson gravel tour.

Day Five dips directly onto the beach, with an amazing seafood lunch at an oceanside shack. Soak it in. Don’t rush it. Grab a coffee.

Because after the break, we turned inland again for a bit.

The dirt roads leading away from the beach were pockmarked with small, secluded fields full of surf bums and hippies, many parked in vans of various quality, an old bus, or even a barely-converted UPS delivery truck. A few mobile homes here and there, or quaint houses, were spread along the road, too.

It’s a chill vibe that I want to return to and spend more time soaking in. That there’s endless gravel riding around, too, is a bonus.

Just had to throw this in because the overland rig was impressive. But also one of very, very few cars that came by us on the entire trip’s worth of gravel and dirt road riding.

DAY SIX – Coastal cycling and an evening out

The final day of riding starts off with a loop through an eco-preserve park at Carrapateira.

This is the spot I’d come back to. Our hotel the night before was quaint (even if the WiFi was terrible, which is totally normal for remote parts of Europe, and especially when you have 20 people trying to use it), and it was just a five minute ride to views like this. Surf camps and eco-farm hotels dot the area, providing plenty of places to relax and try a new sport.

Hiking trails weave through this park, too, and beaches book end it with spots to surf or just relax.

Pop off the semi-paved loop to get a closer look at the jagged coastline.

The view of Praia do Amado beach on the way out of the park sealed the deal for me, I’m going back. Amado is known as the most consistent year-round break in Portugal, with both left- and right-hand breaks. When we rode by in November, they were perfect 10-13 foot waves, though they do get smaller in the summer.

A bit more wiggling through the interior brought us into a nearly Seussical forest with more windmills provided shelter from the coastal winds and yet another landscape to explore.

For the entire trip, sag vehicles followed, sometimes bouncing between A and B groups, and always eager to grab or provide an extra layer, snacks, bottle refills, or fix a mechanical. After each day’s ride, drop your bike with their mechanics as soon as you get to the hotel and they’ll make any repairs necessary, then store them securely and have them ready for you in the morning. They even wash them down at the end of the trip, so they’re clean and ready to be packed for your travel home!

The final day winds on and off the coast, and the views never disappoint.

While the last day has just ~900m of climbing, it’s one of the longest and windiest, and the cumulative fatigue starts to set in. Fortunately, a lunch step near the hotel let us regroup, with their team pulling the paceline home for the final stretch.

A quick stop to check out a castle in our destination port of Sagres…

…ended up providing some of the most dramatic ocean conditions and shoreline of the trip.

After getting cleaned up, we strolled through town to find a snack and a pint of Portugal’s ubiquitous Super Bock. Some of Thomson’s crew and a few clients joined us, too, sharing stories from past trips and answering questions and giving feedback about this one.

The next morning was an early shuttle back to Lisbon, but Watts and I stayed on another night, strolled through town once again, and found some new platces to eat and drink, as well as revisiting some favorites.

Are Thomson Gravel Bike Tours worth it?

If you’re looking for an escape into another country, and want to see the villages and scenery off the main roads while getting in a solid ride each day, Thomson Gravel Tours are worth a look.

They take rider care and health seriously, with guidelines for handling bottles and snacks to keep everyone healthy and riding. And it’s not just because of COVID, they’ve been doing that since 2014 since they’re often riding through rural areas and want to keep anyone from getting a stomach bug (or worse, spreading something to the rest of the group).

Depending on the trip, some meals are up to you, like if they’re bringing everyone out on the town, but mostly Thomson has you covered. For this trip, every meal was provided, with picnic lunches mid ride.

For me, I would do it again in a heartbeat, albeit in a different location on different roads. And I’d take Watts again…it’s fun meeting new people, but also fun sharing an experience with a good friend. And there are only so many people I can stand being around for 8 days at a time. Fortunately (oddly?), Watts is one of them. I’m sure you all have a couple of friends like that, too. Choose wisely.

As for Watts, here’s his take:

“While there’s that part of me that balks at paying anyone for a guided cycling tour of anything, I’ll admit, I was intrigued. I kept thinking about the possibility of doing a trip like this with my son. Whether soon, or in the near distant future. A trip where the time we spend together could be less about me dragging him through the kind of duration and austerity that I’ll happily tolerate to be in a place I’ve never been, and more about introducing him to and sharing with him an experience that would hopefully plant the seed for his own exploration on the bike . And to get to spend that kind of time with him as he finds his own way… what is that worth? And what does it cost? I definitely started crunching some mental numbers.”

And oh, um, yeah, I’d totally take my family, too…if they were ready. Thomson’s bike tours are mostly about the riding, and this one was just the right amount of hard. So, choose a partner that’s up for that, physically and spiritually. A weeklong bike tour is not something you just throw someone into. But doing something that’s pushes a just bit past one’s comfort zone is a great way to expand your own and your partner’s/friend’s notions of what’s possible and strengthen a relationship, especially when all of the little logistical details are already attended to.

Thomson offers 14 gravel trips per year in Morocco, Girona, Tuscany, Provence, La Rioja, Iceland, Vermont, Pyrenees, Scotland, and Portugal, some offered multiple times per year. Prices range from $3,495 to $5,895 depending on location and duration, excluding travel to and from their starting points.

ThomsonBikeTours.com

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Check it out: Registration for Adventure Cycling Association’s sixth annual Bike travel Weekend is now open as of April 4th, 2022. Bike travel weekend is June 3rd through the 5th and offers an opportunity to inspire, connect and empower bike travelers everywhere to hopefully try their first overnighter or weekend trip. The rides for the weekend can be of any length and can take place anytime over that weekend. You can try a solo ride, go with your family, or invite other cyclist friends from your area to join you in the adventure.

Visit biketravelweekend.org to search for, lead or plan a ride. See below for some important deadlines.

“For Bike Travel Weekend this year, join thousands around the globe who are connected through the joy of traveling by bike,” said Carmen Aiken, Bike Overnights Project Manager for Adventure Cycling. “Try a solo sub-24-hour ride, gather your family or a few friends for a one- or two-night trip, or open it up to others in your community – we can’t wait to see what you plan. Whatever Bike Travel Weekend is for you, we hope we can build an amazing adventure cycling community together.”

The goal here is to inspire more people to experience bike travel during an overnight or weekend trip. Whether you are an experienced multiday cyclist or a cyclist that has never gone on a bike trip, the Bike Travel Weekend is for everyone!

Adventure Cycling Association says that last year more than 5000 people went on more than 700 rides as part of Bike Travel Weekend.  Cyclists across the country and around the world can register to lead their own public or private ride or join an existing public ride.

Bike Travel Weekend ideas include:

• Plan a ride on Adventure Cycling’s Route Network or the U.S. Bicycle Route System.
• Plan a ride on state bike travel routes in Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, or Oregon. Contact other state departments of transportation to see if similar resources are available.
• Plan a ride on a rail trail through the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
• If dirt is preferred over road, plan a ride on a bikepacking route.
• And outside the U.S., plan a ride using international bike route networks.

Adventure Cyclist wants you to know that if you lead a ride with five or more participants who are registered by May 1, they will provide Bike Travel Weekend stickers and swag. Once all of the cyclists are registered, email bike-overnights@adventurecycling.org.

Or, lead a large ride of at least 10 participants who are registered by May 15, and Adventure Cycling will provide Ambassador swag. Keep in mind that leaders of large rides are expected to hold pre-trip meetings, take photos, and share their joy for bike travel. Once all cyclists are registered, email bike-overnights@adventurecycling.org.

Adventure Cycling also offers support and stipends for people interested in leading a ride for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, women, intersex or gender nonconforming cyclists, or cyclists with disabilities. To learn more, email bike-overnights@adventurecycling.org for stipend proposal requirements.

As an added incentive, anyone who registers to lead or join a ride will receive a one-time 10% off code for Adventure Cycling’s online Cyclosource Store.

Find out more about Bike Travel Weekend at biketravelweekend.org, then register to lead or join a ride, pack your gear, and share your experience using the hashtag #biketravelweekend.

What Adventure Cycling Association is About

Adventure Cycling Association inspires, empowers, and connects people to travel by bike. It is the largest cycling membership organization in North America with more than 50,000 members. Adventure Cycling has produced over 50,000 miles of meticulously mapped bicycle routes for North America, organizes more than 100 tours annually, and publishes bike travel information including Adventure Cyclist magazine. Adventure Cycling Association has also provided dedicated staff support to the U.S. Bicycle Route System since 2005, including research support, meeting coordination and technical guidance for states developing routes.

Phone: 800-755-BIKE (2453).

Web: www.adventurecycling.org.

The post Ready to overnight by bike? Register Adventure Cycling Association’s 6th Annual Bike Travel Weekend appeared first on Bikerumor.

With a few notable exceptions, 2021 felt like it wasn’t a huge year for the bike industry in terms of product launches. But if anything, it allowed us more time on our home trails, getting back to the reason we all got into this gig in the first place.

About Zach

The perfect bike doesn’t exist. Which is why you need so many of them—or at least that’s what I tell myself when thinking about the next build. I got my start in the industry because I was obsessed with working on bikes more than I was riding them, but that’s changed over the years. I still love working on bikes and would rather buy a $400 tool than pay someone else $20 to do it for me, but now I’m just as happy with bikes that need as little maintenance as possible, leaving more time for, you know, actually riding.

I still ride a bit of everything, but this year it was mostly MTB, gravel, bikepacking, and road riding. And e-cargo bikes. And pumptracks. Oh, and fat bikes. I guess you could say I change riding styles with the seasons, but I will say that I think I rode more gravel bikes this year than ever before. Mostly because I can grab a gravel bike, head out from the house, make my way quickly on pavement to the good stuff, and then rip through most terrain before looping back to the house. I love how gravel bikes make easy mountain bike trails more challenging all while improving your fitness for the big days on real mountain bike trails.

Experience

All of my top rides this year have things in common: friends, gravel or mountain bikes, camping, and a sense of adventure. This year, some of my oldest riding buddies and I planned a bikepacking trip based on a route we found from Bikepacking.com. If you haven’t checked out their route-finding tool, it’s a great resource for planning a bikepacking trip—even if time is at a premium. Between travel time and balancing the schedules of three dads with young kids, carving out enough time to bag even an overnighter was a challenge, but so worth it.

This particular trip took us up to Michigan where we found mostly deserted gravel and sand roads, a bit of single track, and a route that was fun for the whole crew. Bikepacking can be intimidating, especially for beginners. But with each trip you get better at packing, making do with less, and generally just enjoying the moment. It’s definitely something I need more of in my life, which is why we’re already making plans for 2022.

Mountain Bike

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Revel Ranger

If you read my EC post for 2020, you know that the Revel Ranger was already an Honorable Mention. But a funny thing happened on the way to returning the bike—I just… didn’t. Not right away, at least. When the Ranger first arrived, it was during one of the most chaotic points of my life. We had just had a baby, the world was in the middle of a pandemic, and we were getting ready to move. Ultimately, I just didn’t feel like I had gotten an honest impression of the bike yet.

So I hung it up over the winter and checked back in during the spring. It was then that I really started to understand the Ranger. Unlike many ‘downcountry’ bikes, the Ranger doesn’t feel like it’s just a stretched-out XC rig with more travel. Instead, it feels like a truly capable trail or even light enduro bike, just in a compact package that really likes to climb. It honestly made my Revel Rascal (which I bought a few years ago) feel a bit redundant.

Long story short, I’m glad Revel let me keep the Ranger for so long. And even though I did eventually send it back, it was a hard one to let go.

Road & Gravel Bikes

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Specialized Aethos Frameset

Without a bit of dumb luck, I wouldn’t have even gotten to ride the Specialized Aethos this year. Which would have been terrible, because it’s really, really good. When tasked with finding a frameset to build up for the Shimano Dura-Ace launch (see below), Specialized ended up being one of the only companies with a frameset that would fit me. But part of what made the Aethos the perfect candidate for the Shimano build is why I love it so much.

Thanks to the lack of proprietary parts and fitments, it was an easy task for the frame to be built up with the latest components from Shimano and PRO. The resulting silhouette is a true modern classic with minimal branding and great paint. And the ride? The ride is sublime. Before I had even ridden it, everyone at the Shimano launch seemed to be talking about how good the bike was. Would it live up to the hype? Yes.

Note that this isn’t even the “expensive” S-Works model. But it’s still a sub-700g painted frame with FACT 10r carbon that claims to offer the same ride and stiffness as the S-Works models—and it’s $2,200 less. The standard Aethos frames also have the option to run mechanical drivetrains, so if you’re looking for a frameset to upgrade with a group you already have, it’s the clear choice.

Tires

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Schwalbe Wicked Will

Usually, when companies claim something is all-purpose, that seems to mean it’s good at a lot of things. But not great. The new Wicked Will challenges that notion, with a truly all-purpose trail tread design. OK, they’re no replacement for studded fat bike tires in the winter, but within reason, the new tread design is hard to beat. From the moment I mounted these up in early spring, all the way to late-fall leaf surfing, the Wicked Will was up to the task. All while remaining incredibly fast-rolling, and sure-footed in the corners.

It’s also impressively light at 816g for a 29 x 2.4″ tire in the Super Race skinwall casing. And at the end of a full season, the tread is showing very little signs of wear. The tires never quite reached their 2.4″ potential at 2.35″ on a 30mm internal rim, but I’ll gladly give up 0.05″ for this level of performance.

Drivetrain

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Shimano Dura-Ace R9200

With Dura-Ace written on the parts, it’s no surprise that it’s great. But like Shimano’s 1×12 mountain bike groups, their newest road bike drivetrain was worth the wait. Not necessarily for the shifting though—for me, it’s the brakes. Don’t get me wrong, the speed and precision of the new Dura-Ace drivetrain is second to none. But every time I get the Aethos out to ride, I’m struck by how smooth, how powerful, and how quiet the new brakes are.

Ultimately though, there are many reasons to love the new tech from Shimano—including the fact that it’s also available in Ultegra straight away. I haven’t been able to test the Ultegra version myself to confirm. But if it is just as good and a bit heavier, there’s even more reason to be excited.

Honorable Mention: SRAM Rival AXS eTap

While Shimano stole the show with their new electronic drivetrain, SRAM deserves credit for making electronic drivetrains more widely available. After trickling down their AXS eTap tech to the Rival level, more riders than ever can afford the leap to electronic shifting as well as more affordable replacement parts for existing bikes with RED and Force.

Wheels

EDITOR’S CHOICE: WTB CZR i23 Gravel

Carbon rims probably wouldn’t be my first choice for aggressive gravel and bikepacking duties, but the WTB CZRi23 gravel wheels challenge that notion. After plenty of abuse and loaded riding, they’re the first carbon gravel wheelset that I’ve used in a while that hasn’t required truing and spoke tension adjustments. These wheels are certainly not the lightest, but what they lack in gram-shaving, they make up for in ride quality and durability with reliable Frequency hubs, and high-end Pillar Wing Spokes. When wrapped in one of my favorite gravel tires, the 45mm Riddler, the combination is nearly perfect.

Clothing:

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Rapha MTB

Go ahead, roll your eyes. But the new Rapha MTB clothing, particularly the shorts, is good. Really good. On the shorts, the waist belt and adjustment system are simply the best that I’ve used. The wider section in the back is extremely comfortable, the waist doesn’t bunch up when you cinch it down, and the cam locks don’t interfere with waist belts from hip packs or hydration packs. Then there are the side pockets for storing a phone, which sound simple but are difficult to do well. For me, the jersey material handles our oppressively humid summers better than most, and the material has proven to be quite durable—though each piece includes its own repair kit just in case.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: MAAP ALT_Road

Initially, I wasn’t sure I even wanted to test out the new ALT_Road collection from MAAP. I detest the baggy jersey with tight short look (fortunately not the only option), and wasn’t sure about the style, but I decided to give it a shot. Straight away, I was impressed with the fit. You’ll probably have to size up, but for someone who’s almost always between the small and medium sizes for Rapha, the medium MAAP gear fits surprisingly well.

On top of that, the finish and material feel are impeccable. And it should be, given the price. But if you’re looking for premium, versatile cycling kit with a unique style, the MAAP goods are worth a look.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Specialized Trail Pants

Trail pants for me are a bit of a mixed bag. They often seem too warm or too cold for the conditions causing me to reach for shorts or heavier weight winter pants. But the Specialized Trail Pants seem to get it just right with a thick enough material that will keep you warm on chilly days, but enough ventilation that you won’t be creating a sweatbox inside.

The ratchet waist belt seems to be durable and impervious to mud, and the fit is tapered enough at the ankles to keep the pants out of your drivetrain while allowing enough room at the knees for knee pads. Just plan on sizing up—I typically wear a 30/30 in most pants, and the 30s of these were way too small. I bumped up to the 32 and I’m much happier, though the ankles are tight enough on my calves, that I have to put on socks before putting on the pants.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Gore Wear Endure Jacket

Looking for the perfect rain jacket for bikepacking? The new Gore Wear Endure Jacket could be the one. It’s made from Gore-Tex Paclite Plus so it’s durable, waterproof, windproof, and can be packed down into its own pocket. That means it takes up little space in your bag, and weighs in at 295g for a medium. The hood fits over a helmet for those days where it’s pouring but you have to keep pedaling, there’s velcro cuffs and a drawcord at the hem to keep out the elements, and there are two front zippered pockets so you can store things, warm up your hands, etc.

Just know that Gore Wear updated their sizes, and you’ll probably want to size down if you’ve had one of their jackets in the past. I went with the medium which is what I used to wear in Gore, but now really should be in the small.

Honorable Mention: Marmot Alpha 60 Jacket

The Marmot Alpha 60 isn’t really cut to be a cycling jacket, but that doesn’t stop it from being a great piece to bring along on a bikepacking trip—especially when paired with something like the Gore Endure rain jacket for colder weather. The Alpha gets its name from the incredible Polartec Alpha insulation which is incredibly breathable, but also quite warm. The jacket has a DWR coating and light wind resistance, but when it’s really wet and rainy, you’ll want to layer it underneath a shell (that’s where the Endure comes in). The Alpha 60 is quite thin for the amount of warmth it provides, so it easily fits under a shell and is a compact way of carrying an extra layer of warmth on your next night in the woods.

Helmet

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Kali Maya Full Face Child

Should you get your child a full-face helmet? Or a half shell? What if you didn’t have to choose? That’s what makes the Kali Maya Full Face Child helmet so rad. The convertible helmet includes a removable chin bar for higher-risk days on the trail or at the pump track. Fitting heads from 48-52cm, the helmet includes Kali’s Composite Fusion and Contigo EPS foam, and Quad Core Low Density Layer to protect your child from linear and rotational impacts. Plus, it comes in awesome colors as part of the Kali Artist Series.

Cargo Racks/Bags

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Tailfin Aeropack & Mini Panniers 

There are lots of ways to carry cargo and bikepacking gear on your bicycle, so why consider something as expensive as the Tailfin AeroPack system? For starters, it will easily fit many (most?) bikes. With their Fast-Release Dropout system and their Universal thru-axle kit, I can mount it to every bike I have up with 148mm rear axle spacing or less.

The system is one of the lightest ways to add a large volume of storage with the integrated bag offering 20L, and you can add up to another 46L depending on the pannier options chosen. On top of that, it doesn’t sway or bounce like most seat bags do.

But what really sold me on the system was the fact that it’s compatible with full suspension bikes and it’s quickly removable. There are other racks that are full suspension compatible, but what I love about the Aeropack system is that it makes it possible to ride trails unencumbered once you’ve bikepacked to your destination. Just load up your gear for the weekend, ride to a destination mountain bike trail, and in seconds, you’ve completely removed the rack and gear from your bike. Then, you can set up camp and go ride the mountain bike trails as they were intended. When it’s time to go home, the rack snaps back on in seconds, and you can hit the road.

There’s so much to the system that you’ll have to read it in the full review. Just know that it’s incredibly well built, super easy to load and unload, and 100% waterproof.

HONORABLE MENTION: Old Man Mountain Divide Cargo Rack

OK, but what if you need to carry more weight, and larger, bulkier items than the Tailfin system will allow? Then you might want to check out the new Divide rack from Old Man Mountain. In its frame eyelet-mounted configuration, the weight limit is about the same as the Tailfin, but with the optional fit kits for thru-axle or QR mounting, the Divide can hold up to 70lbs. It also fits on the front or the rear of most bikes, including suspension bikes. You won’t be removing it as quickly (or at all) during your journey, but for big adventures where you might need to carry a pack raft or something similar, the Divide is well executed.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Route Werks Handlebar Bag

I’ve been using a prototype of this bag since shortly after it launched via crowdfunding, and now the production bags are shipping. This bag probably isn’t for the weight weenies as it starts at 692g before you start adding accessories, but what you get is a handlebar bag with a rigid quick-release mount and the ability to add mounts for your GPS, light, and more.

The hard clamshell top is easy to open and use while riding, there’s plenty of storage pockets and additional elastic cords to lash down loose items on the outside, and there’s even a shoulder strap to carry it around once you reach your destination. The whole thing is quite well designed with an attention to detail that really shows.

Tools & Accessories

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Wolf Tooth Components 8-Bit System

The new WTC 8-Bit tool system isn’t perfect, but so far, it’s one of the best all-in-one multi-tools I’ve found. That’s mostly because it’s technically three separate pieces held together by magnets. That makes it far easier to use individual tools when you don’t have to fan it out from 37 other attachments on a Swiss Army-style multi-tool.

It’s reassuring knowing that short of a pump, the 8-Bit system has most of what you need in one easy-to-grab and stash package for your next ride—tubeless plugger (which has already saved the day), chain tool with spare master links, tire lever, rim wrench, multiple bits, even a retractable utility blade. I’d like to see a bit extension for hard-to-reach bolts and stronger magnets to hold the tools together, but those are small critiques for what is otherwise a very well-thought-out kit.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Topeak Ninja Master+ Cage SK

Water bottle cages are a dime a dozen, but the Topeak Ninja Master+ is very well designed and inexpensive. The side-access cage includes a moveable bottom ‘tab’ which allows the cage to be mounted for access from the right or the left side of the bike, depending on which end you mount the tab. This makes it very useful for full suspension frames with tight spaces for water bottles, or any frame with limited space for that matter (like my bikepacking set on the Otso, though not without some help from the WTC B-RAD base). As a bonus, the cage is compatible with the Ninja Cage accessories so you can add a multi-tool, spare tube, Co2 inflator, or other things to the bottom of the cage if your frame has the room.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Thule Yepp Maxi Child Seat

Ask my daughter what her pick for the year’s EC awards was, and simply say “bike!” while excitedly running to the basement, grabbing her helmet, and tugging on the cargo bike that’s equipped with the Thule Yepp Maxi Child Seat. The seat is easy to use, soft, comfortable, and well ventilated, and secure. The seat is quickly and easily attached to the RadPower Radwagon 4 that I’m currently reviewing, so it can be removed just as quickly if you have to run errands in full cargo mode.

Electronics

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt GPS Bike Computer

When it comes to cycling GPS computers, I am not the type of person to geek out on every little detail. I basically just want it to record the ride and provide navigational support—with as little programming and button-pushing as possible. On that note, I’ve been very pleased with the new Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt. Wahoo greatly increased the onboard storage capacity so you no longer have to pick and choose what maps are preloaded, and with a simple click on the app, you can sync up your various accounts for easy uploading to programs like Strava as soon as you’re done riding.

The new Wahoo Element Bolt also allows integration with MTB Project and others to show MTB trails and fire roads on the screen while you’re navigating in real-time. I’ve used this feature a lot while exploring new terrain.

Finally, pairing other sensors is incredibly easy. I paired a heart rate sensor the other day as I was pedaling along without stopping. Once it paired, it even added a heart rate field in the display which included a color-coded background based on my HR zones automatically. It may not have the most advanced color screen, but it’s one of the most visible out in direct sunlight which makes it much easier to see at a quick glance.

Off the Bike

EDITOR’S CHOICE: GSI Rakau Knife Set

As cyclists, we all love to travel. Eating and drinking are high on the list for me as well. Because of that, I have put the GSI Rakau Knife Set to an impressive amount of use. More impressive though is how quality the whole set feels given the price. I’ve used single knives that were more expensive than this full kit and weren’t any sharper (warning, these are incredibly sharp). From slicing up some limes for post-ride cocktails, or chopping up an entire steak dinner for a ravenous group of bikepackers, the Rakau should be in any car camping (or vacationing) kit.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Hydro Flask 20 L Day Escape Soft Cooler

Wherever the Rakau knife set went, the Hydro Flask 20L Day Escape Soft Cooler backpack went with it. Noticing a pattern here… Regardless, the Hydro Flask cooler offers a completely watertight construction—meaning you can fill it with loose ice cubes and if it gets turned upside down in the chaos of packing for a trip, it won’t leak all over the inside of the car. It also has the option for drybag storage on the outside so you can stash electronics or other things that can’t get wet (or sandy). For a cooler that is designed to stay cold for 36h, it’s surprisingly light while feeling like you could run it over and it would survive.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Silky Pocketboy 170 Folding Saw

I’ve been wanting a trail saw that was more durable and portable enough to stick in a pocket—the Silky Pocketboy 170mm is that saw. Not only does it include a slick plastic case that will keep the teeth from catching on your jersey/bib/short material for easy removal, but it features an all-metal construction for the locking mechanism where many competitors use plastic. If you’re like me and often use your trail saw more as a machete to clear gnarly thorn branches that stretch across the trail, that metal construction will keep your saw from breaking. This saw has very sharp teeth, great ergonomics, and weighs in at 290g.

Nutrition

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Honey Stinger Cookies & cream waffles

This is an easy one. They’re Honey Stinger Waffles which are awesome. They taste like Cookies & Cream, amazing. And they’re gluten-free, which for me is a requirement. Perfect.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Skratch Labs Horchata Recovery

Skratch Labs introduced their Horchata recovery mix back in 2019, but I haven’t tried it until just recently thanks to a single-serving pouch I got inside one of the recent Rider Boxes. Apparently, I’ve been missing out. In terms of recovery mixes that you mix with water instead of milk, it’s the best I’ve tried. So good.

Many more great products have passed through our hands this year, but this collection highlights the best I’ve seen or ridden. Full disclosure: Each of these products has been chosen purely on their performance and/or technological merits for the reasons described above. Under no circumstances were any of our selections paid for by their producers. Nor was any preference or favor given to advertisers or brands who bring us on trips. Our selections are for the most part (but not exclusively) limited to products that we’ve actually spent time riding/testing in person. So, a brand’s willingness to invite Bikerumor to join a launch event, or to provide product samples, does make it more likely that we will have considered their products simply because we’ve had a chance to try them first hand.

The post Bikerumor Editor’s Choice Awards 2021 – Zach’s Best Bikes & Gear Picks appeared first on Bikerumor.

Beyond more well-known areas like Virgin and Hurricane lies more uncharted territory open to adventurous mountain bike riders who want to get off the beaten path. Part of the fun is exploring deeper into the mountains and shifting from pavement to dirt toward points unknown.

We tagged along as three riders and their Chevy Silverado went off the map, off the trails, and found joy in choosing their own adventure.

Freeride Utah

You don’t come to southern Utah to ride a specific park or trail. You come for a plethora of options. The region draws mountain bikers from different backgrounds and styles of riding, all of whom can appreciate the expanse of the high desert.

For years, it has been a proving ground for freeriders who helped expand the limits of mountain biking. Perhaps most famous from afar is Virgin, which hosts the Red Bull Rampage every year.

This isn’t to say there aren’t existing lines and popular routes. However, there are no signs, so you’re out there on the open terrain where you can see other trails and riders — if there are any — and change your course on the fly. Along the way, you’ll soak in great views, too.

For visiting riders, the wide-open space and trails make the drive to this remote area worth the trip. The number of options makes it a dependable way to have fun exploring and then double back to hit lines and jumps after scoping them out. Not to mention, you can put your off-road driving skills to the test as you venture into rural Utah.

Nichole Baker, based in Durango, Colorado, is an XC rider with a whole other gig in pathology. Damon Iwanaga converted from motocross to freeride when he moved to Incline Village, Nevada, near Lake Tahoe. They both came to Utah to ride with freerider Reed Boggs who lives in nearby Hurricane, Utah.

The three of them took to nearby trails for big descents and technical lines. Going off the map let them take their time exploring and get the most from what the mountain landscape had to offer. And after a day full of runs, it was time to do some flips over the Chevrolet Silverado truck that brought them out there.

Or Stick to the Trails

Hucking yourself off a ledge that few have hucked before may not be your thing. You’re not alone.

Luckily, there are plenty of established trails and routes for mountain bikers that don’t mind pedaling up a few climbs. And the trails offer enough variety for beginners and advanced riders to enjoy.

XC riders can delight in the 11-mile singletrack of Bearclaw Poppy and Snake Pit Loop or the flowy intermediate stretch called Prospector.

Chances are you’ll come across sections or adjacent trails that will test your comfort and expand your skills if the mood strikes. Don’t forget to respect the environment around you. Whatever you take to the trails, make sure you pack it out.

What to Expect

You don’t have to drop a pin and navigate straight to that spot you saw in the latest bike video. The region is filled with riding trails that you’ll want to explore via Google satellite before heading out.

Then check to make sure it’s public land or whether you need a permit. It could be you need a permit to drive in certain areas, though the biking is mostly wide open.

Knowing the terrain can get rough, make sure you have a vehicle that is off-road capable and has high ground clearance. A dependable vehicle offers peace of mind when exploring areas where both people and cell service are hard to come by.

Many popular trails are on BLM lands that allow free dispersed camping. Make sure you set up camp on high ground, away from washes or runoffs. You can also drive into nearby Zion National Park for more established camping sites and amenities. Do note, that you can’t mountain bike within the park boundaries.

For the most part, the clusters of trails are close to small towns that have come and gone or just hung on. St. George is perhaps the largest town in the region. There are lodging options in each.

Aside from summer, riding can be relatively comfortable in the high terrain. Obviously, even the high desert gets hot in the summer, especially when wearing pads and a full-face helmet, so be ready for that.

Spring and fall are the most popular times to ride in the area, but you have to be aware that it is also the rainy season. If heavy rains come, flash floods are common, and the dirt can become muddy enough that not only are rides off the table but driving to the areas is also ill-advised.

What to Pack

Remember, this is a dry desert and you’ll burn plenty of calories riding. Pack plenty of snacks and water — more than you think you’ll need.

Obviously, you need to have a first-aid kit, but you always keep one in your truck, right?

On any adventures in remote areas, it’s worth having a safety plan in place for your group. Satellite phones or other off-grid communications devices will let you stay in touch with your group and call for help in an emergency. If someone gets injured, you should already know the location of the nearest gas station (or cell service spot) as well as directions to the person in need of help.

These trails can be hard on your bike. So, getting your bike tuned and ready is a good idea before making a long trip and losing time on repairs. That said, you should bring some basic bike tools as well so you’re ready for any small mishaps while you’re out there.

Point and Pedal

Venturing beyond the beaten path and into the unknown is an exciting and fulfilling adventure. Take the time to research your area and prepare for the unexpected, and you’re sure to make memories of a lifetime.

This post is sponsored by the 2021 Chevy Silverado — Find New Roads. Learn more about the 2021 Chevy Silverado and more truck models online.

The post ‘The Middle of Nowhere’: Mountain Bike SW Utah, Where the Pros Ride Free appeared first on Bikerumor.

If you’ve participated in digital events since the Covid era began, you know that most of the time you get to ride whatever course you’d like. The Riding Solo event is different because it takes place on a series of four courses around Bend—sorry out-of-towners. Each course is a loop, so your finish line is wherever you started.

Here are the deets from the event website.

• You can register for all of the stages or just one.
• The series consists of stage races. Each week will produce a podium (by gender and category). In the spirit of the Tour de France, overall leaders (by category) will be awarded yellow arm warmers to wear while riding as they maintain their lead in their respective category.
• You’re racing against other riders, just not necessarily at the same time.
• For each race, you’re welcome to do as many attempts as you’d like during the race window.  Each race window will start at 12:01 am PDT on Sunday and end at 11:59 pm on the following Saturday (7 days).
• Load each race course onto your device by downloading it from the race web page.
• The courses are loops.  That means wherever you start on the course is your start/finish line. So you don’t need to start your activity tracker when you start your effort. Just roll on into the course.  As soon as you are on-course, that’s your start line, and your finish line. Just make sure to ride through where you started!
• Track your race attempts using your GPS-enabled activity tracker or smartphone.
• Sync efforts either by exporting a GPX file from your activity tracker or smartphone. You can also automatically sync using your Strava account.
• You must register for the stage before riding it to count for the standings (i.e. no riding first and then registering).
• You must follow the published course closely. If you deviate from the course by 200 meters or more, your race attempt will be excluded from the rankings.
• Your fastest race attempt counts during the time window.
• Efforts must be submitted within 24 hours from the time the attempt has started.
• Login and track your progress on the race leaderboards and activity feed.
• The race series calculates scores for all efforts during the 4-week series timeframe. Awards will be presented for top finishers in each Gender and Category.
• Post photos and videos to the socials using #ridingsolo #bendoregon #10barrel

Sound intriguing? Here are the rules.

• Racers must complete the courses during the race time frames
• Any GPS device that can sync to Strava or export GPX files can be used to submit your times.
• Race times must be submitted no more than 24 hours after that attempt has been started.
• Racers must follow the courses published (download the GPX to run it for turn-by-turn directions if your computer supports navigation directions)
• Racers must keep 6 feet distance from other racers as best they can. Passing and yielding is the only exception (aka NO DRAFTING).
• Racers MUST Follow all rules of the road/trail and etiquette
• Pack it in pack it out (aka Leave no Trace)
• Be a S.H.A.R.K (Safe, Honest, Accountable, Responsible, Kind)

Per 10 Barrel Brewing, “5% of proceeds go to four non-profit organizations that are so important to Bend (and Oregon’s) collective community: The Central Oregon Trail Alliance, The National Interscholastic Cycling Association, Mount Bachelor Sports Education Association, and the ADL Software Association.”

ridingsolo.me

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Just unveiled by Bikepacking Roots, the new route was created with support from Shimano, and Otso Cycles. Given that the Northwoods Route is right in Otso’s backyard, that connection makes a lot of sense — and leads us to believe they may already have, or are working on the perfect bike for the journey.

Based on the description, the route is “primarily gravel roads, relatively smooth two-tracks, rail trails, and short sections of pavement through thick forests and along countless lakes of all sizes.” However, there are numerous singletrack alternatives along the way plus MTB trail networks that you can check out should you have the legs.

Spanning 600 miles, three states, and one Great Lake (along with many, many smaller lakes), the route can be ridden as a loop if you add in passenger ferries to Isle Royale National Park. This will require some planning and forethought though, as “the ferries do not run daily, and the lake crossing will require an overnight stay on Isle Royale (see the FAQ for more information on these ferries; note that bikes are not allowed anywhere on Isle Royale other than at the docks and main campgrounds). We also encourage riders to spend an extra day or more on Isle Royale to experience some of the many miles of hiking trails.”

When is the best time to attempt a full ride? According to the team at Otso, September may be the best month. By then temperatures are pleasant and the humidity is lower, but more importantly the first frost of the season will help keep the bugs down, and the fall colors will be going off.

Get the Guide Book

This is a big journey, so it’s best to be prepared. To give you all of the information you need (plus a ton of detail on the area’s cultural history, geology, forest ecology, and gray wolves), Bikepacking Roots has put together a comprehensive Guide Book. Available as a Digital format or a 70 page physical book that you can take with you, the print version also includes downloads of the guidebook in PDF and e-book formats plus the most recent GPS tracks and 350 waypoints for the route. The spiral bound books are available for a $40 donation to Bikepacking Roots, within North America and ship out in batches every 2-3 weeks. The digital copies will be sold for a $25 donation and email out immediately. 

Ready to check out the Northwoods? Check out the Resources page, and start planning!

bikepackingroots.org

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There’s romance to adventure planning, but inspiration can be tough to come by when logistics start piling up. If you need a little stoke to push you over the threshold, check out 50 Ways to Cycle the World.

The recent book by Belén Castello and Tristan Bogaard puts photography front and center to tell the stories of 75 cyclists from 23 countries as they actualize their dreams. It’s ready for the coffee table with content ranging from socially relevant to expansively scenic to unapologetically gritty.

Planet Portmanteau: “50 Ways to Cycle the World” Content

For instance, Ann Johansson dumped her 9-to-5 as a graphic designer after a decade to start bike touring. She tells an interviewer about her trips to Tajikistan and New Zealand with candor, touching on local encounters, injuries, and the experience of being a solo female cyclist in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Other times, 50 Ways to Cycle the World just hits you in the eyes.

There’s a vast story behind each photo, thousands of miles ridden by people from backgrounds as diverse as the world. Nature’s beauty and cycling psych are found anywhere and everywhere.

But it’s not all pretty. The last few episodes, under the heading “A Bigger Purpose,” can hit heavy.

In Summary: “50 Ways,” Other Publications, Where to Find

Overall, 50 Ways to Cycle The World gives us a way to interpret our roles in the world through cycling. In some ways, it’s a synthesis of being alive, human, and connected to planet Earth (and one another).

The 336-page book builds on the authors’ previous autobiography, Bike Life, in which they tour Europe, North America and Central Asia and display similarly epic photography.

Check out 50 Ways to Cycle the World via its Amazon listing. Or, better yet, call your local bookstore and see if they have a copy.

Learn more about Bike Life here. And keep an eye out for Belén Castello and Tristan Bogaard (IG: @belletoscan, @tristanboogard). No matter where in the world you live, you may cross paths with them on your next ride. 

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With the helping hands of the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, California’s Lost Sierra Range is now on the cusp of developing a major trail system that aims to bring visitation and economic stimulation to over a dozen local towns. The Connected Communities project has already begun, and will eventually link 15 struggling communities through a multi-use trail system offering over 300 miles of trail.

Established in 2003, The Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship is an experienced organization that already maintains an expansive multi-use trail network.  The organization has been tasked with creating the Trails Master Plan for the Connected Communities project. Their plan is to build the Lost Sierra Route, which will connect rural towns in the Plumas, Sierra and Lassen counties.

Logging and mining were once the backbone of these local economies, but as the industries died and moved along the communities have suffered accordingly. Yet while the industries left, they left traces behind; parts of the Lost Sierra Route follow the original trails cut in by miners many years ago.

The Lost Sierra Route was built to be similar but different from popular trails like the Pacific Crest Trail and the John Muir Trail. It’s similar in the sense that it’s a long route that traverses through alpine valleys and near mountain peaks, but it’s different in two key ways: One is that it’s open to everyone, and the other is the direct connection to the towns along the route.

Aside from providing a ton of trails to explore, the main goal of the Connected Communities project is to bolster the local economy. SBTS is calling their planned route ‘A Trail for Everyone’ so aside from cyclists, they expect the multi-use trail system to attract hikers, trail runners, moto riders, hunters, equestrians, kayakers, fishermen and families.

To ensure community engagement SBTS is mapping out trails that lead visitors right into the hearts of each small town they pass through, encouraging local exploration and spending. Furthermore, they’re also creating a ‘trail passport’ to encourage travellers to stop in each town. Visitors will register for the trail passport, then get it stamped at local businesses as they carry it along the route. Some local businesses may also provide special offers to passport carriers.

In addition to bringing in tourism from afar, trail development can also create local employment and foster a community that values outdoor recreation. SBTS is hoping that in the future, residents in these small towns can find more reasons to stay rather than leave.

The Lost Sierra region is ready to welcome visitors as soon as the snow melts: While the trail network is far from complete, all 15 local communities are already linked by gravel roads, and construction on several trail connections will begin this summer (including Quincy to Taylorsville and Portola to Graeagle). Currently, each town has its own trails and recreational opportunities to explore, you just won’t be able to link them all together (by trail) quite yet.

Also starting this summer is the Lost Sierra Adventure Series, which will lead riders/visitors around the trail network with their Trail Passports. GPX routes will be available for download, and will include ‘treasure maps’ allowing participants to win prizes from industry and local business partners. Eventually more and more trails will appear, but the Connected Communities project won’t be complete for some time: construction is expected to continue until at least 2030.

For more information on the Connected Communities project, visit the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship website.

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Not sure about those numbers? Check out our Where To Ride feature on Bentonville’s mountain biking for more on the miles of fresh singletrack being built every week. There’s skills parks, family trails, aggressive technical descents, and tons of flow trail. Seriously, it’s insane.

But there’s also a low cost of living, high average household income, tons of amazing restaurants, world-class art museums, and (as you’ll soon see) a whole lot more. We headed there to sample it all, and here’s why we think any cyclist should put Bentonville on their relocation shortlist.

Full disclosure, Bentonville’s Chamber of Commerce covered our trip and the production costs of this story. But, like all of our trips, we wouldn’t have gone, nor would we publish this story, if we didn’t think you’d like it.

So, if you’re looking for new digs or a remote working spot with next-level, year-round riding, or just seeking an outdoorsy, family-friendly vibe with a growing economy, here’s ten reasons we’d recommend Bentonville…

10. They’ll pay you $10,000 to move here.

And give you a bike. With so many companies switching to remote workforces, people can live wherever they want. And let’s face it, northwest Arkansas isn’t usually on people’s radar. $10k helps put it there. You can get more details and apply online, but we say just use that to cover moving costs and get on it.

9. Art museums you’ll actually want to go to

And not boring museums. Crystal Bridges is an amazing way to spend a day, with so many different styles of art to keep every turn fresh and interesting. I took my kids there when they were younger, and even they enjoyed it (I made a video to prove it), which is saying a lot if three hours in a museum didn’t leave young children in tears.

Our latest visit included The Momentary, a smaller, more contemporary art museum that doubles as a great place to meet or knock out a couple hours of work. They’re both free to enter, and The Momentary has tons of open space seating, Onyx Coffee Lab, and a snack bar!

For the really young, or the young at heart tinkerer, there’s the Amazeum. It’s a hands-on learning museum up front, with an advanced Maker Space in the back that offers membership access to all of their tools, plus classes to teach you how to create and code!

8. Breakfast

Here’s the thing about having the world’s largest retailer headquartered there: They need good restaurants. Because they, and the ~1,500 companies that have offices here to work with Walmart, want great places to take clients, sales people, and buyers. So you end up with awesome spots like The Buttered Biscuit and, if you’re gluten free…

…check out Olly Makes. But those are just two of many spots for a great breakfast, and then there’s…

7. Lunch

There are way too many great lunch spots to list here, which is part of the fun…there’s no shortage of new places to try. Definitely check out 8th Street Market for Yeyo’s Mexican and The Dough Zone, which has killer ramen bowls! Stay after for a little gift shopping at Markham & Fitz or attend a cool indigo dyeing workshop at Hillfolk textile studio.

If you’re gonna call it a day by noon, hit up Pedaler’s Pub for a big selection of gourmet pizzas and local drafts, then mozy next door for another round at Bike Rack Brewing. Then rest up, because you’ll need to make room for…

6. Dinner

Before you eat, check in (or just check out the mini art museum) at the 21C Hotel. It’s right downtown, which serves as the perfect home base. You can walk or ride to everything listed here, and it’s just down the street from our favorite dinner spot, Tusk & Trotter. Founded by chef Rob Nelson, it fuses his French culinary training with all manner of pork. The drinks are darn good, too.

Two we’ve heard good things about that deserve a trip back are The Pressroom and The Preacher’s Son. The latter sits atop Undercroft, a killer bar that feels like a secret basement speakeasy. If you prefer beer over cocktails, Don’t worry…

5. There’s a great beer scene

Bike Rack Brewing is the local favorite for many riders thanks to multiple locations that sit just off the greenway. The best spot is at 8th Street Market, where food trucks pull up outside, and across the parking lot is a multi-acre pump track!

Nearby are Natural State Beer Co., Rendezvous Junction Brewing, Ozark Beer Co., New Province Brewing, and Hawk Moth Brewing.

Back near downtown is Bentonville Brewing, which sits next door to the massive Climb Bentonville indoor climbing center. Lots of options, so it’s a good thing…

4. You can ride your bike Ev-er-y-where.

From ‘most any place in town, you’re likely to find a bike path, greenway, or dedicated bicycle lanes that’ll get you anywhere you want to go. Bentonville’s famous Slaughter Pen trails? Coler MTB Preserve? Both easily accessed by bike, with the former basically sitting in the center of the city. Check out our video…we rode our bikes everywhere we went for 2.5 days.

This means you can ride to work. Your kids can ride to school. Everyone can ride to the store, for groceries, whatever. We saw more kids and families out riding together than anywhere else we’ve visited. No exaggeration: Anywhere.

3. You can learn to fly while your kids learn to build a bicycle

Thaden Field is Bentonville’s municipal airport, and it’s more than just a spot for people who don’t want to drive the 3+ hours to fly out of Little Rock’s Clinton National Airport. It’s where you can get your pilot’s license (and even your instructor’s license), rent a plane or helicopter from their fleet, or just take a sightseeing flight. Surprisingly, you can also catch a direct flight to Denver, Charlotte, Vegas, Newark, D.C., Orlando, and 11 other major cities from here, too.

Or just sit outside of the Louise Cafe and enjoy an open air lunch while watching the planes take off and land.

Meanwhile, at the Thaden School, your kids will thrive with their Wheels, Meals and Reels curriculum. Not only does every student learn to grow and cook their own food (meals), shoot and edit video (reels), but they’ll learn bike maintenance and how to weld their own steel frame!

2. You can ride world-class mountain bike trails

As in, 340+ miles of singletrack, pump track, flow trail, and skills sections. From groomed, machine-built trail to rough, backcountry trail, there’s an insane amount of trail here.

Literally, the trails criss-cross the roads, taking advantage of every nook and cranny of green space to add more trail. Trails snake between road and sidewalk. They loop past coffee shops and parks. They’re…well…they’re just everywhere!  But that’s not all…

1. You can ride gravel, ride with IMBA, ride, ride, ride!

It wasn’t too long ago that Bentonville was mostly dirt roads. Yes, it’s growing, but it’s still kinda out in the middle of nowhere. Or, rather, in the middle of the Ozarks, surrounded by forest. Meaning there’s a ton of ways to get lost on mile after mile of dirt and gravel roads. So much so that Life Time launched their Big Sugar NWA Gravel here.

IMBA hosts summits and events here, and Bentonville Bike Fest brings the circus to town in the summer for racing, skills clinics, and more.

Still not convinced? This 200,000+ sq. ft. building is under construction in downtown and features bike ramps so you can ride up to every floor of its office and co-working space. Scheduled for completion in 2022, they say it’s a perfect example of the “intentional innovation to connect people to work, home, and play in the MTB Capital of the World.”

But wait, there’s more…

As much as we’d like to play all the time, we do have to work a little. Here’s where the advantages of being in Walmart’s backyard come into play again. There are top-notch resources for any entrepreneur or remote worker, like Rapid Prototypes, the University of Arkansas just south in Fayetteville, Brightwater Culinary School, and, of course, Walmart itself.

With experimental stores, test centers, and an ongoing push into delivery, warehouse automation, and a growing e-comm business, Walmart is directly or indirectly a great opportunity for growth, too.

The NWA Tech Summit brings top talent to town to discuss technology, art, and cycling. But mainly, it’s the friendly, outdoorsy vibe that makes Bentonville so cool. I may not be ready to move yet, but you can be sure it’s on my short list if that time ever came.

Resources:

• BikeBentonville
• FindingNWA
• VisitBentonville
• Bentonville Chamber of Commerce
• GreaterBentonville.com

TRAVEL DISCLAIMER: Friends, we know that travel during a pandemic isn’t the best idea, and we’re not suggesting anyone do it. We’re providing these “Where to Ride” and related travel stories because we know many of you are planning for future trips. When visiting these locations, we took all (or more than) recommended safety precautions including wearing masks, maintaining a safe distance, and drastically limiting indoor activities. We also limited our business to locations that adhered to best practices. Our safety and the safety of our hosts and riding partners is of the utmost importance, and we appreciate the seriousness of COVID-19. If you decide to travel, please follow all recommended safety guidelines for the area you’re visiting, wear a mask, and wash those hands!

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BCBR Gravel Explorer

The biggest announcement is probably the news of an all new event put on by the team responsible for the BC Bike Race. Yup, the BCBR is headed to the gravel. British Columbia’s Okanagan region, to be exact. Set up as a five day stage race in BCBR fashion, the BCBR Gravel Explorer is sure to test your skills on a gravel bike in a variety of condition from pavement to full on single track.

Scheduled for September 26 – October 1st, BCBR Gravel will include categories for Solo Open Men, Open Women, 30+, 40+, 50+, 60+, as well as teams of 2. Registration opens on February 9th, with registration pricing starting at $1499 CAD for the first 50 spots. Check out the site for more details, including the cancellation policy – which hopefully you won’t have to use. Not into gravel? The legendary BCBR 7 day MTB stage race will be held July 4-10. 

bcbrgravel.com

BWR Kansas

For a different kind of gravel experience (a very hard one), the Belgian Waffle Ride has added another event for 2021. Finishing out the season on Halloween, the new BWR Kansas will cover 111 miles through the northeast with 8,000 feet of elevation gain.

BWR Kansas joins the existing BWR events including San Diego, CA (7/18), Asheville, NC (8/21), and Cedar City, UT (9/25). Check out all the details at the link below.

belgianwaffleride.bike

Leadville Trail 100 MTB

Hoping to get into Leadville this year? The lottery is open now – and closes 2/15. There are too many details about the selection process and the alternative Qualifiers to list here. Just know that if you are hoping to race 100 miles at elevation this year, the time is now to get into the lottery.

leadvilleraceseries.com

Bentonville Bike Fest

Last up, we have the official announcement for the Bentonville Bike Fest 2021. Scheduled for June 18-20, Bike Fest returns to the trails of North West Arkansas with packed, family friendly schedule including Sprint & Enduro races, a pumptrack demo area, Women Shred programming, Kids Shred activities, Trials shows and competitions including an attempt at a Guinness World Record for the Highest Forward Jump on a Bicycle, a gravel ride, art installations, and more. The festival itself is free to enter, check the site below for more details.

bentonvillebikefest.com

The post BC Bike Race Launches BCBR Gravel! Plus Leadville Lottery, BWR Kansas & more appeared first on Bikerumor.

After all, we found plenty of amazing mountain bike trails there. And the city has a greenway running all along their riverfront, a free and public swimming reservoir, and a generally outdoorsy vibe with tons of amazing food and breweries. If we could find gravel roads here, too, this would definitely be the gem of Eastern Tennessee.

So, what did we find?

Knoxville’s gravel cycling scene is, um, hard to see

If you find cyclists gathering outside a taco joint or brewery, they’re likely mountain bikers. It’s not that this college town doesn’t have gravel cyclists and roadies, it’s just that the in-town riding is basically all mountain biking. World-class, endless miles of mountain biking, to be exact. Seriously, check it out.

After calling four different shops and getting a very similar answers, the general consensus is this:

Which is true. And, according to several more locals, it really is quite amazing. And hard. And you have to be willing to drive about 30-50 minutes from downtown Knoxville to find it. But, judging from our ride, and photos and intel from local gravelist extraordinaire Chris Joice, it’s worth the effort. Here’s what we’re looking at:

The three areas most mentioned by local bike shops were North Boundary, Tellico, and the Heinous Loop. The latter weaves in and out of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and is a crusher of a ride. More on that in a minute.

The white circle on the map is a 20-mile radius from the center of downtown Knoxville, just for reference. Further down we’ll include links and GPX files for some of the more popular routes.

The North Boundary Greenway is one of the easiest to get to, and logistically easiest to ride since it’s a closed loop. I met Echelon Bicycles & Taproom owner Kelly Hamm for a ride.

He shared that the area was home to the Manhattan Project’s development in the 40s. Nowadays, Oakridge, TN, is home to the National Laboratory, which continues to do advanced product development for both government and private entities.

You may hear this area referred to a Black Oak Ridge, which includes some of the singletrack in the area. NorBo’s surface is great, and there are three solid climbs in there, helping make this ~8 mile loop a perfect spot to do training laps…

…or just kick it with friends without worrying about traffic. As a bonus, there’s some awesome singletrack wiggling off into the woods that seemed purpose built for aggressive gravel riding. So swoopy and so fast, it capped off our ride perfectly. Well, actually…

…grabbing a cold beverage back at Echelon was the perfect end. The shop is technically located in Farugut, TN, basically the edge of Knoxville and (mostly) on the way back into town. Worth a stop to check out his setup, and these carbon steerer tubes repurposed as bar taps!

The drive back into downtown reveals the reason to stay in downtown…there’s a lot of malls and sprawl along I-40 west of town. It’s not that there’s nothing there, you can find some gems (like Abridged Beer Company and their Pot Roast Nachos!).

It’s just that it’s a lot more concentrated in the greater downtown Knoxville area. Downtown is a hub of delicious restaurants, local beer, art, river access, the Mead’s Quarry, Navitat ropes course at Ijams Nature Center, and those glorious Urban Wilderness mountain bike trails.

That said, stay on Kingston Pike (Hwy70) heading back into town and you’ll pass by Taqueria La Herradura food truck, which really and truly is the perfect finish to a great ride. The food was so good, and affordable, and just what I needed before grabbing a siesta back at the hotel.

OK, we’ll get back to the riding, but since we’re on food…

Food, Drink & Fun in Knoxville, Tennessee

Last trip, we hit the Navitat high ropes course, so this time we wanted to try actual climbing. Of which there is some real outdoor crag climbing at the Ijams nature preserve, as long as you have your own gear…for now. Local outfitter Knoxville Adventure Collective is planning on offering guided climbing soon.

In the meantime, check out the indoor climbing wall at River Sports Outfitters, which has a mix of top rope, auto-belay and bouldering. Plus gear for literally any outdoor and water sport you can possibly think of inside their oversized (and very cool) shop.

When evening arrives, you’ll have worked up an appetite. Take a stroll and enjoy the hazy vistas (they’re called the Blue Ridge and Smoky mountains for a reason).

There’s also plenty of art on buildings, in alleys, and all over town. Lots to see as you head toward food!

We filled the first night with takeout from Good Golly Tamale (a bit expensive, but surprisingly filling tamales for takeout) and walked to Crafty Bastard Brewing (above) to enjoy the food and the crisp early fall air.

Our next day started with an assortment of donuts from Status Dough. For dinner…

…we lucked into finding the Elkmont Exchange Brewery & Eating House, which had both excellent beer and scrumptious food. It’s a big spot, just off the beaten path, so look it up. After sharing a few items to whet our appetite, we walked around the corner to…

…Knox Food Park. This permanent urban picnic area has a rotating selection of food trucks (the schedule is on their website), fire pits, and a bar serving up local beers by the can.

One truck was selling make-your-own s’mores kits, including sticks, so we put those fire pits to good use! Definitely worth a visit if your party can’t agree on a single restaurant. And if Ramen Bones is there, OMG.

Other spots worth trying include Pretentious Beer Co. (cozy secret garden seating out back, and all beers are served in glass that’s blown next door), and Kopita Falafel & Hummus Bar (super friendly, vegan, and delicious!).

Check out the restaurants from our mountain bike trip here, too, for a LOT more great options and breweries across the river.

If you’re really into beer, check out Knox Brew Hub, which is like a visitor’s center for local beer, where they’ll guide you through tastings…until Zack’s Knox Brew Tours business is up and running again after the COVID-19 pandemic.

If beer’s not your thing, PostModern Spirits makes all of their cocktail ingredients in house, and Knox Whiskey Works. Both are part of the Tennessee Whiskey Trail.

Where to stay in Knoxville & local Bike Shops

We stayed at the Embassy Suites Downtown on this trip, and would also recommend Hyatt Place Downtown. Both are right in the heart of it, and the Embassy Suites has a legit breakfast bar with made-to-order omelette station (because these things matter)…and their rooms are plenty big enough to put bikes in them without tripping over them. That’s good, because both valet and self-parking are offsite, about 2-3 blocks away.

If you’re camping, check out Southlake RV Park (south of town) and Volunteer Park Family Campground (north of town). Both offer tent and RV campsites.

There’s also a ton of bike shops, here’s the quick list:

• Bearden Bike & Trail
• Bike Zoo
• Dream Bikes
• Echelon Bicycles
• Fountain City Peddler
• Greenlee’s Bike Shop
• Harper’s Bike Shop
• Tennessee Valley Bicycles

All shop links provided by Visit Knoxville, which has a visitor’s center located right downtown with maps and more info to get you oriented.

It’s worth mentioning that Knoxville has 85+ miles of greenway running through parks, neighborhoods, and community centers. Which is awesome for locals, but it’s a scattered assortment of short stretches, each mostly under 2 miles long.

Which means for proper “gravel cycling” you’ll need to look outside of town. So, let’s get back to it…

Eastern Tennessee gravel cycling details & GPX routes

Considering some of the riding we heard about and found online stretched into Western North Carolina and North Georgia, looking for “Eastern Tennessee” gravel riding might yield better results.

THE HEINOUS: If you’re looking for a BIG day, plan on the Heinous. Depending on how you string it together, it’s anywhere from 60 to 100 miles of mixed surface riding that leans heavily on forest roads in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Joice says the preferred way to ride the route (GPX file) is clockwise, however this will put you on Rich Mountain Road headed against traffic and might earn you a ticket…unless the road is closed for the winter, then it’s open for cycling in either direction. If you ride it counter-clockwise, Joice says it’s harder, and you’ll need to make a modification across Cades Cove using Hyatt Lane.

TELLICO / CITICO: If you’re headed to the Tellico area, search for routes using the word “Citico”. There’s a reason why local brand Nox Composites named their gravel/CX carbon rim the Citico…apparently it’s that good.

Loops like the “Chill by the Farr” send you along the creek and through the Cherokee Nation Forest on mixed surface roads. Joice recommends the Citico Special (GPX file).

NORTH BOUNDARY / BLACK OAK RIDGE: Joice made us two routes to share. The NB/BOR Basic (GPX file) is a sampler with a little single-track and the major loops. The NB/BOR Delux (GPX file) uses the “good” trail in Black Oak Ridge (which is un-signed) and the great, newer trail in North Boundary, along with some solid climbs, good flow, and even a great spot were you can see the hidden quarry.

More resources for Tennessee gravel riding

Here are some other great resources we found online:

• TennesseeGravel.com – Gravel races & tons of downloadable gravel routes
• Rollin’ Appalachia – RideWithGPS ambassador’s route page
• GravelMap.com – highlighted gravel roads, searchable by county
• Follow Chris Joice on Instagram for more pics from his rides, and check out his new account for an upcoming “ride guide” service he’s working on.

COVID Safety and precautions on this trip

All of our dining and drinking was done at places with outdoor seating. There’s enough, if you’re willing to walk a bit. Or maybe even drive.

Knoxville’s Old City has a few options, but walk another six blocks and you get to Crafty Bastard, Elkmont Exchange, the Central Filling Station food truck park, Schulz Brau biergarten and more.

That said, Knoxville is home to the University of Tennessee. It’s a very large college, and it’s located just off of downtown’s southwest side. So, on football game weekends, and especially on home game weekends, downtown is packed with students and their families and alumni.

Which is to say, not our scene anymore, but maybe it’s yours. College kids do dumb college kid things, like pack themselves into bars in the midst of a pandemic.

Otherwise, most establishments seemed to have some limits on indoor seating, offered takeout or at least required masks be worn inside. Knoxville posts their city-wide rules and recommendations online, and virtually every establishment had one or more signs on their doors.

Ultimately, visiting anywhere during a pandemic requires you to make good judgements based on your own risk tolerance, and know in advance that you may not get to try everything you wanted. Which is a pretty good reason, along with the riding, for a return trip in the future.

The takeaway? Knoxville is worth the visit

Whether you’re looking for a killer mountain bike road trip, or a food-and-brewery packed urban hub for epic gravel adventures, Knoxville’s hard to beat. We’ve ridden here several times now, and still haven’t come close to riding it all.

Its downtown is easily accessible off Interstate 40, offers a lot to do off the bike, and it’s near tons of other family-friendly attractions in the Smoky Mountains. Knox, we’ll be back.

VisitKnoxville.com

Disclosure: Visit Knoxville covered some of our travel and production costs to create this story, however we created our own schedule and chose our own activities, and chose which items to include and recommend in this post based on our own personal experience. Hotel links are affiliate links that, if you click and book, we may earn a very small commission to help support the work we do here at Bikerumor.com.

GPX file disclosure: The linked GPX files were provided to us and we have NOT vetted them. Download and use them at your own risk, and follow all local traffic laws.

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