Riding Dirt



Time to start putting in more gravel miles prior than  the event. The focus will be getting my tuchus conditioned for riding everyday. This picture is at Cockaponset State Park, great gravel roads and trails. This is the steed, Specialized AWOL that I'll be using stripped down. Soon I'll be installing 2.2" mountain bike tires, rack and panniers. Once the bike is loaded with 25/30 lbs of gear it's becomes a different bicycle. Let's hope there is enough gearing for the 200k feet of climbing!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Great Basin

Image
Met back up with the crew again. Fun time in Atlantic City, last real meal before entering the Great Divide Basin. Her’s the crew primitive camping the night before. Misquotes were out in full force.  Day one we were on the saddle by 6 am. Hot and windy. This morning, up at 3 am and riding by 4:00. Much better, cool and no wind. 60 miles by 9:00 am!  Landscape is surreal.  Only water source for most the Basin. 
Read more

Final Thoughts on Dreux's Great Divide Adventure

Image
What worked and what didn't?  I often said while riding the Great Divide, "you should begin your adventure with the equipment you have." If you wait until you have just the perfect equipment, you may never start your adventure. Money will buy lighter and more compact equipment but with that comes a more fragile equipment. Taking too much stuff. This is a common mistake you hear all the time. It's said you pack your fears. I was guilty of this as well. I could have reduced weight by at least 20 %.  Clothing - For the most part, the clothing was dialed in. I would have left the rain booties home and switched for water proof socks. A hooded rain jacket would have been ideal rather than a helmet cover.  Bicycle - I enjoyed riding the drop bar steel bike. The brakes and shifters were a joy. More tire clearance would have been nice in the mud and a granny gear for those early big climbs. Ideally, better balance of the packs would have eliminated a sli
Read more

Entering Customs Through Roosville, MT

Image
One last big climb out of Flathead Forest to enter United States. You are always bear aware but today I saw a cougar on the top of a pass. He gave me a quick look and headed the other direction and into the forest. Also several grouse  sightings. Finally some dry weather.   Eureka, MT has a community camping ground with a shower and grassy space to camp. Stocked up with supplies for several days and stopped into the Front Porch for a cheeseburger topped with huckleberry ice cream, odd but really good. Meeting up with lots of long distance hikers doing the Northwest Pacific Trail.  Plan is to reach Polebridge tomorrow. Sadly Andrew and Diana will continue on the Great Divide Route and I plan on visiting Glacier National Park, Riding to the Sun Road. Hoping we meet up down the road. 
Read more