First Post, touring in the Dakotas

From the September 13th to the 23rd myself and two other fine riders from the local bike club here in Toledo Ohio went out west purely based on one members goal of riding 100 miles or more in four states in his goal to ride at least 100 miles in every state. It was the sort of nobel idea I love.

The above pic was taken as we road out of Roosevelt National Grasslands park North into SE North Dakota. It was one of the most remote sections of our ride.

No paved roads. No cellular reception. No towns. Barely an odd farmstead at which to get water for 60 miles. Endless heavily washboarded gravel roads, endless headwinds, stark beauty, thousands of cows and a few grouse. We traveled through some beautiful badlands and crossed the Little Missouri River on a concrete wash bridge.

We ran into five people the whole day and stopped to chat with all of them. The most common greeting was "are you lost" and in a manner of speaking we were. We had no maps, no GPS, only a sense of direction and a nose for adventure. It worked out well as that evening we ran into our first and only bonafide trail angel of the trip in Golva North Dakota. I have a nice Golva Saloon beer cozy to remind me.

Though camping was available our trail angel offered to put us up in the town's recreation hall with carpeting, heat, a kitchen and bathrooms. She then offered to cook us a pizza at the local saloon which was closed, brought us eggs from her neighbor and some fresh tomatos from her garden.

Heaven sent after a long day of tough riding.

More pics to follow in the comming days / weeks.

Touring tip of the day, Smartwool socks rule

If your touring in the fall or winter don't screw around with bicycle specific socks. Even the best cycling socks like Defeet Woolie Boolies (which I love) will leave your feet cold and clammy after a day of riding at 45 degrees or less. There are cheaper alternatives as well, but absolutely nothing compares to some all merino wool Smartwool brand hiking socks. Your feet will thank you and it'll change your entire trip outlook.

By at least one new pair for your next tour or bikepacking trip and I guarantee you'll end up wearing them the entire trip taking them off only to wash them.

I came to this conclusion after riding the skyline and blue ridge parkway last January but somehow forgot the lesson while biking the NCT (north country trail) in Michigan the last couple weeks. It has been unseasonably cold and very wet.

Disclaimer: I am not a Smartwool rep, nor do I even sell them. I just love their socks.

Hancock horizontal hundred

Some Tour Divide Questions & Answers with Justin Simoni

via kentsbike.blogspot.com

Kent Petersen aka. Mountain Turtle's interview with Justin Simoni is absolutely the best single interview I've read on the tour divide. Justin attempted to do the whole 2700 mile divide route this year without taking any reroutes / alternates despite record snowfalls and nearly succeeded succombing to a taco'd wheel and shoulder injury only 120 miles from his goal. He was one of the many colorful characters that made the tour divide such an exceptionally great race to follow this year.

One small excerpt: "Q: Did you have any exciting animal encounters?

A: The most exciting animal encounters were the bear prints on the road up Flathead Pass - the first really snowed in pass. There wasn't one part of the track that wasn't covered in them. The forest is so dense up there, that all the animals take to the road to travel themselves. If there wasn't bear prints, there was bear scat, if there wasn't bear scat, there was the scattered plume of some animals fur or feathers from a successful kill. The pattern was sustained through the entire snowed in part. I didn't even have bear mace."

Bikepacking circa the 1950's

PathLessPedaled - Our First Year of Travel on Vimeo

via vimeo.com

looking for slackware video editing techniques as I wait for my laundry this morning. Today's lessons come from Russ Roca. He's a master of editing in my book. A professional photog who combines his photos into extremely simple yet very effective videos. This video is basically just a slideshow with some highly creative photos and some well chosen music.

One of those Moments on Vimeo

via vimeo.com

Just love this video of a moment Russ Roca of the Epicurean Cyclist captured and mixed from one of his tours. He's a professional and it shows. I dream of being able to capture the stuff I love on tour this well, but I have to be able to do it from my Android phone.

Cycling Madagascar

Even though this video isn't in english (not much speaking anyway) and even though it's a fantastical 20 minutes long I'm guessing it's still going to leave you wanting more. It's perhaps one of the best tourng videos i've ever seen. And I've seen a lot.

Cycling Madagascar from Dennis Koomen on Vimeo.

We explored the southern part of Madagascar by bicycle. Our route: Antananarivo, Morondava, Antsirabe, Manakara, Fianarantsoa, Toliara. We also made two walkingtrips; Ranamafano NP and Isalo NP.
More info and pictures can be found on our website

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