Brains, Legs, and the Tour Divide
I’ll continue to plan and and to study. I’ll keep riding my bike. And I’ll keep preparing for the countless what-ifs and could-bes. I’ll keep imagining riding through the highs, the lows, and the flat pavement in between.
Salt, Sand, and Stagecoach Trails
As miserable as I felt, I had been worse before. Yeah, it was hot. I was thirsty. But I was healthy. The bike was working well enough. Even if I didn’t find water, I had drunk enough to live for a few more hours. Dire, yes. But not DIRE. Nevertheless, I contemplated looking for a shady tree to die under.
All the Way to Antelope Wells
The only way to Antelope Wells is forward. And the only way forward, is to keep pedaling.
Smoke, Fire, Rain, and Snow
A surprisingly relaxed group of bikepackers sat around tables eating, drinking, swapping stories. The start of the 2016 Smoke N Fire was just hours away. Rain was in the forecast. But nobody seemed too worked up about it. The mood helped me relax. 470 miles of unknown dirt was in the immediate future. What was there to be nervous about?
Demons and The Divide
We set out on a week long journey to discover something about the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Of course, what I discovered had less to do with the ups and downs of the road, and more to do with my own personal demons.
Bedrock and Paradox
Bikepacking helps a person appreciate the simple things–smooth trail, tailwinds, shade, and a general store with generous hours.
