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Showing posts with label Bikepacking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bikepacking. Show all posts
September 15, 2015
June 27, 2015
In the Zone and Living Well
Next week I will return to the
Great Divide bicycle route with my friend Shawn Sheppard and Andrew to bikepack
240 miles, or so, from SteamBoat Springs to Salida Colorado. This is my
first trip back to the Great Divide Route since 2011, when I entered the Tour
Divide race from Banff Canada to Antelope Wells, New Mexico.
We will drive two days to Steam
Boat, then start riding along the route and meet my wife, daughters and niece
in Salida 5 days later. Once reconnected with family, I will stay in Colorado a
few more days and see more of the state, while Shawn and Andrew will travel
back to Steamboat, get the truck and head back east.
My preparations have been
minimal, but adequate, and my equipment is dialed in based on my 2011 TDR
experience. We will take plenty of pictures and provide updates as technology
allows.
December 27, 2011
2011 Tour Divide excerpts
Ride the Divide movie trailer: Ride the Divide
In the Beginning, Crazy Larry: Meet Crazy Larry (the video came out sideways, so you may want to watch whilst reclining on your left side.)
Crazy Larry, Banff Celebrity: Canadian Local TV Coverage of Crazy Larry
Call in to MTB Cast from Columbia Falls: MTB Cast Columbia Falls Call in
Call in to MTB Cast from Lincoln: MTB Cast Lincoln Call in
Call in to MTB Cast from Helena: MTB Cast Helena Call in
Near my end, descent into Butte on I-15 Descent into Butte Montana
Expedition Bikepacking Equipment list, based on updates made after my 2011 Tour divide:
Expedition Bikepacking (Tour Divide) Equipment list
In the Beginning, Crazy Larry: Meet Crazy Larry (the video came out sideways, so you may want to watch whilst reclining on your left side.)
Crazy Larry, Banff Celebrity: Canadian Local TV Coverage of Crazy Larry
Call in to MTB Cast from Columbia Falls: MTB Cast Columbia Falls Call in
Call in to MTB Cast from Lincoln: MTB Cast Lincoln Call in
Call in to MTB Cast from Helena: MTB Cast Helena Call in
Near my end, descent into Butte on I-15 Descent into Butte Montana
Expedition Bikepacking Equipment list, based on updates made after my 2011 Tour divide:
Expedition Bikepacking (Tour Divide) Equipment list
September 05, 2011
Some of my favorite cycling routes and the Eastern Continental Divide
Ride with GPS route files
The Eastern Continental Divide is some topography that is of interest for creating a cycling route. This notion is inspired in part by the Western Continental Divide route named "the Great Divide" that is used in the Tour Divide.
A "project" of mine, (not really mine) is to propose a route. Links to info about the Eastern Continental Divide (ECD) begin with: Wikipedia Eastern Continental Divide, ECD GPS info for Ga, ECD GPS info for NC.
Work has already been done on the ECD section from the triple point in Pennsylvania to the Mason Dixon line:
ECD Pennsylvania to Mason Dixon Line
Here is a link to a route I have been stitching together based on the Trans North Ga route, the SC Connector, and the Pisgah Traverse: ECD Ga SC Pisgah
This section runs North to South, is 620 miles and features an estimated 89,000 feet of climbing. It crosses the ECD at least 6 times.
More work is needed. If you know the areas between Old Fort NC and the Mason Dixon Line and can propose a route, please contact me.
SouthEast Climb data: SE Hill Climb data spreadsheet
The Eastern Continental Divide is some topography that is of interest for creating a cycling route. This notion is inspired in part by the Western Continental Divide route named "the Great Divide" that is used in the Tour Divide.
A "project" of mine, (not really mine) is to propose a route. Links to info about the Eastern Continental Divide (ECD) begin with: Wikipedia Eastern Continental Divide, ECD GPS info for Ga, ECD GPS info for NC.
Work has already been done on the ECD section from the triple point in Pennsylvania to the Mason Dixon line:
ECD Pennsylvania to Mason Dixon Line
Here is a link to a route I have been stitching together based on the Trans North Ga route, the SC Connector, and the Pisgah Traverse: ECD Ga SC Pisgah
This section runs North to South, is 620 miles and features an estimated 89,000 feet of climbing. It crosses the ECD at least 6 times.
More work is needed. If you know the areas between Old Fort NC and the Mason Dixon Line and can propose a route, please contact me.
SouthEast Climb data: SE Hill Climb data spreadsheet
July 11, 2011
My bikepacking equipment list - Pre-Tour Divide
1) Reliability - will it function as designed and not fail in the field?
2) Weight - I targeted lighter weight choices if they existed, but because I am a larger person, I have learned that lighter weight often comes with decreased reliability.
3) Multipurpose - can it be used for more than one purpose - thereby simplifying the number of pieces of equipment?
4) Made in the USA - I work in manufacturing and have a bias towards goods made in the US.
5) Availability - items need to be serviceable along the Tour Divide route. Bike shops don't necessarily stock high end equipment sold in internet bike shop boutiques and catalogs.
The equipment was tested during 7 multi-day outings in every kind of weather condition. The weights I report were measured with an electronic table top balance. Total loaded bike weight was 45-50 lbs depending on water and food.
After the Tour Divide, I have made the following changes to my set-up.
1) Switched to a Shimano XT 3 x 9 drivetrain - wider gear options, serviceable anywhere.
2) Switched to Pearl Izumi Trans Alp Enduro II shoes - better to walk in
3) Garmin MapGPS 62sc - more memory, mapping GPS, push buttons easier to use.
4) Not carrying snow shoes anymore.
I purchase all my own equipment and have not received any endorsement or sponsorship.
Link to equipment table --->Ridlehuber Bikepacking equipment table
June 19, 2011
2011 TDR Ride report - final
My ride report for Banff through Butte (where I pulled out).
Click to launch presentation ---> 2011 TDR Richard Ridlehuber report
Features: scenery around Banff; Meet Crazy Larry; The start at YWCA; Riders: David Horton, Derek Bentley, Dale Shadley, Bob Anderson; the Stryker snow section; Holland Lake lodge; the treacherous road wash out near Ovando; Wickes Pass Dilemna; and my decision to withdraw due to injury. There is no sound track other than the video sections. Created in MS Powerpoint with 5 second slide transition. Good for family and friends or people new to the event. The GPS tracks shown at the beginning of each day are my own compared to the routes. I also show elevation profiles. There are no GPS mapping errors in the profiles - the climbs are as steep as they appear. Enjoy
Click to launch presentation ---> 2011 TDR Richard Ridlehuber report
Features: scenery around Banff; Meet Crazy Larry; The start at YWCA; Riders: David Horton, Derek Bentley, Dale Shadley, Bob Anderson; the Stryker snow section; Holland Lake lodge; the treacherous road wash out near Ovando; Wickes Pass Dilemna; and my decision to withdraw due to injury. There is no sound track other than the video sections. Created in MS Powerpoint with 5 second slide transition. Good for family and friends or people new to the event. The GPS tracks shown at the beginning of each day are my own compared to the routes. I also show elevation profiles. There are no GPS mapping errors in the profiles - the climbs are as steep as they appear. Enjoy
June 06, 2011
Some last minutes facts and figures (for those who like numbers)
Richard's weight at Start - 210 lbs, 14% body fat (by impedance method)
Miles ridden since December 5, 2010 = 4038
Number of Bikepacking trips done for training = 5 (3 in the mtns, 2 on rolling terrain)
Max number of feet climbed on a loaded bike in 1 day = 9600/120 miles
Steepest grade ridden on loaded bike - 17% for 0.2 miles (Green River Cove road)
Number of bears seen = 0
Number of deers seen = plenty
Other critters seen = not many
Weight of bike and gear (without snow shoes) 49 lbs (I will send unneeded equipment home as I go)
The sun rise in the Northern parts of the course is 4:30 AM.
Sunset is 9:45 PM.
Avg night time temp is upper 20's to mid 30's on most of the course (due to elevation)
Miles ridden since December 5, 2010 = 4038
Number of Bikepacking trips done for training = 5 (3 in the mtns, 2 on rolling terrain)
Max number of feet climbed on a loaded bike in 1 day = 9600/120 miles
Steepest grade ridden on loaded bike - 17% for 0.2 miles (Green River Cove road)
Number of bears seen = 0
Number of deers seen = plenty
Other critters seen = not many
Weight of bike and gear (without snow shoes) 49 lbs (I will send unneeded equipment home as I go)
The sun rise in the Northern parts of the course is 4:30 AM.
Sunset is 9:45 PM.
Avg night time temp is upper 20's to mid 30's on most of the course (due to elevation)
May 29, 2011
Some Important links to Follow the 2011 Tour Divide
Here are the links to some of the key web pages about the 2011 Tour Divide:
Tour Divide web page - the main source of info. Lots of content here. I am in the start list for 2011 Grand depart. http://tourdivide.org/
Interactive map showing the route and elevation. I used this to make my plans. I am traveling North to South.
http://eatsleepridegreatdivide.com/#/
MTB Cast.com - the page with the audio call in reports: http://mtbcast.com/site2/
Facebook group: "Richard Ridlehuber can finish the Tour Divide by July 4th" Search it in Facebook and ask to be a member.
Link to a Beta version of a web page that displays: the route, weather, snowpack information, and rider location. It is not updated with the 2011 participants yet and doesn't display correctly on some computers. http://bluedot.mobi/td
NOAA Snowpack webpage: NOAA Snowpack data
There are record amounts of snow on the course this year. It is a huge factor. Those who decide to bypass it, forfeit there claims of doing the "official route". Those who choose to go through it, will be slower. I plan to go through it - I've got one chance to do this event and I don't want to compromise my results with a detour.
Tour Divide web page - the main source of info. Lots of content here. I am in the start list for 2011 Grand depart. http://tourdivide.org/
Interactive map showing the route and elevation. I used this to make my plans. I am traveling North to South.
http://eatsleepridegreatdivide.com/#/
MTB Cast.com - the page with the audio call in reports: http://mtbcast.com/site2/
Facebook group: "Richard Ridlehuber can finish the Tour Divide by July 4th" Search it in Facebook and ask to be a member.
Link to a Beta version of a web page that displays: the route, weather, snowpack information, and rider location. It is not updated with the 2011 participants yet and doesn't display correctly on some computers. http://bluedot.mobi/td
NOAA Snowpack webpage: NOAA Snowpack data
There are record amounts of snow on the course this year. It is a huge factor. Those who decide to bypass it, forfeit there claims of doing the "official route". Those who choose to go through it, will be slower. I plan to go through it - I've got one chance to do this event and I don't want to compromise my results with a detour.
April 19, 2011
2011 Tour Divide preparation report - April 19, 2011
April 19, 2011. I am ready. Equipment is selected and dialed in. I have logged 3000+ mile since December 5th and am in a maintain/hold pattern of fitness, teetering on the edge of loosing what I have and carving a peak too early. This past Sunday I rode 105 miles, two major climbs totaling 9000 feet in elevation gain and wanted to go longer, but ran out of time. My wife snatched me off the mountain and took me home. That was plan E for the weekend. Plans A,B,C and D got nixed due to killer tornadoes that ripped through the south, killing 41 people. One lesson I have learned - the hard way - about my outdoor adventures is you can't beat the weather - you must co-operate with it. Don't be a hero. More later...
The Route:
A few of pics from Sunday's ride:
The Route:
A few of pics from Sunday's ride:
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| Top of Caesars's Head - 7 miles avg grade = 6%, mile 75 into route |
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| Eastern Continental Divide on the back side of Caesars head, mile 78 into route. |
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| Cradle of Forestry, Pisgah National Forest mile 105 of my trip. |
March 21, 2011
TDR 3 Day Mountain Bikepack training ride - Solo (almost)
Training for the 2011 Tour Divide has become more of a solo endeavor. My training friend, 2010 TDR finisher Shawn Sheppard, has taken a new job in Virginia and moved away. I continue on, accompanied in sunny weather by my shadow, aka Dickey.
This weekend I needed to do 3 days and two nights in the mountains of SC/NC with a loaded bike to check out my bio-mechanical fitness (how well my knees will hold up) and soft tissue fitness and hygiene (ie saddle sore situation).
Link to video of --> Start report
My plan involved leaving from work in the late afternoon and riding to Saluda NC. Saluda is at the top of a major climb from the elevation in the upstate SC of 800 - 900 feet to the 1800 - 2000 foot level. Saluda is somewhat of a "Mayberry" town with its quaint shops and eateries. Most notable is the Purple Onion Cafe, which serves up a good pizza and has wonderful staff. After pizza dinner. I rode the final 4.5 miles to Orchard Lake campground and bivied under the stars to a huge full moon, listening to frogs and the sound of a nearby creek.
Saturday morning started before sun-up with a quick pack up of dew dampend equipment. My left knee had aggrivated me on the climb into Saluda and when it started again a mile out of the campground, I stopped and noticed my saddle had slid back and I was putting too much pressure on the top of the knee. I stopped and moved my saddle full forward, and continued on. The knee pain decreased. Lesson learned (again): mark saddle setback position with marking tape to detect saddle setback movement before knee pain starts.
Saturday's route traveled through gravel Green River Cove road, DuPont Forrest and Cascade Lakes road towards Brevard. Once in Brevard, the plan was to climb more gravel roads to Highway 215, then climb a 6 mile 6% avg grade paved climb to the Blue Ridge parkway and descend 25 miles back to Pisgah and bivy near the Pisgah Horse stables. At the entrance to Pisgah Forest, I was confronted with a huge flashing sign announcing FS 475 was closed due to a major wash out. Gravel trucks were running up and down the road, not a good sign for a guy on a 45 lb bike. After a quick stop at the closed Pisgah Ranger station, I rerouted and took FS 474 up to the Parkway, climbing steadily on gravel roads and Hway 276. The junction of 276 and the Parkway served as my rewarding milestone rest stop where I finished my SubWay sandwich in a swarm of flying things, while dark clouds loomed in the distance and the distant sound of thunder threatened. I put on my helmet cam and began the descent back towards Pisgah, only to get caught in the rain.
Link to video at Stop at Blue Ridge Parkway
Sunday started early. I needed to get back home to the wife and kids in Spartanburg, The good news was the weather was good: cool and overcast, but my fatigue level was higher and I missed the breakfast I needed because I started before the restaurants opened. Nothing like a Butterfinger Candy Bar for breakfast.
The road out of Brevard is nice. Little traffic, shouldered roads and gentle grade, My route had me taking a road through the area named Becky Mountain. The elevation profile showed Becky Mountain as a steep wall. I thought it was a GPS mapping error and ignored it as I planned the route. I was wrong.
When I turned off of 276 onto Becky Mountain Road it was an 8% 2 mile climbed, that I ended up having to dismount and push up. (I don't walk many climbs and can probably count the number of climbs I have walked in the past 15 years on one hand). I stayed positive and focused on the descent down the back side of the climb. It was worth it.
The next 50 miles consisted on re-tracing the same gravel roads I rode in on and dealing with the steady headwind back to Spartanburg. I finished the 200 mile trip with 13,000 feet of climbing by 3 PM.
Video of Finish report in Spartanburg
 |
| Dickey |
Link to video of --> Start report
My plan involved leaving from work in the late afternoon and riding to Saluda NC. Saluda is at the top of a major climb from the elevation in the upstate SC of 800 - 900 feet to the 1800 - 2000 foot level. Saluda is somewhat of a "Mayberry" town with its quaint shops and eateries. Most notable is the Purple Onion Cafe, which serves up a good pizza and has wonderful staff. After pizza dinner. I rode the final 4.5 miles to Orchard Lake campground and bivied under the stars to a huge full moon, listening to frogs and the sound of a nearby creek.
Saturday morning started before sun-up with a quick pack up of dew dampend equipment. My left knee had aggrivated me on the climb into Saluda and when it started again a mile out of the campground, I stopped and noticed my saddle had slid back and I was putting too much pressure on the top of the knee. I stopped and moved my saddle full forward, and continued on. The knee pain decreased. Lesson learned (again): mark saddle setback position with marking tape to detect saddle setback movement before knee pain starts.
Saturday's route traveled through gravel Green River Cove road, DuPont Forrest and Cascade Lakes road towards Brevard. Once in Brevard, the plan was to climb more gravel roads to Highway 215, then climb a 6 mile 6% avg grade paved climb to the Blue Ridge parkway and descend 25 miles back to Pisgah and bivy near the Pisgah Horse stables. At the entrance to Pisgah Forest, I was confronted with a huge flashing sign announcing FS 475 was closed due to a major wash out. Gravel trucks were running up and down the road, not a good sign for a guy on a 45 lb bike. After a quick stop at the closed Pisgah Ranger station, I rerouted and took FS 474 up to the Parkway, climbing steadily on gravel roads and Hway 276. The junction of 276 and the Parkway served as my rewarding milestone rest stop where I finished my SubWay sandwich in a swarm of flying things, while dark clouds loomed in the distance and the distant sound of thunder threatened. I put on my helmet cam and began the descent back towards Pisgah, only to get caught in the rain.
Link to video at Stop at Blue Ridge Parkway
 |
| Blue Ridge Parkway at junction with Hwy 276 |
 |
| Map location and elevation |
Sunday started early. I needed to get back home to the wife and kids in Spartanburg, The good news was the weather was good: cool and overcast, but my fatigue level was higher and I missed the breakfast I needed because I started before the restaurants opened. Nothing like a Butterfinger Candy Bar for breakfast.
The road out of Brevard is nice. Little traffic, shouldered roads and gentle grade, My route had me taking a road through the area named Becky Mountain. The elevation profile showed Becky Mountain as a steep wall. I thought it was a GPS mapping error and ignored it as I planned the route. I was wrong.
 |
| Becky Mountain |
 |
| Becky Mountain |
The next 50 miles consisted on re-tracing the same gravel roads I rode in on and dealing with the steady headwind back to Spartanburg. I finished the 200 mile trip with 13,000 feet of climbing by 3 PM.
Video of Finish report in Spartanburg
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