Multiday Adventure

Just a quick entry to keep some fresh content and exercise my day dreaming…

I’ve always been intrigued by multi day bike travel since Angela bought our first pannier back in 2007 when we were deciding how to experience Ireland.  Since then we have taken three large trips, the largest of which was a 3 week, self supported trip in the rain over 5 countries during which we learned a lot.

Then it was easy to be sucked into the endurance mountain bike events with all of the strong riders on our team and in the valley.  It only seems natural to me what the next adventure step would be: multiday mountain bike travel and; GASP – RACING! 

I wanted to share my thoughts and ideas in order to draw out your experiences and ideas in the hope of creating more adventures together.  Local Multi day trips, signing up together for organized multi day events or creating a local multi day route/event to share with others local and out of state!



From XXC_Mag_#17: Frame Bags for a 400mi race

 A group of friends from Boise (not including myself) are headed down to Moab to do a self supported White Rim tour.  Bob trailers are being gathered, dry runs being made up Rocky Canyon and excitement mounting.  I wish them smooth travels and pleasant memories to be made.  Looking forward to hearing about the trip!

It seems multi day, self supported mountain and/or cross bike racing is growing at a reasonable rate as of late, or perhaps I’m now more aware of events and gear options.  A few of us on the team have been talking about bike packing.  One has even gone so far as outfitting his mountain bike with frame bags and route planning.  I hope to join on a 2-3 day jaunt this Fall if time permits.  I have not committed as far as gear is concerned, as frame bags can get a bit costly.

If you have read this far; Perhaps you too are interested in exploring this world on two wheels under your own effort.  Do you want to learn what it would be like to be self supported on an overnighter MTB trip?  Maybe before the snow flies we can do an overnighter to Mores Campground and back?  Anyone?  Baby steps to multi day adventure! J



Freeload Racks from NZ on a Full Suspension MTB

 Recently fueling my excitement was being exposed to XXC Magazine showcasing Endurance Mountain biking including accounts of Southern California Stage Coach 400, TransIowa, San Juan Hut to Hut, Dirty Kanza 200, and various other multi day adventures stateside and abroad as well as fueling ideas from top endurance athletes such as Amanda Carey.  Needless to say the adventure detector in my brain was pegged. 

It was in this magazine I came across a rack system that I thought to be ingenious.  I had been looking for a front rack for my commuter (bottle opener included) and then thought this rack may fit many uses I’d like to explore at a reasonable cost!  This rack could convert any one of my bikes into a multi day rig, lugged or no.

We do have one experienced multi day endurance racer on our team and I hope by the end of next year we have two or three more!  Two of us at this point have committed to and signed up for a first taste of multi day endurance event; the BrekEpic in August next year.  There are currently 5 Boise riders signed up.  Perhaps one of the closer multi day events(staged or self supported) will also make our calendars, one never knows, but they are in the back of my mind.  And maybe I can plant the seed in yours too?!  Can we gain enough interest to grow this idea into an Eastside Epic?  A yearly event?!

Here is to adventure; share, plan, prepare and execute!

Cheers,

Z