PROLLY IS NOT PROBABLY

Posts Tagged ‘touring’

Fairdale: Ride for Puppies and Kitties

Raddest flier ever? Maybe. This in from Fairdale:

“SANDY CARSON has organized a near 1000 mile bike ride from Seattle to San Francisco to raise money for the Humane Society.

Check out this LINK if you’d like to help some poor little puppies and kitties. We’ll be heading out for the pedal in June so look for daily updates then.”

Sick! Taj, keep me posted, I’m down!

Recent Roll: CBSP Ride B&W

Excuse the lack of updates today, I’m slowly recovering from a week of madness in SF. These few stragglers were left on a roll of Neopan 400 during the Colorado Bend State Park ride we went on last month. Black and white really captures the looming skies and textures of the ride. I’m digging these!

Click on the above photo to launch the gallery, or here to open in a new tab.

C.B.S.P. Weekender – God Luck and Good Speed

See larger here / photos from Jon’s, Ross’ and my Instagram feeds

What can I say? I was jamming out to Weedeater during this ride and the title “God Luck and Good Speed” just stuck. We woke up at 6am on Friday and hammered it out to Colorado Bend State Park in Bend, TX. The first day was 118 miles and 4,900′. Initially, I was planning on taking us through 2222 and the hills on the east side of Lake Travis but we found 71 to 281 was actually quite pleasant with the lack of traffic. Doing so shaved off 3,000′ of elevation and after we rolled in on the 8-mile long gravel park-access road on Friday afternoon, I don’t think anyone regretted it.

The gear we packed was light. I brought the Woodville out with two panniers, a tent and my handlebar bag. Jon took a backpack and tarps and Ross was packing the lightest with about 15 lbs. Camping at C.B.S.P. is “primitive” but it’s exactly what we all needed. We cooked and hauled our own food, slept until dawn and consumed far fewer calories than we burned. We woke up Saturday and hiked about 15 miles to Gorman falls before dipping into some lagoons. It was amazing.

Yesterday was a different story. The climb out of the park was made worse by the hour-long torrential downpour. I had a rain jacket, Ross and Jon did not. They were shivering by the time we made it to the first outpost. Shit coffee and loaner wool made it bearable. As well as the local’s commentary: “ya’ll been feeshin’?” “no we’re riding back to Austin” “….” From there, we made great time, save for the flats and stops for food. I pulled hard and I’m feeling it now. There were a few stretches where we pace-lined it for over 10 miles and well over 25mph. We reeled in 116 miles and 4,100′.

My legs hurt for the first time since my “walkabout” in he Aussie bush.

Here’s to the first of many summer-time weekenders. More to come once my film gets developed.

How was your weekend?

Gone Till Sunday

Leave it to coincidence that we plan a 120 mile, 8,000′ ride out to Colorado Bend State Park on Friday the 13th. Have a good weekend guys, get out, ride and I’ll see ya Sunday night.

All hail the Necronomicog!

The Road Ahead

Bicycle touring really is surreal. My group of friends and I have been talking about doing a little Texas tour for a few weeks now and I can’t explain to them what makes touring different than just going out and doing a century on your road bike. Maybe this video by Sindre Ulvik Péladeau tells the tale? Everything looks correct to me.

Note from the road: water bottle squirt stops 90% of dogs in their tracks. For the other 10%, just throw food items.

The Great Escape: Stage 01 – Austin to Marfa

Well, Erik and Sofia have made it to Marfa, TX, the bastian of radness in a endless sea of cacti and sand. They’ve crossed paths with millipedes, tire-killing thorns and even Huginn and Muninn in the past few weeks. Hop over to the Great Escape and follow their trip thus far. I have a feeling they’re gonna be hanging in Marfa for a while.

Bike and Build 2012: Alex Bloom

I can get behind this. Sounds like a mix of Habitat for Humanity and any of the numerous fundraiser cross-country tours.

“This summer Alex Bloom will ride his bike across the United States to raise money for affordable housing efforts.
You can donate directly at bikeandbuild.org/rider/5854, or visit alexbloom.us for more information.”

Wind Maps and Touring

Tracko sent this over to me the other day. If there is one map that should be used when preparing for a cycling tour, it’s this. Wind can make or break your day. A headwind for a week straight is a good sign that you’re riding in the wrong direction. Check out the animated version here.

Are You Following the Great Escape?

You really should… shots like this make me so stoked for Erik and Sofia.

The Great Escape

For the past week, Erik and Sofia have been staying with me here in Austin. Originally from Göteborg, Sweden, they’re going to be receiving an eye-opening dose of Americana on the road. This morning they departed on what they’ve come to call, The Great Escape: 10 months on the road throughout the western United States. To help spread the love of touring, Erik designed these patches, which can be picked up on their site. Never one to turn down a nice patch, I picked a few up. They’ll be sending them out while on the road, at various towns. I’m into that.

I’ve got more photos of their touring rigs on the way (including more photos of these panniers Erik designed), but for now, check out their blog, The Great Escape!