First bikepacking trip, Big Bend Ranch

[system-f]

My first bike packing trip was a success and a fail.  The plan was to ride 25 miles into the park, camp and ride 25 miles back out following mostly a major loop.  This is part of the Epic trail in the park as rated by the IMDB.  My bike and load were too heavy plus I had the wrong kind of bags which added at least 10lbs to the gear. I only rode in, met a friend in his truck at the Sauceda Ranch and hitched a ride with him to the campsite and back to the car.  The big fail was not riding out, but I will be successful next time.  Although I had everything required to make the trip my friend offered me a steak and beer which I did not refuse.
 
Here is the album http://overlandtrucks.com/system-f/webalbums/BigBend2012/
 
Leaving FT Worth:
 

 


 

[diamondback78]

Am i understanding this right you drove 500 miles?

[Mario]

The most important thing is that you went out and rode, plans always change, you have to go with the flow. Every trip we learn more about our skills, gears, the land, but the most important is what we learn about ourselves. On your second trip... just plan to have fun.
Welcome to bikepacking.

[system-f]

 I drove 561 miles from my house to the Warnock ranger station then  I rode 25 miles into the park but failed to ride 25 miles back out to my car.
  Most of the bikepacking pictures are in the web album and are of scenery.

http://overlandtrucks.com/system-f/webalbums/BigBend2012/

Thanks Mario, I considered the trip an overall success.  I had a blast and plan to go back very soon.

[diamondback78]

Thats awesome i didnt know if there was a ranch in the DFW area with the same name. It looks really fun.

[Colorado Cool Breeze]

I enjoyed your trip report and photos. Every trip is a learning experience.
I'd be interested in what you carried and what you'd do different the next time.
thanks, Oh! Welcome t the forum.

[wahday]

Its all an adventure the way I see it. My trips rarely go according to plan. My first bikepacking trip saw me busting my butt up and down some serious elevation. I thought I was kicking a$$ when I finally pooped out and camped. Impressed with my accomplishment I consulted the computer and discovered I had traveled a mere 5 miles! Now my load is lighter and my technique better. But I still had a blast camping at the continental divide!

[system-f]

diamondback78 :  I wish, but as it has been said before: The Big Bend Ranch state park is the best place in Texas to bikepack (that I know of).  I am completely obsessed with the park for biking and 4x4ing.  One day I would like to see an endurance race there to replace the Terilingua race.

Colorado Cool Breeze :
I meant to lay everything out and get pictures, but I didn't have time.
What I had:
-Left pannier: tent poles, 3 backpacking meals, backpacking stove, fuel, titanium bowl, allen wrenches, screwdriver, fatbike tube, air pump, rain covers
-Right Pannier: sleeping pad, tent and rainfly
-Backpack: too many clothes, small tablet, wallet, small pistol, compass, map
-dry bag: sleeping bag ( around 2lbs)
-on the bike: 2 water bottles, Jandd frame bag with 70oz bladder, and phone.

 I did this on a bone stock 2012 Surly Pug plus my brooks saddle.  The bike weighed 38lbs with the Surly rack. I can lose a ton of weight just going tubeless.  Almost half of the Pug's weight is in the tires.  The stock frame with rack only weighs 19lbs. 

 I can lose at least 7lbs by ditching the rack and panniers and the extra clothes I didn't use.  The trade off is if I do the ride in the summer I am going to have to carry at least a gallon of water and filtering/purifying equipment as this park is in the desert.  My tent was far too heavy at 5lbs and far too large. I already have a line on a one man backpacking tent from an X-backpacker that should be in the sub 3lb range. 

wahday: I have always felt fast enough bombing around the local XC trails on my heavy single speed, but a loaded bike in the sandy desert washes is a totally different experience. Regardless, I did have so much fun.

Thank you all for your support.

[wisaunders]

That looks really fun.  I was just checking out the Big Bend Ranch Biking Guide this morning.  I'm thinking about trying to plan something for this year or next. 

I was looking at parking at the Javelin Trailhead then biking down to the Rio Grande to paddle the Colorado Canyon.  Do you have any experience on the trails from the Javelin Trailhead down to the river?  I see them on the map but they aren't mentioned in the guide.  I'm wondering if they are rideable.

[Blammo]

Congratulations on you attempt.

A lot of the big IMBA Epic loop is tough sledding without all that gear.  I think an idea BikePacking trip in BBRSP would be one where you move base camp ever other day or so.  For instance ride up to Playa Montoya III from Barnton Warnock and set up camp.  Do the Epic without gear the next day.  BikePack into the Solitario on day 3.  You get the idea.

If you really have the primordial urge to do a big loop, you can string together some of the 4x4 road rather than using the Epic path which is some tough single track.

[system-f]

I was looking at parking at the Javelin Trailhead then biking down to the Rio Grande to paddle the Colorado Canyon.  Do you have any experience on the trails from the Javelin Trailhead down to the river?  I see them on the map but they aren't mentioned in the guide.  I'm wondering if they are rideable.

You can call the rangers office and they will let you know, but getting from anywhere in the park down to the river via any route but the  contrabando or the main park road will be VERY rough.  As far as I know those are hiking only trails.

Blammo: Some of my other friends that are more into mountain biking but not so much bike packing and I were talking about this.  We all have 4x4s and I have an offroad trailer with a good water tank on it which would make for a great base camp setup. A yearly trip with our resources and opening it up to all sorts of folks that wanted to park their cars at Sauceda would be awesome. Though far from bike packing, it will still give everyone a chance to get very remote yet have some support.

I would REALLY love to see a 60 mile endurance race in the park to offer something now that the Terlingua race is gone.  Though, this is far beyond what I am capable of putting together at this time in my life.