My Frist trip has been completed!

[Kirk]

A few months ago I began to plan a trip, not by car but by bicycle. It was a first for me.  Some people I was bouncing ideas off of told me about this site and it has been a huge help.  I already had to do a promotional write up and did one for my own blog http://backcountryjournal.blogspot.com/2012/10/free-range-human.html  if anyone is interested.  It was the most difficult thing I have done, SO MUCH CLIMBING!  But I am so glad I did it.  Already scheming my next.

Cheers!

[Colorado Cool Breeze]

What a great trip report. Thanks it was a excellent read.  
My favorite line in your piece and the reason I don't road tour.

" It became quite obvious that cyclist are nowhere near the top of the food chain, even though they pretend to be."

Give me dirt singletrack and gravel roads anytime even if it means less miles traveled in a day.
On your next trip, I would be very interested in, what equipment changes additions or subtractions you might make.
For example, your bivi sleeping system looked very uncomfortable and I wondered if it would have protected you in a storm.

[bigworm]

Good read.

[Kirk]

On your next trip, I would be very interested in, what equipment changes additions or subtractions you might make.
For example, your bivi sleeping system looked very uncomfortable and I wondered if it would have protected you in a storm.

I borrowed the bivy from my brother and while it should protect a person well enough, I think I would go crazy zipped up tight in that thing and it may get hard to breathe in.  But if it were to storm I guess you'd have to do it anyway.  Luckily for me the skies were clear and I only had the screen portions zipped.

The Revelate bags I had worked great.  I will be buying one of their gas tank bags before my next outing.  Also, I will mount my sleeping bag properly to my bars.  I just used some compression straps to strap it on, which worked but occasionally would flip up over my computer and I had to keep pushing it back down.  It became annoying after awhile.

[paxton coyote]

 That is some wide open big country, I nearly took a buckaroo job in Burns, OR in '87 & backed out at the last minute, it's the one thing in my life I've always regretted not doing!

[stumpyfsr]

Awesome writing and deffinatelly memorable adventure.

[delete this account]

[Kirk]

I have some questions?
Did you carry a lock and chain for the bicycle?
As far as the ranch dogs, what was that like and how did you deal with it?
Did you have to treat your own drinking water?
I get shook up by road traffic too, I encounter it alot, did the mirror really help?
Did you do any night riding?
Did you carry bike lights?
Do you carry pepper spray?
Do you carry a knife?
What tools did you take, despite your current bike mechanic limitations?
Did you get any flats? (you didn't post that you did, I know)
Did you ever get weirded out or disoriented, and if so, how did you reintegrate and ground yourself and continue on your merry way?
Did you buy a bike yet?
Do you regret not riding on flat pedals?
OMG you ride fast, I'm a slow poke, always have been, thanks for your post and your thorough blog entry, really cool man.

I did not bring a chain or lock, I didn't have the space for it.
As for the dogs, only one seemed aggressive and I just kept riding, claimed my space, oh and I did give it a gnarly snarl a few times.
I brought a water filter but never had to filter any water.
The mirror was a HUGE help.  I relied upon it for many, many miles.
I did not do any night riding but I did bring a light just in case it was needed.
I also brought pepper spray, but never felt the need to use it.  Dogs don't bother me.
I did bring a knife and a standard cycling multi-tool.
I got two flat tires.
I never had any strange events happen but was somewhat concerned about getting lost.
I haven't bought my own travel worthy bike yet, but I think I have one on the line.
I do not regret not riding flats, the SPD pedals make for way more efficient pedaling and that is invaluable on a long ride.

[delete this account]