southwest bikepacking group

[jimfab]

Everybody

I have recently ben inspired to try something bigger in the world of cycling through my short adventure on the tour divide and the loss of Dave B. Turns out despite what i may have thought, i am in no way shape or form an endurance "racer". It was kinda funny having a conversation with Jeff B. of CDW whom explained that it is kinda backwards how people get involved in bikepacking. He explained that most people are introduced through racing, myself included, then morph into recreational bikepacking. I figured this may be my calling. Turns out i love endurance riding, exploring new trails, camping, route finding, picture taking, and the social aspect of cycling. I am sure i am like most of you if you have found your way to this site. Here is my idea... I would like to throw it out and see if there will be any involvement and if it will be worth my time. I would like to put the leg work into putting together "bikepacking trips". The format will be along the lines of the Arizona Endurance Series or AES where a well documented course will be put together either with maps or GPX files and a date established. The idea would be to plan a 2 or 3 night "group" bikepacking trip with a designated camp spot that may be sag friendly. The The idea is that if you got the gear, go self contained. If you don't have the expensive gear you can still join the event by "dropping" your gear at the sag point. Think of it as a gateway drug of sorts. This will also allow things that make camping fun like BBQ'S and what not. The idea would be to do enough miles to keep you busy all day and make you sleep well at night, but not wreck you for work on monday. I am always reading post's of people more or less looking for some kind of group like this. The goal is to take most of the guess work out of a bikepacking trip so most folks can just show up and know what to expect for the most part.

Please if you are interested in something like this let me know, Let me know your thoughts and or ideas. If you think this is dumb and nobody will ever show up, please let me know so i don't waste my time. My goal is simple, I would like to get more people into bikepacking, help expand the sport, Have fun, and live life.

Route ideas..?
Mt Laguna / Noble canyon, San Diego
Flagstaff / Sedona via Castner ( route borrowed from AES )
Wickenburg / Prescott
Quartsite / Slab City, CA
Borrego / Julian, Butterfield stage route
Arizona trail

Thanks for your time- Jim

[flatfishy]

Jim, I think it's a great idea.
i've so many riding buddys that won't entertain the idea of wild camping but will camp in a campsite and do an enduro event which lasts 6/8/10/12 and 24 hours, riding round the same course dozens of times over, i think they're scared of getting out into nature after all thats what mountain bikes are for aren't they. They baffle me.
I for one would sign up for your trips but i'm a bit far away in the uk(i might also be late for work on monday).

Keep us informed if your idea has some legs.

[AZTtripper]

Jim sounds like fun. This is about what we had with last years Coco 250 stage race well except for the not being wrecked on monday part. Flatfishy your buddies are normal we are the freaks, Bikepacking is not for everyone that's for sure. I know one MTBer who wont even car camp he will only go on road trips that involve getting a room.

I am not much for racing myself I have been doing the AZT 300 though mostly just for the bikepacking. The Coco 250 was great for the socializing in camp but the course is a bit long and the climb up Mingus was a bitch (there is an easier way though).

6/8/12/24 hours of gerbil racing no thanks I have no interest in these kind of events I would enjoy some group oriented bikepacking though. 

[rhino]

jimbo - count me in.  I prolly can get a couple guys from the crew to ride with sag support, as most of them don't have all the gear.  Good training for the "gerbil" races we do.

[AZTtripper]

Obviously bikepacking is not for everyone and other then the bike most of the gear is fairly specialized so unless you are also into backpacking it's a lot of money to shell out just to get started. 

[A]

Hey Jim, I think this is a brilliant idea. I'm not much into the racing aspect, but I love the idea of the endurance events. My only reservations about bikepacking so far has been dropping a bunch of cash on all the overnight gear, people to go with, and just the unknown. I mean I have zero equipment, no sleeping bag, no water filter, no nothing. Also this would be a great learning experience as one could borrow ideas and techniques from other riders to fit your own style. Getting back to work on Monday is also a big deal. I would definitely make a hard effort to join you if something official was put together. Thanks for sharing!

[Slowerthensnot]

great idea... been kicking around organizing a trip like that in my neck of the woods... i'd be grame for traveling for something like that!

[jimfab]

Hey Jim, I think this is a brilliant idea. I'm not much into the racing aspect, but I love the idea of the endurance events. My only reservations about bikepacking so far has been dropping a bunch of cash on all the overnight gear, people to go with, and just the unknown. I mean I have zero equipment, no sleeping bag, no water filter, no nothing. Also this would be a great learning experience as one could borrow ideas and techniques from other riders to fit your own style. Getting back to work on Monday is also a big deal. I would definitely make a hard effort to join you if something official was put together. Thanks for sharing!

Cool

Thanks for all your input. I certainly wish i could have done an event like this before i took the plunge into the TD. I learned more in the 2 days before the event looking at everybody's gear and talking to them about it than i did in over 2 years of trial / error , internet searching, and head scratching. I have 3 sleeping bags and 2 bivys now due to trial and error! The gear is very expensive, that is why the sag points are important IMO. It is great to know there is interest out there. i will start to put my head down and get it done. I was thinking a great first trip would be the flag to sedona and back following the AES castner ( sp? ) Mountain 100 route... ( that is if it is OK with Scott and Chad to take advantage of there hard work on the route creation ) sometime this fall. There are plenty of sag friendly camp spots in Sedona or oak creek and it makes an easy trip for most southwest folks. The next route i am working on is the Mt laguna, noble canyon area in the San Diego mountains. EPIC area to say the least. I live in the Phoenix area and i know there is no shortage of great stuff in the Tucson area if anybody has any ideas please let me know. I think for now 4-5 events a year is a good place to start. Another idea was an urban event, it may be fun to link a bunch of urban trails in the PHX, or Tucson area. Most of the Maricopa parks have camp areas.

Other ideas to keep it fun

Best photo contest
best new invention contest
best/worst bikepacking kit

It could be allot of fun. I will get to work.

Cheers- Jim

[AZTtripper]

For a Tucson based ride a loop of the Santa Rita's would be good. Once again Scott's done all of the work just link up the AZT routes. I did a 200 mile 4 day figure 8 from home last year including the Pistol Hill stuff but that would be easy to leave out.

Great idea

Tim

[jimfab]

Well.....

It is not much, but i have got a start.... check this out... www.southwestbikepackinggroup.blogspot.com Got a few tentative dates up there. If you got ideas for other routes or rides let me know and i can get them up. The first event although not "bikepacking" is going to be the West Valley dirty midnight century. as far as centuries go on a MTB kinda easy, but it will be 90 at best so it will be fun. Phoenix/ goodyear area. 60-70% singletrack. Thinking about flag to sedona and back in november. Still wide open. Let me know your thoughts.

Cheers- Jim

[protoceratops]

I would do the Flag - Sedona RT in November. 

Or something more local to SoCal any time. 
I also organize USCF "gerbil' road races, so may be
able to do some of the lifting there.

[jhl99]

I'm glad to see that there might be some hope for a non-race rides somewhere in the USA.

I'm trying to get something going in my area, (SW PA), but so far, not much as happened.  Here is a thread on the local Pittsburgh, PA mountain bike club forum:  http://www.porcmtbclub.org/phpBB3/mountain-biking-f1/topic3029.html

The visibility of 'bikepacking' is getting higher.  Dirt Rag (a Pittsburgh based mountain bike magazine) just did a big spread about bikepacking... maybe that will get some interest going here in the mid-Atlantic and elsewhere.

[A]

I'm glad to see that there might be some hope for a non-race rides somewhere in the USA.

I'm trying to get something going in my area, (SW PA), but so far, not much as happened.  Here is a thread on the local Pittsburgh, PA mountain bike club forum:  http://www.porcmtbclub.org/phpBB3/mountain-biking-f1/topic3029.html

The visibility of 'bikepacking' is getting higher.  Dirt Rag (a Pittsburgh based mountain bike magazine) just did a big spread about bikepacking... maybe that will get some interest going here in the mid-Atlantic and elsewhere.

I would think you could get a little group together. There are some "crazies" out there in Pittsburgh (my favorite city). OH, PA, WV used to be my old stomping ground when I didn't even know bikepacking was possible. I think your limitations are lack of continuous trail (until you get down into WV) and of course weather. Good luck!