Have you always wanted to experience the amazingly diverse landscapes of Oregon on a bicycle? Not sure where to start? That’s where Summit Cycling Adventures comes in, as they’ve added four new, fully supported, professionally guided bike tours in Oregon. So, now you can just show up with your bike and let Summit lead the way through Oregon’s forests, high deserts, mountains, and coasts.

When using Summit Cycling Adventures, you’ll be able to take advantage of tapping into local knowledge while discovering backroads, nature reserves, and local “secret spots”, while soaking in the natural environment on road and gravel rides.

“I wanted to share my home state in a way that feels like exploring,” says founder and ride leader Marc McConnell. “Epic rides are mixed with gorgeous sights and fun side trips that offer a more memorable experience, challenging your body and refreshing your spirit.”

Summit Cycling Adventures says that they’ve intentionally integrated side excursions into the day’s ride. The objective is to not get stuck into just riding from point A to point B, but exploring the points in between. On the tours, you’ll be seeing hot springs, and waterfalls, taking short hikes through Redwoods, lava field lakes, and even stopping for coffee and beers.

“I created Summit Cycling Adventures to help adventurous riders enjoy that same experience without having to figure out all the logistics, routing, meals, and gear transport for themselves. Now you can just show up and have fun!” – Marc McConnel

Visiting Famous Landmarks

• Carter Lake National Park
• Cascade Mountains
• Grove of the Titans
• Steen’s Summit
• Alvord Desert Hot Springs
• North Umpqua River
• Many more…

“The tours ranging from 4-5 days are offered throughout Summer and Fall for up to six riders per tour. All meals and accommodations are provided, along with a fully stocked sag trailer to transport you and your gear. McConnel is a NOLS Wilderness First Responder, and the support vehicles are well-equipped to keep you and your bike running”.

Four distinct routes are offered to provide “something for everyone”. There will be plenty of snack stops and complete GOS routes provided for each day’s ride.

There are limited spots remaining for 2023. You can check the website below for prices, dates, and availability and to book your next adventure.

SummitBikeTours.com

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Well, it seems that Summer has finally arrived, bringing the need to get out and explore, ride bikes, and camp… or all of it at once. Helping to do just that, the new 2nd edition of the Bikepacker’s Guide is available now. Brought to you by Salsa Cycles and Bikepacking Roots, this new guide has been a year in the making and expands on the OG Bikepackers Guide that was published 10 years ago.

If you are a new bikepacker looking for some guidance or you’re experienced and looking for some new approaches to what you already love, this edition offers those resources and extensive knowledge in a format that is easy to use.

The guide breaks down the steps needed to plan a trip, as well as bikepacking skills, and now includes additional resources on navigation, positive impact practices, mindset, and all the checklists you need for a successful trip.

A Quick Look on the Inside

The first section of the guide, 

“Go Bikepacking: Planning addresses all the topics necessary to consider when planning your bikepacking trip in order to be set up for a fun and successful ride. In this section route planning, bike and gear planning, food and water planning, packing your bike, navigating, getting started, and Leave No Trace skills for bikepackers are presented”.

Then, 

“Going Bikepacking: While Out Riding section breaks down the knowledge and skills we’ve found are imperative to developing bikepacking competency: self-care, finding and managing water, camp skills, risk management, riding solo, and the bikepacker’s mindset”.

Next,

“Gone Bikepacking: Field Reports, contributors who inspire us through their perspectives and experiences share their stories to inspire you to consider all the forms and roles bikepacking can take for us. Annijke Wade shares her powerful story of learning to bikepack as a newly adaptive cyclist. Jim Blount shares how bikepacking with his dog, Charlie, in the mountains facilitates his sense of security in his gender identity. Brooke Goudy lets the reader into the joy and sacredness of sharing bikepacking in affinity spaces. Patrick Farnsworth shows the reader how parents can bring their young children to discover the wonder of the world through bikepacking with kids. And Crystal Kovaks connects bikepacking with her family as a means to travel self-supported across the landscape to her mission to empower women to bikepack – regardless of their perceived limitations. Each of these stories enriches this guide. The knowledge and skills to bikepack are imparted in the first two sections of the guide, but these stories from bikepackers from a variety of walks of life are what help you see what is possible, and for who, through bikepacking”.

Lastly,

“The new Resources section of the guide is meant to be a quick reference of checklists for you as you prepare for your trip. From trip preparation to bike maintenance and common mechanicals, to a resupply and a camp checklist, these resources can be screenshots, torn out of your guide, printed, or jotted down as a tool for you to make sure you cover your bases when preparing for and when out riding”.

How to Get Your Own Bikepackers Guide

The Bikepacker’s Guide, Second Edition is now available in a full-color 5″x8.5″ print book as well as a digital version. The purchase of this guide supports continued route development, maintenance, and advocacy at Bikepacking Roots.

Print version: $20

Digital version: $10

BikepackingRoots.org

SalsaCycles.com

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If you’ve ever wanted to suffer alongside your favorite Tour de France team — you finally have your chance. Zwift’s new Climb Portals will transport you to the magical world of virtual mountain passes and real-world suffering to reach the top. 

What is a Climb Portal? 

A new in-game feature for Zwift, Climb Portals are launching just as the world gets their Tour de France excitement revved to the max. The Climb Portals simulate eight of the Tour de Frances’s most significant and famous climbs — including the dreaded classic, Col du Tourmalet.

How do I Find a Climb Portal in Zwift? 

In July — when tour stoke is at its very highest, riders will see Climb Portal entrances on routes which will be branded with graphics for both races, Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes.

There are two ways to access Zwift Climb Portals.

One, ride your bike through it while riding in Zwift while in the “Just Ride” mode. The entrance should be very noticeable, like a dreamscape compared to the Zwift graphics.

Two, choose to ride the Climb Portal when on the home screen starting a Zwift session. Don’t worry — you won’t start directly on the climb, there will be a small warm-up window, and then you can start your ascent.  

After the climbing starts, the rider will see graphics (very tour-commentary-like) on their screen to keep them motivated and paced. Zwift states the climbs are very close to the real-world equivalent, matching the pitches near perfectly. 

The locations of the Climb Portals will be in two virtual worlds in Zwift; one in France (duh) and one near the outskirts of the Volcano in Watopia. Climb Portals will be available for accent starting June 30 and will change throughout July. There are eight different climbs and a new Climb Portal First Ascent Challenge.

How hard are the climbs?

Well — they are hard enough to be in the Tour de France, so we’re guessing pretty tough. However, riders at home and indoors have some distinct advantages, like a fan! But if you’re worried about how tough each climb will be, Zwift has a tight illustration of what to expect in spice level. The Cote de Terbiac is near the milder side of climbing (still 3.4 km at 5.8%), and the most spicey award goes to the classic HC category Col du Tourmalet.

Climb Portal — First Ascent Challenge

This new Zwift challenge requires riders to complete two on-demand stages, each with four different climbs. The first stage will include the Côte de Trébiac, Col des Aravis, Col d’Aspin, and Puy de Dôme. The second stage will include the Côte de Domancy, Côte de Pike, Col du Platzerwasel, and Col du Tourmalet.

Zwift Climb Portal Stage Schedule 

Below is the Zwift Climb Portals schedule and which Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes stages they will mimic. Ensure you have your favorite stages saved and timed properly on your viewing device so you can suffer and attack alongside the pros. 

Stage 1: June 30-July 30

Short: Cote de Trebiac—3.4 km at 5.8%

• Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Stage 2 on July 24, 2023

Short: Col des Aravis—4.4 km at 6%

• Tour de France Stage 15 on July 16, 2023

Long: Col d’Aspin—12 km at 6.5%

• Tour de France Stage 6 on July 6, 2023

• Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Stage 7 on July 29, 2023

Long: Puy de Dome—10.5 km at 8%

• Tour de France Stage 9 on July 9, 2023

Stage 2: June 30-July 30

Short: Cote de Domancy—2.6km at 8.6%

• Tour de France Stage 16 on July 18, 2023

Short: Cote de Pike—2 km at 10%

• Tour de France Stage 1 on June 30, 2023

Long: Col du Platzerwasel—7.1km at 8.4%

• Tour de France Stage 20 on July 22, 2023

Long: Col du Tourmalet—16.9 km at 7.4%

• Tour de France Stage 6 on July 6, 2023

• Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Stage 7 on July 29, 2023

For more information on the Zwift Climb Portals and Zwift Play, check out Zwift.com— Vive Le Tour! 

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Midsummer is quickly approaching. To celebrate, Pas Normal Studios is inviting you to get on your bike – and ride all day to make the most of the longest days of the year.

As a reward, if you sign up and complete the Strava Challenge, you’ll not only earn the Strava Badge, but an IRL discount as well. Anyone who completes the challenge of riding 200km in one go between June 16-25 will earn a $60 voucher good towards the purchase of one of the Pas Normal Studios Midsummer Jerseys that are launching in conjunction with the challenge.

That should make the €200 jersey a little more approachable, plus you’ll have something to show for what is bound to be an epic day on the bike.

Make sure to sign up for the challenge through the Strava link above, and good luck!

pasnormalstudios.com

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Looking for a new bikepacking adventure? How about one that’s 2200-mile-long, and only carries a difficulty rating of 4 out of 10? The non-profit organization, Bikepacking Roots has just what you’re looking for. Yup, now you can ride the full length of the famous US Mail Pony Express route from the olden days (that means the 1860s, kids).

The route starts in St. Joseph, Missouri covering 2200 miles as it meanders its way to Sacramento, California… crossing the beautiful states of Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and finally California.

The route has been in the works for years as Jan Bennett did all of the research and test-rode the route. Doing so she found some long-forgotten relay stations and water sources.

You’ll be riding a route that yields a whopping 85% unpaved roads in the way of dirt or gravel, using car-free trails to get you through some of the major cities. According to Bikepacking Roots, there are “some sections, particularly in the mountains of Nevada that are rough, rocky, and decidedly not dirt or gravel”.

So, when planning, keep that in mind.

This sounds like a great route for those of us who are history buffs, as the route will take you through the remains of the Pony Express stations along the way. There’ll be commemorative markers denoting important landmarks, graves, and other fascinating info.

You can click here to check out the highlights of the route.

How to get in on the Pony Express Action

For a $60 donation and the printed, 150-page spiral-bound guidebook as well as digital route data, go here.

For a $30 donation and the strictly digital,150-page PDF guidebook and the route data, go here.

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THE MEGA VOLT, British Columbia’s premiere eMTB festival, is back for a third year. 2023’s festivities are located in the town of Naramata, giving riders access to the Three Blind Mice trail network.

“Three days of riding, talking, and sharing ideas, from dealers, to engineers, to pros, and everyone in between,” event organizers shared in a press release. “This is how pioneers stay on the cutting edge, and further the industry-leading conversation, one weekend at a time.”

What can attendees expect? Well, plenty of eMTB action on Naramata’s surrounding singletrack, of course. THE MEGA VOLT’s website describes the trails as “biking above vineyards with rugged mountains as the backdrop and sparkling lakes and beaches within the vista.”

Organizers devised an interesting set of events over the three-day weekend (June 2-4, 2023). Friday’s “Consistency Enduro” will feature a set number of laps on a short circuit, and the differential between each rider’s lap will determine their score. Translation? Consistency is key. It’s a physical and a mental challenge.

Saturday holds two events with time to recharge in between. The morning ride is a “Tech Challenge,” while the afternoon’s flow stage is “100% Awesome.”

Sunday’s riding holds a bit of everything with a course dubbed “Tour de Local Fave’s.” It’s 14 miles of the best riding the area has to offer.

And if you’re feeling saddle sore, no worries.

“This year’s Festival will endeavor to grow the off-bike activities while continuing to focus on all aspects of eMTB,” festival organizers wrote.

Interested? Head over to THE MEGA VOLT’s registration page. Registration costs CAD 529 ($385) and includes access to four curated courses, the events mentioned above, post-ride beers, dinner on Friday and Saturday, an industry mingler, professional photography, and on-site complimentary bike charging, among other bennies.

Something to note — only Class 1 eMTBs are allowed. Festival organizers suggest a 500wh battery at minimum. Participants must be 19 or older to register.

THEMEGAVOLT.com

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If you forced me to choose a suitably Scottish-sounding national park name, I’d pick “Cairngorms National Park.” But it’s also a real place, readers — a mountainous, moody oasis deep in the heart of north-central Scotland.

In Home is Where the Trails Take You, Marcus Stitz brings his bikepacking rig, camera, and drone into this verdant wonderland to chronicle the bike-loving residents that call the park home.

In a series of short interviews with bike shop owners and residents, Stitz explores what makes the Cairngorms so special.

Partly it’s the landscape — a sweeping string of mountains and valleys (or glens, if you will) that are rugged while remaining accessible for riders of all skill levels. Partly it’s the Cairngorms’ importance to biodiversity. A title screen early in the film informs viewers that the park is home to one-quarter of Scotland’s native forest and 25% of the UK’s endangered species.

Finally, it’s also the relationship the park has with locals.

“Some folk will spend a year planning a trip here, and we can just go and [ride] without thinking,” one interviewee says in the film.

Starting to sound intriguing? Watch the film to get the whole scoop. After that, check out the 165-mile bikepacking loop Stitz took while making the film.

bikepackingscotland.com

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There’s just something beautiful about a rally. Take the race component out of a long-distance group ride, and what are you left with? Just a collection of people on bikes enjoying the scenery, the company, and the sheer joy of pedaling.

That’s the idea behind Rapha’s inaugural Yomp Rally: a 375-mile California gravel course that winds from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles starting on May 5, 2023.

“The concept is simple: complete the course in five days or fewer at your own pace, on your own or with your friends. Rapha provides the route, a celebratory send-off, one checkpoint, a bag transfer, and a warm welcome when you arrive in Los Angeles. The rest is up to you,” the company stated on the event’s web page.

Yomp Rally Course Design

60 percent of the Yomp Rally is on roads. For that reason, Rapha recommends a crossover, bikepacking-type build like a drop-bar gravel bike with good clearance, or a hardtail mountain bike with low-profile tires. In a similar vein, Rapha suggests gearing for long climbs while carrying loads. To complete the course in the required five days, you’ll need to average 75 miles and 8,000 feet of climbing per day.

Rapha athlete Dillion Osleger designed the course. Osleger is a scientist, environmental advocate, and trail builder in addition to the time he spends in the saddle. So rest assured, he paid close attention when dropping map pins.

“The route you will have traveled is not new. It is a reverse of the path the Spanish Padres took in 1769 to create the California Missions, which could have been noticed all along in Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, New Cuyama, and Santa Paula. The ecosystems you traverse — desert and coastal sage, high pine forests, and mountain chaparral — can all be seen in the construction material of Chumash baskets and Catholic Churches across the central coast. Every inch of land once belonged to the Chumash Indians, and their influence is still felt in supporting many of the projects that steward these roads and trails. Sooner or later, everything old is new again,” he said.

Yomp Rally sign-up and logistics

Riders can expect cell coverage and resupply points over most of the route. But a few sections are more remote, including passages in the Sierra Madre mountains and the Los Padres National Forest. Be prepared for a 165-mile stretch where you’ll need to carry food and filter water. Rapha’s Ride with GPS map covers camping and resupply points and also provides some bail-out routes just in case. Rapha will shuttle one duffel or bike transfer case from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles.

The Yomp Rally is open to 100 riders. Applications are open now and close on Feb. 24. Rapha will notify accepted riders on March 3. Rapha says it’s fine if you want to sign up with your friends, but each rider has to apply individually. Sign-up is free and involves a few questions about your riding experience and skill level.

Sign up here!

rapha.com

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From the team (and pro athletes like Neko Mullaly!) that brought us the eMTB playground that is Kanuga Bike Park comes an all-new, shuttle-served park called Rock Creek.

Founded by Neko and backed by Dave LaMond (who funded Kanuga, too), the new park sits on 300+ acres of prime North Carolina forest, backing up to the legendary Dupont National Forest (aka Cane Creek’s proving grounds).

Five trails are open now, ranging from beginner-friendly to extreme downhills and freestyle sections, featuring a mix of natural features, jump lines, and built trails.

An onsite shop provides bike rentals, parts and gear for sale, snack, and a full-time mechanic.

Top to bottom, there’s about 800 feet of elevation change. The trails, like those at Ride Kanuga, have been designed and built by Neko and the Pisgah Trail Company with progressive features to help riders develop new skills.

It’s open year round, and day passes run $50-55, Monthly from $95, Season Passes from $449. All prices include shuttling on their custom-built bus with bike trailers. Trails are only open 10am to 5pm, Friday to Sunday, with shuttles provided during open hours. No access is allowed at other times, including self-shuttling or pedaling. In fact, access to the top is ONLY allowed by shuttle. Camping is available nearby at Rock Creek Campground.

RideRockCreek.com

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At the tail end of 2022, we got our first glimpse of Scotland. No, not the actual Scotland which will be home to the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, but the virtual Scotland which will be home to the 2023 UCI eSports World Championships.

That last bit is key as this is Zwift’s first world designed exclusively for the eSports World Championships. There will be five new worlds at first with three of those being used for the new multi-format racing on February 18.

A combination of inspiration was taken from the Scottish city of Glasgow and the Scottish countryside, with the usual Scottish-themed Zwift Easter eggs thrown in to keep things interesting.

New Zwift Scotland Routes

Descriptions from Zwift:

Rolling Highlands – 14.1 kilometers with 105 meters of climbing. This rollercoaster ride around the loch will have Zwifters constantly going up or downhill. In races, the punchy course provides lots of places to attack. In riding and training, the rolling hills are the perfect place to train quick bursts of power as you push yourself up the repeated short climbs.

City and the Sgurr – 8.6 kilometers with 161 meters of climbing. Sgurr means “rocky peak” in Scottish Gaelic, and this route tackles Zwift’s newest hill from two directions. Roundabouts at the bottom of both sides of the climb mean that Zwifters can easily lap the climb, making it the perfect place for hill repeats, or very challenging racing!

Glasgow Crit Circuit – 3 kilometers with 33 meters of climbing. Zwift’s newest crit course is set in the heart of Glasgow’s city center and shows off the city’s distinctive architecture. The short course has short, punchy climbs, tight, twisty roads, and two arches. The course provides options for any length of race on the easily lapable route that’s sure to produce intense racing.

Loch Loop – 8 kilometers with 71 meters of climbing. This loop is a time trialists’ paradise – the long, lapable course, is mostly flat and incorporates some of the Rolling Highlands, but skips the bigger climbs, giving Zwifters only a few gentle hills thrown in to break up their effort. The course measures 5 miles, making it the perfect place for 5-, 10-, 15-, or 20-mile time trials or team time trials. Or, keep riding for harder efforts! For traditional racing, exploring, and training, the Loch Loop also offers a flatter alternative to the Rolling Highlands.

The Muckle Yin – 25.1 kilometers with 279 meters of climbing. This is the big one – a single route that incorporates almost all of Scotland’s roads in one single loop. The route starts in the heart of Glasgow city center and quickly takes riders out to the sheer cliffs on Scotland’s west coast before rolling along north to the loch, and then to the sugar and its dramatic views. This challenging route lets you take in all of Scotland’s most distinctive and engaging features in one ride or race.

How Do I Ride the New Zwift Scotland?

Initially, these routes will only be available for races and events. That means your first chance to ride it will be during Stage 8 of the Tour de Zwift, which will take place Feb. 3-12 (follow the link to register, then add the Scotland event to your calendar). You can also ride it during Ride Scotland and Race Scotland events from Feb. 6 – Mar. 7. Additionally, the February ZRacing series will be on the Scotland map – and if you complete a ZRacing or Ride Scotland event on the new map, you’ll earn a Zwift Tartan virtual cycling kit.

Complete map access will start in early March with free ride, club events, meetups being added in.

zwift.com

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When the Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen decided to cross Greenland on skis in 1888, the idea was met with disbelief and criticism. Ultimately, he and a small team finished the crossing in 49 days, and returned to Norway as heroes.

Now, 135 years later, Norwegian organizers have devised a new expedition: cross Greenland’s icy landscape not with skis — but bicycles.

It’s called Coast to Coast, and they’re looking for someone like you to help them pull it off. Of course, that “someone” will need to withstand heavy winds, temperatures that reach -40°C, and bike for 500 kilometers over ice-choked terrain.

The expedition is slated for summer 2024, when “a group of 64 international cyclists will be the first ever to cycle across Greenland,” a news release said.

Ver esta publicación en Instagram

Una publicación compartida por Guttorm Christensen (@coasttocoast24)

Coast To Coast: Additional Details

The Greenland ice cap has been crossed many times since Nansen’s first crossing in 1988 — but only on skis. This ski tour has become popular among skiers from Norway and other nations, and typically takes 3-4 weeks.

Is it possible to do it with a bicycle? The event’s organizer thinks so, and expects the bike tour to only take seven days.

“The organizer has considerable experience in crossing Greenland on skis, and knows that with the right vehicle, right equipment and qualified support crew it can be done,” a Coast To Coast news release said. “To make the tour possible, a support crew and heated tents will be available, and participants will be fueled with up to 5-6 liters of water and at least 5000 calories of food per day.”

Bikers can expect to ride 50-120 km every day, with temperatures often plummeting to -30°C. There’s also possible snowfall and strong wind to contend with. While “everyone who finishes is a winner,” this is also a competition. Whoever reaches the highest point of the trail first will be crowned the winner of the Ice Cap Race 2024

“We already have participants from France, Indonesia and Norway,” Coast To Coast said in the release.

Sound like your kind of party? If so, you’ll want to start the process of getting involved now.

Ver esta publicación en Instagram

Una publicación compartida por Guttorm Christensen (@coasttocoast24)

Coast To Coast: How To Join

On its website, Coast To Coast calls the process for applying for this expedition “simple.”

But that depends on your definition of the word.

“Coast-To-Coast doesn’t do any ‘normal marketing’,” the group says on its Ambassador page (and also in the Instagram post above). “We are very clear about what is required for each participant: strength, bicycle experience, ability to handle pressure over time, ability to handle the cold and ice living conditions and still smile and help colleagues, just to name a few requirements.”

So where do you sign up? Well, you don’t. The process begins by following one (or all four) of the Coast To Coast ambassadors on Strava or Zwift. Then, you “might be invited” to the next steps, which involve submitting a “Sport CV” and eventually an online interview.

To this writer, it sounds a bit like the clandestine process of joining a superhero team. But we’re talking about an unproven expedition on bicycles to one of the world’s harshest environments — so perhaps that’s fair.

Best of luck, cycling superheroes!

coasttocoast.bike

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The Bentonville boom continues unabated. The latest news from Northwest Arkansas’ cycling haven is the advent of curated mountain bike-centric vacations. Case in point, this option from Las Vegas-based Escape Adventures.

The company’s six-day, family-friendly mountain biking tour gives riders of all ages the chance to explore 140 miles of Bentonville’s world-famous single track.

“Thanks to its existing natural beauty, and a thoughtful rebrand, Bentonville is blossoming into a delightful haven for mountain biking adventurers,” said Jared Fisher, Director of Escape Adventures, in a press release. “From paved trails to mountain bike trails, bike parks, and pump tracks, Bentonville and the surrounding area has a little bit of everything for every style and level of rider.”

A Diversity of Outdoor Options

Escape Adventure trip leaders will tailor riding itineraries to match skill and age level, so go ahead and bring the whole family on this one. Bentonville’s trail systems feature flow, berms, rock gardens, long descents, and everything else you could want. Every day on the tour brings a different mountain biking location: leafy trails in Coler Park, urban singletrack on the Slaughter Pen trail system, and pine-studded woods in Hobbs State Park, to name a few.

But it can’t be all shredding, all the time, right? For that reason, the accommodations include an oasis pool, water slide, and hot tub for those after-ride soaks. Riding days also include stops like the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and a tour of the Walmart headquarters. In the evenings, trip leaders and personal chefs provide a range of home-cooked meals to fuel the family for the next day’s adventuring.

Escape Adventures offers tours in March, April, May, June, Sept., and Oct. The package starts at $1,999 a person, with additional charges for lodging. Learn more at Escape Adventures.

escapeadventures.com

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Southern Europe’s Stone King Rally sure comes with a certain mystique.

Depending on where you look, it is a “genre-defining event with an awe-inspiring itinerary,” “the toughest trans-alpine MTB ride,” or “a wormhole between two otherwise mutually-excluded zones.”

Dizzy yet? Wait ‘til you ride the thing. The six-day, 24-stage course zig-zags along 160+ rugged miles from the Italian high country to the Mediterranean coast, covering a staggering 28,311 meters of elevation change.

Or at least it did in 2022. The Stone King morphs each year, based on its organizers and various route gurus’ whims, so it’s still unclear where exactly this year’s route will take riders come late June.

But if you want to get a head start, you can check out the recently-announced Stone King Touring Club. The club exists as a “structure of information to help all avid, experienced mountain bikers enjoy their own adventure along the annually-renewed route.”

Translation? It’s a trail guide you can use to ride the route without entering the race.

If that sounds cool, well, it does to me, too. The Stone King Rally not only looks rad based on the topography, location, and last year’s event footage — it’s also the self-proclaimed “spiritual successor” to the Trans-Provence, the legendary six-day big mountain enduro race from the French Alps to the Mediterranean that ended in 2019.

Psyched? Check it out. The Stone King’s organizers like French enduro luminary Ash Smith have gone the extra mile to make sure you won’t be under-endorsed in terms of information.

stonekingrally.org

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Good news, gravel lovers! The latest announcement from the organizer of Belgian Waffle Ride means you have three more chances to join its growing list of tour stops.

Last year, cycling events producer Monuments of Cycling put on four races for its Quadrupel Crown of gravel rides: in Arizona, California, North Carolina, and British Columbia. For 2023, it’s adding events in Utah, Kansas, and Mexico.

Created in the spirit of the great European one-day Spring Classics, the Belgian Waffle Rides offer multi-surface courses for a diversity of riding. Those surfaces include single track, sand, rocks, gravel, water crossings, cyclocross features and some asphalt.

To continue driving attendance, the cycling company will not raise entry fees to reduce the impact of “inflation affecting everyone’s wallets,” it said in a news release. However, each Belgian Waffle Ride will have its own pricing and registration cap with lower prices for those who register early. Once the caps are reached, prices will go up.

What is the 2023 Belgian Waffle Ride Quadrupel Crown?

Riders looking to win the Belgian Waffle Ride’s Quadrupel Crown will compete in a points-based omnium format throughout all seven events.

But riders don’t have to ride all seven races to win. Points of their top four races are combined to decide who gets the Quadrupel honors and prize purse.

That allows riders to choose their spots — except for April’s waffle ride in San Marcos, Calif., which is mandatory for all Quad contenders.

Belgian Waffle Ride Locations

Below are the dates of the seven Belgian Waffle Rides for 2023. All of them will feature in the omnium for the Quadrupel Crown of Gravel Series.

• Inaugural BWR AZ in Scottsdale, Ariz. on March 3 – 5, 2023
• 12th Annual BWR CA in San Diego on April 14 – April 16, 2023
• Inaugural BWR BC on Vancouver Island, B.C. on May 26 – 28, 2023
• 3rd Annual BWR NC in Asheville, N.C. on June 10 – 11, 2023
• 4th Annual BWR UT in Cedar City, Utah on August 25 – 26, 2023
• 3rd Annual BWR KS in Lawrence, Kan. on October 13 – 15, 2023
• Inaugural BWR México in Queretaro, MX on November 25 – 26, 2023

Each of the seven race courses will showcase the “unique topography these beautiful locations have to offer,” organizers wrote. The variety of landscapes stretch from the old-growth forest of the Hell of the Great White North in British Columbia to the cobblestoned streets of the Infierno Del Sur in Queretaro, México.

Waffle courses range in length from 110 to 144 miles, with Wafer courses between 68 and 84 miles. A few of the events will also feature Wanna Rides — shorter courses typically around 40 miles. Elevation gain will range from 6,500 feet to 14,000 feet for the various Waffle courses.

How to Register for Belgian Waffle Ride

Registration for the new Belgian Waffle Ride events opened on Jan. 10. Learn more about how to register here.

belgianwaffleride.bike

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A bill to bring more biking trails to Utah’s Salt Lake Valley has been fully approved by the federal government.

The Bonneville Shoreline Trail Advancement Act (BSTAA) passed through Congress in December, and and President Joe Biden later signed it into law.

Located throughout the fast-growing Salt Lake Valley, the BSTAA will expand the famed Bonneville Shoreline Trail and bring more biking trails to the area. The bill accomplishes this by adjusting land management boundaries and adding more trail connections for a larger network. 

Mountain bikers have led the movement to expand the trail, and the latest victory is the culmination of years of hard work, David Wiens, Executive Director of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), said in a news release. 

“This is a monumental and historic day for trails and mountain biking!” Wiens said. “We’re stoked.”

Though the Bonneville Shoreline Trail already passes through dozens of communities, there are still plans for further expansion. While more than 100 miles of trails have already been built, organizers hope it will stretch 280 miles from the Idaho border to Nephi, Utah. 

A Coalition of Support

Other groups that support the trail expansion include the Bonneville Shoreline Trail Committee and Trails Utah, which introduced the bill in July 2020 and again in March 2021.

It’s been a long road to finally get the legislation passed. The IMBA has been involved in the Bonneville Shoreline Trail for more than 20 years, working with local stakeholders on planning and development. 

The IMBA worked closely with Rep. John Curtis (R-UT) and Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) to make the bill a reality. 

“The Bonneville Shoreline Trail provides great outdoor recreational opportunities for Utahns, but several wilderness-designated areas along the trail are hampering full use of the trail,” Sen. Romney said in the release. “I’m proud that our legislation has made it across the finish line.”

As Salt Lake City continues to grow, it’s important to provide more opportunities for recreation, Rep. Curtis said. 

“As someone who loves walking and biking this trail, I am excited to bring greater access to more Utahns and proud to see this expansion pass into law.”

More Plans In the Works

Organizers at the IMBA have more ideas than just expanding the trail, however. 

Small segments of overlapping wilderness designations currently prohibit biking on parts of the planned Bonneville Shoreline Trail. If that continues to be an issue, it would prevent the “full vision of a shared-use trail that connects six counties and more than one million residents in the Salt Lake Valley,” the group said.

But the bill makes progress on that issue by releasing 326 acres of wilderness divided over more than 20 locations. That will improve trail connections and sustainable trail development, the IMBA said. The bill also designates 326 acres of contiguous wilderness in Mill Creek Canyon to ensure the overall land area for wildlife remains the same. 

Find more information and maps about the Bonneville Shoreline Trail Advancement Act here.

For more history on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, enjoy a three-part series about how local communities made it a reality.

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It’s been roughly 78 days since Eddie O’Dea set off on a bike ride from Newfoundland, Canada. His destination? The Southernmost point in the United States via the new Eastern Divide Trail. Having successfully made it to Key West, Florida, Eddie has become the first person to successfully complete the epic journey, raising money for the Georgia Cycling Association along the way.

What could be the “longest contiguous off-road-centric bikepacking route in the world,” the Eastern Divide Trail (EDT) makes the Great Divide route look like a walk in the park. OK, not really, but the EDT is almost twice as long and claims to have a lot more climbing with Bikepacking.com listing it at 315,00′ of total ascent.

Eddie’s spot tracker showed quite a bit less at only 165,556′, which is still more than the claimed 149,664′ of the GDMBR. But being the first person to ever finish the entire route, Eddie noted a few times on his ride recaps that the GPS track of the route wasn’t always possible to follow, and it seems like the route is still in development in spots.

Still, it was an epic total of 6,018.5 miles that was completed with an average moving speed of 9.5mph.

Divided into 8 slightly more manageable segments, Bikepacking.com states that the route was the idea of Brett Davidson and has been in the works for at least six years now. Recently, the project has been led by Logan Watts and a team of local riders to complete all eight segments. You can check out each of those segments individually over at Bikepacking.gom.

As a co-founder of what is now the Georgia Cycling Association, Eddie used the ride as a charity opportunity to raise funds for the organization with help from a number of sponsors. That includes sponsors for his ride – a Rodeo Labs Flaanimal with a Redshift Kitchen Sink Handlebar, and RockGeist bags.

Having rolled into Key West on the 18th, Eddie successfully completed his journey, and has raised 76% of his $45,000 fundraising goal. Want to help him reach that goal? There’s still time, check out the link below.

We’ll be hosting Eddie on the Bikerumor Podcast after he grabs some much-deserved rest. Have questions for Eddie or about the EDT? Drop them below, and we’ll do our best to find the answers.

Congratulations, Eddie!

georgiacycling.org

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Photo submitted by David Albert of their ride along the Terres Noires near Digne, France. We always love seeing photos from where you are riding and are happy to share them with our readers around the world here on the Pic Of The Day. Send in your pics with a description here.

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Looking for a gravel adventure? Maybe one where you can experience the great outdoors without having to carry all your gear on your bike? Well, glamping (glamorous camping) isn’t just for celebrities and casual campers. It can also be a great way to set up base camp for epic gravel adventures.

In mid-September, I was invited to camp and ride bikes in Gunnison County, Colorado for 5 days. The trip was put together by polar explorer Eric Larson, his wife, and outdoor industry vet, Maria Hennessy of Smak Strategies, working alongside the Gunnison Crested Butte Tourism and Prosperity Partnership  (TAPP).

The trip was to highlight the amazingly diverse area of Gunnison and show off some of the stellar gravel riding that can be done there.

There are approximately 1200+ miles of unpaved and groomed gravel roads throughout Gunnison County.

The topography of the area varies drastically, from winding gravel roads through forests to summiting treeless, alpine passes then back down to the scrubby high desert and riding through huge valleys of hay fields.

All of which provided endless views and dramatic landscapes that were, quite simply, jaw-dropping.

I took in quite a bit during the trip. I saw several new, up-and-coming companies that were local to Colorado. We used a lot of different gear that was supplied to us by many different brands, which I’ll touch on.

But, after going through what I’ve gathered and the photos I’ve taken, as well as going through all of the amazing photos that Eric and his assistant Emma took, I decided that first, we should let the photos do the talking. 

This will be the first part… Part One: A Photo Journal.

Day One

Founded by Sam Degenhard, an avid cyclist, Campfire Ranch is a campground with a mission of helping people “create authentic experiences in the great outdoors while promoting stewardship of our shared playgrounds.” The campground offers potable water, vault toilets, and free firewood. If you don’t have enough gear, don’t worry, they’re there to make it easier for you to experience a great camping experience and offer gear rentals. That’s right… whether you need a tent or a stove, you can rent what you need to help make your camping trip great.

After getting picked up at the airport, and taken to camp, I unloaded my stuff and was shown my very own Peak Design duffle bag. The bag was filled with gear provided by some of the sponsors of the trip, like GORE,  Topeak, JackWolfSkin, and MPOWERED who provided some cool solar-powered Lucci Lights for the camp as well as front and rear lights for the bike.

I assigned myself a place to lay my head for the next 4 nights. All of the tents for the whole crew were supplied by another sponsor for the trip, a 75-year-old canvas tent company called SpringBar Tents. They were really nice tents.  I’ll touch on the tents a bit more in Part Three, but for now, just know that my tent was really, really nice.

Upon meeting the other writers, we then took off to Gunnison’s ICELAB. The lab is a joint venture with both Gunnison and Western Colorado University. They work within the community to develop ways to help small companies develop and grow. The goal is to build sustainable businesses in the area in order to rely less on tourism.

Here we had hors-d’oeuvres, and dinner while being introduced to some of the cool local start-ups hailing from Colorado. Like Goodday Bikes/Curiosity Bags, SheFly Apparel, First Ascent Handcrafted Instant Coffee, and PACT Outdoors Bathroom Kit.

I will be doing a deeper dive into these five companies later in Part Three, so stay tuned!

After the visit to the lab, we took off to go back to the camp and hang out before hitting the sack.

Day two brings the first ride!

But, before we move on to ride #1, let’s meet the other riders of bikes that are also writers of bike stuff.

Maureen Gaffney

Hailey Moore

Jayson O’Mahoney

Laura Killingbeck

Bill Plock

Day Two, Ride #1

Revel Bikes supplied their carbon gravel steed, The Rover for all of us to ride.

I was prepared to ride the carbon Rover, like everyone else, but to my surprise, my pal Chris, at Revel/Why Cycles made sure that there was a  WHY Cycles R+ V4, titanium bike available in XL for me. What a guy!

I guess he knows I prefer to ride metal!  

Don’t worry, we’ll definitely be diving into the details of both the Revel Rover and the Why Cycles R+v4 in Part Two.

First up for the day on the bike is 46.8 miles ride that starts and finishes at the campground if you wanted. The ride route was dubbed the Spring Creek to Taylor Canyon ride.

Out of the 6 writers on the trip, 3 of them were from Colorado, and I imagine, were acclimated to riding at altitude. I am not. But I still had a blast riding at my own pace.

Riding a partial route granted me the unique privilege to hang With Eric in one of the support vehicles for a good bit. We chatted about the good ol’ days and ended up having quite a bit in common, and I got to learn a bunch about some of the polar adventures he’s gone on. They’re insane. Ask him about them if you get the chance.

Then we ate, chilled, sat around a fire, and chatted. It was such a pleasant group of like-minded people. The campground was perfect, the founder and host of the campground came and sat with us as did the owner of the tent company.

Day Three, Ride #2

Ride number two, loaded and ready to go. This ride is a rollie-type ride that is approximately 41 miles in length. The ride route was dubbed Sargents to Middle Quartz. And upon rolling to the starting point, it looked pretty amazing!

Joined by Bill n Gus in the van, Bill and I decided to pick up the ride at a later point in the route.

Gus, Bill, and I got a little lost but eventually caught up with everyone later, at the top of a sweet-looking downhill section. Yatzee!

After we all arrived in Pitkin, we loaded up and headed back to camp.

Once we got back to the camp, some rest and relaxation were in store.

All of the food for the entire trip was very, very good!

After dinner, we all hunkered down in the heated tent and watched a slide show of a 70-day polar expedition of Eric’s…that he did on foot… while pulling a 400lb sled. And, oh nothin’…the sled only weighed around 400 lbs carrying everything he needed for the 70-day journey. That was pretty crazy to see.

After the presentation, it was off to bed, putting another great day in the books.

Day Four, Ride #3

While sleeping the night before our last ride, I heard some sprinkles that eventually gave way to a pretty steady rain. It was a little bit expected, and a little disappointing. We all woke to wet tents and a slightly soggy campground, but no rain for the moment and scattered clouds that didn’t look too ominous.

Because of the possibility of rain in the forecast, we had made a plan as a group the night before, to be on the road no later than 9am. The goal was to try get some riding in before the sky opened back up on us.

Here we are, ride number three, the final ride of the trip.

The ride was called Cochetopa Dome to Blue Mesa it was approximately 60 miles and beautiful. I was experiencing a smidge of knee pain and opted out of the ride and stay in one of the support vehicles to snap my pics.

The landscapes on this ride were amazing, enjoy!

The weather at the point of unloading the bikes was still pretty unpredictable. But everyone was eager to get started! And there was no rain yet…

Near the end of the ride, the view of the ancient mud cliffs above the Blue Mesa Reservoir was magnificent!

Everyone had made it down to Blue Mesa safely. Eric, who had been driving one of the support vehicles, however, was not there yet.

He ended up rolling in…without his car. He was on my bike, which we just so happened to have loaded “just in case” I decided to ride. He seemed unphased by the fact that his car was sitting up on the trail and wouldn’t start.

My guess is that the man that has walked for 70 days straight up on the North Pole, pulling a 400 lb sled, almost dies while doing it… probably looks at a car that won’t start as a “minor inconvenience” and nothing to stress over.

And, you know what? More power to him.

Being down to one car to get us back to camp meant we needed to fit everything in the 15-passenger support van. So, we proceed to start removing wheels and turning stems to get everything in.

We did it.

After the ride, we all went to the Gunnison Community Center and grabbed showers, changed clothes, then headed back to camp to unload the bikes and gear. We then got back in the van and headed to Crested Butte for our farewell dinner.

The dinner was really fun. We all shared our favorite parts of the trip and the rides. Told stories, talked bikes, and laughed. Eric gave a great,t heartfelt speech and then handed out fun parting gifts to the writers. It was a great way to end an amazing trip with such stellar people. Seiously.

We didn’t stay late. After dinner, we all said our goodbyes. Laura and I were headed back to camp but had to be at the airport super early the next day. Maureen drove back home to Carbondale from dinner. Jayson also left from dinner and drove to a hotel in Denver to catch a butt-ass early flight back to Florida. Hailey also came back to camp but instead of leaving the next day, stayed on to do a bikepacking overnighter the following night before heading back to Boulder.

I will be back to ride that area again, without a doubt. A shout-out to all fo the other writers and cyclists, I really enjoyed all of your company!

And a special thank you for the invite and the opportunity to Eric and Maria!

Next up is Part 2… the bikes!

GunnisonCounty.org

GunnisonCrestedButteTAPP.com

SmakStrategies.com

EricLarsenExplore.com

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Photo submitted by Paul Palfreyman, “It could be Tuscany, but is in fact the Cotswolds, UK. Taken while following a route from one of Jack Thurston’s wonderful ‘Lost Lanes‘ guidebooks.” We always love seeing photos from where you are riding and are happy to share them with our readers around the world here on the Pic Of The Day. Send in your pics with a description here.

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Photo submitted by Louis Nolan of their ride last Autumn to La Rosière. We always love seeing photos from where you are riding and are happy to share them with our readers around the world here on the Pic Of The Day. Send in your pics with a description here.

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