Categories
Bikepacking

Smoke ‘n’ Fire400 – Bikepacking Endurance Testing

No surprise to our readers but bikepacking, and the bikepacking gear, gadgets and bikes to accommodate such activities, continues to grow in popularity.  As people who like to travel off the beaten path we really appreciate these innovations and continue to bring new items into our store, plus take advantage of them ourselves.

Three years ago, inspired by their participation in Ride the Divide, a group of fellow bike packing addicts launched an Idaho “race” aptly named the Smoke’n’Fire400.  Late summer in Idaho is also fire season, this year’s major fire began way back in mid-July and is still going strong. So strong it’s resulted in a major reroute of the 3rd annual ride.  Regardless, the ride’s popularity has been fabulous.  Bike Touring News has enjoyed working with many of the riders, it’s made for a fun summer and fall.  In addition to Revelate Designs Gear, we added Ortlieb and Apidura to our bag line and are looking forward to some reviews.  Other much needed items on this years 450 mile jaunt are reliable lights.  We think the Busch & Mueller selections we’ve recommended will be stellar.

This years ride kicked off in Hyde Park with an informal gathering.  Sun Ray Pizza and the ride organizers graciously agreed to let Bike Touring News contribute a keg of Highland Hollow Beer ;).  Revelate Designs donated a Sweetroll for our raffle and the crowd was very appreciative.  It’s always good to see how other riders choose to pack and we couldn’t help but snap some photos.  You can follow the progress of the riders on Track Leader as they bounce and maneuver their way along double track, single track and more. Hard to believe some will likely complete this in less than two days. Personally, I look forward to hearing from the “folks like me” who will be taking a slower pace and not hesitating to stop to smell the flowers, get some sleep and eat a real meal.

norbtyson
Masters of organization and planning
apiduraframebag
Apidura Frame Bag
biketouringnewswaterbottleready
Dave’s taking his Bike Touring News Water Bottle – nice!
dynmochargedlight
SON Dynamo Hub – no fail on Fisher Creek
img_20160913_172535875
Revelate Designs Ready
edulux
One of our favorite Lights, the Edulux – great beam pattern
stuffedrevelatesweetroll
How to take advantage of a Revelate Sweetroll (sorry bout the blur)
revelateharnesstangle
Going Lite
ortliebhandlebarbag
Well planned cockpit
img_20160913_175316605
Josh & Valerie’s Sleek Tandem
img_20160913_183800578
locked and loaded
img_20160913_184837380
Count the bikes 🙂

img_20160913_183841109

Categories
Bikepacking Idaho Our Trips

“Diamond A Desert” by Bicycle

“drink muddy water, sleep in a hollow log”
Three of us set out on the bicycles to find Arch Canyon in the Bruneau Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness. On day one we missed our turn and ended up at Dead Horse Spring. The next day we saw a dead horse, got disoriented and lost our way, traveled through the high desert with thunderstorms and were rescued (indirectly) by ATV’s. On the last day we found the road we meant to take the first day. We never made it to Arch Canyon but we found exactly what we were looking for.

bicycle in the desert

canyon road

Bicycle in the canyon

Road out of canyon

Fine stone work

Old Stone Building

desert track

Desert camp

Dead Horse Camp

Light and sky bike packer

river crossing

field of weeds bikepacking

tumbleweeds

rays

thunder clouds

Desert ruins

Sign to Arch Canyon

Desert Spring

Bike Hermit at home

Bikepacker

Canyonlands

P10153031

More weeds. 150 years of cattle grazing will do that.

Pushing Bicycles

canyonlands

So, what did we learn?
On the way back to the vehicle we were wishing we had left trail markers at the various Y’s in the road. The route we had taken on the way in was not always apparent, especially after the rain, and landmarks look different approached from the opposite direction. We didn’t really learn it on this trip but the need to filter water at every opportunity and to seek out water sources was reinforced. We were reminded of how remote this country is and another person might not be seen for days. There is a reason for that; the desert doesn’t want us here. Even the Shoshone abandoned this area. A Spot satellite transmitter would be a good investment in case anything goes wrong. At the very least, one should make sure somebody knows where they are going.