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Now Hiring! Join our Team of Bike Travelers!

Bike Touring News is growing and we are looking for passionate bike travelers to join the team!  If you enjoy helping folks solve problems and break down barriers so they can get out and explore their world on two wheels we want to hear from you!

Mostly, we need help with the daily operations of our Boise, Idaho retail store.  Some places might refer to such a person as a Retail Associate or Customer Service Representative but we’d rather think of this team member as an Adventure Consultant.

Actual touring/bikepacking experience is required, as are excellent communication skills (mostly listening), kindness, patience and a sense of humor.  Previous experience in outdoor/bicycle retail is an asset but is not required.  Must love bikes, people and dogs.

We are dedicated to building a fun-loving, adventurous, inclusive culture and providing a workplace that reflects those values.  If you want to be part of that process and help us grow the bike travel community here in Idaho and around the world, we encourage you to apply!  Know someone who would be a great fit?  Send them a link to this post!

Read on below for the Job Description and Application Instructions!  Please read the entire post (especially the How to Apply section) and follow the instructions if you intend to submit an application.

 

Job Description

Position Title:

Adventure Consultant

Location:

Bike Touring News HQ – Boise, Idaho

Start Date:

ASAP (Late July 2021)

Schedule:

Highly Flexible.  ~20 hrs/week to start.  Potential to transition to full-time once fully trained.  Normal shop hours are 11 – 6, Tuesday – Friday.  Some work may be available outside of retail hours.

Wages:

Hourly rate is negotiable based on demonstrated skill and experience.  Wage increase after six weeks training is completed and every six months thereafter pending performance review.  Potential for bonuses/perks based on performance.

Benefits:

Flexible schedule with ample time off for holidays, riding and travel.

Opportunities to participate in, lead, guide, and organize rides, events, campouts, etc.

Access to employee pricing on bikes and gear.

Bike commuting incentives.

Opportunity to be part of building and evolving a culture, brand and company based in the power of bike travel.

Role and Responsibilities:

The Adventure Consultant is on the front lines of our mission to empower the bicycle traveler.  This person will be laser focused on customers’ needs and experience, helping find solutions, solve problems and break down barriers so they are able to live their pedal-powered dreams.  Our customers are family and we treat them as such.

Typical daily responsibilities will include merchandising, cleaning and organizing retail space and backstock, facilitating bicycle test rides, providing assistance choosing bags, racks or other gear, answering phones, scheduling appointments and other common retail tasks.

There are a multitude of potential areas for growth depending on the individual’s skill set and aptitudes.  These may include but are not limited to mechanical work, content creation for web, blog or social media, shipping/receiving, inventory management, web order fulfillment and other e-commerce tasks.  We’re looking for someone who is enthusiastic about sharing the joy and wonder of bike travel with all kinds of people and who is ready to grow with us!

Required Skills/Experience:

Bike travel experience is mandatory.

Excellent communication skills (mostly listening), kindness, patience and a sense of humor.

Friendly, helpful and professional demeanor in person, over the phone and in written communication.

Strong code of personal ethics and the ability to treat all people with dignity and respect.

Fundamental understanding of bike fit and sizing.

Fundamental understanding of mechanical concepts relevant to bicycle design, assembly and maintenance.

High level of organizational skill and fine attention to detail.

Must love people, bikes and dogs.

Preferred Skills/Experience:

Retail experience (merchandising, point of sale, inventory management, etc.) is a massive plus.

Hands on experience with the key brands/products/services BTN offers.

Knowledge and understanding of relevant trends in the bicycle and outdoor industries.

E-commerce/web design experience.

Event/ride planning, promotion and leadership.

Content creation skills – photography, graphic design, social media, etc.

First Aid certification, Leave No Trace training or other outdoor leadership training.

About Bike Touring News

Bike Touring News was founded in 2011 with the mission of Empowering the Bicycle Traveler.  Many things have changed since those early days but the mission remains the same.  We are dedicated to providing our customers with the goods, services and information they need to ride and use their bicycle more of the time, whether that means riding to the corner store, to work, on an overnight camping trip or across a continent.

To that end, we operate a web store that ships goods all over the world along with a physical retail location and full-service bike shop in our Boise, Idaho headquarters.  We also strive to provide helpful, informative and entertaining content via our social media and blog platforms.  We leverage our knowledge, experience and passion to provide the best possible customer service and share the stoke of bike travel with our current and future customers, here in Boise and around the world.

While our mission and goals may be large and lofty, we’re actually quite a small business.  Our retail showroom is less than 300 square feet and we are currently a team of five, including Cheddar the shop dog.

How to Apply

Your application should include the following components:

  1. Your resumé (no more than two pages) outlining relevant skills, abilities and experience.
  2. A cover letter (no more than 1000 words) describing what got you hooked on bike travel and what motivates you to share that passion with others.
  3. Three brief descriptions (may be incorporated into resumé or cover letter) of bike trips you’ve taken in the past.
  4. Three references who can speak to your stated skills, abilities and experience.

You may deliver these documents via email, USPS or in person.  Primary consideration will be given to applications received by July 16.  Send your application to:

[email protected]

-or-

Bike Touring News – 3853 N. Garden Center Way, Boise, ID 83703

Thanks for your interest!  We look forward to hearing from you!

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The Owyhee Pedal Patrol Wants YOU! OPP North Fork Campout – October 11-13, 2019

The Owyhee Pedal Patrol Story

The Owyhee Pedal Patrol is a group of volunteers assembled to explore, share and contribute to the responsible management of the amazing region that is defined by the Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness Area.  This rugged landscape in southwest Idaho contains six individual wilderness areas totaling over a half-million acres, encompassing some of the deepest canyons and wildest rivers in the world.  Our friend and co-conspirator Evan Worthington is the BLM’s field ranger in charge of patrolling this vast expanse.  That’s one lone ranger tasked with covering a half-million acres of territory!  The Owyhee Pedal Patrol was formed in 2014 as a force multiplier for Evan and the BLM.  We are not enforcement officers.  Our mission is to ride the boundaries, cherrystem routes and occasionally venture on foot into the wilderness areas to make a record of what we find so that these special places can be managed using accurate, up-to-date information.

Our goal for the coming year is to have at least one group of volunteers on an OPP ride every month.  In order to accomplish this goal, we need to deepen the pool of riders.  Hopefully that is why you’re reading this post!  If you enjoy rugged landscapes, challenging riding, self-supported bike travel and want an opportunity to experience all of the above via a free shuttle from the BLM, OPP WANTS YOU!

Volunteer Requirements

Owyhee Pedal Patrol riders must meet two primary requirements to be cleared to volunteer through the BLM:  1) Participation in a Leave No Trace training program and  2) a BLM-approved First Aid certification, both within the last year.  We strive to offer annual or bi-annual trainings (usually in the fall or winter months) through the OPP to keep those certifications up to date.  This North Fork Campout will check both boxes – clearing new volunteers to join the OPP ranks.

Please note that the First Aid training provided at this event is not sanctioned by the Red Cross or any other medical agency.  It is only valid as clearance to volunteer for OPP.  If you discover an interest and want to take your training to the next level, we highly recommend signing up for a Wilderness First Responder course via the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) or a similar course focused on providing emergency care in remote areas.

You’ll also need to provide your own bike, gear and supplies for each trip.  Most riders would agree that the ideal bike for the rugged, unmaintained terrain of the Canyonlands is a wide-tired off-road touring bike like the Surly ECR.  However, riders have participated on everything from pavement touring bikes to full-on fatbikes, full-sus MTBs and even longtail cargo bikes.  If a bike and/or gear is a barrier to participation please email [email protected] and we’ll see how we can help!

Daily mileage and route difficulty is highly variable and can be tuned to the needs of a given group.  Base camping with unloaded day rides is an option but this region is best experienced via a self-contained through-ride or loop.  We’ll always err on the shorter/easier side if in doubt as conditions can change rapidly and “desert miles” often feel much longer!  As is the case with the North Fork Campout, we’ll typically shoot to depart from BLM HQ in Boise on Friday afternoon to shuttle out.  A Friday afternoon departure helps keep the ratio of truck time to saddle time reasonable, allows two nights of camping and all of Saturday to ride before reaching the pickup location for the return to town on Sunday.

Benefits of Volunteering

  • Free shuttle from the BLM to ride bikes in one of the most beautiful and remote places you’ll ever see.
  • Additional safety via BLM-provided SPOT tracking devices, satellite phone, trauma/first aid kits, etc.
  • Access to the best maps, routing information and current condition updates.
  • Good times riding bikes with a fun group of folks!

Ready to get on board?  Join us October 11-23 at the North Fork Campground!  This free event is a great opportunity to experience the Canyonlands without the commitment of an overnight bike ride.  We’ll base camp out of the North Fork CG, knock out 4 hours of training in the mornings and have the afternoons free to ride and explore.  Attendees will leave cleared to volunteer through next October.  If you’re able to depart on Friday afternoon (see timeline below) you’ll have the option to use BLM-provided transportation.  If you choose to drive yourself please share rides as much as possible.

Link to Registration Form:  Register for the October OPP Campout here.

Please register even if you do not plan to attend the training sessions.

What to Bring

  • Water for the weekend or means to filter!  There is no potable water at the campground though water can be readily filtered from the North Fork Owyhee River.
  • Camping Gear – The main group will base at the campground but the option to camp off the bike is available.  Just be back in time for Sunday training at 9am!
  • Warm Layers!  Especially important for chilly morning training sessions.  Keep an eye on the weather in Jordan Valley for the best indication of expected conditions.
  • Food and Snacks!  BTN will provide a chili dinner Saturday evening.  You are on your own for all other meals and snacks.
  • Bike!  Any good MTB or dirt touring bike will be fine for this trip.  Lacking an appropriate bike?  Email [email protected] and we’ll see what we can do.

OPP North Fork Campout Timeline

Friday, Oct. 11

  • 3pm : Meet at BLM HQ (3948 Development Ave, Boise, ID 83705.  Near Boise Airport) to Carpool Up
  • 4pm : Roll Out to North Fork Campground – https://www.blm.gov/visit/north-fork-campground
  • Expect about 3 hours drive time.
  • Please carpool if you’ll be providing your own transportation!

Saturday, Oct. 12

  • 9am – 1pm : First Aid Clinic
  • 1pm – 7pm : Ride Time!  Fishing potential also.
  • 7:30pm : Chili Dinner p/b Bike Touring News (Vegan/Vegetarian and Carnivore options.  Please note your preference upon registration.)

Sunday, Oct. 13

  • 9 – 10:30am : Leave No Trace Clinic
  • 11am – 1pm : First Aid Scenarios
  • 1pm – 4pm : Ride Time or Add’nl First Aid Training if needed

 

Questions?  Concerns?  Email [email protected].  See you on the North Fork!

 

 

 

 

 

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Boise Ridge Road Randonnee 2019 – Saturday, June 22

Saddle up, hearty souls!  It’s time for the 5th running of the Boise Ridge Road Randonnee!  Join us for this challenging – potentially brutal at times – ride over some of the rugged dirt roads, moto trails and singletracks that criss-cross the Boise Ridge.  If you’re looking to test your climbing legs, take in some iconic views and explore some little-traveled zones in your big backyard you should come along!

UPDATE:  We’ve altered the route slightly for 2019 to include the Cobb Trail and Lucky Peak Trail, both part of the Boise Trails ChallengeFollow the link to learn more and register if you’d like.  Other than our route up Lucky Peak we’ll follow the same track as in years past.  Of course, you’re under no obligation to stick to our suggested route.

Ride Details

This is not a race or event – this is an unsupported, unsanctioned, informal bike ride with friends.  You are 100% responsible for your own safety and enjoyment.  We are providing a route suggestion and nothing more.  Plan Ahead and Prepare!  Arrive at the start with good legs, a well-maintained bike, plenty of food and lots of water.  Finish times average around 8 hours for the complete route.

  • START:  Boise Co-Op, 9th and Fort.  Arrive no later than 8:45.  Ride departs promptly at 9:00am.
  • FINISH:  Sun Ray Cafe, 13th and Eastman.
  • 48 Miles, ~7,200 feet of elevation gain.
  • https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30292076

Route Details

Many sections of the route are unmaintained and conditions are unpredictable.  After this past winter’s heavy snow and an unusually wet spring we expect even more ruts, loose rock, sandy washes, etc than in years past.  Keep your wits about you!  Much of the route is also very exposed to the sun, so protect yourself and be sure to start hydrated!  Here’s that route link again:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30292076

Bike/Tire Selection

Wide tires (2.2″/56mm or wider) and low gears are highly recommended.  Suspension won’t hurt (especially on the rough-and-tumble descent from the Eagleson Summit) but isn’t strictly necessary.  Any good mountain bike or dirt touring bike should be adequate.  Road, cyclocross or pavement touring bikes are not a good option.

Resupply Notes

There are no resupply options en route with the exception of the Ranch Market at mile 6.5.  Water may be filtered from Robie Creek between mile 30 and 33.  Be prepared to carry all food, water and supplies you will need to complete the route.

Questions?  Comments?  Call, email or stop by the shop.  Don’t forget to tag your photos:  #RidgeRoadRandonnee #RidgeRoadRandonneurs #BikeTouringNews.

Let’s Ride!

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Featherville Freakout!! Bike Travel Weekend 2019, May 31 – June 2

We’re really excited about this event and the chance to share the excitement and camaraderie of self-supported riding with friends!  In honor of this once-a-year event, Bike Touring News HQ will be CLOSED on Friday, May 31!

Watch this page for updates as the event approaches!  Questions?  Call, email or stop by the shop!

We hope you’ll join us for the 2019 Featherville Freakout, May 31 – June 2!  We want this to be an opportunity for riders of all ages and abilities to get out and sample a little slice of the spectacular riding here in Idaho, so rather than prescribing a route and setting the agenda we’re nailing down a meetup point and encouraging folks to plan their own adventures.  You can organize your own ride, invite your friends and tell us all about it at the campground on the South Fork of the Boise River!  We’d love to see riders from all across the state come together for a weekend gathering of the bike travel tribe!  Here’s how it’s gonna go down:

Our destination will be the Chapparal campground on the South Fork of the Boise – just upstream from the town of Featherville – for Friday and Saturday nights.  Nestled in the hills just south of the mighty Sawtooth Mountains, this stretch of road will be familiar to veterans of the Smoke ‘N’ Fire 400 or Idaho Hot Springs MTB Route.  There are ample opportunities for day riding, hiking, fishing, hot spring soaking, barstool rodeo, slingshot biathlon or any other outdoor games you want to play!

Route options to Chaparral could range from the seriously strenuous to super relaxed depending on your style and preference.  Make it as easy or challenging as you want!  No rules, no restrictions.  Just get your crew together, draw some lines on a map and come meet us riverside!

Want to host your own ride to the Featherville Freakout?  We hope you do!  Register your ride with the ACA so that other folks in your area can find it and join in!  You can also register as a private event if you’d rather pick and choose your riding companions.

Want to let someone else handle the route planning and join in a ride?  Check out the list below.  We’ll update this list with more rides as they are added.  Click the link to find more information and to register your participation.  You’ll get an sweepstakes entry for your trouble!  You can also contact the ride leader with any questions you might have.

 

Featherville Freakout Ride Listing (5/30/19 update)

Departing Boise on Friday – 87 miles, 7,400 ft climbing

Departing Boise on Friday, splitting the route into two days.

Departing Prairie on Saturday – 38 miles, 2,600 ft climbing

Departing Lowman on Friday – 73 miles, 8,640 ft climbing.  Cancelled due to excessive snow on route.

 

5/24/19:  Road Closure Update

For those planning to connect through Prairie to Pine, be aware that a road closure is in effect on NF 128, the Prairie-Pine Road.  See the closure maps below.  You can find more information on the Boise NF’s alerts and closures page via this link.  Read the press release here.

The good news is that the closure is limited to motorized vehicles, so bicycles should be fine.  The closure may have also already been lifted.  The ranger on duty at the Mountain Home ranger district confirmed that the Prairie-Pine road is clear and gave the go-ahead for bike travel.  Be aware of forest management activity through this corridor and be safe!

Other Ride Options:

Ride from the Pine boat launch!  This is definitely the easiest option with around 15 miles and 800 feet of climbing on mostly-paved roads.  No significant climbs, just a gradual uphill at river grade.  This is a great option for folks on road touring bikes, new bike travelers or anyone looking for an easier, low-risk option.  Last year we had a handful of kids in trailers, on cargo bikes, etc riding from Pine, so this a great family-friendly option.

Ride from the Elk Creek boat launch!  This is probably the second-easiest option with 31 miles and 2,300 feet of climbing.  The start location doesn’t require a ton of drive time from the Treasure Valley, so this might be a good alternative for folks that want a little more of a ride but don’t want to drive to Prairie.  Much more dirt and some sustained climbing here, so consider this an intermediate level ride.

 

Friday Boise Departure Details:

Want to ride from Boise on Friday?  A group will depart Fort Boise/Military Reserve Park (main parking lot between ballfields and Mtn Cove Rd) promptly at 9am and ride to Featherville via this route.   Here’s a brief description of the ride to whet your appetite!

Terrain varies from a nasty hike-a-bike out of Lydle Gulch to smooth pavement near Pine.  Mostly, we’ll be on maintained dirt roads that will vary from smooth and hardpacked to loose, sandy, rocky and/or washboarded.  Any competent dirt touring bike with ~2″ tires will do fine.

This track (more or less) follows the route of the Smoke ‘N’ Fire 400, taking in a variety of southern Idaho landscapes and a moderate amount of climbing – for Idaho that is.  We’ll roll eastbound out of town through Lydle Gulch to Black’s Creek Road and follow the tailwater of the South Fork through some stunning scenery.

After climbing out of the South Fork, we’ll pass through the town of Prairie and take advantage of resupply options at the Y-Stop and Prairie Store.

We’ll cruise across the open plain before climbing into the hills south of the Trinity Mountains in the Boise National Forest.  Stretch your legs, take in plenty of sustenance and get ready to climb!

[NOTE: A portion of the route takes us through a forest service road closure.  See Road Closure Update above for more info.]

We’ll summit the high point of the ride right around 6,000 feet before descending to the Anderson Ranch Reservoir section of the South Fork.  The route turns back to the north and passes through the town of Pine.  Pine Cafe and Cocktails will tempt us with hot food and cold beverages while the Nitz Pine Store provides convenience store essentials.

Gracious curves heading down toward Pine

From Pine, we’re in the home stretch!  FR 114 will carry us along the east bank of the South Fork as we climb at a mellow river grade toward Featherville.  12 miles past Pine, we’ll have arrived!

We expect the 87-mile ride will require 7-8 hours of ride time, so a 9am departure should get us into the campground with plenty of time to make camp, prepare food and maybe even get some fishing in before dark.

Saturday will be a free day with ample opportunity for all kinds of outdoor recreation.  We’ll return to Boise on Sunday via the same route or a variation.  If you want to ride with us, don’t forget to register your participation here for an entry in the sweepstakes and to join the ranks of bike travelers across the world!

Regardless of your route choice, we hope you’ll join us and thousands of people across the world for the Featherville Freakout, part of Bike Travel Weekend 2018!  See you on the South Fork!

#rideloaded #feathervillefreakout #biketravelweekend #biketouringnews

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Montour Overnight – April Fool’s Errand

3/25/19 UPDATE:

This ride is only a few days away!  Looking forward to riding bikes and sleeping outside!  Here are a few key updates for those making the trip:

  1. WEATHER:  The forecast calls for a significant chance of rain all week leading up to departure.  Johnson Creek Road has the potential to get very muddy if it is saturated.  This portion of the route should be avoided if significant wet conditions are present.  The heavy clay mud will foul all manner of moving parts and could create a dangerous situation.  Most of the other dirt roads will be fine with some added moisture – they’re well-graveled with porous material, drain well and shouldn’t get muddy.  Here’s a link to an alternate version of the route that avoids Johnson Creek:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29560824   This option adds around 10 additional miles and a couple of mid-size climbs, so be sure to allow extra time for your trip over the hill if we have a rainy week.  The wet weather is forecast to move out late in the week (sunny and 60 on Saturday!) but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to pack a tarp if you have one to help create some sheltered space for cooking and hanging out in camp.
  2. CAMPING:  The folks at the Bureau of Reclamation gave us the all-clear to camp at Montour but there are a couple of things to keep in mind if we want to be welcomed in the future.  Please be respectful of nearby residents and KEEP NOISE LEVELS DOWN in the campground, especially in the evening.  There are other places to go if you want to get rowdy.  The land managers typically send groups (Boy Scout troops, etc.) elsewhere when Montour is closed to provide peace and quiet for the folks who live adjacent to the campground.  Also, let’s leave the place cleaner than we found it.  Be prepared to spend a few minutes picking up trash, sticks, or other debris.  There is a dumpster on site to deposit refuse.  Leave No Trace, y’all!

 

3/7/19

Spring is nigh here in the City of Trees!  Time to head for the hills on our first o’nighter of the year – March 29-31st!  Join us for a challenging climb out of the Treasure Valley on a mix of pavement and dirt followed by an unmaintained dirt road descent to the banks of the Payette.  Nestled in the Sweet Valley, the Montour WMA campground will be our destination.  This is one of our favorite overnight trips from town and has become something of a springtime tradition.  The route is great for new bike travelers but still offers enough of a challenge to keep the experienced on their toes.  Longer route options also abound for those looking for more miles.  All people and bikes are welcome!  However, some people and bikes will have more fun than others!

Starting down Johnson Creek Rd, May 2017.

Bike Selection

Any sturdy bikepacking/dirt touring bike will handle the terrain just fine.  Wider tires and low gears are highly recommended.  Plus-tired rigs or suspended MTBs will be overkill for much of the route but will certainly make the descent more fun!  Allroad or cyclocross bikes (similar to Zach’s ride in the below photo) will also get you by if you pack light.  Variable road conditions can make life difficult if you’re under-tired, overgeared and overloaded.  The climbs over the Eagle foothills are steep in spots and the Johnson Creek descent can be pretty dodgy with deep ruts and stream overflow (see photos) but this is definitely one of the easier, more accessible overnight trips from Boise.  Just enough challenge to be satisfying!  Distance from downtown/north Boise will be around 30 miles and less than 2,000ft of climbing via our route3/25/19 UPDATE:  See WEATHER notes above!

Riding the Eagle foothills rollers, March 2018

Take Note!  This is not a bike event!  This is a self-supported, weekend bike ride with a group of friends.  We are offering a route suggestion, some potentially useful (or potentially inaccurate) information and nothing more.  All riders are responsible for their own safety and enjoyment, should come prepared to be 100% self-sufficient and have their own self-rescue or bailout plans in place.  Do not count on cell phone service.  That said, riding bikes is fun, overnight rides are even more fun and both are best when shared.  We welcome any and all riders who want to join in for any portion of the weekend’s journey!

Rides will depart from Bike Touring News HQ at:

 

Departure Notes

No need to register, sign up or RSVP.  Just show up ready to ride!  Times above are departure times, so please arrive a few minutes early if you need to make final preparations before rolling out.  The shop will close at 4pm for Friday’s departure, so we will not be available for last minute purchases on Saturday.  Plan ahead and prepare!

If you’re planning to leave a vehicle overnight, please park in the main parking lot off 36th Street rather than the parallel parking spaces along Garden Center Way.  Better yet, ride your bike to the start!  See parking lot map below:

Camping

The Montour campground will still be closed for the season but toilets have been open and water flowing in springs past.  No promises!  If the campground is open, the fee for tent camping in the grassy area at back (east) of the campground is $3/night.  If the campground is closed there is no required payment but we like to try and leave a few bucks in the pay slot to (hopefully) help maintain this little gem of a campground.  We’ll also do a little cleanup and leave the place cleaner than we found it.  3/25/19 UPDATE: See CAMPING notes up top!

Services

With the exception of the Chevron at the corner of Beacon Light and Hwy 55, there are no services on the route.  Bring plenty of water to get you through the exposed, shadeless roads over the Eagle foothills, especially if the sun is bright and temperatures high.  Johnson Creek will be a (mostly) reliable water source for filtering but at that point you’re nearly to the campground.

After arriving at Montour, you’ve got a handful of options for food and beverages.  The Montour Country Store is about 2.5 miles northbound with snacks, beverages and other convenience store goods.  The Triangle Restaurant and bar is equidistant, serving up a diverse menu with a small bar to wet your whistle.  The Ola Inn Cafe lies 19 miles north via the nicely paved and rolling highway.  Horseshoe Bend to the east and Emmett to the west each have a range of stores, restaurants, etc.  Hours may vary at each of these locations, so do your homework if you’re relying heavily on any of these services.  There are plenty more paved and unpaved roads to explore in the Sweet/Ola Valley, so folks looking for a longer ride or more miles can have their fill.

Route Notes

The descent down the Johnson Creek road hasn’t received any maintenance (that we know of) at least since 2017, maybe longer.  It is likely to be in poor shape and may not be 100% rideable.  Muddy conditions may require a reroute but we expect mostly dry conditions.  3/25/19 UPDATE:  See WEATHER notes up top!  Ruts will likely be quite deep with rideable lines in between.  Use caution and don’t risk a nasty crash!  There is one extended section where the creek has overflowed the road.  This mile-ish stretch will likely be running with at least a couple inches of water and is paved with round, loose babyhead rocks.  Be prepared to walk/carry your bike if the going gets rough along this streambed section.  See photos and captions below for illustration of the conditions.

Johnson Creek Rd, May 2017.

 

Same stretch of road, March 2018.

 

Choose your line wisely and watch your speed!

 

Creek bed riding, May 2017.

We’re looking forward to this first overnighter of the season and many more to come in 2019!  Questions?  Concerns?  Stop by the shop, call or email.  Can’t wait to see who shows up to camp!

208-806-2111  |   [email protected]

@biketouringnews  |  #bikeovernights  #rideloaded  #aprilfoolserrand

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Harriman Trail Bikefishing Meetup – Saturday, September 29 – Bike Your Park Day 2018

Fall has arrived in Idaho and this is arguably the best time of year for fishing by bike!  In addition, Saturday, September 29 is the Adventure Cycling Association’s Bike Your Park Day, an annual celebration of our public lands.  Let’s enjoy one special slice of Idaho’s wealth of public land with a day of fishing by bike along the Big Wood River!

No registration, fee or RSVP is required. All ages, abilities, fishing styles and bike types are welcome.  Just load up your rig with your fishing gear and let’s go in search of trout!

The Plan

We’ll meet at the North Fork Campground trailhead (southeast end of the Harriman Trail) at 11am on Saturday, September 29.  From there we’ll pedal upstream, probing the waters at fishy-looking spots along the Big Wood River and (potentially) its tributaries.  The warmest part of the day is likely to deliver the most productive (and most comfortable) fishing, so we’ll try our luck and test our skills until late afternoon before pedaling back to the trailhead.

All ages, abilities, bikes and tackle are welcome!  Invite your friends, RSVP or plan rides via the Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/2147476645473230/

To sweeten the deal, the Adventure Cycling Association is giving away a Co-Motion Cycles Divide touring bike and two Amtrak tickets to Glacier National Park, so register your participation via this link for a chance to win!

What to Bring

  • Bike – The Harriman Trail is (mostly) a well-maintained gravel two-track with moderate grades.  Any mountain bike or dirt touring bike will do fine.
  • Fishing Gear – All legal tackle and techniques are welcome.  We’ll have tenkara outfits from Tenkara USA and DRAGONtail Tenkara available for folks to try out this simple method of fly fishing.
  • Idaho Fishing License – Available from local outfitters or online at https://idfg.idaho.gov/
  • Appropriate Clothing/Wading Gear – Be sure to bring a dry change of clothes, especially if you plan on wading.  Hypothermia happens fast in cold water!  Temperatures are highly variable and will swing widely throughout the day, so dress in layers and be prepared for anything.  Rain is not highly likely but is always a possibility.  See NOAA’s forecast page for weather updates.
  • Food and/or Beverages – Don’t forget to pack any snacks or drinks you’ll need to stay fueled and hydrated throughout the day.

 

 

Questions?  Concerns?  Call the shop (208-806-2111), send us an email ([email protected]) or stop by any time!  Like our Facebook page and follow @biketouringnews on Instagram for updates.

Hope to see you out on the Big Wood for a great day of fishing by bike!

#bikeyourparkday #fishbybike #rideloaded #biketouringnews

  

Categories
Bike Touring Tips Bikepacking Idaho Other Tours and Rides

Looking Back On 2017 – Experiences and Insights for the First Time Bikepacker

Hey there, my name is Matthew Wordell. Earlier this fall when Ryan took over Bike Touring News, he asked me to write a brief retrospective on my experiences bikepacking Idaho in 2017. I live and work in Boise as a freelance photographer (InstagramWebsite). I’m fairly new to the sport and my hope is that some of what I write here will inspire that one person who has wanted to try bike touring or bikepacking to take the plunge and head out on their first ride. Full disclosure: This is my first attempt at writing a blog of this nature, so thanks in advance to those of you who finish the whole thing <3

For anyone reading this who isn’t already familiar with Bikepacking, this is a great definition from Bikepacking.com – 

“Simply put, bikepacking is the synthesis of mountain biking and minimalist camping; it evokes the freedom of multi-day backcountry hiking, with the range and thrill of riding a mountain bike. It’s about forging places less travelled, both near and afar, via singletrack trails, gravel, and abandoned dirt roads, carrying only essential gear. 

A common misconception is that bikepacking requires a small fortune to fully appreciate; the perfect bike, custom bags, and all the latest ultralight camping gear. While investing in quality gear is never a bad idea, it’s certainly not a necessity to get you up and running. Start by using what you own and picking a short overnight route near home (30-60 miles). Discover what you really need through experience.”

With that, here’s the official beginning of this blog:

Bikepacking in 2017 begins as any other year should – far too early, far too cold, and with little regard for the forecasts prediction of rain and cold. With my bags packed and work finished for the day, the itching desire to saddle up and head for Shaw Mountain becomes palpable. Hurriedly, I lock the door to my small North End apartment and ride through downtown Boise to meet several friends who will be joining for the evening. The plan, a quick sub-24 hour ride up to the ridge road where we’ve often set up for simple overnight campouts, cook dinner, drink whiskey, survive the cold, and bomb down the mountain for work in the morning. The landscape by Shaw Mountain offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city below, stars above, and a perfect silence I’ve come to love in wooded areas, away from trafficked dirt roads. I’m still astonished a place like this exists less than a two-hour ride from town.

For us, this ride is a tradition at the beginning of the year, something we simply like calling “Wednesdays Are For Bikepacking.” It’s our way of taking advantage of Boise’s proximity to forested and lesser traveled areas along the ridge between Bogus Basin and Shaw Mountain.

While making the final adjustments to our gear, a deep purple wash of clouds gathers across the western horizon, casting the day into inky purple darkness and casting doubt into our minds about whether or not it is really a good idea to follow through on the years first mid-week overnighter. None of us were really up for freezing to death on the first ride of the year, but it’s hard to say no to something we’ve looked forward to for so long. Nearly impossible this time after surviving the brutal snowpocalyptic winter that ravaged Idaho for months.

Thinking we could beat the rain to the ridge, we begin the climb. Cresting Reserve Road and descending toward the choppy gravel of Rocky Canyon Rd., the weather takes a quick turn for the worse, rain beginning to come down in sheets. Less than 25 minutes into the ride we’re soaked, frozen, and laughing uncontrollably. For a moment, I think we all hate it, each of us knowing that turning around and spending a warm night at home would be infinitely easier than the cold night ahead. But it was the inclement weather that confirmed what we had partially forgotten through the winter – what we really love about bikepacking.

Facing the unexpected and working through physical challenge isn’t something we experience all too often in day-to-day life. Routines dictate much of our schedule and for the lucky few (depending on what you consider lucky) who are self employed there’s still a healthy level of predictability you need to maintain in order to keep things afloat. Backpacking, bike touring, or any other sport that carries you beyond the routine and predictable motions of civilization provides an incredible opportunity to connect to the unknown, to face challenges, and to push through moments when giving up seems to be the only option. Finding joy in the pain, laughing at it with your friends. In the moment, this is the message I feel is being delivered to us by this god awful weather.

Reaching the top of the ridge, the storm finally breaks and sunlight explodes across the horizon, bathing the surrounding pine trees in purple and orange streaks of light. It’s a beautiful end to a short and painful ride and a great way to start the year. We stand together on the ridge taking it all in before piling into a small two person tent with our sleeping bags, cook kits, food, and whiskey. The tent is way too small, but it’s the only way we’ll be able to warm up before heading to our own tents and falling asleep for the night. It’s crazy to think home is less than 15 miles away. It’s a Wednesday night. We have work in the morning.

I’m fairly new to mountain biking and only recently discovered bikepacking in 2016, but it has completely changed my understanding of why I ride bikes. For readers who are interested in trying it out, I’ll try to include bits of information that hopefully make the first step a little less intimidating.

Each trip I take I learn something new about the equipment I use and my approach to riding – a new way to pack my bags, a better way to make coffee, a more efficient way to access certain types of gear, slower climbs, more snacks, taking time to swim in the middle of the day, and how to plan routes to keep the riding fun and the opportunities for beer plentiful. The process of trial and error is important in any sport, but I feel it’s especially important for bikepacking as the first couple rides can often feel the most intimidating. Never fear, everyone has their own idea of what works so it’s worth experimenting with your packing setup! Here’s a few pro tips to get you started:

  • For your first ride, try packing as light as possible to achieve maximum suffer points and garner extra kudos from all those ultralight riders on instagram who spend half their ride wondering if they actually needed that extra pair of wool underwear (they didn’t). For this all you’ll need is several packets of instant coffee, a cook kit for boiling water, and nothing more.
  • Once you’ve endured the pain of step one and have successfully realized camping is a lot more fun when you’re comfortable, you can now try packing a little heavier, a great way to impress yourself and your riding partner. For this “medium weight” approach, carefully stow away that handsome pour-over setup you’ve been dying to try out in the forest while the sun peaks over a wooded ridge, the steam of your fresh pot of boiling water lingering above a nearby brook, while you think to yourself more than once “can life get much better than this?” If you’re the lucky chap who remembered to grind your coffee before hitting the trail, then the answer to that question is yes. Absolutely yes.
  • Last but not least, there are the mystical few who have been called by Zeus himself to go “fully loaded.” Be careful who you discuss this approach with, a careless slip of the fully loaded tongue in the wrong company could lead to temporary lack of invitations to participate in those mid-summer bikepacking rides your buddies are all posting about on social media. Some will say this approach is unnecessary but if you’ve budgeted time for premium, grade-A nature-indulgence it might just be the right option for you. This setup requires a trip to your local co-op or natural foods store to purchase one pound of whole-bean single source coffee, your hand-operated burr grinder, and that freshly polished glass french press you haven’t used in two months. For the full effect of traveling “fully loaded,” pack a four-set of enamel mugs for you and your new friends who were laughing at the beginning of the ride but now realize you’re an absolute genius.

For me, I’ve had to strike a balance between efficient riding and efficient good times once I’ve reached my destination. For that reason, I usually opt for the pour-over approach with a few additions. A block of dubliner cheese, a mini Bota Box of seasonally appropriate wine, a bar of chocolate, and maybe a shooter or two of some hard alcohol to take the edge off a big downhill section or when you make camp way later than planned and end up taking a pitch-black midnight bath in that nearby freezing river.

In my opinion the best first rides are along rivers, the grades are more predictable, you can stop and swim if the day gets too hot, and you have all the water you need for dinner once you make camp. Pick one, find a place to park, pack up your bike, and ride until you find a badass spot to camp. Strangers will help you if you get into trouble. It’s something I have to remember every time I leave the house for one of these rides, people are willing to help if you need it. Don’t be afraid to ask for directions and recommendations, 95% of the time people know the area better than you do.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned along the way is that shit breaks, gear fails, and people forget things. It sucks but it’s part of the fun (just don’t forget your sleeping bag and cook kit). Learning how to improvise and exist without the conveniences of everyday life is an oddly valuable skill and something you gain almost immediately while practicing any type of minimalist camping. On my first bikepacking trip, a friend and I didn’t have anything to use for chairs while eating dinner and lounging by the fire, so we decided to build make-shift stools out of pine bark. It seemed like a brilliant idea, but after kicking back for a few minutes we quickly discovered that his was infested with ants. Live and learn. Upon returning, we immediately went to REI and bought A-lite Monarch chairs and have packed them with us on nearly every trip since.

So yeah, back to 2017:

As May and June come into bloom, my rides seek out new vantage points, less traveled roads, more difficult climbs, lakes, rivers, and hot springs. I always have to include hot springs when possible. Normally I feel a drive to explore beyond the borders of my state, but this year it feels good to discover small towns in the mountains, talk to people who live there, learn of their favorite places to camp nearby, and wash myself in crystal clear river water at the end of a day. Its a year spent building my relationship with Idaho, deepening our connection, and discovering places I will surely return to year after year.

Almost every weekend, I find myself coursing like the wind along sweeping dirt roads, rambling through the high valleys, pine groves, and sagebrush of Boise National Forest, filling my body with a sense of freedom. Roads I’ve hardly noticed while driving become new passageways to a realization of the beauty that surrounds me here in this state. A sense of thankfulness with every turn, like my whole existence is breathing in the wild air of this place. It feels amazing. Each ride feels like a liberation from something, each experience building my confidence in the gear and skills I take with me.

 

Autumn arrives and the tone of life in the wilderness changes, nights are cooler, the weather holds longer in its whims. All through summer we’ve talked of a ride to Atlanta and the annual Atlanta-Days festival is fast approaching. Five of us decide to meet at Trinity Hot Springs just outside of Pine, ride to Featherville and begin the climb through Rocky Bar and over to the Middle Fork Boise River where we connect up to Atlanta. It’s an arduous ride complete with several stops for water and naps in the shade once we reach the top. Arriving in Atlanta as the sun slowly dips toward the horizon, we set up our tents near a group of rustic cabins on the edge of town, unload our bikes, and ride to a nearby water hole called “The Clubhouse.” My favorite part of any hard ride is swimming in ice cold water afterward and this spot was especially cold.

The next day we climb up Phifer Creek Road and traverse Trinity Mountain Road, probably sweating at least half of our body weight along the way. Of all the places I rode this summer, the road to Trinity Mountain is the most beautiful of them all. The views, the clean air, the lack of motorized traffic all combine for an incredible dust-free suffer fest on the way up, and an adrenaline filled flight down the backside. We camp at Big Trinity Lake that night, a bear demolishes an ice chest in the campsite next to us but I sleep right through it, the difficult ride working as an impenetrable sedative on my mind. The photographs below catalogue our trip. Enjoy!

For anyone who is interested, I’m always changing my setup and trying new things. This is usually what I roll with:

Bike:

Clothing:

  • Patagonia capilene leggings
  • Arc’teryx thermal base layer top
  • Icebreaker wool socks for camp
  • 7 Mesh Bibs under shorts
  • Kask Mojito Helmet
  • Swiftwick socks for riding
  • Specialized BG Gel riding gloves
  • Cotton t-shirt
  • Sunglasses / cycling glasses
  • Chacos
  • A random beanie
  • Patagonia down sweater
  • Running shorts for camp / swimming / etc
  • Cycling cap or baseball cap

Electronics:

  • No-name rechargable battery pack
  • iPhone 6s
  • Fuji X100T digital camera
  • Blackdiamond Headlamp
  • Sinewave Cycles Beacon light & USB charging cables
  • Kindle (if I’m traveling alone)
  • Earbud headphones

Sleep setup:

  • Tarptent Notch with poles
  • REI Flash Pad
  • REI Igneo sleeping bag
  • Sea-to-Summit inflatable pillow

Other:

  • A-Lite Monarch Chair
  • Outpost Titanium Pot & Pan (lid)
  • Snowpeak Gigapower Pocket Stove
  • MSR Fuel Canteen
  • Good-to-Go dehydrated meal (Thai Curry changed my life)
  • Spork
  • Vapur 2 liter soft bottle
  • MSR Trail Shot water filter
  • REI pack towel
  • Tool kit (Parktool chair breaker, needle, thread, tire levers, Co2, mini hand-pump, patch kit, etc)
  • Pocket knife
  • Enamel mug
  • Collapsible Helix Coffee Maker + coffee grounds in a pill bottle
  • Tons of snacks
  • Beer / Mini Box of wine / Whiskey / Take your pick

Categories
Bike Touring Equipment Handlebar Bag Other Touring Bike Pedals Touring Bike Tires

New Partnerships, New Products!

While the Bike Hermit and Sky King are gallavanting around Mexico drinking beer and camping under the stars, there has been a lot going on around Bike Touring News HQ!   We’re constantly on the lookout for components and accessories to enhance your experience, help you ride more and have more fun doing it.  To that end, we’ve brought in some new products that you’re going to want to check out.

Saddles, Tires, Rims from WTB

We’re super excited to announce our partnership with Wilderness Trail Bikes!  WTB has been at the cutting edge of mountain bike equipment since 1982 and that depth of experience shows through in their products.  Most recently, they’ve done a great job creating components that are ideal for bikepacking and dirt touring.  Bike Touring News will be stocking a hand-picked range of their tires, saddles, rims and other gear for adventures that take you to the end of the pavement and beyond.

“What?  Bike Touring News is selling plastic saddles?”  I know, this is kind of a big deal as we have always been known for our devotion to leather saddles.  We’ll continue to stock top-quality leather saddles from Gilles Berthoud, Rivet, Brooks and others but there are certain applications where a high-quality plastic saddle just makes sense. WTB’s saddle designs have been refined over many years to provide a comfortable, supportive perch for all-day comfort on any bike.  Most of their saddles are also available in a range of widths, allowing you to choose a shape and level of padding that suits your riding style and a width that fits your anatomy.

We’re particularly excited about the WTB Koda – a saddle WTB describes as being “female focused, rather than women’s specific” and designed with input from a multitude of female riders including Idaho resident and legendary endurance rider, Rebecca Rusch.  Check out the video on the product page for Rebecca’s take on the saddle.  In addition to the Koda, we’re stocking the Volt, Rocket and Silverado.  We also have the complete Test Ride Kit, making it even easier to try a saddle before you buy.  Like all the saddles we sell, we back these with our 90-day Saddle Comfort Guarantee.

WTB’s focus on bikepacking, dirt touring and other more adventurous riding is especially evident in their tire lineup.  They have fully embraced the full 3-inch “plus-size” tire platform and offer a handful of tread and casing options for any plus bike, such as Surly’s Karate Monkey, Krampus or ECR.  The Trail Boss and Ranger are both solid, do-it-all tires for a broad range of conditions.  I (Ryan) rode a set of Trail Boss 27.5 x 3.0 tires on the Colorado Trail Race this past summer, in addition to all the preparatory rides before and plenty of miles since.  They’re showing some tread wear but have been completely trouble free.  Excellent tubeless setup and no flats, just smiles for miles!

In addition, WTB offers a range of highly versatile, genre-bending tires for your cyclocross, gravel or dirt touring bike.  In widths up to 45mm for 700c and 47mm in 650b, these casings will provide a smooth, comfortable ride and plenty of traction.  For example, the 700×45 Riddler is a perfect fit for your Cross-Check, Straggler or Trucker and will show you what those bikes are capable of in the dirt without sacrificing pace on the pavement.  Many of these tires are also available with a classic tan sidewall, as shown on the 650×47 Byway below.

New Chainrings, Cold-Weather Clothing and Beverage Accessories from Surly

Ready to ditch the front derailleur on your ECR, Ice Cream Truck or any other bike with a Surly Offset Double crankset?  Here ya go, sweet cheeks!  The 28t chainring bolts on the inner chainring position and features SRAM’s X-Sync narrow-wide tooth profiles for rock-solid chain retention.  This thing is machined from durable and oh-so-shiny stainless steel for long life and corrosion resistance.  The matching alloy chainring guard fits the four spider arms (skips the threaded hole in back of the crank arm) on your crankset.  It protects your chain and chainring from trauma and gives those lonely spider arms a purpose in life.

Surly has been quietly expanding their range of clothing recently.  Merino wool is the material of choice for much of the lineup, including the new wool beanies and neck gaiters.  The beanies are soft, snug and warm – perfect dome coverings on or off the bike – and come in basic black or a purple/gray stripe.  Get yours unadorned with only a small Surly label or with the “Omniterra” or “Split-Season” embroidered patch for extra style.

The neck gaiter is a multifunctional cold-weather essential and a perfect lightweight, packable layer to help fight the chill.  Surly’s are double-layered with finer, softer merino on the inside and thicker, coarser material on the outside to balance comfort, breathability and windproofing.  They’re quite nice, actually.  Choose black with a black/grey striped inside or the earthy yellow/brown combo.  Either one will make you warmer and more attractive than you were before.

Surly’s wool blend socks are a perennial favorite.  They’re made in the USA by DeFeet with a proprietary wool blend for warmth, stink resistance and durability with just the right amount of stretch.  We have a couple of new patterns in addition to the old standbys.  Stars, Stripes, Surly.  Grab a pair for you and a pair for someone you like.

For the traveling imbiber of beverages, we offer Surly’s Silicone Pint Glasses.  We still call it a “glass” even though it is made of food grade silicone. They’re virtually indestructible, thick enough to provide some insulation for cold or hot liquids and dishwasher safe.  Ride your bike and transport yourself.  If you can’t be bothered to pour your beverage in a glass, pick up a handy Insulating Sheath.  They’re a perfect fit for tall cans but work with short cans or bottles also.  They’re also quite useful as packing aids, providing lightweight, stretchy, rattle-free padding for anything you stuff inside.  Use them for your tools and spares, camera lenses, camp stove, pieces of fruit or even cans of beer!

Ostrich F-516 Handlebar Bag

This fine handlebar bag incorporates a feature we’ve wanted to see from Ostrich for some time: a rider facing lid opening!  This simple difference makes accessing the bag’s contents while on the bike or in motion much easier and safer.  The lid flap is secured by velcro tape for easy, one-handed opening and closing.  The clear, integrated map case is also secured by a small velcro flap to prevent contents from escaping.  There is a flat front pocket with a velcro flap closure that is perfect for phone, wallet, compact camera or other flattish items.  There is also a zippered pocket in the flap for small items like keys.  Overall, this is a clean, minimal handlebar bag perfect for long day rides on its own or for easy-access items on your fully-loaded touring rig.

Chromag Pedals

Flat pedals are a natural choice for bike travel over any terrain and the benefits are numerous.  I could fill an entire blog post extolling their virtues (come to think of it, maybe I will…) but let’s focus on these particular pedals.  Chromag’s Scarab and Contact pedals provide the best combination of comfort, tuneable traction, durability and serviceability we’ve found.  Both models have thin, wide, concave platforms with adjustable-height pins, multiple pin placement options and durable, ultra-smooth bearings.  The Scarab offers a few more pin placement options, more finely machined contours and a finely polished finish to justify the extra cost.  Either one is available in a variety of colors to complement any bike.

Wow, that’s a ton of cool stuff!  Get some for yourself, or someone else, or you and someone else!  What other products should Bike Touring News carry?  Sound off in the comments below and let us know what we’re missing!

Categories
Other

Special Thanksgiving Hours: CLOSED 11/22 – 11/24

At Bike Touring News, we believe that holidays are times to spend with family and friends, sharing experiences and creating memories.  We’ve never really gone in for the whole “Black Friday” concept.  We’d much rather celebrate with a good bike ride, a home-cooked meal and a tasty beverage than a melee of consumerist excess.

In keeping with this belief, Bike Touring News HQ will be closed Wednesday, November 22 through Friday, November 24.  Of course, you can shop the web store 24/7 but the closure will impact shipping timetables.  All orders placed before 4pm on Tuesday, November 21st will be shipped as usual.  Orders placed after 4pm, Tuesday the 21st will ship the following Monday, November 27.

Please email [email protected] or call 866-936-3176 (toll free) / 208-806-2111 (local) if you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to help!  We appreciate your flexibility and hope you’ll be outside also, spending time on your bike and enjoying the company of those you love!

Thanksgiving Hours

CLOSED  Wednesday, 11/22 – Friday, 11/24

LAST CALL for same-day shipping:  4pm, Tuesday 11/21

Orders placed after Last Call will ship Monday, 11/27

 

Categories
Other Our Trips Tours and Rides

I Hate Goodbyes…

This day has been coming for a long time but that doesn’t make it any easier.  The Bike Hermit and Sky King gave a characteristically unceremonious final farewell and walked out the door of Bike Touring News HQ today.  We’re not likely to see them around these parts for many months at the very least.  As the Hermit said, “this might be the last time I ever see this place.”  Their exit has been a long, gradual process that has taken up much of the last six months but the finality of their departure weighs heavy as a swollen raincloud on this overcast fall day in Boise.  I’m going to miss the hell out of those two.

Many of you will already have heard that Bike Touring News is under new ownership, that Jim and Stacy are entering a period of semi-retirement to chart a more adventurous path.  Like most of you, I’m thrilled for them (if not a little jealous) and can’t wait to read stories and see photos of their journey.  I look forward to sharing dispatches in the form of blog posts as they journey south, eventually making their way down the length of the Baja Divide.  However, I’m struggling to wrap my mind around the reality of work at Bike Touring News and life in Boise without the Hermit’s good-hearted surliness and Stacy’s youthful joy and caring.  Their departure has already left a palpable void and Bike Touring News HQ suddenly feels quite lonely, like a winding desert road with an uncertain destination.

A couple of weekends ago, I was able to join a handful of friends for Jim and Stacy’s last ride in the Owyhee Canyonlands.  At the time, it felt like just another trip in the desert.  Every journey into that wild, remote country is special and unique but this particular ride didn’t feel all that different from those that came before.  Looking back, it now feels packed with meaning and significance.  We started out separately, rode and camped together, then continued on our separate paths.

Our trajectories in life have been somewhat similar.  Happenstance and shared interests brought us together for a time and now those shared interests are leading us down diverging trails.  I think I first started saying goodbye to Sky and the Hermit when we parted ways on the frosty morning of the second day of our ride to Little Jack’s Creek, as I watched them climb away along the double-track into the cloud-filled sky.  I know our paths will cross again in the future but I’m left wishing we had more time.

Despite my sadness at their leaving, I’m excited and optimistic about the future for all three of us.  They’re pursuing a brave dream, having offloaded nearly all the belongings and encumbrances that tie so many of us down and setting out to ride one of the most ambitious bikepacking routes in the world.  At the same time, I’m embarking on my own adventure of bike shop ownership, building on the foundation they laid over the past six years.  I feel incredibly fortunate to be in a position to move Bike Touring News into the future and am honored by the trust Jim and Stacy have placed in me to carry on their legacy.

They’ll be rolling out of Boise in their big red pickup tomorrow, with bikes in the bed, a Bike Touring News sticker on the bumper and their few earthly possessions securely stowed in the Boles Aero travel trailer.  Come November they’ll be pedaling terra incognita on the Baja Peninsula, camping on beaches, traversing mountains and navigating deserts.  When asked how long they expect to spend on the Baja Divide their answer has always been, “as long as it takes.”

I hope their journey is filled with excitement and discovery, honky tonks and juke joints, cervezas frias y tacos pescados, with only enough difficulty and struggle to highlight the easy, effortless times.  Safe travels, you two.  Take care of yourselves and each other.  Bike Touring News, Boise, and the Owyhee will be awaiting your return, for as long as it takes.