New sub here and Michigan native. New to bikepacking as a 34 year old father. Me and my wife are avid campers and are soooo excited to explore all of our favorite spots on our bikes. Thanks for showing that side of our state.
For sure! I’m working in Detroit right now. Unfortunately won’t have more time then maybe for a city bike rental but will be back doing a short trip in Manchester/Ann Arbor at the end of the month.
Thanks for sharing your adventure, Tim. I enjoyed watching it immensely. I'm also incredibly jealous of you all for what looked like a wonderful experience.
Great series! As someone trying to slowly ease into bikepacking, I find your videos super inspiring and some useful tips as well! Really enjoyed watching this trip! great format as well! :D
Thanks for this video series. It turns out I was just ready to getting ready to go to Seaton Creek NF campground for some recon rides for next year's annual bike club camping trip when I saw your video on the Valley of the Giants. So I went there and have to say you guys had your hands full on the trail. I was also at Sleeping Bear Dunes and rode the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive which I'm sure would have been near impossible on loaded touring bikes. It was great to see the places you visited just before I did. The Seaton Creek camp host Ryan remembers you being there. Thanks again, really enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work.
Oh wow - that is so cool! It was kinda fun to be a bit out of our element- but also fun to finish on roads and bike trails. Thanks so much and good luck on your adventures! (And blowing people’s minds by rolling in on bikes and setting up camp - boy do the glance over with confusion/amazement)
I lived in the Traverse City area for about 7 years back in the early 2000's. We lived in a little cabin in Good Harbor Bay. You passed through it on your way from Glen Arbor to Leland. Such a beautiful area. The bike paths did not exist back then, but just as we were leaving in 2007 they were starting to be built. Nice to see the route you guys created. That part of Michigan is so beautiful. Thanks for the great video and the memories..... Next trip: Beaver Island: take the ferry from Charlevoix.
Thanks! We are actually heading through the U.P. to Wisconsin. We might spend a few days on our way back in the Charlevoix are but haven't decided yet.
Keep exploring. Your adventures are fun & challenging but reasonable for most. While I love following the adventures of extreme athletes they seldom motivate me to ride, yours do. Off to put in a few miles of my own, and of course find a brewery on the way!
I love to hear that. I’m obviously just filming what we do - but I did always believe in the idea that some people would like to see “normal” riding. I feel like way more people live in a city like mine and travel the way we do then bomb mountains like Red Bull videos. 😎
By the way: Right now I'm living in Slippery Rock, PA. but we are just moving north about 40 miles to just outside Meadville, PA. Only about an hour from Jake's Rocks. I watched your vids on that area. I did not know it existed until I saw your vid. I will definitely be riding there soon. You guys make a great crew and the videos are really fun to watch. Maybe I'll make the trip out to Akron sometime and, who knows, maybe you'll let me ride with y'all some time. Your 'vintage bike' videos inspired me to transform an old Fuji Mt. Fuji LTD mtb frame into a 'gravel' bike this past winter. The build up was a lot of fun. The bike is awesome. Thanks!!!
Very cool! We do occasional channel meet-ups here. Trying to get one more in before summer is over. Check out the discord if you want to keep updated on that: discord.gg/JkGmtPh8
I m so glad I found your videos. It’s a dream of mine to do some long distance biking. Hoping to one day make that a reality. Just a note, two things: you were rounding the pinkie which is the Leelanau Peninsula, not the thumb. That’s on the mid-lower east side of the state. And I’m pretty sure you were eating at The Cove, great Leland restaurant that has a nice deck overlooking the river and harbor. I grew up near there and now live in Traverse City after being away for 40 years. Love seeing your bike’s-eye view of our lovely area of Michigan.
Thanks! Ha! A few people mentioned the "pinkie" - I think I just looked down at my hand on the mouse when I made that comment. You should get out and try some long distance biking - you can always just travel light and stay at hotels and Air BnB's to get a feel for it before investing in expensive gear.
Love that idea! And hey, I figured there were probably other comments about the thumb vs pinkie, but what it tells me is that you were experiencing a new to you part of Michigan and I’m so glad that you and your peeps got to see it first ✋. Ha! 😄 Maybe a thumb area tour next. I’ve heard the shoreline along 25 is lovely and the interior of the thumb is likely flat with a lot of farmland. Been in Michigan 57 years and never explored that area. 😅
New subscriber here. Mi. is my home state and did allot of riding in my late teens. Was nice to see Traverse City, my sister actually moved there from the Detroit area probably 30 years ago and loves it up there. I’m sure I’ve binged watched over 10 of your videos since yesterday and really enjoy your content. Thanks for taking us along for the ride. All the best. 🚴🏻♀️🤍🌟
my stomping grounds, great to see captured in video on bikes! outstanding efforts, positive attitudes, obvious love of cycling and comradery, and most important....nice things said about a beautiful and welcoming part of the country!
We had an amazing time there - really blown away by that part of Michigan. We went to the U.P. later in the fall and loved that too. Already thinking about more trips that way. Cheers!
Really enjoyed these videos. I did a ride with the League of Michigan cyclists in the UP this year. (The first organized ride I’ve done in 16 years.) I’m inspired to do more riding in Michigan, but self-supported ~ it’s more fun. Question for you, since the state has lots of sand, how does one know what trails, roads are more gravel than sand? There were a few trails/roads in the UP that were best left to 4-wheelers. Thanks you! 😊
Thanks! Yeah - we do a few “organized” event a year but in general prefer to plan our own rides. On your question- the simple answer is we didn’t know. We read the article about the official route and all the comments. But when we planned our own routes Ride w/GPS only shows whether it’s paved or not. Google maps has some decent views - but really without local knowledge it is a gamble.
Funny about ending paying more since you guys were on bikes: Same thing happens in the Grand Canyon. I think the fee for each bike is $20. Whereas cars can get by for just $35. So 5 cyclists end up paying $100 and 5 people in one car end up paying just $35.
Yeah - they actually pulled out binders because they couldn’t find it on the computer. Dumb decisions made in DC. Super nice people that genuinely knew it was stupid. It was on a bike route - how could the park not even give them the information- let alone a better deal?
Fantastic journey. I do like your style of talking over the footage rather than on the fly.. sounds more professional. I might have to steal that but my talking voice is terrible. The 10 minute videos are the perfect length for tea breaks too, enjoy your future rides 👍👍
Thanks! I always feel like trying to do much “vlogging” would also take away from our fun. Plus - I can be way more concise and thought out after the fact. FYI - I hate my own voice too - so I’d say just do it.
@@TimFitzwater Totally get what you mean about being more concise. Plus during a ride I tend to be puffing and wheezing like a busted steam train... Nobody wants to hear that 😆
Thanks! Yes - all the routes are linked in the description. I actually didn’t do the math on the overall mileage but it was something just north of 300 according to my friends.
It’s weird - they were like “we are a national park so there is an entrance fee” we were like “we live next to a national park without a fee”. The guy actually knew a little about our neck of the woods - the Cuyahoga Valley.
@@TimFitzwater Being from Ohio, I've never been to its one and only national park. I gotta get out there now that I've moved back to the land of policy (I'm in Pittsburgh and was in the PNW for 16 years). Generally speaking, there seems to be a cultural difference between the midwest and the west coast when it comes to militantly, blindly following policy (for example: using policy to logic your way to charging cyclists more than if they'd ridden two up on a moto) vs. just being cool. I have experienced dumb logic out west, but more often than not, ppl leaned towards using sensible personal judgment over policy. I'm glad your group stayed dry and had fun!
Definitely not rounding the thumb- you were at the tip of the pinkie up there!
I guess so
@@TimFitzwater Yeah, definitely the pinky! Or the tip ‘o the Rat Tail if you will!
"I'm buzzed, I feel good" 😅 awesome!
Nice food photos
Every time I take one I think “this is ok, but it’s no Urb”. 🌮
This looks like the best day yet. Love the small towns.
It’s so hard to say what my favorite part of the trip was - but I do love seeing the towns.
Great series. Thanks for bringing us along!
Thanks for riding along!
New sub here and Michigan native. New to bikepacking as a 34 year old father. Me and my wife are avid campers and are soooo excited to explore all of our favorite spots on our bikes. Thanks for showing that side of our state.
For sure! I’m working in Detroit right now. Unfortunately won’t have more time then maybe for a city bike rental but will be back doing a short trip in Manchester/Ann Arbor at the end of the month.
@@TimFitzwater awesome enjoy!
Thanks for sharing your adventure, Tim. I enjoyed watching it immensely. I'm also incredibly jealous of you all for what looked like a wonderful experience.
Another great video out of a great series, I could watch them all day! Thanks for sharing.
Appreciate it!
Great series! As someone trying to slowly ease into bikepacking, I find your videos super inspiring and some useful tips as well! Really enjoyed watching this trip! great format as well! :D
So glad you dug it - really love to hear that.
My goal is to make realistic videos that people can relate to or learn something from.
Cheers!
Thanks for this video series. It turns out I was just ready to getting ready to go to Seaton Creek NF campground for some recon rides for next year's annual bike club camping trip when I saw your video on the Valley of the Giants. So I went there and have to say you guys had your hands full on the trail. I was also at Sleeping Bear Dunes and rode the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive which I'm sure would have been near impossible on loaded touring bikes. It was great to see the places you visited just before I did. The Seaton Creek camp host Ryan remembers you being there. Thanks again, really enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work.
Oh wow - that is so cool!
It was kinda fun to be a bit out of our element- but also fun to finish on roads and bike trails.
Thanks so much and good luck on your adventures!
(And blowing people’s minds by rolling in on bikes and setting up camp - boy do the glance over with confusion/amazement)
Looks like it was a great trip!
I used to live in Michigan you're lucky you didn't get rained on.
Thanks for sharing
Right!? Ohio is very similar- one of the cloudiest states.
We had a blast - thanks for watching!
I lived in the Traverse City area for about 7 years back in the early 2000's. We lived in a little cabin in Good Harbor Bay. You passed through it on your way from Glen Arbor to Leland. Such a beautiful area. The bike paths did not exist back then, but just as we were leaving in 2007 they were starting to be built. Nice to see the route you guys created. That part of Michigan is so beautiful. Thanks for the great video and the memories..... Next trip: Beaver Island: take the ferry from Charlevoix.
Thanks!
We are actually heading through the U.P. to Wisconsin. We might spend a few days on our way back in the Charlevoix are but haven't decided yet.
Peter Egan, a moto journalist, called the last day of a road trip "falling home".
I like that.
It was fun to watch inspire of the challenges there were lots of smiles. Thanks for sharing.👍
Thanks!
These kind of comments make it worth the effort of filming and editing!
Keep exploring. Your adventures are fun & challenging but reasonable for most. While I love following the adventures of extreme athletes they seldom motivate me to ride, yours do. Off to put in a few miles of my own, and of course find a brewery on the way!
I love to hear that. I’m obviously just filming what we do - but I did always believe in the idea that some people would like to see “normal” riding. I feel like way more people live in a city like mine and travel the way we do then bomb mountains like Red Bull videos. 😎
Great vacation I'm ready to go back to work..
I’m ready for more vacation! 🌞
By the way: Right now I'm living in Slippery Rock, PA. but we are just moving north about 40 miles to just outside Meadville, PA. Only about an hour from Jake's Rocks. I watched your vids on that area. I did not know it existed until I saw your vid. I will definitely be riding there soon.
You guys make a great crew and the videos are really fun to watch. Maybe I'll make the trip out to Akron sometime and, who knows, maybe you'll let me ride with y'all some time.
Your 'vintage bike' videos inspired me to transform an old Fuji Mt. Fuji LTD mtb frame into a 'gravel' bike this past winter. The build up was a lot of fun. The bike is awesome. Thanks!!!
Very cool!
We do occasional channel meet-ups here. Trying to get one more in before summer is over.
Check out the discord if you want to keep updated on that:
discord.gg/JkGmtPh8
Nice series. Really enjoyed it. Thanks!
Great stuff. loved the variety of terrain..but mostly the water.
Yeah - the lakes were just awesome!
So awesome places, hopefully one day i spend my vacation in the us with my bike. Gretchen video love it. Peace from Germany 😊👍
Thanks - we really loved it!
Cheers!
@@TimFitzwater cheers and have good time😃
I m so glad I found your videos. It’s a dream of mine to do some long distance biking. Hoping to one day make that a reality. Just a note, two things: you were rounding the pinkie which is the Leelanau Peninsula, not the thumb. That’s on the mid-lower east side of the state. And I’m pretty sure you were eating at The Cove, great Leland restaurant that has a nice deck overlooking the river and harbor. I grew up near there and now live in Traverse City after being away for 40 years. Love seeing your bike’s-eye view of our lovely area of Michigan.
Thanks!
Ha! A few people mentioned the "pinkie" - I think I just looked down at my hand on the mouse when I made that comment.
You should get out and try some long distance biking - you can always just travel light and stay at hotels and Air BnB's to get a feel for it before investing in expensive gear.
Love that idea! And hey, I figured there were probably other comments about the thumb vs pinkie, but what it tells me is that you were experiencing a new to you part of Michigan and I’m so glad that you and your peeps got to see it first ✋. Ha! 😄
Maybe a thumb area tour next. I’ve heard the shoreline along 25 is lovely and the interior of the thumb is likely flat with a lot of farmland. Been in Michigan 57 years and never explored that area. 😅
Awesome series. I wish all the riders around me were as friendly as you and your cool crew. Happy trails.
Thanks!
New subscriber here. Mi. is my home state and did allot of riding in my late teens. Was nice to see Traverse City, my sister actually moved there from the Detroit area probably 30 years ago and loves it up there.
I’m sure I’ve binged watched over 10 of your videos since yesterday and really enjoy your content. Thanks for taking us along for the ride. All the best. 🚴🏻♀️🤍🌟
Cheers!
Thanks for sharing. Good timing on the end of the ride!
It was perfect!
Cheers!
Awesome trip. I would love to take myself. Thanks for sharing.
It was so rad!
my stomping grounds, great to see captured in video on bikes! outstanding efforts, positive attitudes, obvious love of cycling and comradery, and most important....nice things said about a beautiful and welcoming part of the country!
We had an amazing time there - really blown away by that part of Michigan. We went to the U.P. later in the fall and loved that too. Already thinking about more trips that way.
Cheers!
love how you shoot the scenery
Thanks!
love the food breaks. nice motivators. easy rolling even in 4th traffic.
Food and beer breaks are always a highlight!
Cheers!
Wow.... great trip did you stop by fish Town
Thanks!
Just looked it up and wish we had.
Love it love it. LOVE IT 🔥🔥
Thanks!!! ♥️♥️
Beautiful area!
Definitely a place I want to go back and spend more time in.
@@TimFitzwater even further north. Petoskey. Harbor Springs. Tunnel of Trees
Nice trip and area thanks for sharing. I am familiar with upper Michigan from WI not ur trip area but equally beautiful :)
Thanks! We are heading that way in September for the first time.
fantastic content!
Thanks!
Really enjoyed these videos. I did a ride with the League of Michigan cyclists in the UP this year. (The first organized ride I’ve done in 16 years.) I’m inspired to do more riding in Michigan, but self-supported ~ it’s more fun. Question for you, since the state has lots of sand, how does one know what trails, roads are more gravel than sand? There were a few trails/roads in the UP that were best left to 4-wheelers. Thanks you! 😊
Thanks! Yeah - we do a few “organized” event a year but in general prefer to plan our own rides.
On your question- the simple answer is we didn’t know. We read the article about the official route and all the comments.
But when we planned our own routes Ride w/GPS only shows whether it’s paved or not. Google maps has some decent views - but really without local knowledge it is a gamble.
How do you get motivated to put in mileage after a brewery stop. I have one beer and I don’t want to leave the chair.
Lots and lots of practice! 🍻😎
The trick is to have more than one! Then everything sounds like a good idea!
Rad video!
Thanks! 😎
Funny about ending paying more since you guys were on bikes: Same thing happens in the Grand Canyon. I think the fee for each bike is $20. Whereas cars can get by for just $35. So 5 cyclists end up paying $100 and 5 people in one car end up paying just $35.
Yeah - they actually pulled out binders because they couldn’t find it on the computer. Dumb decisions made in DC.
Super nice people that genuinely knew it was stupid.
It was on a bike route - how could the park not even give them the information- let alone a better deal?
Great video! Do you post your ride routes somewhere? Would love to see the route you took
Thanks!
links are in the description.
Fantastic journey. I do like your style of talking over the footage rather than on the fly.. sounds more professional. I might have to steal that but my talking voice is terrible. The 10 minute videos are the perfect length for tea breaks too, enjoy your future rides 👍👍
Thanks!
I always feel like trying to do much “vlogging” would also take away from our fun. Plus - I can be way more concise and thought out after the fact.
FYI - I hate my own voice too - so I’d say just do it.
@@TimFitzwater Totally get what you mean about being more concise. Plus during a ride I tend to be puffing and wheezing like a busted steam train... Nobody wants to hear that 😆
Great presentation. How many miles overall was that? Do you have a Strava map link of the route?
Thanks! Yes - all the routes are linked in the description. I actually didn’t do the math on the overall mileage but it was something just north of 300 according to my friends.
Leave it to a Midwest park to not have a clue what a hiker biker campground is which is usually offered at a steep discount 😂
It’s a National Park!
@@TimFitzwater not unheard of at a national park… sadly, more common to the west of the Rockies I suppose 🙄
It’s weird - they were like “we are a national park so there is an entrance fee” we were like “we live next to a national park without a fee”.
The guy actually knew a little about our neck of the woods - the Cuyahoga Valley.
@@TimFitzwater Being from Ohio, I've never been to its one and only national park. I gotta get out there now that I've moved back to the land of policy (I'm in Pittsburgh and was in the PNW for 16 years). Generally speaking, there seems to be a cultural difference between the midwest and the west coast when it comes to militantly, blindly following policy (for example: using policy to logic your way to charging cyclists more than if they'd ridden two up on a moto) vs. just being cool. I have experienced dumb logic out west, but more often than not, ppl leaned towards using sensible personal judgment over policy. I'm glad your group stayed dry and had fun!
Beautiful video!
Thanks!
Dope 👌👌
😎
That thumbnail 😂 Imagine people asking Tim about this man's OnlyFans.
Now that I have the sandals there will be some great foot content on the Only Fans too.