This channel and just a select couple others have inspired me to get back into biking and try bike packing, so really, really appreciate your efforts. And this kind of practical/useful information, which helps both demystify and make these trips seem perfectly attainable is one of the reasons why. Just wish this video had been available 2 weeks ago, BEFORE I did my first trip! haha. I did alright, but this is better.
Hey Tristan. My kid and I spoke with you as you were getting ready to ride porcupine rim. After you told me your name, I got thinking about it and told my son I thought I followed you on You Tube. Small world. I hope your porcupine rim ride was a blast. If you see this while in Moab feel free to shoot me a message. Hope you enjoy your time in Moab!
Hey! Sorry mate just now seeing this. Loved the Rim, and Moab in general was one of my favourites from this year, I'll definitely be back! Was great to meet you and hope you're keeping warm!
Great video mate. I always like seeing how other people plan their routes and this is definitely the most detailed and helpful video I've seen about it. One thing I like about OSMand is overlaying the points of interest with things like campsites or water sources. I find that to be one of the best features. I guess I'll have to go back to using an iPhone since everyone seems to be recommending mapout.
Thanks mate, yeah the POIs are one of the best things about OSMand for sure. I just wish the UX was better with that app, mine crashes and glitches all the time so it's a pain to use. Maybe it would work better with a newer phone as mine is a few years old now!
Hey Tristan, I'm a total gear nut and it looks like you are too! Have a few questions, any wisdom would be appreciated! • How do you like those Conti's over the mezcals? • Did you switch over to a dry bag from a backpack? • How's the tailfin top tube bag holding up, is it durable? • Noticed you mount your bottles to the front fork, rather than rear rack. Has it affected handling? • Is the infinity saddle an improvement over brooks? Best & Happy Trails! - Gardner.
Hi mate, happy to help: • Currently I'm running Schwalbe G-Ones, and in 27.5x2.8" I really like them, but I probably wouldn't want them any narrower. In plus size they're great though, plenty of grip and definitely faster than Mezcals, and so far they've been plenty durable. • Yeah now running a S2S Big River 35L dry bag, but only because I now have the Durston Wapta 30, which packs down small enough that I can easily store it. Will make an updated video early 25 with the details. • Love the Tailfin top tube bag, no issues with durability so far so would definitely recommend. • No issues with handling on the forks • It didn't work for me unfortunately, I can see it would be an awesome saddle if it fits you, but it gave me some nasty chafing. I'm now testing a Selle Anatomica and so far I prefer it to Brooks. Hope that helps!
Tristan, as a Colorado rider, I would say that you did good work planning this route on the fly. In fact, I'm watching this just a few hundred feet from the bike path (in Copper Mountain) you have selected connecting Keystone all the way to Glenwood Springs. Not many places in the US have that long a stretch of paved path, let alone through incredible mountain scenery. Let me know if you need any additional assistance!
Another great video Tristan! This is sooo helpful. As a bikepacker myself one of the areas I lack in experience and knowledge is wild camping. Although you touched a bit on that, how great would it be if you could kindly make a video on that topic!
I always turn on Global Heat maps, I always switch the route color since the default is red, the same as the heat maps. I prefer Komoot and you can do a one time fee to get a world map so you can use komoot on your phone in offline mode and there is an APp for Garmin devices to seamlessly link to Komoot. I route in both softwares, ride with GPS has better map layers, komoot has better routing software. Just an FYI, there is a closed section on the bike trail from Frisco to Glenwood Springs, west of Dotsero. At least it was this summer, it has been since the canyon flooded in 2021. The dirt road over Cottonwood pass from Gypsum to Glenwood Springs will get you around it.
BetterHelp has a bad reputation, people know this.. but Tristan's channel and content are great and any creator deserves compensation/sponsorship for well done work. We just don't like BetterHelp. Do your thing Tristan, love all your work. we just don't like BetterHelp, if you were wondering
Recently tried to use Komoot (as a noob) along with a new Garmin Edge Explorer II. I basically ended up tearing my hair out about the Garmin in general, and its interface with the Komoot app was nasty and buggy too. Garmin is the Fuji Cameras of navigation devices when it comes to terrible menu systems...omg! In the end, I got rid of the Garmin and just went to "do it all" with Komoot, planning on my computer or phone, and navigating on my phone too. You can put it on airplane mode and only have the screen come on for turns. Komoot still has a tendency to put me on crazy unexpected rocky tracks though, plus attaching my phone directly to my bike is probably gonna kill the camera stabilizer, but whatever - anything rather than deal with Garmin in Europe again.
I never really use my Garmin for choosing my routes, I just preprogram it with a GPX and then use the Garmin to follow it, and for that purpose it's great. But yeah for actually creating routes, I definitely wouldn't use my Garmin, or any bike computer for that matter, none of them do a very good job. I don't personally like Komoot very much, I'll very occasionally use if if I'm feeling lazy but generally I prefer to have more control over my route planning, and I find RidewithGPS better for most uses. But if Komoot is working for you then that's good!
I saw on your patreon that $25 covers around 10% of your monthly costs, which to me is insane, can you share a bit about how you keep your costs low while travelling?
It's probably a bit more than that in the US as it's so expensive here, but in general bike travel is super cheap. I almost never pay for accommodation, travel is free on a bicycle, and so your only expensive is generally food, so if you live on simple food like pasta and oats, you can live very cheaply!
Just follow what I show in the video - you can use google street view to check out roads to make sure they're small and paved. OSM Cycle often highlights roads like those as bicycle routes too
Great vid as always. However, there needs to be a mistake with your logic about that climb. It's 7km vertical per 40km horizontal, that's abou 17km vertical per 100km horizontal. Meanwhile, in your explanation, you say anything over 2km vertical is very heavy. Am I getting something wrong?
I'm not sure without watching the video back, could be the figures are muddled. It's not an exact science anyway, but yeah anything over 2000m of climbing per 100km is going to be a tough day. 1700m of climbing per 100k is still a lot of climbing in any case.
Word on the street is he used some form of witchcraft and meddled with dark powers best left untouched, there can be no other explanation. (On a serious note, paper maps do have their value and that's how I travelled for my first year. It's great as long as you're riding pretty simple routes, but becomes a nightmare when in the backcountry riding routes with lots of turns. Heinz was on a pretty heavily loaded touring bike so I'm pretty sure he stuck to relatively major roads most of the time rather than going after smaller MTB trails!)
@@tristanrid Yeah I hear you. Most likely he was on major roads etc then went into the cities where it then didn't matter if he knew exactly where he was.. I think maps could still be ok on backroad routes... as long as you have GPS and can pinpoint your location exactly on the paper map.. But suppose if the map isn't entirely up to date it could then become an issue.. Hmm.
Hmm still given how far and wide he traveled.. I feel like sometimes it would be difficult to get a proper map.. I wonder how often he was using a way zoomed out like national scale map.. vs a more zoomed in local / regional map.. Hmm I will have to search some..
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
Awesome video Tristan. Thanks for taking the time to put it together.
My pleasure!
And the award for most helpful bikepacking video ever goes to...
Glad you think so!
Tristan - you have posted some of my favorite bikepacking videos. I always learn a great deal watching them. Thank you.
No worries, thanks for watching!
This channel and just a select couple others have inspired me to get back into biking and try bike packing, so really, really appreciate your efforts. And this kind of practical/useful information, which helps both demystify and make these trips seem perfectly attainable is one of the reasons why. Just wish this video had been available 2 weeks ago, BEFORE I did my first trip! haha. I did alright, but this is better.
So happy it was helpful, congrats on your first trip and hopefully this video will help you plan out your second one!
Great Video, thanks a lot for sharing!
Oh yes, finally. I had been waiting for this video for so long 😍
Also thank you for calling out the importance of mental health!
No worries!
Hey Tristan. My kid and I spoke with you as you were getting ready to ride porcupine rim. After you told me your name, I got thinking about it and told my son I thought I followed you on You Tube. Small world. I hope your porcupine rim ride was a blast. If you see this while in Moab feel free to shoot me a message. Hope you enjoy your time in Moab!
Hey! Sorry mate just now seeing this. Loved the Rim, and Moab in general was one of my favourites from this year, I'll definitely be back! Was great to meet you and hope you're keeping warm!
@@tristanrid anytime you are in Moab, please feel free to reach out to me. Love following you on your adventures, and you keep warm.
Big fan of this new word I learned today. Bikepacking 👌🏻
Really informative and helpful - thanks Trisan !
No worries :)
a ton of useful information!!!
Thanks for watching!
Great video mate. I always like seeing how other people plan their routes and this is definitely the most detailed and helpful video I've seen about it. One thing I like about OSMand is overlaying the points of interest with things like campsites or water sources. I find that to be one of the best features. I guess I'll have to go back to using an iPhone since everyone seems to be recommending mapout.
Thanks mate, yeah the POIs are one of the best things about OSMand for sure. I just wish the UX was better with that app, mine crashes and glitches all the time so it's a pain to use. Maybe it would work better with a newer phone as mine is a few years old now!
Hey Tristan, I'm a total gear nut and it looks like you are too!
Have a few questions, any wisdom would be appreciated!
• How do you like those Conti's over the mezcals?
• Did you switch over to a dry bag from a backpack?
• How's the tailfin top tube bag holding up, is it durable?
• Noticed you mount your bottles to the front fork, rather than rear rack. Has it affected handling?
• Is the infinity saddle an improvement over brooks?
Best & Happy Trails!
- Gardner.
Hi mate, happy to help:
• Currently I'm running Schwalbe G-Ones, and in 27.5x2.8" I really like them, but I probably wouldn't want them any narrower. In plus size they're great though, plenty of grip and definitely faster than Mezcals, and so far they've been plenty durable.
• Yeah now running a S2S Big River 35L dry bag, but only because I now have the Durston Wapta 30, which packs down small enough that I can easily store it. Will make an updated video early 25 with the details.
• Love the Tailfin top tube bag, no issues with durability so far so would definitely recommend.
• No issues with handling on the forks
• It didn't work for me unfortunately, I can see it would be an awesome saddle if it fits you, but it gave me some nasty chafing. I'm now testing a Selle Anatomica and so far I prefer it to Brooks.
Hope that helps!
Great stuff. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Tristan, as a Colorado rider, I would say that you did good work planning this route on the fly. In fact, I'm watching this just a few hundred feet from the bike path (in Copper Mountain) you have selected connecting Keystone all the way to Glenwood Springs. Not many places in the US have that long a stretch of paved path, let alone through incredible mountain scenery. Let me know if you need any additional assistance!
Cheers Tim, glad to hear! I'll likely tidy the route up closer to the time, would you say black canyon of the gunnison is worth the detour?
Another great video Tristan! This is sooo helpful. As a bikepacker myself one of the areas I lack in experience and knowledge is wild camping. Although you touched a bit on that, how great would it be if you could kindly make a video on that topic!
Thanks a lot! A video on wild camping is definitely on my list, I'll hopefully have time to get to it by the end of the year :)
I always turn on Global Heat maps, I always switch the route color since the default is red, the same as the heat maps. I prefer Komoot and you can do a one time fee to get a world map so you can use komoot on your phone in offline mode and there is an APp for Garmin devices to seamlessly link to Komoot. I route in both softwares, ride with GPS has better map layers, komoot has better routing software. Just an FYI, there is a closed section on the bike trail from Frisco to Glenwood Springs, west of Dotsero. At least it was this summer, it has been since the canyon flooded in 2021. The dirt road over Cottonwood pass from Gypsum to Glenwood Springs will get you around it.
Thanks for the info, appreciate it!
Thanks for posting some interesting info. I have not found yet what I’m looking for, that’s which pump you take along on your long trips?
Lezyne Micro Floor Drive HV :)
Hi, do you monitor heart rate and/or power when touring? I guess not, but though i might ask.
No I don't track any of that stuff, I'm not racing so it's not something I really worry about :)
BetterHelp has a bad reputation, people know this.. but Tristan's channel and content are great and any creator deserves compensation/sponsorship for well done work. We just don't like BetterHelp. Do your thing Tristan, love all your work. we just don't like BetterHelp, if you were wondering
Thanks for the kind words, appreciate the support!
Disagree. I’ve known several people who all had a great 9-15 month weekly counseling experience with BetterHelp.
@@wildwindjerseyit's about privacy, selling customer's data to other companies.
you could have also done the colorado trail
I did end up riding a section of that in the end, it was awesome!
Recently tried to use Komoot (as a noob) along with a new Garmin Edge Explorer II. I basically ended up tearing my hair out about the Garmin in general, and its interface with the Komoot app was nasty and buggy too. Garmin is the Fuji Cameras of navigation devices when it comes to terrible menu systems...omg! In the end, I got rid of the Garmin and just went to "do it all" with Komoot, planning on my computer or phone, and navigating on my phone too. You can put it on airplane mode and only have the screen come on for turns. Komoot still has a tendency to put me on crazy unexpected rocky tracks though, plus attaching my phone directly to my bike is probably gonna kill the camera stabilizer, but whatever - anything rather than deal with Garmin in Europe again.
I never really use my Garmin for choosing my routes, I just preprogram it with a GPX and then use the Garmin to follow it, and for that purpose it's great. But yeah for actually creating routes, I definitely wouldn't use my Garmin, or any bike computer for that matter, none of them do a very good job. I don't personally like Komoot very much, I'll very occasionally use if if I'm feeling lazy but generally I prefer to have more control over my route planning, and I find RidewithGPS better for most uses. But if Komoot is working for you then that's good!
I saw on your patreon that $25 covers around 10% of your monthly costs, which to me is insane, can you share a bit about how you keep your costs low while travelling?
It's probably a bit more than that in the US as it's so expensive here, but in general bike travel is super cheap. I almost never pay for accommodation, travel is free on a bicycle, and so your only expensive is generally food, so if you live on simple food like pasta and oats, you can live very cheaply!
I stay mostly on back roads that are paved. How do you find these middle of nowhere routes?
Just follow what I show in the video - you can use google street view to check out roads to make sure they're small and paved. OSM Cycle often highlights roads like those as bicycle routes too
Great vid as always. However, there needs to be a mistake with your logic about that climb. It's 7km vertical per 40km horizontal, that's abou 17km vertical per 100km horizontal. Meanwhile, in your explanation, you say anything over 2km vertical is very heavy. Am I getting something wrong?
I'm not sure without watching the video back, could be the figures are muddled. It's not an exact science anyway, but yeah anything over 2000m of climbing per 100km is going to be a tough day. 1700m of climbing per 100k is still a lot of climbing in any case.
Does better help work with insurance plans?
I believe it should but you'd have to check with your insurer so don't quote me on that!
Anyone know how Heinz Stucke was able to navigate without all the advanced technology available now?
Word on the street is he used some form of witchcraft and meddled with dark powers best left untouched, there can be no other explanation.
(On a serious note, paper maps do have their value and that's how I travelled for my first year. It's great as long as you're riding pretty simple routes, but becomes a nightmare when in the backcountry riding routes with lots of turns. Heinz was on a pretty heavily loaded touring bike so I'm pretty sure he stuck to relatively major roads most of the time rather than going after smaller MTB trails!)
@@tristanrid Yeah I hear you. Most likely he was on major roads etc then went into the cities where it then didn't matter if he knew exactly where he was.. I think maps could still be ok on backroad routes... as long as you have GPS and can pinpoint your location exactly on the paper map.. But suppose if the map isn't entirely up to date it could then become an issue.. Hmm.
Hmm still given how far and wide he traveled.. I feel like sometimes it would be difficult to get a proper map.. I wonder how often he was using a way zoomed out like national scale map.. vs a more zoomed in local / regional map.. Hmm I will have to search some..
maps blank. can you show what you turn on and how steps next video.
Sorry I don't quite understand what you mean, can you please clarify that?
Start with a advert , exploit those with problems , unbelievably
Fast forward 60 seconds lol
If it bothers you, all of my videos are on my Patreon with zero adverts from either integrations or RUclips, so you could always watch them there