my wife and I are from Talladega and we completed the Silver Comet and Chief Ladiga trail this past fall. It truly is beautiful and peaceful to ride. Near Atlanta there are a lot more riders, but just a few miles outside of the city, there are much fewer people riding the trail. The hills in GA near Rockmart are referred to as "Trash Hill," "Mt. Trashmore," or "Surprise Hill" because its adjacent to a landfill. This was our first year riding and those hills were no joke for me. My wife left me in the dust (she loves hill climbing). I'm glad you enjoyed your trip through our area and I hope you make it back someday.
Hello. Thank you for reaching out and watching the episode. That's too funny about your wife leaving you in the dust. Like her, I love climbing for some unclear reason. Those two trails are so fun weather on the busier section to its east near Atlanta or when it becomes this tranquil and isolated western end. A true treasure of the southeast.
I was planning to ride this last year but didn't work out weather wise, hopefully soon. Thanks for the overview. This trail system is prettier than thought. Great episode! 👍
Hello Thomas. Thanks for checking this one out. It really was a pleasure to ride these two trails and I recommend going there. In a few weeks I will be uploading an episode of the Natchez Trace parkway which is another awesome ride with great historical significance. I hope you check that one out as well. See you soon.
Loosing track of the days is very much a part of it. Im always having to keep checking to see what day of the week it is or if the next month is "now". Thanks for the comment.
Hello John. You are welcome. If you mean how and what I eat while on tours, well, that's a great question. I would say I eat "everything" because the calorie burning is immense. Cycling all day does that. I tend not to eat as healthy as I do when Im home. I always keep two to four packs of ramen noodles or the dried noodles from Knor, a one pound bag of beef jerky, gummy bears, and cookies in my bags. But I eat out a lot and by now I know where to get what I prefer such as Wafflle House chicken sandwiches, or Jersey Mike's Italian sub, for instance. If I find a steak in a restaurant I go for that at night. I hardly ever eat streak when I'm home. One of the biggest issues I have is getting hungry after cycling all day but once I start eating Im all good. I also tend to skip lunch because it will slow me down for finishing the days. The bike set up, meaning the components and gear are all listed in the description box of each episode. Lessons learned are endless and I do my best to share in the episode what and how of the process of that specific day. I especially like sharing the road condition, traffic level and how to manage with it in whatever scenario. I believe that once someone watches my seasons he or she can get a really good sense as to what entails to bicycle tour in the United States. If I have a mission is that. I am looking to do a podcast soon. I think with such a platform I can start filling in more of the lessons learned in detail. Thank you for asking and watching.
Thanks for posting this. My wife and I stopped in Aniston to ride the Chief Ladiga and Silver Comet Trails. We used Cedartown and did several out and back rides. It's a beautiful train system.
Man this is one of the best so far and I'm sure there is more to come. Those bike paths were amazing and the people you met even better. Thanks for the video and take care, Al
Hi Diego, I'm glad you are posting your trip. I'm a little late in starting since in the past 24 hours, I have watched all 4 episodes, read every comment and every reply. I had ridden the Silver Comet (remember Mt Trashmore as Surprise Hill is sometimes called because it goes past a landfill dump) and Chief Ladiga Trail in 2 separate trips. Both are great trails. I'm looking forward to watching more episodes. You do a great job. Take care, Sue
Yay! It's you. So cool to get a comment from you. I remember the hill for sure. It's rare to have to climb on a rail trail like I did there. Very cool you know the trails from past trips. I sure had a ball in Georgia and Alabama. Mississippi was top notch as well with the southern half of the Natchez Trace Parkway. That'll be a fun episode in a few weeks. Thanks for watching and saying hello. Be safe out there.
I just came across your channel. Good coverage of the SC/CL trail. I have only done a out and back on the SC several years ago but want to ride all of the way to Anniston some day. Thanks for the video.
These two trails make for a fun ride. I hope you get to do the western half to Anniston. For now the end is at a town short of Anniston called Weaver, fyi. They are going to finish it all the way to Anniston soon form what I've heard. Once you get to Weaver there are about 5 miles on roads to reach Anniston. It's no big deal but worth noting. Thanks for checking out my channel.
Diego, That was awesome! I can see why you get so stoked to ride these tours. Those trails were amazing! So looking forward to the next one. I’m happy to support your channel and rides!!
Love the support, thank you. Yeah, I get stoked everyday. It's crazy how much fun it is to go one directionally to all these beautiful places with the two wheels. It's a total blast and I can't wait to get on it again. Thanks for watching. More on the way.
Diego - have mostly seen your Western cycling in other series, but it’s fun discovering Georgia &Alabama this time around. Great scenery - & how lucky to be at & on the Talledega Speedway itself !
Hi Shelley. Talladega was a blast and I had no idea it was there. I just happened to ride that road. Funny how things just happen. The southeast part of my tour was so fun. Wait till you watch was coming up in the next episodes. Just getting started...
The Lynskey is a great bike. Best I have ever ridden. I will try do a review someday but it won't be soon, I have way to much editing to do to keep up with a weekly episode of this last tour. If you are interested in reading about the components I used to build it you can find a list of every single one in the description box of the episodes. There you can also find my camping gear. Thank you for watching.
I live about an hour NE of Anniston and have ridden the section from Anniston to Cedartown many times. I have a group of friends that camp/bike/hike/kayak/canoe together on a regular basis. I just can't seem to get any of them to go along with a bikepacking trip...we always say that we are going to do it, but there always seems to be something else to do! We have also been to several races at Talladega, Pretty cool to see.
I sure would love to see a race at Talladega someday. It must be crazy. So, about your friends, I'd say ditch them and go do a solo tour 😊 . You can tell them all about it when you get back. Solo touring is the best and most touring folks would agree. There is something about getting lost in the process at your own pace that is impossible to find with others joining in. You also get to meet way more people with all these interesting stories to tell. An idea is to go do a section of the Great Allegheny Passage, The Katy, or the Erie Canalway Trail. Let me know if I can help you in planning a tour. It's not that complicated other than deciding to do it.
@@FlyscoutRyder YES! I was amazed at how FAST those cars come by in the “tri-oval”. We always sat just past the Finish Line. It was wild. Yeah, I’ve done a few solo trips of various types and always enjoyed them! I am about ready to take off on a few. My wife & I had a whole trip for the GAP planned and booked…then her dad was put on Hospice and we are still dealing with that…
I'm sorry to hear that about your wife's father going into hospice. I lost a friend recently who had dementia early onset, no fun. I hope you get to the GAP soon enough. Take care. @@mountainsnmoore256
Welcome! I live in Talladega county and ride the trail weekly during the spring, winter and fall. Glad you enjoyed it! Great Video!! Ps: I love my Lynskey Gr300 also!
Hi Charles. Thanks for the welcome to your county and for watching the episode. I had a ball crossing Alabama and I did not know the Speedway was there so that was a legit bonus. More of Alabama on t he next episode, Saturday at 8am. Ps: It's great to be part of the Lynskey family.
The peeps make the journey so much fun. There are many reasons why to tour and the connections you make on the road are one of the most significant aspects of bicycle travel.
Awesome to see your progress! I am from SC, and try and hit the Silver Comet/Chief Ladiga trail twice a year. It’s a wonderful 100 mile out & back overnighter. Safe travels!
That's great to hear that you actually make the effort to ride it twice a year. So convenient to have it so close. I tell my friend Steve from Beaufort to go do it. Someday I think he will.
❤😂🎉😅😊Diego, yet another great experience touring on the bike. Thanks very much for taking me/ US along. I live in NE Indiana and plan on riding at least a short part of the Silver Combat. After watching your adventure I am even more eager to ride the Comet.
I hope you make it down to the Silver Comet someday. It's truly worth it. Both sections are great. Thank you for checking out this episode. It was fun to put together.
Hey Flyscout! Just watched your latest video. It was great! My wife, Teresa, and I are so sad. We live in Anniston and we are so sorry that we were not aware that you were here. It would have been great to have you as a guest in our home. If you are ever back this way we definitely will have to hook up. Oh and by the way, we ride the Chief Ladiga/Silver Comet Trail a lot. Keep the videos coming!
I thank you and Teresa for your kindness. If Im ever in Anniston I would love to meet you guys. Sorry I missed you. This scenario happens to me sometimes. I need to figure out a way to not pass thru destinations where I end up missing out on the opportunity to connect with fellow cyclists. That you for watching the channel.
Well, that's a legit backyard to have. I had a ball riding thru there. Seemed to me like it's not overcrowded at all. Thanks for saying hello and watching the episode.
FYI the Silver Comet Trail is named for the former Louisville, Nashville rail road passenger train, which ran from Atlanta, Ga, to Birmingham, Al. I lived in the Dallas, Ga, area, near the state highway 92 and 61 road over passes, when the "rails were still there and watched, a little, its conversion into the trail. Thanks for the video tour. It's nice to see what it looks like today. Sadly I can no longer ride, otherwise I would love to ride the "Silver Comet". ;-)
That's great of you to share, thank you. Im sorry you can't ride anymore but it makes me happy top know you enjoyed watching this episode. Please be safe and take care.
Diego, i lived in Atlanta for 33 years and started riding the Silver Comet trail when it first opened. After the trail was completed to Anniston we would ride from Atl to Anniston and back in a single day challenge. it would take us around 12 hours to complete. We were a group of road/MTB racers...
That's very cool. That trail system sure has a lot of users and fans. My buddy Scott remembers when it first was opened and how it drew the crowds. Very fun stuff we need more of all over the country, it's happening...
Just when I think you can’t possible top your last video , you go and prove me wrong!!! I hate you ( not really) I ❤❤ your videos. They give encouragement to make mine as well created This cold crappy weather in the state of Misery (Missouri) has me eager to RIDE! I want out of here!!
What a great compliment, thank you so much. I work hard at progressing and as long as I can keep doing so I plan on giving this pipe dream a longer try. Your encouragement means so much. I see the cold weather all over the country. I hope you get some warmer climate and can get out there. Please be safe.
Roll Tide! Just found your channel. I really respect your skills as an editor/videographer. I have no idea how you can cycle so many miles while still doing all those establishing shots and pass-by shots! Enjoyed the video.
Hello Scott. Your channel (@joyfulltrails) is awesome. Not sure where you learned your editing skills but they are top notch. You are also a great narrator, something I have worked on in the past and not ever felt like I've been good at. I like the structure of your channel which is so well explained in your introduction video. We need to expand our cycling infrastructure and trails of all types is at the core of it. Thanks for finding this episode and saying nice things. Take care.
@@FlyscoutRyder Thanks! I just found your channel this morning. Looking forward to watching more. I LOVE the way you capture the beauty of the rides, especially from the wider perspective.
I rode the ACA Southern Tier route across Alabama. Also rode the ACA Northern Tier route. Afterwards I did a little research on Rumble Strips, even a few emails to the NHTSA. Received one response from a director of something at NHTSA. The reason rumble strips are different from state to state, even county to county: The application, installation of them have no federal guidelines for state or county roads. AND each county or state applies for grant money from NHTSA under a safety program to install them. Installation is up to each state DOT's guidelines. Further, each county can hire a bidding contractor of choice to install them on county roads. That is why the strips stop abruptly when they hit city limits outside of town. The installation machines are all different, the standards vary, the width varies, even where they center it on the shoulder. Some counties and states have brains enough not to install rumble strips when the shoulder is narrow. Not so in Alabama. E.g. If someone's uncle Billy Bob has a machine, and they are county Supervisor awarding contracts, you can understand why Alabama shoulders are like that. Alabama rural areas evidently have good grant application writers.
Great comment, thanks for sharing all this. humble strips are definitely an issue especially in the SE of the country. Not sure there is a remedy once the roads are built. My bringing it up is to help anyone who encounters them like I did in this episode find the safest way to manage with them. Hopefully it helps and it won't stop someone from getting out there. Thank you for watching.
I've been in the Ashville/Springville area of Alabama and have seen first hand why they implemented these... ...people lane wander, drive well above the speed limit and generally seem unaware of their surroundings here. Not to mention the massive 18 wheelers barreling down the country roads like Mad Max on acid. For that reason, I've decided not to cycle here (allergic to death I suppose). It's a shame, because it's such an aesthetically beautiful area and would be wonderful to experience on a bike.
Hi Justin. Georgia and the southeastern states can be difficult because of the lack of cycling infrastructure. You’ll find yourself on roads that have no shoulders or miss placed rumble strips that are in the way. Georgia also has the Appalachian Range on its northern half so it can be very hilly. With that said there are designated USBRS cycling routes that have shoulders and plenty of “Share The Road” cycling signs. You can ho on the USBRS website and research them. There is also the Silver Comet Trail west of Atlanta and the Greenway along the coast. So I would say it can be difficult but only if you are looking to go places outside of these routes. Thanks for watching my channel. Be safe out there
I'm not certain how it boasts the second longest paved rail trails. The Raccoon River trail here is 89 miles and connects with many other rail trails for many more miles. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to ride the Silver Comet one day and I appreciate you sharing this journey.
Hi. These two trails are both paved from start to finish and they are continuous. That's the differentiation but soon enough there will be even longer paved ones out there. IU know in western Florida there is one being built. Lots of great infrastructure getting done in the country. Thank you for watching and the comment.
Hi Brian. Thanks again for the ride that day. I have the footage but it will be a while until I get to editing an episode with it. I started in Georgia and Im now editing Louisiana. A few states to cover. These are pretty long projects. Great to hear from you. Thank you for checking out the channel.
Welcome to my channel, Greg. Starting in July I will be starting the uploading of the remainder of season 4. I had to stop editing so I can work the spring and summer. You'll find four playlists which are of the four tours across the United States I've documented so far. Plenty there to watch, I hope. Take care and thank you for watching and reaching out.
The length of the video's for this tour is a bit shorter than the previous tours....I feel cheated 😁 Was the stop at the race track spontaneous or planned? How cool was that! To be able and visit all these different city's must feel awesome to you. From the small town bike shops and people you get to interact with, it shows all the GOOD thats out there bike touring..
The stop at Talladega Super-Speedway was total coincidence. I had no idea it was there any more than I knew the Army Depot was there. By the way, I was detained there for over an hour while their intelligence officer ran all kinds of background checks on me. The were all really nice, though. Last season had 35 to 45 minute episodes but I was only able to upload once a month. This time around I am doing my best to keep up with weekly episodes at 15 minutes. So far Im getting it done but it's likely I will have to skip a week at some point. I just spent seven days (5 to 6hrs/day) finishing one of these 15 minute episodes. The more I do this the longer it seems to take. Thanks for watching and leaving this great comment.
@@FlyscoutRyder I had no idea the amount of work/time that goes into putting these videos together. All the effort you've put into making these videos over the years is much appreciated.
Hi Mary. Thank you for watching my channel. I am riding a Lynskey GR300 on this tour. It's an American made titanium bicycle with a carbon fork. They are designed and welded in Tennessee by a legit group of serious builders. The components I used are listed in the description box of every episode from this season 4. There, you can find even the fender model I use and camping equipment as well. Take care.
Hello. I just found your channel and subscribed. I enjoy following you in your adventures....Wondering? What kind of camera equipment do you use and do you edit on the road? And if so, what do you use to edit on? Thank you.
Hi Evan. Thank you for subscribing. Im a RUclipsr Pipe Dreamer going on four years of heart and soul and I so appreciate you joining in. I use four cameras: Canon G7X Mark iii, GoPro 8 and 9, and a Magic Mini 3 Pro drone. All four will need replacing and/or upgrading before my next tour but not sure yet with what but its time. Being on a bicycle and outdoors is hard on equipment. The editing is done with Final Cut Pro X. In March, I might be joining the Warmshowers.org podcast to talk about howe to film and how to start content creating. Once I get more info oaths I will surely post here so you will know. Thanks for watching.
I have edited on the road but not since season 2. It's not sustainable because you have to take about 5 days off to churn 15 minute episode. I gather the content and do the editing when I get home. Editing is a full time deal. @@evanlouis8853
Are you satisfied with your Lynskey bike? I just bought the same model, and I love it. I use it for long distance in France with a GRX group. I wanted a solid bike. Let me know about your experience with your long ride. All the best from France !
Hello form France, Franck. Love my Lynskey GR300 very much. It's a monster bike. The components' list is in the description box of the episodes in case you want to check out what is on it. Mostly GRX stuff like yourself. Thanks for watching the episode and leaving a comment.
@@FlyscoutRyder I’ve done 120 laps around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (300 miles) as part of the Tour de Cure charity ride. Unfortunately, they don’t do it at the speedway anymore. 😔
The two trails combined are 120 miles or so. I would say it could be a three day tour one way or a week long one if you go back and forth. One thing to remember is that even though they will be finishing a section to be able to ride the Chief Ladiga end of it all the way to Anniston, AL, as it is now you will either need to ride about five miles on the roads to get to the city and accommodations or hire a driver to get you there. A good contact in Anniston would be Wig's Bike Shop. Thanks for watching.
That trail was amazing! So peaceful. I know roads are more dangerous but I prefer it over trails. Roads keep me focus, although sometimes a stretch of trail is welcomed. Brazos summit is beautiful with all those aspen glowing. Diego, which phone carriier do you use and how was the coverage out west (UT, AZ, CA, NV)?
Hi Mario. I agree with you, being on the road is way more entertaining but I do love to relax for a few days on a trail and enjoy the calmness. It's all a blast either way. Yeah, I caught Brazos Pass at the perfect time. I knew I would catch the Aspens along the way somewhere but it was so cool to do it in pone of the most densely populates Aspen groves in the country. Being there was magical and as cool as the camera caught it, it was way cooler there. I have lots more footage to share once I get editing that episode. I use AT&T and it does get spotty out west but not too often. From Utah to the eastern California region around the Mojave Desert is really bad for service but I kind of welcome that. Thanks for watching, brother.
@@FlyscoutRyder yeah, what matters is being on a bike somewhere. I love the montains and I would love to extend my "loop" into Colorado but it would be very hard to combine it with the desert, which is my favorite part. Instead of February, March, April and May I could do it two months later but the return way to Vegas through Utah and Nevada in June/Jully would be a nightmare because of the heat. It gives me a good reason to comeback another time. I still cannot believe that I'm actually going to the United States. This has been a dream for a long time! Thank you for the help and the inspiration, my friend!
I use four different cameras to gather the content recording between one and one and a half hours of footage every day. This means that Im stopping all the time hunting for the story of each day. Each day ends up being five to ten minutes of an episode. Thank you for asking and for watching.
Hi Charles. All the components I used to build this Lynskey GR300 are listed in all the description boxes of this season 4’s episodes. There you will also find the camping gear. Thank you for watching.
Hi Chris. It's a new rig, a Lynskey GR300. Best bike I've ever ridden. All the components I used to build it are listed in the description box of this season's episodes.
They had me there for over an hour while their intelligence/security officer made it to the check point and took my info. He went and did a background check and asked me a bunch of questions. They were really nice to me, though. I dig getting into that kind of trouble. Thank you for checking out the channel.
The bike and gear likely never exceeded 90 pounds on this tour and as low as 75 pounds. I never maxed it out but you might be able to get this info from Lynskey. I built the bike with my components and they are listed in the description pages of the episodes. The wheels are plenty strong to carry what weight you might want to throw at them. The frame is what you are wondering about. Lynskey does their own welding and they have a lifetime of top notch reputation for it.
@@FlyscoutRyder I have been riding bicycles since the age of 2 with changes to it as I grew up; From the children's bicycles to a 10 speed then during High School I got into Mountain Biking then Long Distance Road Cycling (Greg Lemond Road Bike) back to MTBiking and eventually discovered Bike Touring through Darren Alff (who retired from this activity) 'Bicycle Touring Pro". Wheels (when built correctly) as you mentioned, can deal with a lot more weight; I agree. Also steel frames are very durable and deal with more load capacity too. Check out the Tout Terrain bike. It is built in the purpose for long distance Touring and there is one component that was customized for it: It is called the Steering Limiter and Lock. It was developed to act like a spacer ring for the headset, but the nice thing about it is unlike the one you have, it is more compact and the handlebars of the bike need to slightly be in a certain position to then push down a knob to LOCK the front wheel in place. I am hoping this innovator of this product will mass produce it and place it in the retail market. Happy Bike Touring travels. :)
Well, showers are sometimes few and far between. It's a bit more challenging when it's really hot out but I do go many days without a shower. That doesn't mean I don't take hygiene seriously, though. I usually find a water source and rinse as needed. In winter time I tend to not even want to shower 😳 but it makes sense since I hardly get dirty. If weather permits it, I wear as much clothes to cover all of my body so once I end the day I switch clothes and rinse or wipe whatever road grime I might have on me.
i use wet wipes. but some folks drink coffee for thier morning get up. i have wash my face and shave and wash my air , every moring no matter what. i don't care if irs 0 degrees outside. it's something i do. @@FlyscoutRyder
Robert is truly amazing! Woot woot.
Great job. Railroads typically do not exceed a 2% grade. The engine wheels will slip steel on steel. So they also tend to be very long 2% grades.
I was stationed at Fort McClellan in Anniston late in 1995. I never really appreciated it when I was there, but it looks like a pretty cool area.
That whole northern border along the lake is spectacular. Thanks for watching.
my wife and I are from Talladega and we completed the Silver Comet and Chief Ladiga trail this past fall. It truly is beautiful and peaceful to ride. Near Atlanta there are a lot more riders, but just a few miles outside of the city, there are much fewer people riding the trail. The hills in GA near Rockmart are referred to as "Trash Hill," "Mt. Trashmore," or "Surprise Hill" because its adjacent to a landfill. This was our first year riding and those hills were no joke for me. My wife left me in the dust (she loves hill climbing). I'm glad you enjoyed your trip through our area and I hope you make it back someday.
Hello. Thank you for reaching out and watching the episode. That's too funny about your wife leaving you in the dust. Like her, I love climbing for some unclear reason. Those two trails are so fun weather on the busier section to its east near Atlanta or when it becomes this tranquil and isolated western end. A true treasure of the southeast.
I was planning to ride this last year but didn't work out weather wise, hopefully soon. Thanks for the overview. This trail system is prettier than thought. Great episode! 👍
Hello Thomas. Thanks for checking this one out. It really was a pleasure to ride these two trails and I recommend going there. In a few weeks I will be uploading an episode of the Natchez Trace parkway which is another awesome ride with great historical significance. I hope you check that one out as well. See you soon.
@@FlyscoutRyder Looking forward 👍
One of my favorite parts of bike touring is loosing track of days and time. We live in our own world.
Loosing track of the days is very much a part of it. Im always having to keep checking to see what day of the week it is or if the next month is "now". Thanks for the comment.
Appreciate the work that went into this, thank you. Would like to see comments on how you fueled the ride, your bike set-up, and lessons learned.
Hello John. You are welcome. If you mean how and what I eat while on tours, well, that's a great question. I would say I eat "everything" because the calorie burning is immense. Cycling all day does that. I tend not to eat as healthy as I do when Im home. I always keep two to four packs of ramen noodles or the dried noodles from Knor, a one pound bag of beef jerky, gummy bears, and cookies in my bags. But I eat out a lot and by now I know where to get what I prefer such as Wafflle House chicken sandwiches, or Jersey Mike's Italian sub, for instance. If I find a steak in a restaurant I go for that at night. I hardly ever eat streak when I'm home. One of the biggest issues I have is getting hungry after cycling all day but once I start eating Im all good. I also tend to skip lunch because it will slow me down for finishing the days.
The bike set up, meaning the components and gear are all listed in the description box of each episode.
Lessons learned are endless and I do my best to share in the episode what and how of the process of that specific day. I especially like sharing the road condition, traffic level and how to manage with it in whatever scenario. I believe that once someone watches my seasons he or she can get a really good sense as to what entails to bicycle tour in the United States. If I have a mission is that. I am looking to do a podcast soon. I think with such a platform I can start filling in more of the lessons learned in detail.
Thank you for asking and watching.
Thanks for posting this. My wife and I stopped in Aniston to ride the Chief Ladiga and Silver Comet Trails. We used Cedartown and did several out and back rides. It's a beautiful train system.
It sure is a special place. Very cool you guys do the cycling together. How fun!
@@FlyscoutRyder We loved the hills on the Silver Comet. My wife and I met on a bike ride.
Great camera work, thank you, Diego!
Dios te bendiga!
Thank you sir. Appreciate it.
Great video Diego! Beautiful scenery and fascinating seeing your journey through all these states. Looking forward to more! 👍👌
Thanks Chris. There are more on the way including one about the Natchez Trace Parkway which I think will be a favorite.
Wow! Incredible views and cool things to see. What a blast to watch.
Bro! You are the best!!
Man this is one of the best so far and I'm sure there is more to come. Those bike paths were amazing and the people you met even better. Thanks for the video and take care, Al
Hi Al. That's great you enjoyed this last one. The people you meet sure make the great days even better.
Hi Diego, I'm glad you are posting your trip. I'm a little late in starting since in the past 24 hours, I have watched all 4 episodes, read every comment and every reply. I had ridden the Silver Comet (remember Mt Trashmore as Surprise Hill is sometimes called because it goes past a landfill dump) and Chief Ladiga Trail in 2 separate trips. Both are great trails. I'm looking forward to watching more episodes. You do a great job. Take care, Sue
Yay! It's you. So cool to get a comment from you. I remember the hill for sure. It's rare to have to climb on a rail trail like I did there. Very cool you know the trails from past trips. I sure had a ball in Georgia and Alabama. Mississippi was top notch as well with the southern half of the Natchez Trace Parkway. That'll be a fun episode in a few weeks. Thanks for watching and saying hello. Be safe out there.
Agree with previous post, best vid of season yet. Looking forward to the rest. Tour of Talladega was too cool!!
Thanks man. Yeah Talladega was insane. I sure hope to watch a race there someday.
I just came across your channel. Good coverage of the SC/CL trail. I have only done a out and back on the SC several years ago but want to ride all of the way to Anniston some day. Thanks for the video.
These two trails make for a fun ride. I hope you get to do the western half to Anniston. For now the end is at a town short of Anniston called Weaver, fyi. They are going to finish it all the way to Anniston soon form what I've heard. Once you get to Weaver there are about 5 miles on roads to reach Anniston. It's no big deal but worth noting. Thanks for checking out my channel.
Diego, That was awesome! I can see why you get so stoked to ride these tours. Those trails were amazing! So looking forward to the next one. I’m happy to support your channel and rides!!
Love the support, thank you. Yeah, I get stoked everyday. It's crazy how much fun it is to go one directionally to all these beautiful places with the two wheels. It's a total blast and I can't wait to get on it again. Thanks for watching. More on the way.
Diego - have mostly seen your Western cycling in other series, but it’s fun discovering Georgia &Alabama this time around. Great scenery - & how lucky to be at & on the Talledega Speedway itself !
Hi Shelley. Talladega was a blast and I had no idea it was there. I just happened to ride that road. Funny how things just happen. The southeast part of my tour was so fun. Wait till you watch was coming up in the next episodes. Just getting started...
Can't wait to get a review of your bike and how you have it set up
Sounds like you put together a really good bike
The Lynskey is a great bike. Best I have ever ridden. I will try do a review someday but it won't be soon, I have way to much editing to do to keep up with a weekly episode of this last tour. If you are interested in reading about the components I used to build it you can find a list of every single one in the description box of the episodes. There you can also find my camping gear. Thank you for watching.
I live about an hour NE of Anniston and have ridden the section from Anniston to Cedartown many times. I have a group of friends that camp/bike/hike/kayak/canoe together on a regular basis. I just can't seem to get any of them to go along with a bikepacking trip...we always say that we are going to do it, but there always seems to be something else to do!
We have also been to several races at Talladega, Pretty cool to see.
I sure would love to see a race at Talladega someday. It must be crazy. So, about your friends, I'd say ditch them and go do a solo tour 😊 . You can tell them all about it when you get back. Solo touring is the best and most touring folks would agree. There is something about getting lost in the process at your own pace that is impossible to find with others joining in. You also get to meet way more people with all these interesting stories to tell. An idea is to go do a section of the Great Allegheny Passage, The Katy, or the Erie Canalway Trail. Let me know if I can help you in planning a tour. It's not that complicated other than deciding to do it.
@@FlyscoutRyder YES! I was amazed at how FAST those cars come by in the “tri-oval”. We always sat just past the Finish Line. It was wild.
Yeah, I’ve done a few solo trips of various types and always enjoyed them! I am about ready to take off on a few. My wife & I had a whole trip for the GAP planned and booked…then her dad was put on Hospice and we are still dealing with that…
I'm sorry to hear that about your wife's father going into hospice. I lost a friend recently who had dementia early onset, no fun. I hope you get to the GAP soon enough. Take care. @@mountainsnmoore256
I was just thinking about when I’d see another video from you. Then bam 💥 there it is! lol
Awesome! Thanks, man. Hope you liked it.
Awesome! Subbed! 👍😎🇨🇦
Thank you, Marian.
Welcome!
I live in Talladega county and ride the trail weekly during the spring, winter and fall. Glad you enjoyed it! Great Video!!
Ps: I love my Lynskey Gr300 also!
Hi Charles. Thanks for the welcome to your county and for watching the episode. I had a ball crossing Alabama and I did not know the Speedway was there so that was a legit bonus. More of Alabama on t he next episode, Saturday at 8am.
Ps: It's great to be part of the Lynskey family.
Wow, man such great footage. So good to see you connecting with all the peeps
The peeps make the journey so much fun. There are many reasons why to tour and the connections you make on the road are one of the most significant aspects of bicycle travel.
Awesome to see your progress! I am from SC, and try and hit the Silver Comet/Chief Ladiga trail twice a year. It’s a wonderful 100 mile out & back overnighter. Safe travels!
That's great to hear that you actually make the effort to ride it twice a year. So convenient to have it so close. I tell my friend Steve from Beaufort to go do it. Someday I think he will.
❤😂🎉😅😊Diego, yet another great experience touring on the bike. Thanks very much for taking me/ US along. I live in NE Indiana and plan on riding at least a short part of the Silver Combat. After watching your adventure I am even more eager to ride the Comet.
I hope you make it down to the Silver Comet someday. It's truly worth it. Both sections are great. Thank you for checking out this episode. It was fun to put together.
Great video. Love the scenery and information
Thank you so much. Hope you stick around. More on the way.
Hey Flyscout!
Just watched your latest video. It was great! My wife, Teresa, and I are so sad. We live in Anniston and we are so sorry that we were not aware that you were here. It would have been great to have you as a guest in our home. If you are ever back this way we definitely will have to hook up. Oh and by the way, we ride the Chief Ladiga/Silver Comet Trail a lot. Keep the videos coming!
I thank you and Teresa for your kindness. If Im ever in Anniston I would love to meet you guys. Sorry I missed you. This scenario happens to me sometimes. I need to figure out a way to not pass thru destinations where I end up missing out on the opportunity to connect with fellow cyclists. That you for watching the channel.
Thank you! ...
You are welcome!
Really enjoyed the video! Thanks!
You are welcome.
BOOGITY BOOGITY a wonderful end to a great video !
Thank you.
Short and definitely sweet!!
Thanks man. Im doing my best to keep up with a weekly episode. Not easy!
That's my backyard! We snowmobile all over the Brazos!!
Well, that's a legit backyard to have. I had a ball riding thru there. Seemed to me like it's not overcrowded at all. Thanks for saying hello and watching the episode.
Enjoyed the new vids man, keep up the adventures🚵♂️
Thank you. Great to hear from you.
Awesome and inspiring
Thank you, Chuck.
FYI the Silver Comet Trail is named for the former Louisville, Nashville rail road passenger train, which ran from Atlanta, Ga, to Birmingham, Al. I lived in the Dallas, Ga, area, near the state highway 92 and 61 road over passes, when the "rails were still there and watched, a little, its conversion into the trail.
Thanks for the video tour. It's nice to see what it looks like today. Sadly I can no longer ride, otherwise I would love to ride the "Silver Comet". ;-)
That's great of you to share, thank you. Im sorry you can't ride anymore but it makes me happy top know you enjoyed watching this episode. Please be safe and take care.
Nice one! Again 😎
Thank you, bro.
Love your videos!
Thank you so much.
Kudos on your videography and editing. That must have take a while.
Hi David. It does take a while to create the episodes. For a 15 minute one I would say between 30 and 40 hours of editing 3 to 4 hours of raw content.
Diego, i lived in Atlanta for 33 years and started riding the Silver Comet trail when it first opened. After the trail was completed to Anniston we would ride from Atl to Anniston and back in a single day challenge. it would take us around 12 hours to complete. We were a group of road/MTB racers...
That's very cool. That trail system sure has a lot of users and fans. My buddy Scott remembers when it first was opened and how it drew the crowds. Very fun stuff we need more of all over the country, it's happening...
It ends in Weaver, just short of Anniston.
Just when I think you can’t possible top your last video , you go and prove me wrong!!!
I hate you ( not really)
I ❤❤ your videos. They give encouragement to make mine as well created
This cold crappy weather in the state of Misery (Missouri) has me eager to RIDE! I want out of here!!
What a great compliment, thank you so much. I work hard at progressing and as long as I can keep doing so I plan on giving this pipe dream a longer try. Your encouragement means so much.
I see the cold weather all over the country. I hope you get some warmer climate and can get out there. Please be safe.
Man, I would so enjoy riding with you for just 3 or 4 days and learn all I can!!!
You can always reach out to me until then.@@417cycleguy
Roll Tide! Just found your channel. I really respect your skills as an editor/videographer. I have no idea how you can cycle so many miles while still doing all those establishing shots and pass-by shots! Enjoyed the video.
Hello Scott. Your channel (@joyfulltrails) is awesome. Not sure where you learned your editing skills but they are top notch. You are also a great narrator, something I have worked on in the past and not ever felt like I've been good at. I like the structure of your channel which is so well explained in your introduction video. We need to expand our cycling infrastructure and trails of all types is at the core of it. Thanks for finding this episode and saying nice things. Take care.
@@FlyscoutRyder Thanks! I just found your channel this morning. Looking forward to watching more. I LOVE the way you capture the beauty of the rides, especially from the wider perspective.
I rode the ACA Southern Tier route across Alabama. Also rode the ACA Northern Tier route. Afterwards I did a little research on Rumble Strips, even a few emails to the NHTSA. Received one response from a director of something at NHTSA. The reason rumble strips are different from state to state, even county to county: The application, installation of them have no federal guidelines for state or county roads. AND each county or state applies for grant money from NHTSA under a safety program to install them. Installation is up to each state DOT's guidelines. Further, each county can hire a bidding contractor of choice to install them on county roads. That is why the strips stop abruptly when they hit city limits outside of town. The installation machines are all different, the standards vary, the width varies, even where they center it on the shoulder. Some counties and states have brains enough not to install rumble strips when the shoulder is narrow. Not so in Alabama. E.g. If someone's uncle Billy Bob has a machine, and they are county Supervisor awarding contracts, you can understand why Alabama shoulders are like that. Alabama rural areas evidently have good grant application writers.
Great comment, thanks for sharing all this. humble strips are definitely an issue especially in the SE of the country. Not sure there is a remedy once the roads are built. My bringing it up is to help anyone who encounters them like I did in this episode find the safest way to manage with them. Hopefully it helps and it won't stop someone from getting out there. Thank you for watching.
I've been in the Ashville/Springville area of Alabama and have seen first hand why they implemented these...
...people lane wander, drive well above the speed limit and generally seem unaware of their surroundings here.
Not to mention the massive 18 wheelers barreling down the country roads like Mad Max on acid.
For that reason, I've decided not to cycle here (allergic to death I suppose).
It's a shame, because it's such an aesthetically beautiful area and would be wonderful to experience on a bike.
@@TenFalconsMusic Yep, agree, I will never bicycle tour in the South again.
Nice 👍
Hi Diego. I really like your videos with the bike routes and adventures. Why was Georgia a difficult state? Thank you. God bless.
Hi Justin. Georgia and the southeastern states can be difficult because of the lack of cycling infrastructure. You’ll find yourself on roads that have no shoulders or miss placed rumble strips that are in the way. Georgia also has the Appalachian Range on its northern half so it can be very hilly. With that said there are designated USBRS cycling routes that have shoulders and plenty of “Share The Road” cycling signs. You can ho on the USBRS website and research them. There is also the Silver Comet Trail west of Atlanta and the Greenway along the coast. So I would say it can be difficult but only if you are looking to go places outside of these routes. Thanks for watching my channel. Be safe out there
Diego, I see you have a Lynsky. I love mine.
Hi Steve. I love my Lynskey as well. It's the best bike I've ever ridden.
I'm not certain how it boasts the second longest paved rail trails. The Raccoon River trail here is 89 miles and connects with many other rail trails for many more miles. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to ride the Silver Comet one day and I appreciate you sharing this journey.
Hi. These two trails are both paved from start to finish and they are continuous. That's the differentiation but soon enough there will be even longer paved ones out there. IU know in western Florida there is one being built. Lots of great infrastructure getting done in the country. Thank you for watching and the comment.
@@FlyscoutRyder I love seeing more and more of these being built.
I am from Pennsylvania rode both trails 4 years ago really enjoyed the scenery!!!!
My friends are heading there next week. It really is a special ride.
Hey, this is the driver through the Virgin River Gorge.... Is there a video up of the ride ?
Hi Brian. Thanks again for the ride that day. I have the footage but it will be a while until I get to editing an episode with it. I started in Georgia and Im now editing Louisiana. A few states to cover. These are pretty long projects. Great to hear from you. Thank you for checking out the channel.
I just discovered your videos and am enjoying your travels. How do you do some of your overhead shots? Are you using a drone?
Welcome to my channel, Greg. Starting in July I will be starting the uploading of the remainder of season 4. I had to stop editing so I can work the spring and summer. You'll find four playlists which are of the four tours across the United States I've documented so far. Plenty there to watch, I hope. Take care and thank you for watching and reaching out.
The length of the video's for this tour is a bit shorter than the previous tours....I feel cheated 😁 Was the stop at the race track spontaneous or planned? How cool was that! To be able and visit all these different city's must feel awesome to you. From the small town bike shops and people you get to interact with, it shows all the GOOD thats out there bike touring..
The stop at Talladega Super-Speedway was total coincidence. I had no idea it was there any more than I knew the Army Depot was there. By the way, I was detained there for over an hour while their intelligence officer ran all kinds of background checks on me. The were all really nice, though.
Last season had 35 to 45 minute episodes but I was only able to upload once a month. This time around I am doing my best to keep up with weekly episodes at 15 minutes. So far Im getting it done but it's likely I will have to skip a week at some point. I just spent seven days (5 to 6hrs/day) finishing one of these 15 minute episodes. The more I do this the longer it seems to take.
Thanks for watching and leaving this great comment.
@@FlyscoutRyder I had no idea the amount of work/time that goes into putting these videos together. All the effort you've put into making these videos over the years is much appreciated.
Thank you, Tom. It is a pipe dream that Im hoping will create a career someday so I can do more with the channel. We'll see....@@HackHunter1835
What kind of bike are you riding?
Love your videos thanks!!!
Hi Mary. Thank you for watching my channel. I am riding a Lynskey GR300 on this tour. It's an American made titanium bicycle with a carbon fork. They are designed and welded in Tennessee by a legit group of serious builders. The components I used are listed in the description box of every episode from this season 4. There, you can find even the fender model I use and camping equipment as well. Take care.
much gud.
Thanks for watching it, Mark. Hope you are doing great.
Hello. I just found your channel and subscribed. I enjoy following you in your adventures....Wondering? What kind of camera equipment do you use and do you edit on the road? And if so, what do you use to edit on? Thank you.
Hi Evan. Thank you for subscribing. Im a RUclipsr Pipe Dreamer going on four years of heart and soul and I so appreciate you joining in. I use four cameras: Canon G7X Mark iii, GoPro 8 and 9, and a Magic Mini 3 Pro drone. All four will need replacing and/or upgrading before my next tour but not sure yet with what but its time. Being on a bicycle and outdoors is hard on equipment. The editing is done with Final Cut Pro X. In March, I might be joining the Warmshowers.org podcast to talk about howe to film and how to start content creating. Once I get more info oaths I will surely post here so you will know. Thanks for watching.
@@FlyscoutRyder thanks for getting back to me.
Do you actually edit your videos while you are on the road with a laptop?
I have edited on the road but not since season 2. It's not sustainable because you have to take about 5 days off to churn 15 minute episode. I gather the content and do the editing when I get home. Editing is a full time deal. @@evanlouis8853
Are you satisfied with your Lynskey bike? I just bought the same model, and I love it. I use it for long distance in France with a GRX group. I wanted a solid bike. Let me know about your experience with your long ride. All the best from France !
Hello form France, Franck. Love my Lynskey GR300 very much. It's a monster bike. The components' list is in the description box of the episodes in case you want to check out what is on it. Mostly GRX stuff like yourself. Thanks for watching the episode and leaving a comment.
A shame you didn’t ride your bike around the speedway. 😁
No kidding! That would have been great.
@@FlyscoutRyder I’ve done 120 laps around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (300 miles) as part of the Tour de Cure charity ride. Unfortunately, they don’t do it at the speedway anymore. 😔
How does this bike trail work for a week long tour? Does it link up with other trials?
The two trails combined are 120 miles or so. I would say it could be a three day tour one way or a week long one if you go back and forth. One thing to remember is that even though they will be finishing a section to be able to ride the Chief Ladiga end of it all the way to Anniston, AL, as it is now you will either need to ride about five miles on the roads to get to the city and accommodations or hire a driver to get you there. A good contact in Anniston would be Wig's Bike Shop. Thanks for watching.
That trail was amazing! So peaceful. I know roads are more dangerous but I prefer it over trails. Roads keep me focus, although sometimes a stretch of trail is welcomed.
Brazos summit is beautiful with all those aspen glowing.
Diego, which phone carriier do you use and how was the coverage out west (UT, AZ, CA, NV)?
Hi Mario. I agree with you, being on the road is way more entertaining but I do love to relax for a few days on a trail and enjoy the calmness. It's all a blast either way. Yeah, I caught Brazos Pass at the perfect time. I knew I would catch the Aspens along the way somewhere but it was so cool to do it in pone of the most densely populates Aspen groves in the country. Being there was magical and as cool as the camera caught it, it was way cooler there. I have lots more footage to share once I get editing that episode.
I use AT&T and it does get spotty out west but not too often. From Utah to the eastern California region around the Mojave Desert is really bad for service but I kind of welcome that.
Thanks for watching, brother.
@@FlyscoutRyder yeah, what matters is being on a bike somewhere.
I love the montains and I would love to extend my "loop" into Colorado but it would be very hard to combine it with the desert, which is my favorite part.
Instead of February, March, April and May I could do it two months later but the return way to Vegas through Utah and Nevada in June/Jully would be a nightmare because of the heat.
It gives me a good reason to comeback another time.
I still cannot believe that I'm actually going to the United States. This has been a dream for a long time!
Thank you for the help and the inspiration, my friend!
You are welcome. Your route is excellent and it will be memorable to say the least. Utah in the summer months will be hot.@@mariobotelho32
Beautiful! How did it take you to set up all these shots? Especially with the drone?
I use four different cameras to gather the content recording between one and one and a half hours of footage every day. This means that Im stopping all the time hunting for the story of each day. Each day ends up being five to ten minutes of an episode. Thank you for asking and for watching.
Thanks! And really good job!@@FlyscoutRyder
What is your bike set up ?
Hi Charles. All the components I used to build this Lynskey GR300 are listed in all the description boxes of this season 4’s episodes. There you will also find the camping gear. Thank you for watching.
We're you riding tube or tubeless on your bike
I go with a tube and add sealant into the tube.
Which bike are you riding this season? Is this your original, or the one you started last season with? Or a completely different one??
Hi Chris. It's a new rig, a Lynskey GR300. Best bike I've ever ridden. All the components I used to build it are listed in the description box of this season's episodes.
What happened at the depot? He didn't appreciate your wrong turn?
They had me there for over an hour while their intelligence/security officer made it to the check point and took my info. He went and did a background check and asked me a bunch of questions. They were really nice to me, though. I dig getting into that kind of trouble. Thank you for checking out the channel.
What is your total payload capacity on your bike?
The bike and gear likely never exceeded 90 pounds on this tour and as low as 75 pounds. I never maxed it out but you might be able to get this info from Lynskey. I built the bike with my components and they are listed in the description pages of the episodes. The wheels are plenty strong to carry what weight you might want to throw at them. The frame is what you are wondering about. Lynskey does their own welding and they have a lifetime of top notch reputation for it.
@@FlyscoutRyder I have been riding bicycles since the age of 2 with changes to it as I grew up; From the children's bicycles to a 10 speed then during High School I got into Mountain Biking then Long Distance Road Cycling (Greg Lemond Road Bike) back to MTBiking and eventually discovered Bike Touring through Darren Alff (who retired from this activity) 'Bicycle Touring Pro".
Wheels (when built correctly) as you mentioned, can deal with a lot more weight; I agree. Also steel frames are very durable and deal with more load capacity too.
Check out the Tout Terrain bike. It is built in the purpose for long distance Touring and there is one component that was customized for it: It is called the Steering Limiter and Lock. It was developed to act like a spacer ring for the headset, but the nice thing about it is unlike the one you have, it is more compact and the handlebars of the bike need to slightly be in a certain position to then push down a knob to LOCK the front wheel in place. I am hoping this innovator of this product will mass produce it and place it in the retail market.
Happy Bike Touring travels. :)
Great info Thank you. Tout Terrain bikes are top notch. @@StarEssences
What do you do for showers. Man I have to wash my hair and face every morning at least. Even if it's out of a water bottle.
Stripping your face of it's natural oils leaves wrinkles. Road dust and chain lube adds a vibrant glow.
@@sharkmentality9717😅
Well, showers are sometimes few and far between. It's a bit more challenging when it's really hot out but I do go many days without a shower. That doesn't mean I don't take hygiene seriously, though. I usually find a water source and rinse as needed. In winter time I tend to not even want to shower 😳 but it makes sense since I hardly get dirty. If weather permits it, I wear as much clothes to cover all of my body so once I end the day I switch clothes and rinse or wipe whatever road grime I might have on me.
i use wet wipes. but some folks drink coffee for thier morning get up. i have wash my face and shave and wash my air , every moring no matter what. i don't care if irs 0 degrees outside. it's something i do.
@@FlyscoutRyder
Its funny how cyclists always pick up someone to talk to along the way 😅
There is definitely a camaraderie there plus people tend to want to connect when they are full of endorphins. Good stuff!
@@FlyscoutRyder would feel less lonely for me for sure
Too bad it’s all paved. Dirt/gravel is so much more pleasant to ride and walk (especially walk) on.
Not sure why they would choose to pave a trail instead of doing a crushed lime stone one. I can't disagree with you. Thanks for watching.
That's so cute.
I'm guessing you live in an arid climate and only experience mud when someone spills their water.
😁👍
Great content!!!
Thank you