I've always found that the hardest part of any bikepacking trip is getting out the front door. I've spent countless hours worrying about what could go wrong, do I have the right equipment, will the bike hold up....Once you actually start pedalling you realise that the travelling is the easy bit! Also, if you are waiting for other people to come with you you'll be waiting a long time. Looking forward to seeing the video of your AZT. Stay strong! 👍👍
What a nice trip! What you say around 6 minutes in is so important. People dream big and never make it happen. Go out in your area and live the adventure! Thanks again for a nice video
Something so serene about solo rides in nature, the stillness of it all. Makes for some tremendous alone time to get away and think. I have only done half day there and back rides with a meal i brought with. Thank you for sharing your adventure. I’d like to have the experience and know how someday to do it myself.
Fellow German expat here, based in Australia. Really dig your vids, they give me stuff to think about while I'm injured and can't ride. Good luck on the Arizona trail.
Bear spray is useless against fierce drop bears. Big male Kangas, danger noodles and mouse spiders are more of a problem when out on the trail, though.
I ran into the same problem for the last few years of asking all my cycling buddies about bikepacking. So last summer I went solo just like you. I loaded up my Priority 600X and did my first over nighter. I only did a 3 nights out at most last year but now I'm just waiting for the nice weather to come back so that I can get back to it. This was a great video. Thank you for sharing!
Congrats on your trip. I’m pretty much in the same boat. I’m in my 50s. I want to do some stuff like this and I can’t find anybody. I don’t want to do it and by the way I spent the summers until I was in my teams in Kingston, New York. The place always feels more like home than anywhere else I’ve been.
Smart to try out everything and loaded with water. If you are going into bear country where you need the spray I would attach it to your belt or hand (the have holders). It doesn't do much good in your pack when you run into a bear. 🙂 Really am enjoying your channel.
Bravo! Just found your channel, subscribed. Love the content and your delivery. I do a lot of solo bikepacking in my local mountains, hard to find others to join you. I ride a hardtail + rigid fork, and use an Aeroe cradle up front as well, but lower on my fork crown. I like your set up!
Thank you. Fully rigid is hardcore!!! It wouldn't be that much fun where I live. Full suspension is for sure a luxury I enjoy. Thanks again for watching. I'll make a full bike setup video next week. Cheers
Thanks, I haven't been to Overlook Mtn. in a few years. This looks like a great outing. A single suggestion for the AZT, use flat pedals and flat shoes. There is a lot of walking. Best to have proper walking shoes and then you don't need to bring a second pair for camp. Thanks & enjoy.
Thanks for the feedback. I only have space to bring one pair of shoes. These Shimano ones seem comfortable to walk in. They will have to do :) Thanks again.
Hey, greetings from the netherlands:) Great video, definetely inspiring! Currentlys saving some money to go on my first solo bikepacking trip🎉 ( hopefully next month or so) keep it up!!
Love the video, looking forward to seeing your AZ trail trip! I’m loading up my full squish MTB for the first time and was wondering what frame bag and rear rack / bags you’re using?
Thank you for your comment. The rear rack and bags are from aeroe . I made a test video. Here is more info: ruclips.net/video/CL1hBKTkNU0/видео.htmlsi=GmTZitEV0lcQPKOd
Went the Aeroe gear route first time out,on sold it.too heavy,no air bleed valves,daisy chain needed to be full length of bags.expedition weight gear.kept the spider handle bar rack and modified it to stop slippage and cut the infuriating straps off for large voile straps.primo now!revelate bags way better…spinelock seat,salty roll front,and tail fin fork packs on modified old man mountain rack pack.removed nearly all the voile straps off the bike for ease of packing/unpacking.way better more refined lighter quieter setup👌🏻good vids bye the way,seeing how others set up their bike.
Hi, that's a bike for a great adventure 👌 Heavy but multifunctional and no surface is a danger for him. The only downfall is that you need to have legs like you to handle it 😉 Regards ✌️
Hey! Loved this video! What trail is this in the Catskills? I'm Hudson valley based as well and would love an overnighter locally to introduce a couple of friends to the idea.
After my day trip to Harrisburg, Pa for a 4 mile foot race I've been itching for something more. It was about 60 miles round trip, & I felt alright after. I'm thinking if that's possible. What else? I'm thinking a multi-day trip with my dog. He can easily travel 20+ miles along side my bicycle (maybe more?), but I'm thinking a trailer for him as I'm planning at least 50 miles a day or so. I'm still in the early data collection stage of planning. I don't want to hold off for more than a year. Time to acquire necessary gear. Time to plan. Hearing stories like yours is motivating. The big question is how did you get the wife to okay this journey of yours?
Bringing the dog would make it even better. Just need to make sure you don’t wear out your pup. Trailer or cargo bike with basket is the way to go. Check out this channel, it’s all about dog bike packing youtube.com/@OmniTierra?si=CUbuXelO7qLgi6U6 Btw. the wifey is all good with me leaving and doing my bucket list 😬
I've always found that the hardest part of any bikepacking trip is getting out the front door. I've spent countless hours worrying about what could go wrong, do I have the right equipment, will the bike hold up....Once you actually start pedalling you realise that the travelling is the easy bit! Also, if you are waiting for other people to come with you you'll be waiting a long time. Looking forward to seeing the video of your AZT. Stay strong! 👍👍
Well said 👍 don’t wait for others if you can do it yourself - thanks for watching
51 yo and about to solo bike pack across Japan. Love your amusingly laconic delivery and the perfect focus on the facts. You're very inspiring.
Awesome, thank you! Enjoy. I have been to Japan many moons ago, beautiful country with big mountains. It's going to be awesome :)
I'm from Kingston as well. Always up for an adventure.
What a nice trip!
What you say around 6 minutes in is so important. People dream big and never make it happen. Go out in your area and live the adventure! Thanks again for a nice video
Something so serene about solo rides in nature, the stillness of it all. Makes for some tremendous alone time to get away and think. I have only done half day there and back rides with a meal i brought with. Thank you for sharing your adventure. I’d like to have the experience and know how someday to do it myself.
It took me 52 years to do it, I don’t know why I waited this long. It was fantastic (only wish it was warmer) 😬
@@cyclingskills I can relate to that. Better late than never. 😢
Thanks for sharing. Im in Arizona and very interested in transitioning more towards bike packing. So this was exciting to see!
Awesome - I’ll be on the AZT first week of May 👍
Would love to see a video about your trip!!!
Looks like you had a great adventure!
Fellow German expat here, based in Australia. Really dig your vids, they give me stuff to think about while I'm injured and can't ride. Good luck on the Arizona trail.
Uh Australia, what kinda of bear spray do need there? Or just a real knife I guess. Hahahaha - Danke für das zuschauen- weitermachen 😬 cheers
Bear spray is useless against fierce drop bears. Big male Kangas, danger noodles and mouse spiders are more of a problem when out on the trail, though.
I ran into the same problem for the last few years of asking all my cycling buddies about bikepacking. So last summer I went solo just like you. I loaded up my Priority 600X and did my first over nighter. I only did a 3 nights out at most last year but now I'm just waiting for the nice weather to come back so that I can get back to it. This was a great video. Thank you for sharing!
thats the spirit! loving this trip n hope for more bike packing stuff , cheers
More to come! thanks
Love the chill tone of the video.
Great video man! Looking forward to following more of your adventures!
Nice shakedown run good luck on your adventure
Nice video. Cheers from Greece
Better late than never!
Great video, I'm very pleased that you enjoyed it, it's a great way of life!
Cheers 🚲⛺👍
Congrats on your trip. I’m pretty much in the same boat. I’m in my 50s. I want to do some stuff like this and I can’t find anybody. I don’t want to do it and by the way I spent the summers until I was in my teams in Kingston, New York. The place always feels more like home than anywhere else I’ve been.
Thanks for watching, I am kind of excited to go on my own.
Smart to try out everything and loaded with water. If you are going into bear country where you need the spray I would attach it to your belt or hand (the have holders). It doesn't do much good in your pack when you run into a bear. 🙂 Really am enjoying your channel.
Thanks, I might bungee the spray to the handlebar bag. Much easier than getting mauled while opening a zipper 😬
Bravo! Just found your channel, subscribed. Love the content and your delivery. I do a lot of solo bikepacking in my local mountains, hard to find others to join you. I ride a hardtail + rigid fork, and use an Aeroe cradle up front as well, but lower on my fork crown. I like your set up!
Thank you. Fully rigid is hardcore!!! It wouldn't be that much fun where I live. Full suspension is for sure a luxury I enjoy. Thanks again for watching. I'll make a full bike setup video next week. Cheers
Thanks, I haven't been to Overlook Mtn. in a few years. This looks like a great outing. A single suggestion for the AZT, use flat pedals and flat shoes. There is a lot of walking. Best to have proper walking shoes and then you don't need to bring a second pair for camp. Thanks & enjoy.
Thanks for the feedback. I only have space to bring one pair of shoes. These Shimano ones seem comfortable to walk in. They will have to do :) Thanks again.
well done mate, keep up the adventures
Hey, greetings from the netherlands:) Great video, definetely inspiring! Currentlys saving some money to go on my first solo bikepacking trip🎉 ( hopefully next month or so) keep it up!!
thank you, yeah getting into bike packing seems kind of expensive at first. But I am planning on doing it many more times. Have fun on your trip.
This was a good one 👍
thanks :)
Love the video, looking forward to seeing your AZ trail trip!
I’m loading up my full squish MTB for the first time and was wondering what frame bag and rear rack / bags you’re using?
Thank you for your comment. The rear rack and bags are from aeroe . I made a test video. Here is more info: ruclips.net/video/CL1hBKTkNU0/видео.htmlsi=GmTZitEV0lcQPKOd
Went the Aeroe gear route first time out,on sold it.too heavy,no air bleed valves,daisy chain needed to be full length of bags.expedition weight gear.kept the spider handle bar rack and modified it to stop slippage and cut the infuriating straps off for large voile straps.primo now!revelate bags way better…spinelock seat,salty roll front,and tail fin fork packs on modified old man mountain rack pack.removed nearly all the voile straps off the bike for ease of packing/unpacking.way better more refined lighter quieter setup👌🏻good vids bye the way,seeing how others set up their bike.
Thank you for your feedback. Does your setup work with a full suspension?
@@cyclingskills yes my bike is full suspension,21 Santa Cruz 5010
Hi, that's a bike for a great adventure 👌 Heavy but multifunctional and no surface is a danger for him. The only downfall is that you need to have legs like you to handle it 😉 Regards ✌️
well done
Nice video. 🤙🏼
Thanks! 👍
Hey! Loved this video! What trail is this in the Catskills? I'm Hudson valley based as well and would love an overnighter locally to introduce a couple of friends to the idea.
it's Overlook Mountain (passed the fire tower) and the trail down is towards devils kitchen.
After my day trip to Harrisburg, Pa for a 4 mile foot race I've been itching for something more. It was about 60 miles round trip, & I felt alright after. I'm thinking if that's possible. What else? I'm thinking a multi-day trip with my dog. He can easily travel 20+ miles along side my bicycle (maybe more?), but I'm thinking a trailer for him as I'm planning at least 50 miles a day or so. I'm still in the early data collection stage of planning. I don't want to hold off for more than a year. Time to acquire necessary gear. Time to plan. Hearing stories like yours is motivating. The big question is how did you get the wife to okay this journey of yours?
Bringing the dog would make it even better. Just need to make sure you don’t wear out your pup. Trailer or cargo bike with basket is the way to go. Check out this channel, it’s all about dog bike packing youtube.com/@OmniTierra?si=CUbuXelO7qLgi6U6
Btw. the wifey is all good with me leaving and doing my bucket list 😬
Nice rig and rear rack. Is that made by Aeroe?
Yes, it is
👍👌
Never heard a man talk about being alone. It's kinda their thing
Child’s pepper spray and a Barbie knife!! Where is your firearm????
Wait, what? You don’t like my yellow diving knife 😩 I don’t need a gun to be in the woods. I used them during my military service, I am good ✅