ADVENTURE STORIES
On September 27th I took part in the Grand Depart of the Vermont Super 8 Bikepacking Trip/Race. Since I didn’t take any notes while I was on the trip, I’ve decided to focus more on the setup I used and how it performed.
I go to my cabin in Wheelock to write, to create and to just enjoy the fresh air and silence that surrounds it. In the summer I usually bring my bike and spend the day riding the beautiful and rugged back roads of the area. Then at night I make a feast, drink some great craft beers, smoke a little weed and enjoy the silence and simplicity of being off the grid. So I starting thinking, maybe there were others who would want the same experience…
After riding 82 miles the day before, I woke up a bit stiff but excited to ride towards home. My plan was to take the next two days to complete the 150-160 miles in front of me.
On Sept 12th my wife Amy dropped me off in the middle of the woods at the camp and drove the two hours back home. I was totally committed now, I only had my bike and the gear I was carrying. I had to get back home by my own power, no matter which route I decided to take.
For my second ride on the new Trek my mission was to test out the rear rack and bag holder system. I made a few changes to the bike based on what I learned from the first ride. That ride was only 4 hours, but near the end my shoulder was getting irritated, so I swapped out the stock handlebars for my favorite Hussafelt ones.
So I'm just scrolling through Instagram and I see the above pic. Whoa, what is that? A 29+ Bikepacking bike with the coolest rack system I've ever seen. So I look it up on Trek's website and check it out.
I'm not "training" anymore. I've decided that I don't need that kind of pressure in my life and it takes away from my enjoyment of being outside. My new goal is to get outside every day for at least a few hours. It's keeping me in shape my mind calm.
On Thursday July 2 I left my home in St. Johnsbury VT with the intention of riding solo, self supported to my summer home in Weare NH to celebrate Independence Day with my family. The route I had mapped out followed the Vermont Super 8 course clockwise on the Northern Lobe (the opposite of the normal way) towards Montpelier, then jumped on the Southern Lobe in the accepted direction. I was planning on exiting the course around Brattleboro then heading east to Weare. Total mileage planned was 250+ and the S8 is anything but an easy ride. Mostly gravel, with not much pavement, the cornerstone of the ride are the class 4 roads.