cycling – Page 15 – besthike.com

April 15, 2010April 13, 2010

cycling Twin Tunnels Trail, Oregon

by site editor Rick McCharles

At tourist information in the Columbia River Gorge, I picked up a brochure called Columbia River Gorge Bike Map.

It’s geared for road bikes, unfortunately.

I had a mountain bike and was looking for off-road. Though nearby Portland is considered one of the best cycling cities in the States, dedicated bike trails are NOT abundant in the Gorge.

Further research led me to these best 2 options:

1. Klickitat Trail (Rails to Trails)
2. Twin Tunnels (old highway)

I drove out early evening to check Klickitat. Looked cool. But, in the end, I chose the other (shorter) option, Twin Tunnels from Hood River to Mosier, and beyond.

The old road runs parallel and above the new highway.

Loved it.

I’ll do Klickitat next time.

I stayed across the river in Bingen at the Columbia River Gorge hostel, one of the most unique I’ve ever seen. It’s a former school, closed for decades.

related – Columbia Gorge magazine.

April 11, 2010

Grizzly Man Adventure Race

Shout out to my Adventure Racing team, prepping for the Griz next weekend.

Good Luck Team Adventure Sports Week.

The GrizzlyMan Adventure Race is a USARA sanctioned sprint level adventure race that takes place every April in Western Montana.

In order to do well (or even finish), racers will need to be proficient in a variety of outdoor disciplines (i.e. mountain biking, trail running, paddling, map reading and navigation).

Racers will be given a map/passport for the course and will be required to travel to certain checkpoints plotted on the map. By using what will be supplied at each checkpoint, racers will mark a designated spot on their map/passport to prove that they visited each location. This map/passport will then be turned in to race officials upon completion of the course. Finish time as well as proper checkpoint completion will determine ranking and success. …

official website – Grizzly Man Race

What’s my excuse for not being there, this time?

March 15, 2010March 18, 2010

the thorny truth about Baja – goathead

This evil is cursed in many parts of the world, by many names: puncturevine, caltrop, cathead, yellow vine, goathead, burra gokharu and bindii.

Wikipedia – Tribulus terrestris

Here’s me before meeting goathead. Happy.

And here’s my ride with at least a dozen thorns in each tire.

I was 16km out of Loreto, Baja on a coastal adventure. Happily, a taxi van was parked right where I punctured.

Cyclists hate these thorns. One guy recommends:

• thick tires with an anti-puncture strip.
• thorn resistant tire liners
• thorn resistant tubes
• slime

… I’m thinking I’ll drink beer by the pool.

March 10, 2010

self-guided hiking in Europe

Last summer in Europe I met many hikers on “self-guided” trips. That concept is very popular there, not so much anywhere else.

Here’s how it works.

You hire a company to do all your logistics in advance: transportation, accommodation, some meals, etc.

They choose a “best” itinerary for you. No need to plan.

One example from Bredson Outdoor Adventures:

We will be offering a special one-time, 10 night/11 day, self-guided departure from July 18 – 28, 2010 that melds the best of our two existing French Pyrenees self-guided hiking itineraries with an opportunity to view two legs of the Tour de France as it passes through the Pyrenees. During this anniversary year of the Tour de France you’ll have an opportunity to see history in the making as the Tour celebrates its 100th year in the Pyrenees. This trip is rated moderate to strenuous. …

Ten nights, half board (breakfast and dinner).

Minimum two star hotels and likely one three star hotel, all with private bath; friendly, traditional accommodations in beautiful settings with very good food

Local transport and baggage shuttle included.

Price: $2,300 USD per person double occupancy. Minimum 2 people. No single rooms available. Price reductions available for more than two people.

Deposit of $500/person by the beginning of December in order to secure hotels.

details

This sounds ideal for someone who’s always wanted to hike the Pyrenees. AND who loves the Tour.

Check the cost, however. About $200/day plus extras. Not everything is covered in your package.

You could do a similar trip independently cheaper, … if you’ve got the gumption and language skillz.

March 10, 2010March 8, 2010

Baja Adventure

by site editor Rick McCharles

Have you seen the Baja Adventure Book?

The classic has not been updated since 1998, but it was a great inspiration for me. I recall reading it in a library many, many years ago.

I write from Loreto, Baja. Just arrived after a road trip of 3450km (2143mi) over 5 days. I’m here on holiday with my parents, but plan to get out for some serious hiking, biking and kayaking.

If you’ve got advice for me on the best Baja Adventures, please leave a comment.

March 5, 2010March 3, 2010

Biking Across the Alaska Range

An inspiring photo by Bill Hatcher for National Geographic.

(Photograph taken on assignment for, but not published in, “Biking Across the Alaska Range: A Wild Ride,” May 1997, National Geographic magazine)

The team of Carl Tobin, Paul Adkins, and Roman Dial completed a 775-mile (1250-kilometer) bike trip across the Alaska Range in seven weeks. Their aim was to travel light, with feather-light titanium bikes and less than 20 pounds (8 kilograms) each in food, clothing, and gear.

Photo of the Day

October 23, 2009

XTERRA World Championships, Maui

by site editor Rick McCharles

I just happen to be in Maui …

As my Adventure Racing team is at U.S. Championships in Texas this weekend, perhaps I shoudl jump in with the best off-road triathletes on Earth.

… What do you think?

At 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 25th, a maxed-out field of 550 international racers will embrace the annual challenge of XTERRA’s most grueling course – and in the ensuing hours put their mental and physical toughness up against Mother Nature’s arsenal of sun, sand, water, kiawe, and lava. …

Athletes from more than 20 countries and 40 states will gather on Maui – the spiritual birthplace of XTERRA – having competed all season long for the right to be at the World Tour’s culminating event. …

$105,000 in pro prize money is up for grabs and for age groupers, the title of XTERRA World Champion. All the action will be filmed for a one-hour TV special, and on race day, friends, family and fans from around the globe can log-on to http://www.XTERRA.TV for live updates from Maui.

XTERRAplanet – Maui

Or, … maybe I’ll sign up only for the 10km fun run.

October 16, 2009October 14, 2009

mountain biking Fall folliage

Great day in North Vancouver, on the Fisherman’s Trail with Rockin’ Ronnie.

Thanks buddy.

October 15, 2009

cycling AROUND Vancouver Island

Endurance Athletes To Pedal Hi-tech Boat Around Vancouver Island

Oct. 15, 2009 – One week from now, endurance athletes Greg Kolodziejzyk of Calgary and Jordan Hanssen of Seattle, WA will attempt a nautical circumnavigation of Vancouver Island, piloting the custom-designed, pedal-powered boat Within on its first long-distance ocean voyage. Greg and Jordan will launch Within on Friday, Oct. 23 from Comox, BC and will travel clockwise around the Island. If successful, this voyage will be the first-ever circumnavigation of the Island in a pedal-powered boat. …

read more – Endurance Athletes To Pedal Hi-tech Boat Around Vancouver Island

I’m actually close to Comox, B.C. right now, visiting my parents.

Unfortunately I’ll depart before the launch.

Good luck guys!

September 20, 2009January 27, 2010

biking hiking Banded Peak, Alberta

by Besthike editor Rick McCharles

One of the best day hikes out of my home town, Calgary, is Banded Peak. But it’s a big day:

Something like 37 km return, a 1416m (4645ft) height gain.

Perhaps 27km on the bike and a 10km return hike/scree scramble to the 2,934m (9,626ft) summit.

Here’s the final deceptively easy looking approach.

Banded Peak, together with Mount Glasgow, Mount Cornwall, and Outlaw Peak, forms a small range which lies between the Little Elbow River to the north and the Elbow River to the south. …

PeakFinder

It’s become a tradition with the families of some of my hiking buddies to take their sons on this adventure as something of a rite of passage to manhood.

On Sept. 19th, 2009 we took three 13-yr-olds. They had to get to the top … or die trying.