LOGISTICS & GEAR
What makes an Adventure Cycling Association ride successful is…
…what the leaders call ‘the participatory model’.
Each day after we all set-up our campsite and kitchen, two people are assigned to prepare dinner. We eat quite well with fresh food and creative recipes.
The next morning, the same two cooks set out breakfast and lunch fixings.
While one leader rides sweep during the day, the other leader drives the van with the kitchen attached, goes shopping from the list the chefs of the day provide and meets us at the next campsite.
Each night two new people take on the job of cooking - participation!
THE RIDE
My usual breakfast is yogurt with nuts, and I brought my own golden milk, spirulina and a mushroom tincture to add: my power foods! Lunch is an almond butter and honey sandwich. As a vegetarian, I always have plenty to eat.
After making lunch, filling water bottles and preparing our bikes, everyone packs up their campsite and the kitchen and load it into all the trailer. Then we can focus on our glorious assignment each day: RIDE! It is such a joy to anticipate the unknown route unfolding before us…
My personal routine is to wake by 5am each morning and quietly pack up my tent without artificial light. I know where everything is and by feel know where it goes. I don’t use a headlamp as I think the spillover light disturbs others.
My goal is to be out of camp by 6:30am as I cherish the early morning solitude and light for photos. I stop often to take pictures; I joke that even though I am the first out of camp, I am still be the last in. I like to take my time noticing my surroundings and taking pictures. Soon enough in the day, I hear “on your left” as each person passes me.
THE BIKE
The bike I chose to ride for the divide is a Kona Sutra. I thought a sturdy touring bike would be good on dirt roads. I decided to sacrifice front and rear suspension in favor of any little edge toward forward momentum. Instead, I installed suspension under my seat with Kinext which works great.
The only thing that is not so great is my tires. I’m using the tires that came with the bike: 28x1.60. There is one other non suspension bike on the team, but no skinny tires like mine. When we reach Steamboat Springs, I take my bike into the Orange Peel Bike Shop and have no problem changing to 2.2 tires. Now I have a Cadillac ride! I can roll over those washboards with ease and speed!
The only maintenance I do is a daily chain cleaning and a hose cleaning when available. I don’t even check the air in my tires. They feel fine so I don’t want to jinx it. I’m happy with my bike since I have no issues and even happier that I leveled up on the tires.
THE ESSENTIAL GEAR
I also consider the skirts that I make and wear to be gear. Their soft moisture wicking polyester material makes them super comfortable.
What works especially well with bicycling is turning my skirt to a dry spot when the sitting area gets sweaty. I never wear padded pants or use butt butter. Easy Peezy!
Ride on!