Hi Cyndee - My husband and I have become great fans of your Bike Across America videos! In one video you mention putting these recordings up on UA-cam as a way of paying forward all the help you received from other people's videos. Just wanted to let you know they are very helpful to us as we plan our next biking road trip (in Washington state) - plus, it is just plain enjoyable to watch you and Bryton together! Thank you.
Barbara, thank you so much for taking the time to write! I am glad to hear the videos are helpful to you, and especially that you are enjoying them! Bryton and I had such a fun time together on our ride. Have a wonderful bike trip! Washington is a beautiful state!
Haha! Now that you mention it...we got lost twice on this trip. If I had known Bryton had a compass, we really could have used it! So, you are right. I made fun of him in this video, but, in fact, next time we go, we will take a compass! Thanks for your comment! It has changed my mind about the usefulness of a compass! :)
Too funny that some of the things Bryton packed were a surprise to you 😂 3 pocket knives! Never know when you’ll need one... where was the bear spray? 😉
I know! I was surprised that I was surprised! Haha! I had no idea! Bryton carried the bear spray. He kept it on his handlebars. As he states many times in the videos...He's "The Man" on this trip! I guess "real men" carry three knives and the bear spray! Haha!
This was a super valuable video. (Not that I’m taking any bike trips soon) but for a person considering planning such a thing. My question though is, Wow! It seems like A LOT of weight to be on the handlebars? I only ask about this because it would seem to make your steering awkward? Did you guys not feel like your steering/handlebars always wanted to ‘steer themselves’ due to the weight? I took a bike trip from Seattle to Southern Oregon, when I was 17. Circa: 1981. The bags were a bit different, but I do like your setup for sure.
It sounds like you have some great memories from your bike trip! 1981 was quite a few years ago, but I'm sure you still reminisce about that experience! Yes, it was quite a bit of weight on the handlebars, though I never weighed our gear, so I don't know exactly how much. I put the heaviest stuff (the bike repair kit) in the center of the bag, then put the lighter stuff (sleeping bag, etc.) toward the ends. The Camelbak was centered perfectly on the handlebars. It only took a few minutes to get used to the steering. No, it did not feel like the bike wanted to "steer itself", though I can see how it might appear that way. I have not biked with a different set up, so I don't have a ton of experience with different bikepacking gear, but I was happy with how the bike felt as we rode, so I would choose to have this same set up again.
Arm sleeves! I want those for my work! I could just wear long sleeves but they are hot in the summertime. Brick and mortar store or have to order them?
I got them at a local camping store. I'm sure you could find them at a bike store too. You can get both thin and warm ones. The thin ones were great for the hot days to protect from the sun. We could also wet them and it would keep us cool for a little while.
It was "weird" for about the first 15 minutes, but then once we got the balance, it was fine! In fact, the time we rode without our gear (coming up in a future video), it felt different to us to have such light handlebars! We did not weigh our gear, so I have no idea how much weight we were carrying, but...in answer to your question, with the type of riding we did on this trip, I would pack the same.
Hi Cyndee - My husband and I have become great fans of your Bike Across America videos! In one video you mention putting these recordings up on UA-cam as a way of paying forward all the help you received from other people's videos. Just wanted to let you know they are very helpful to us as we plan our next biking road trip (in Washington state) - plus, it is just plain enjoyable to watch you and Bryton together! Thank you.
Barbara, thank you so much for taking the time to write! I am glad to hear the videos are helpful to you, and especially that you are enjoying them! Bryton and I had such a fun time together on our ride. Have a wonderful bike trip! Washington is a beautiful state!
I would carry a compass also--not a boy scout but a retired forester.
Haha! Now that you mention it...we got lost twice on this trip. If I had known Bryton had a compass, we really could have used it! So, you are right. I made fun of him in this video, but, in fact, next time we go, we will take a compass! Thanks for your comment! It has changed my mind about the usefulness of a compass! :)
Too funny that some of the things Bryton packed were a surprise to you 😂 3 pocket knives! Never know when you’ll need one... where was the bear spray? 😉
I know! I was surprised that I was surprised! Haha! I had no idea! Bryton carried the bear spray. He kept it on his handlebars. As he states many times in the videos...He's "The Man" on this trip! I guess "real men" carry three knives and the bear spray! Haha!
Good video
Thank you!
This was a super valuable video. (Not that I’m taking any bike trips soon) but for a person considering planning such a thing.
My question though is, Wow! It seems like A LOT of weight to be on the handlebars? I only ask about this because it would seem to make your steering awkward?
Did you guys not feel like your steering/handlebars always wanted to ‘steer themselves’ due to the weight?
I took a bike trip from Seattle to Southern Oregon, when I was 17. Circa: 1981. The bags were a bit different, but I do like your setup for sure.
It sounds like you have some great memories from your bike trip! 1981 was quite a few years ago, but I'm sure you still reminisce about that experience! Yes, it was quite a bit of weight on the handlebars, though I never weighed our gear, so I don't know exactly how much. I put the heaviest stuff (the bike repair kit) in the center of the bag, then put the lighter stuff (sleeping bag, etc.) toward the ends. The Camelbak was centered perfectly on the handlebars. It only took a few minutes to get used to the steering. No, it did not feel like the bike wanted to "steer itself", though I can see how it might appear that way. I have not biked with a different set up, so I don't have a ton of experience with different bikepacking gear, but I was happy with how the bike felt as we rode, so I would choose to have this same set up again.
Arm sleeves! I want those for my work! I could just wear long sleeves but they are hot in the summertime. Brick and mortar store or have to order them?
I got them at a local camping store. I'm sure you could find them at a bike store too. You can get both thin and warm ones. The thin ones were great for the hot days to protect from the sun. We could also wet them and it would keep us cool for a little while.
@@butterflyforlife3432 Thank you!
How did all the gear at the front affect your steering?
It was "weird" for about the first 15 minutes, but then once we got the balance, it was fine! In fact, the time we rode without our gear (coming up in a future video), it felt different to us to have such light handlebars! We did not weigh our gear, so I have no idea how much weight we were carrying, but...in answer to your question, with the type of riding we did on this trip, I would pack the same.