Bikepacking The Queen's Ransom
Вставка
- Опубліковано 15 чер 2024
- Table of contents:
00:00 Intro
00:52 Day One
04:12 Day One Wrap Up
06:42 Day Two
11:14 Day Two Wrap Up
14:05 Day Three
19:47 Day Three Wrap Up
21:55 Day Four
27:47 Day Four Wrap Up
28:55 Day Five
33:04 Outro - with Special Guest Rob!
Overview:
Heading to the Southwest is a great escape from the wet and dreary PNW winters. After my adventure with Rob in Utah, I was looking for another challenging desert ride I could do sometime in late January 2023 and landed on the Queen's Ransom.
This ride was particularly exciting for me, as I would get a taste of the Arizona Trail, which I have day dreamed about riding since I started bikepacking. My plan tickets gave me 6 days to do the route. I ended up doing it in 5 which even still proved to be a challenging ride for me.
I really enjoyed this route! Thank you to John Schilling for developing the route and Bikepacking.com for being a great resource for hosting routes like this.
Route: bikepacking.com/routes/queens...
Incredible ride Chris. You never cease to impress me... Both as a cyclist and a creative force behind the lens. The amount of setup and takedown of the camera in this one boggles the mind.
Also mind boggling: How chill you seemed to be about the threat of a hired hitman coming to murder you in the night?!
You truly are a legend.
Thanks for such kind words man! 🙏. Hit me up if you ever head back down here!! Pnwbikepacking @gmail.com
Thanks for keeping me company and motivated on the trainer this morning. I have a bikepacking race in Arkansas over Easter :). This looks like a really fun trip!
You're welcome! In these dark and soggy months we all need some training motivation! Season is starting to turn though!! Lets go!!!!
Wow, Chris, you reinflamed my PTSD from my ride across CA and AZ that same month. I mapped a route from Bishop, CA (my home) to Prescott, AZ, where an old friend lives that took in very remote Death Valley, the East Mojave Preserve, and a truly gnarly section between Hwy 40 and Wenden, AZ, on Route 60--the grotesque "Pipeline Rd." Don't do it. Relentless, steep loose hike-a-bike, etc. Miles and miles of sand, too. Ugh! Type III fun. Gnarly at the time and you don't want to repeat it--ever. And pretty much every night was in the low 30's and upper 20's. My epic was 600+ miles and about 16 days of riding. I really wanted an extra rest day at this wild bivi on the Bill Williams River, but a snow storm was headed for Prescott--no rest for the wicked. I rolled into Prescott and 3 inches of snow fell that night. Wow.
This is a great video, and I love your commentary. A lot of bikepacking is just effin' hard, and you don't shy away from that. Be well and keep crankin'!
What an awesome ride and awesome production Chris!!! Really enjoyed that one.....just like I've enjoyed your other videos. 😊 I've ridden a lot of that loop but never in one go like you did. Schilling put together a pretty awesome route. Thanks for bringing us along!!!
Thanks for watching Chris! This is such a cool route and a great shakedown for preparing for the AZT! I've got so much appreciation for all the work Schilling puts into his routes!
Yay! A Rob cameo!!
Hah, glad you liked the Parker cameo!!!
So great.
No one judges you for speed. The shots are so time consuming, but appreciated.
Thanks Shawnee! Unfortunately, I think I judge myself for my speed hahah. I think it comes through in the video... oops 😂
Thanks for inspiration Chris, I'm going to ride this next week!
Hell yeah dude, hope you have a blast! Forecast right now is looking pleasant! Hope it stays solid.
Awesome video with incredible footage. It makes me really miss Tucson. I lived there in 1976.
Glad you enjoyed it! Great area for winter riding!
Your videos are very well made and I watch a lot of bike packing content. Thanks for your efforts. I love the " then you fucked up" moniker too. LOL.
Hah Thanks Mick! I had a few fuck ups on this trip but it was amazing. Glad you enjoyed it!
Looks like a challenging trip! Glad you were able to avoid any issues with the crazy idiots wanting to take you out. Sadly, more crazies in the world today.
Documenting a trip like this with photos and videos does suck up a lot of time...which is why I rarely stop to take photos and haven't really ever carried my DSLR with me (don't want it to get damaged). What little photos I shoot are done on an iPhone.
Thanks for sharing, sir!
Thanks for the comments Karl! Yeah my camera is expensive and I'd hate for it to get damaged (or stolen), but I remind myself that this is precisely the reason I bought it, so better schlep it around. Sometimes I think about trying to switch to lighter camera kit or using just an iphone... but I just love using my Sony too much!
Another great video Chris! I'll be riding it starting the 20th. Cool to see your video pop up right before I go...or maybe not 😵. Is that A Why I spy?
Awesome Doug! I am wishing you cool weather and flowing water haha. Have a great time! It is a Why you spy! A Why Cycles El Jefe! Got it in November, stoked on it.
Brilliant man i just got back from the fools loop beautiful and tough is how i would describe Arizona
Hell yeah! I am hoping to do that route sometime… maybe late fall or 2024. Did you end up doing it in 5 days?l and did you take a bike with any suspension?
Hey Chris,
Just finished watching this and man, that was fantastic!! Had me laughing a few times. Sorry about the sandbox at the end, it's the only way in!! I tried to find a better way, but it's just not there. Really glad you enjoyed the route. Feel free to hit me up when you're ready to take on the AZTR!! Also, shoot me a message, I have some hard earned swag items you may want. Well done!! I'll be sharing this with everyone who's signed up for the group ride next month.
Hey John,
So stoked you watched this! Sincerely, thank you for all the work you put into making this route...I can't even imagine how much time and energy this must have taken and I had a really amazing time. I thought that Sandbox at the end was going to last for miles and I was sure I wouldn't make it back to town by the time the sun set. Fortunately it really was brief... and as you saw in the video, I just find it fun to complain hahah 🙃. I was actually thinking about signing up for the group ride but decided I'd better go solo and budget for more than 4 days! In hindsight, I think I made the right call. Maybe next year if you're doing it again. The AZT is probably a ways out for me, but when the time is right i'll hit you up! Not sure how to get in touch with you, but you can always send me an email at pnwbikepacking@gmail.com. Have a blast on the group ride and thanks again!
Hey Chris, thanks for another informative and entertaining video. I take it you flew into PHX? Did you pack your bike in a cardboard box for the flight (versus a bike bag/carrier), and if yes, do you have any advice for stashing it for use for the return flight home?
And thank you, John, for what looks like a great route. I hope to get out there this month. Do you have any intel on my question above?
Thanks! Jake
@@MsSpecialD Hey Jake, you are correct I flew to PHX. The crux of the route was dealing with these flying and bike bag logistics haha.
This was my first time flying with a bike so I had a lot of anxiety about the process. Here is my experience...
I went all in and bought an EVOC Bike bag because I know ill be flying again with the bike at some point. These things are expensive! BUT, I think in the end it will be worth it. I didn't want to deal with the hassle of trying to find a box for the flight there, and potentially for the return flight. I was thinking, what if the box got trashed? I would need to pack some tape, what if I needed a box and couldn't find one?
Packing the bike into the bike bag isn't difficult but it takes a little bit of time and you have to have some basic mechanical skills. I practiced once before the trip. I ended up stashing some of my bags and food inside the bike bag. I am not sure how much it weighed, but I flew with Alaska and American and they didn't even weigh the bag. I just paid the regular checked bag fee. Getting the bag checked in was really simple at both the PDX and PHX airport. They knew it was a bike as I approached the oversized luggage area, they asked if I had a CO2 cartridge or loose batteries, I said no, boom done.
I got an apple air tag to put on the bike just for peace of mind in case there was some debacle where my bike got lost.
The next challenge was where was I going to store the bike bag when I landed... and how was I going to get there. I initially was thinking of calling some bike shops, but ended up going to warmshowers and finding someone on there. So I landed, got an uber (just a regular uber, the bike BARELY fit), got dropped off at the warmshowers house. My host was awesome, and I let me leave my bike bag with her. This was about 6-7 miles from the route... no big deal.
After I got my bike put back together, I had to find a nearby outdoor gear shop to buy a fuel canister... I rode about 6 miles to a place to get a canister.
When I finished the route I ended up riding back to the warmshowers house, packed my bike up, and got an uber (XL) to my hotel near the airport. Next day got another uber XL to the airport.
I had a good warmshowers experience but admittedly it felt really uncertain. My host said "hit me up the day of your trip". If she ghosted me... I would have had to figure something else out which would have sucked.
If I were to do it again, I'd probably go the warmshowers route again but i'd call some bike shops in advance to make sure I had a Plan B. If you're getting an Uber or Lyft get an XL to make sure someone doesn't show up with a Toyota Yaris 🤣. I think the bike bag is the way to go if you think you'll fly again and can afford it. Lastly depending on the trip / duration / cost of hotels, it may make sense to just rent a car, drive to the start, keep the bag in the car. Hotels in PHX were SUPER expensive... If I didn't have the warmshowers host for one night, it may have been pretty close cost wise (Hotels + Wamrshowers + Ubers vs. Rent car + Camping) YMMV.
I know this was really long, but hope it helps! Let me know if you have any other questions!
Excellent work!!!
Thanks Jim!!
Awesome trip. Looking forward watching past video from your channel, looking for new also.
cheers!
Thanks Sebastien! Hope you enjoy some of my previous trips!
Love to see you exploring my home - I'll stick to evergreens and damp soil, though!
I loved this route, riding through all those cacti was so different than what we get out here in WA/OR. There are a lot of good winter bikepacking options in AZ, hoping to head back at the end of the year or in 2024! Until then, I can't wait for a great season in the PNW, including some tame(r) bikerafting!
Mate how awesome
Absolutely one of the best bikepacking films I've seen lately 💫 Simple, clever, compact yet still catchy. Keep on rolling them both: films & bike 👌
Thank you for the kind words, I truly appreciate it!
Good stuff be safe and keep riding 😁
Thank Ryan!
Such a great clip Chris!
Your filming, photography and editing have really come together over the years! Just one minor correction….at 13:00 you said your most difficult route to date was a 6.5. However, 3.5 years ago we did the XWA and that goes at a 7.
Man going from a 7 to an 8 on the difficulty range in three and a half years of riding is huge! Ember and I are so proud of you!
Keep pushing your limits and maybe someday you’ll do something really hard!
Wow Thanks Rob, means so much coming from you. The videos on your channel really inspired me and taught me a lot about how to put together better youtube clips. Unfortunately, i've been stuck with a riding partner who doesn't really want to try hard things so thats why I went solo on this trip. Looking forward to doing more stuff by myself so I can actually do something challenging. Let me know if you want to go on some brunch rides or something next week, we can try to keep it under 2 miles.
Some of your best videos are you doing solo rides! You make things look really hard when you’re alone but when I’m with you it never seems that bad.
Like I said, your editing skills have really come a long way!
Let’s do a brunch ride tomorrow!?!
Or do you have to work?
Sucks about the tour divide not going because of work huh?
Looks like a blast, definitely want to try this one too after doing the Ring Around the Ritas. I had considered queens ransom but didnt have enough days to make it work. The AZT and all of the variety that it brings is truly amazing. Love your video style, keep it up!
Thanks! Are you uramug on Reddit? I noticed they took the ring around the Rita’s route off bikepacking.com. There are so many options in this area, can’t decide what to do next!! Monumental loop, ring around the Rita’s, coconino loop, fools loop, sky island odyssey ?? I think my next will either be coconino, monumental, or fools.
@@pnwbikepacking hah, yup I am! I wonder if that is due to the report I sent in about the route. The bottom of Sycamore canyon is the issue. It can 100% be done with a detour at the end. Not sure which way would be best, but it really is an awesome route.
Your artistic abilities to catch the perfect shots is amazing! A one man show can do it all it seems!! Thanks for the overview of the route, I can't wait to do it!!
Sheesh, thank you for those kind words Liz ❤️! Hope you are able to get out there in cool weather with flowing water, what a fun route!
Fantastic video. Having completed the route last year, it brought back some very fond memories. You really captured the essence, though I have to say my favorite part was your reaction to Jacob's Crosscut. "That was bumpy" hahahaha
Thanks for watching Mike and great work doing the route last year! I think that crosscut trail was probably the slowest section for me on the entire trip haha. Glad I brought back some good memories for you!
Awesome video, keep it up man
Thanks Dante!
My wife said "Cholla, not enjoya." From the looks of it, she's right. But I'd still like to do that route.
Thanks for sharing your adventure! I would love to ride this route, especially since I can essentially ride this from my house. Sadly, my cancer has completely robbed my energy and stamina until I can get a handle on that... which may never happen 😞
Damn dude. My heart goes out to you. Not sure if it’s a feasible option for you but you may be able to do it in little sections. Stay strong man, I’m rooting for you! ❤️
Another brilliant and well produced film - thanks and Bravo!
Thank you Amanda ❤️!
Awesome work Chris. I imagine it’s hard to stop all the time to film. But you do it Really well. And we so appreciate you taking us on these riding adventures. I always love your attitude. Keep up the great work! Love the stills and the split frame vid too!!
Thanks so much Matt, appreciate the comments. There is only so many times I can show me setting up and breaking down the tent! Split frames help keep it more interesting haha.
Totally dig the video - nice job! Looks rugged! Use a comb to get the cholla out next time - those things suck!
Thanks for watching and thanks for the tip! I'll try to remember to pack a comb on my next desert trip!
25:57 😂 The cow! That was a magic moment. Like the universe telling you to suck it up and enjoy what you're doing!
Great upload man! Thank you for sharing your adventure. New sub from me.
Thanks for watching. Hah, yeah that cow was telling me to harden the !@#$ up for sure!
Dude! Nice work! That is an accomplishment. My in-laws live in Phoenix and I have done the Black Canyon Trail and then a small 30 mile section of the Queen's Ransom by the Superstitions as my kids first bikepacking adventure. AZ mtn biking is much like the desert, equally beautiful and terrible, empowering and frustrating. Nice work. I loved following along and will show my kids to let them know it was also hard for somebody as experienced as you.
Next up- Robber's Roost in March ;)
Hell yeah! I am trying to scheme my next trip out to AZ and hit the fools loop and do that BCT! I hear it’s about the same type of terrain. I hope it isn’t 30 miles of jacobs cross cut trail hahaha. Major props to your kid for a gnarly first bikepacking trip!!!! So fun!
Rob and I did Robbers Roost after our peaks and plateaus ride in Nov, though I didn’t really get enough footage to make a decent flick. I am sure you’ll have a blast! We camped right above the robbers roost lookout. Great views and it was quiet! Just watch out for all those damn pink jeeps and OHVs. Have fun!
Thanks Chris
Thanks for watching David!
Cool adventure. A coarse comb works well for removing cholla burrs. Been there done that.
Yeah, such a pro tip... can keep my hair looking fresh and get the cacti out of my leg! Next time!
Loved the day two recap at your sleep sight. Appreciate the video and photo work you do during your trips!!! Happy I found your channel.
Absolutely loved everything about this one. I missed Parker but it was cool how you brought him in at the end. And regarding the motel. Been there some that. The last time it happened, us and our three kids were stopped for the night and there was blood. On the ceiling and walls. I kid you not! Your videos are super inspiring. Thanks!
Thanks for the kind words Cheri! I love to hear people are inspired by the videos. Haha staying at cheap hotels is a whole adventure in and of itself! I think if I saw blood I’d probably be asking for another room or keep pedaling!!!!
Great video nice to see you make it to the desert
Great video!
I have yet to take my El Jefe out bikepacking!
Thanks Paul! So far the el jefe has been great!!! Hope you get to take it out soon for its maiden bikepacking voyage.
@@pnwbikepacking do you mind sharing your gear? Like what frame bag you went with and large bottle holder on the down tube? Thanks!
Thank YOU for that SOJOURN!!!! You are creating some of the most scenic and informative BIKEPACKING video's I have had the pleasure to watch. Hopefully I will soon be in SHAPE to go BIKEPACKING. Keep up the EXCELLENT WORK {OK OK, FUN :D}!!!
Thank you James! ❤️
Always excited to see new stuff from you!
That is awesome to hear. Thanks man! Hope you enjoy the video.
Good stuff, appreciate you sharing your trip and efforts required to document it!
Thanks for watching David! Stoked you enjoyed it!
Wow. Thank you for sharing this journey. Truly something special
Thank for watching Jeff, this was a really great trip!
Thank you for another great video 💪😉👍
Thanks for watching Frank!
Great timing finding water along the way. Remember if it bites stings and scratches your in Arizona . Thanks for taking the time for videos.
Thanks for watching Brett! Seriously, so much water along the route, can't wait to get back to AZ, hopefully with no bites, stings or scratches!
Another great video. Man your rides get me so stoked.
Hell yeah! It's really rewarding for me to know people watch the content and get stoked to go pursue their own adventures!!! 🤘
@@pnwbikepacking I ran into you and Rob a few years back up around Takhlakh Lake, you guys are legit. So glad your channel has taken off.
Those views look amazing. Great video, thanks for sharing the adventure.
Thank you Matt! It's a super beautiful route. Lucky to have been able to do it.
Thanks for another awesome video.
Thanks Mike!
Was just riding usery this week. Great trails, just have to watch out for nature's hand grenades
The Usery sections was one of my favorite on this route, especially coming from the PNW where we don't see all these hand grenades!
@@pnwbikepacking later in the video I saw you got one stuck in your leg! Those things are brutal. A comb and tweasers is a must carry in az
Nicely put together Dude! Great ride and great video as well. Cheers from Norway 🇳🇴
Thanks a lot!
What a cool route!
Thanks for watching Jonny. It is a really cool route. The creator John Schilling must have put in so much work getting this route dialed in.
Thanks for taking the time to share this ride, I grew up in Globe and since I have gotten back in riding this ride has been on my bucket list. You are truly a beast! I am in socal and look forward to making this possible in 2024.
Nice!!! Thanks for watching Isaiah, it's a really fun route! I've been eyeing some routes in your neck of the woods, Stagecoach and Socal Desert Ramble. Maybe that will be my winter trip next year or this year late fall!
@@pnwbikepacking you try rocky peak too?
Well done Sir! I really enjoyed the longer video.
Thanks MM
Well done Chris, enjoyed following along
Thanks Shayne!
Dig the new rig! Well done as always.
Thanks Turist!!!!
The light looked so beautiful! Thank you
Thanks David P! Yeah AZ has some amazing sunsets!
Welcome to 2023. Thanks for sharing another amazing video. Your music choice was spot on.
The scenery was exquisite.👍
Appreciate the comment! Sometimes finding the right music is the hardest part of these edits! Then you find something that you think works... and start second guessing your decision haha. Thanks for watching Alethea!!!❤️
One more nicely documented ride 👍 looks like it was freezing 😊
Thanks Pascal! Yeah a few chilly nights. I'm starting to get used to it 😊
Glad to see you "enjoyed" Az and the AZT. We have a ton of fun trails here. There is also an incredible route from Tucson to Tombstone and back that is pretty mellow, and also takes you through the winery district.. Excellent as always!
Thanks Terry! I was stoked to get down to AZ and do some riding. I will definitely be back! Been eyeing some of those routes down in Tucson. Maybe this fall or 2024!
What an incredible solo adventure! Nice work keeping your own spirits during those low points; we know they always come, but they also always pass. So happy that there was a Rob cameo there at the end 🙂.
As always thanks for watching Jamie and sticking around til the end to see Parker!
Chris, beautifully filmed my friend, looks like such a rad route!
Thanks for the kind words Adam! It really is a rad route!
Well done, Chris!
Thanks Miles, it was fun to listen to your account of this ride on the bikes or death podcast!!
Thank you for going slow so we get to enjoy the ride as well. That looks like an awesome route. A little AZ Sun must be nice after all our PNW gloom.
Ohhh I was loving the AZ sun! Back to the cold rain! Thanks for watching Jim! ❤️
I think the red velour hangings says everything you need to know about that hotel
Yeah there were a lot of red flags that I ignored! But I saved $30...hahahah!
@@pnwbikepacking I wonder how it looks under a blacklight
Motel 6 near the Phoenix airport?! Just did the BCT and stayed there - it is SKETCH City! +$50 anywhere else is worth it.
Bahahaha so funny!!! That’s the one!!!!
its a great route cant wait to do it again in march !!!
Stoked for you Zach!! I am curious as someone who has done this before and is doing it again, what is your favorite section?
@@pnwbikepacking I like picket post to kelvin ...amazing views that many will never get to see in there life time ..specifically after the water tower...such amazing views
What a great trip Chris , really amazing views! The split screen was a fun addition. Looks like el jefe is the perfect steed !! Maybe after a few more trips on it you could give us your thoughts on it . Thanks for sharing your adventures.
Thanks for watching Chuck! Yeah ill think about doing an el Jefe thoughts video. I don't think I am very good at detecting and articulating nuanced bike handling changes though. It might be a pretty shit review hahahah. So far the bike has been great though!
Great video as always, been a few years since I've ridden that area some tough but amazing trails - kind of wish I was pedaling there not sitting in a damp Oregon!
😂 can relate!
That was both lovely and brutal. AZ has some gorgeous landscapes, but pushing your bike up and down the AZT is tough, hence the difficulty scale of 8. Always enjoyable Chris, thank you.
Thanks for watching Jason. Yeah it was a tough and rewarding ride. Already eager to get back to AZ and do more riding!
I love your videos and this one is no exception. You guys get a lot of bikepacking done in the southwest for being PNW Bikepacking, which is awesome! If you guys ever make it out to NM (i.e. the Chama Charmer?), hit me up. I'd be happy to shuttle or otherwise work some trail magic. Cheers! 🍻
Hah, yeah I am realizing how much time I spend down in the Southwest! I'd love to make it out to New Mexico for a ride sometime!!! Maybe this fall! Cool to know we may have someone to make logistics easier! Really appreciate that!
Your videos are never disappointing mate. Always a good watch. Is the front tyre going down because you're putting your tent guy line on the valve?
Thanks for watching! I found out after the trip the issue was the rim tape job!
Great to see that route again. did it a few years ago. You need to continue south from Superior down to Catalina. Fantastic canyons!! I did ride my Tallboy instead of the cutthroat. Great video!
Hell yeah! Sounds like you get after it! What route should I do next down in the Southwest?
@@pnwbikepacking fool's loop. I've done black canyon and loved it. I'm also looking at Oregon back country for different scenery.
Hey man, I just gotta say. I love your videos! Hit me up if you and Rob want some Tahoe National Forest route ideas
Thanks for the comment man! I've been wanting to do the Tahoe Twirl or some variation of that for the last 4 years, but have never made it happen. Would love any feedback/beta on routes in that area - hit me up at pnwbikepacking@gmail.com!
Great route, Great views, awesome adventure. I noticed you tie your tent on your valve. Maybe thats the reason you loose air, from your tire.
Thanks for watching, that is a pretty good hypothesis. I repumped up my tire to crazy pressure yesterday and found the leak! I need to retape the rim, air is leaking from the nipple on my spokes!
Well, if that is fucking up, sign me up! Thanks for sharing.
Haha, thanks for watching Steve!!
Really enjoyed this video! Would love some details on your new frame and new tent.
Glad you enjoyed it Albert! One of these days ill get a gear breakdown video up where I go through my bikepacking kit and camera gear. In the meantime...
Here are some details about the bike:
Frame: Why Cycles El Jefe
Forks: Fox Factory 34 (120mm Suspension)
Bars: Carbon SQLAB 30X bars 16 degree's sweep
Dropper: Crank Brothers Highline 7
Drivetrain: SRAM GX 12 speed
Front Wheel: SON Dynamo laced to a DT Swiss MX481
Rear Wheel: Industry Nine
Bar Ends: Ergon
Grips: ESI Chunky Grips
Here is some info about the tent:
This was the first trip with this tent. It is a Slingfin Splitwing Bundle (www.slingfin.com/products/splitwing-bundle). It was a really great set up for this trip. The main benefit over this shelter compared to what ive used in the past is it's packability. It strikes a great balance of lightweight and low volume. I find that to be particularly important on trips which are more singletrack oriented. (And I want to use my dropper post). The tent is also really modular so I can pitch with just the bugnet later this seasons when I have reliable weather!
@@pnwbikepacking Thanks for the info Chris! A bike/gear video one day would be cool :)
Look forward to watching! Is there anywhere we can see a bike setup video / write up?
Hope you enjoy it! I have plans to do a bike set up video, not sure when though. In the meantime:
Frame: Why Cycles El Jefe
Forks: Fox Factory 34 (120mm Suspension)
Bars: Carbon SQLAB 30X bars 16 degree's sweep
Dropper: Crank Brothers Highline 7
Drivetrain: SRAM GX 12 speed
Front Wheel: SON Dynamo laced to a DT Swiss MX481
Rear Wheel: Industry Nine
Bar Ends: Ergon
Grips: ESI Chunky Grips
For Bags:
Feedbags: Revalate Designs and Rockgiest honey Pot
Framebag: Revelate Designs framebag
Top Tube bag: Jpaks footlong
Tool Bag: Bedrock Sinbad stash pack
Backpack: Superior Wilderness Designs - Long Haul 40L
Wow, surreal views of terrain; thanks for your efforts to film solo--know it can't be easy! How do you plan out your water resupplies on desert rides? Thanks!
Hi! Thanks for watching. My starting point is reading the great beta on bikepacking.com (bikepacking.com/routes/queens-ransom/). From there I am determining:
1. WHERE are my water resupplies and how likely is it that those water resupply's are going to be reliable. As far as reliability, I am thinking about the time of year, reading about other peoples reports, and in some cases calling local ranger stations to ask.
2. I then factor in the time of year and the temperature to determine how much water I am going to need. For a desert ride in cooler temperatures I know that I probably can get away with around 3-4 Liters a day (though I should probably be drinking way more). This gives me water throughout the day, water to cook with, and coffee in the morning.
3. Then based on the distances of my water resupplies + reliability, I will determine where I may need to carry EXTRA water to hit the that 3-4 Liters per day. In some cases, this may mean I am carrying extra water, or planning a water cache. (which is a whole other logistical affair).
4. Then I add another 1/2 - 1 Liter of water for mental security! You've probably heard that we pack our fears... I often pack a little extra water for my own piece of mind.
I have been on a few trips where this HASN'T worked out well. My Stone House Lands Loop ride I underestimated how much water I needed and didn't hit my water Cache on day 1... For this Queens Ransom ride, in retrospect I could have gotten away with only carrying 2L on me at any given time due to how much water was flowing. I just didn't know...
So in the end you make the best decisions you can with the information you have, and I try to err on the side of carrying MORE water than I need.
Hope this helps!
Awesome stuff. Great trail(s) and commentary. What backpack were you using during that trip?
Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it. I used a Superior Wilderness Designs Long Haul Trucker 40L. It was totally overkill for this trip (I predominately used for all my camera equipment), but I wanted to give it a shakedown for potential future trips where I may be carrying a lot more stuff (like packrafts).
Another great video thanks! One question: why did you choose to use a backpack over a seat pack or rack?
Thanks for watching! I carry a backpack on all my trips simply because it is my preferred way to schlep around my mirrorless camera. My backpack was generally used for all my camera kit (big camera, drone, drone remote, extra batteries, microphone) frankly I am a bit nervous to carry that gear any way else on that bumpy terrain. I also just really like the camera clips that go on the shoulder strap of a backpack. I find I use the camera way more that way due to its accessibility. Less faffing around.
I know a lot of people hate riding with backpacks and for me it’s always liberating when I take it off and can get some pedals in. But until I find a better way to carry my camera, I’m going to live with it! I have dabbled a bit with a hip pack and that may be my solution though it’s a tight fit with the lens I like to take.
Thanks for taking all the time to set up so many awesome shots. So time consuming. And thanks for sharing your highs and your lows. Great video. So, do you still want to do all of the AZT? And how do you ride in shorts when it's below freezing?! I like leggings when it's below 50!
Thanks for watching Corrine! Rob and I have been talking a lot about Alaska lately haha trying to brew up a trip! This trip DID make me want to do the whole AZT actually! Have you considered that ride? If you find yourself riding in shorts in 24 degree weather... you !@#$ed up... I think I am going to start carrying some really lightweight leggings on all my trips 😂
That was an excellent trip. Your video composition is perfect. Looked like a good time and the ending was outstanding. Glad the hitman didn't get you. What tent was that? Take care, Al
As always, thanks Al! This was a new tent and this was it's maiden voyage. It is a Slingfin SplitWing Shelter Bundle. I wanted to test it out given its light weight and compact size, perfect for this kind of trip. It worked out really well!
I love ghost towns with food lol. Such a cool ride! Not sure about the temp but everything else looks fantastic. Also, what kind of tent are you using?
Yeah I was stoked there was food in that little town. The tent I used is called a slingfin split wing. This was its maiden voyage and I thought it was awesome! It is lightweight and packs down really small! I have lighter tents but they are bulkier and in many ways liters versatile.
My wife and I were just talking about planning for the Queen’s Ransom next year. Awesome that you just put it out. Gotta love that type 2 fun and all the f*ck ups 😂 I’ll get my desert fix in March as I’m heading down with a couple friends to do the Monumental Loop 2.0 in NM. Getting very excited for it!
How do you like your Horton Front Pouch? I was debating about my need for one recently as i just built up a new frame pack with Rockgeist😎
Awesome! You guys will love it! Dude enjoy the Monumental Loop!! I was looking at that but logistics looked a bit more challenging (getting to the start of the route). Are you planning to do it in 5 days?
My previous front pouch was the Revelate Designs Egress Pocket, I ended up getting a bunch of holes in it so replaced it with the Horton Front Pouch. If I were doing it over again, I'd get the Revelate Designs Egress Pocket again for a few reasons:
1. Larger Capacity - the Revelate Designs can fit a lot of stuff, and when its empty, it can compress down pretty small. I like to have the option for the additional carry. Front pouches are such a convenient place to jam stuff and I just feel like for longer trips the Horton will get maxed out.
2. Closure Mechanism - I like the closure mechanism a lot more on the Egress Pocket. It can be cinched down a lot tighter and I could even over stuff it if I wanted. The elastic cord on the Horton is less confidence inspiring for me. Also that little front clip on the Horton seems harder to replace if I accidentally break it than the clip on the Egress.
The only thing I like MORE about the Horton is that I can use Voile straps to secure it. The Egress bag uses buckles. In my experience those buckles tend to lose tension after a while, and Voile straps are just easier to replace (and bombproof) If Revelate updated the design to use Voile straps instead that bag would be perfect for me!
This isn't to say the Horton is a bad front pouch. I think the main deciding factor for you should be based on how much shit you plan to throw into the front pouch. If you want to really add more stuff get the Egress. (I never used the insert on the Egress either btw.)
Hope this helps!
@@pnwbikepacking thanks for the full review! For the Monumental Loop our plan is to try and do it in 5 days. But we all have some flexibility on the back end in case we need to take our time and can’t get the mileage we are wanting per day. The excitement is real. Being in SLC the record snowfall this season has had me on the trainer too much for sure
Such an awesome ride! What camera are you using? Your photos of the route are just breathtaking!
Thank you for watching Georgia! I am using a Sony A7siii with a Sony 24-105 f4 lens! I've had the camera for a few years and really love it. Had some serious sticker shock purchasing it though. Glad you enjoyed the video!
@@pnwbikepacking sweet! thanks!
Screwing around is what life is all about. The best laughs come from screwing around.
It sure is! Thank you for watching Helga!
Handheld shots are underrated. I think about that stuff a lot, like I'd probably give a little wooden bridge 2 seconds, but I still want to show everything, which is impossible of course. I think those shaky handheld one hand riding shots have a place there.
Thanks for watching! Yeah I probably could get away with more handheld shots... maybe ill do that next time instead of just whining about how long filming takes 😂! Cheers.
Looks like a beautiful ride, but also torturous. What kind of bike are you riding? Great video.
Thanks for watching! The route was definitely a great balance of difficult and beautiful! Here is some information about my bike set up on this trip:
Frame: Why Cycles El Jefe
Forks: Fox Factory 34 (120mm Suspension)
Bars: Carbon SQLAB 30X bars 16 degree's sweep
Dropper: Crank Brothers Highline 7
Drivetrain: SRAM GX 12 speed
Front Wheel: SON Dynamo laced to a DT Swiss MX481
Rear Wheel: Industry Nine
Bar Ends: Ergon
Grips: ESI Chunky Grips
The bike worked great!
man i grew up riding the hawes and usery areas. i didnt even know bikepacking existed then. such a rad solo trip! did you encounter any rattlesnakes on the hawes trail? night riding there i had to be really careful where i put my feet and where i fell. tons of those critters.
Hell yeah. I know I only scratched the surface. I could have a ton of fun out in the Hawes area on a full suspension bike! I hardly encountered any creatures on this trip, only rabbits and a few small lizards. I was hoping to see (under safe circumstances) some snakes, scorpions, javelinas, and a gila monster!
I think you " fucked up" pretty good. Trip looked amazing. You tell a wonderful story. So happy I stumbled across your channel !!! Be well
Thanks Scott! I think I !@#$ed up pretty well too on this one 🤘
Just not the same without Rob’s wine leaking in his bag
Haha! His wine would have leaked for sure on these bumpy trails!
what tent are you using on this trip? looks good for bikepacking?
Hey Alan, this is a slingfin splitwing. It is really awesome for bikepacking if you're going solo. It packs down really small, its quite lightweight, you can get by with only carrying a single pole, its modular (so I an use it with just the bug netting, just the exterior, or both). I've only used it for this trip so I can speak to durability, but so far I am pretty impressed for how I intend to use it!
Beautiful! Jealous again! What camera strap mount are you using?
Thanks for watching! For this trip I switched from the Peak Designs Capture Clip to the Ulanzi Falcam F38 quick release. The reason for that was because my other tripod broke, and I got an Ulanzi tripod with their proprietary quick release system. This allows me to use a quick release into the Tripod and my shoulder strap! Generally it worked out really well. Sometimes it is a pain in the ass to get the camera clipped into the shoulder strap, but I had that problem with the peak designs capture clip too. Hope this helps!
@PNW Bikepacking thanks for the info and keep making Awesome vids!
what kind of tent do you have there? looks like a pretty cool setup!
This was the first trip with this tent. It is a Slingfin UL tarp with the bug net inner and vestibule. (www.slingfin.com/products/splitwing-bundle). It was a really great set up for this trip. The main benefit over this shelter compared to what ive used in the past is it's packability. It strikes a great balance of lightweight and low volume. I find that to be particularly important on trips which are more singletrack oriented. (And I want to use my dropper post). The tent is also really modular so I can pitch with just the bugnet later this seasons when I have reliable weather!
@@pnwbikepacking cool thanks for the info! 😌
What brand of bike do you use for this bikepacking trip ?
Hi Francisco, for this trip I rode a Why Cycles El Jefe. This is my second trip with the El Jefe, previously I would have been on a Surly Karate Monkey which I am sure would have performed admirably. The El Jefe worked out great!
Awesome vids dude… btw you got an insta or similar for your stills per chance?
Keep smashin it 👍
Hey David, not at the moment. It's crossed my mind though. Maybe ill get something set up. Thanks for watching, stoked you're enjoying the content.
What kind of tent is that? The red and white one.
It is a Slingfin SplitWing Shelter Bundle. I wanted to test it out given its light weight and compact size, perfect for this kind of trip. It worked out really well!
@@pnwbikepacking thanx for your time in making the reply. Recently discovered your vids and am really enjoying them. I'm new to bikepacking but not biking. I'm geared up on a Priority and have my first big trip coming in May to the Monumental Loop. I live in Florida and ride a Honda 1800 Goldwing and tow a Bushtec trailer. My 600x will lay on top (like your rafting) as I ride to New Mexico in May. Park the MC rig and set out on the WeedSac ride out. One more thing, I find your commentary very good. CHEERS🍻
I'll be nackered when I get back.😉
hey potty mouth ! do you bring parker on the trips to monitor your language ? just messing with you, loved the video.
Hah I probably swear more around Parker! Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it!
If you and rob come down to phoniex or flagstaff area give me a shout I will make a beer run for you guys or shuttle if you need it
Hell yeah! I am already bucking for another ride down in AZ. The Coconino loop looks awesome! (bikepacking.com/routes/bikepacking-coconino-loop/).
@@pnwbikepacking black canyon trail is a great one also could tie it into blood basin road to make a loop out of it
I’m in Phoenix and def let the Phoenix peeps know when your back in town for a cold one and a ride , awesome videos man !!
Snake 🐍 🐍 once bit them on the ankle
Thankfully I didn't see any snakes out there!