Ive been riding solo for 42 years, 9 months a year, I'm 69, started touring/bikepacking since i was 26. Never had a driver's license or learned to drive. Did the AZT 3 times, twice on foot in both directions, once on a mountainbike. Even carried it across the Grand Canyon north to south.
5 years ago I started mountain biking. 5 years ago I started dreaming about bike packing. 5 years ago I was 52 years old. I am 57 now and I am still waiting for my first bike packing. 5 years from now I won't wait anymore. I will ride it. I will ride it.
I also got my first mountain bike in the winter of 2021. I bought a gravel bike in February 20 just as Covid was beginning. It’s all I want to do in life now and I’m 56! I live in northern New Mexico and have access to the most amazing of writing in every direction. Planning on the tour divide next year. Love to be seeing all my fellow riders in their 50s getting at it!
Great storytelling in words and pictures. I got back to biking and bike-packing at 55, 8 years ago- so much fun; I'm in Scotland. "Next time...". The story of my life 😊
Your storytelling through your mix of talking head and scenic shots were captivating. Thanks for sharing the adventure and adversity on the AZT. I think the biggest thing that helped you finish the ride was the ability to deal with changes in the plan. Great example of how to keep moving forwards to your goals!
Great adventure! I don't usually watch a video this long without skipping ahead, but it really held my interest. Congratulations on your accomplishment.
Awesome. Halfway around Japan now and found some great inspiration as always. Great job. Turns out there are more tunnels than mountains here. Keep on pedalling!
Really like your videos. Thank you. I have ridden the desert in the summer heat. On a 105f day my bike comp reads 125f, same as a food health thermometer outside. Started riding at night, cooler, not much traffic. You picked the right time of year to ride. 😊
I have to say that I have not seen this video yet, I am a 50-year-old person who for more than 30 years and in a very personal and not professional way has ridden a mountain bike, walked, run in the mountains and skied, in that sense, at Reading the phrase that appears at the beginning of the video was completely captured, it resonated and made so much sense that so many experiences flashed by. This is what I love about UA-cam, people who motivate by showing how they get the most out of life and still have time to share it with others, Thank you!
Great video fellow cyclist!! I love Arizona I lived in Payson and pine!! Did some Backcountry riding around there this summer!! When it got hot I took the Amtrak and rode the Oregon coast!!🤣 🇺🇸🌎🚴🇺🇸
I'm the same age as you and I am planning on doing the GDMBR from border to border in 2026. We aren't getting any younger and we are of the age where you know that there is no guarantee's of tomorrow as you said. If I'm going to do it, the sooner the better.
Wow! Great video. Fantastic editing and drone shots and riding shots. This might be the best AZ Trail video I've seen (my home state). Now hike the Grand Canyon part!
Great video. I just did my first bike packing trip overnighter in flagstaff this weekend. I covered 40 mi each day for 2 days and was spent!. Im 52 as well (i guess the youtube algo is dialed in!) Peddling a 60 lb bike at elevation is no joke.. Great effort. Glad you didnt backdown from something so intimidating!
Great job, it was an excellent adventure, I noticed that you use the Aeroe Spider handlebar, can you share with me how you prevent it from sliding down with the weight? I have one but it always moves no matter how much I squeeze it. Congratulations was a great video.
Thank you, I have had the same problem. The sliding handlebar cradle would eventually hit the steer tube and it was rubbing. I kept adjusting whenever I stopped. I will have come up with a better solution to that problem. Thanks for watching.
@ Dear friend, after your answer where you told me that you have de same problem I decided to send an email to Aereo people, they answered me immediately, and they notified me that they have a solution for our problem, Aeroe developed a new strap to avoid slides. They are offering me a new pair of straps without cost. If you know any other person with the same problem please comment about it. These straps are offered as spare parts online too. Regards, Ricardo.
Nice trip! love me some single track….also you are correct on the statistics …i think death from motor powered vehicle is more likely than animals… Was that a rattle snake you filmed ? 😮😩🙂👍🏻
Look at the AZ Trail Race route cherry pick your sections. We don't do that section you did approaching Superior, but I have ridden is in another race. It was so full of catclaw thorns bushs It requited shin armor just not to 'bleed out'. PS You'll want to go back one day & do Picketpost to the Rivers, almost all bikepackesr say it's their favorite piece of the AZT or maybe the world ,the 1st 3mi is not so great so don't get discouraged.
Thanks for the feedback. I am already secretly planning to ride from the Mexican border to Picketpost next year. (don’t tell my wife 😬) I’ll get to that section eventually. Hahahaha cheers 🍻
Maybe - I wouldn't want to do it on a gravel bike. It's rocky with drop offs and really steep ups and downs. Not much fun on a gravel bike. MTB all the way. :) Hope this helps. Cheers
Unfortunately I don’t have any gpx files. I mostly followed the official Arizona Trail Associations map which is downloaded offline on your phone with the FarOut app. (it costs a couple of bucks, but totally worth it) For the alternatives routes I just used Google maps cycling. Hope this helps
What if you came across a detour, an opportunity or a crisis. Would that be plan D or E? If you had ridden this route every year for 20 years, you likely would rarely if ever go according to plans. This is not the Deutsche Bundesbahn.
It's too bad. I wanted to watch all this video. It was interesting, and the scenery was nice. Then you started to use the name of the Lord as a curse word.
I am listening to more than just your words; Really? When it comes to even distribution of wealth privilege and freedom between the genders? A lot of men are quite selfish, self-centered and actually believe that the spirit of God is more prominent in the male race than women. (I disagree). A lot of men of the HERE and NOW are alone because of their selfishness and their outlook toward women as for our expected roles (when intimately involved with a man); the smart women who figure out the error of males, they don't stick around for too long. Some of them end up being 'beaten'. I could share biblical scripture about the teachings of Christ where equality is to be between the genders...
Ive been riding solo for 42 years, 9 months a year, I'm 69, started touring/bikepacking since i was 26. Never had a driver's license or learned to drive.
Did the AZT 3 times, twice on foot in both directions, once on a mountainbike. Even carried it across the Grand Canyon north to south.
5 years ago I started mountain biking. 5 years ago I started dreaming about bike packing. 5 years ago I was 52 years old. I am 57 now and I am still waiting for my first bike packing. 5 years from now I won't wait anymore. I will ride it. I will ride it.
I also got my first mountain bike in the winter of 2021.
I bought a gravel bike in February 20 just as Covid was beginning.
It’s all I want to do in life now and I’m 56! I live in northern New Mexico and have access to the most amazing of writing in every direction.
Planning on the tour divide next year.
Love to be seeing all my fellow riders in their 50s getting at it!
@@23skido
You're not doing it if you haven't
That was outstanding! The drone footage added a lot. Thanks for posting.
Great storytelling in words and pictures.
I got back to biking and bike-packing at 55, 8 years ago- so much fun; I'm in Scotland.
"Next time...". The story of my life 😊
Your storytelling through your mix of talking head and scenic shots were captivating. Thanks for sharing the adventure and adversity on the AZT. I think the biggest thing that helped you finish the ride was the ability to deal with changes in the plan. Great example of how to keep moving forwards to your goals!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the comment.
Great adventure! I don't usually watch a video this long without skipping ahead, but it really held my interest. Congratulations on your accomplishment.
Thank you, it was for sure a bucket list item ✅
Loved every minute.
Thank you, I can‘t wait to go back next year and ride the parts I missed
Getting ready to do the same. Much love for what you have done.
Awesome. Halfway around Japan now and found some great inspiration as always. Great job.
Turns out there are more tunnels than mountains here.
Keep on pedalling!
Wow, sounds interesting. Hope you’re taking tons of pictures or videos. Anywhere we can follow along??? Thanks for watching
Really like your videos. Thank you. I have ridden the desert in the summer heat. On a 105f day my bike comp reads 125f, same as a food health thermometer outside. Started riding at night, cooler, not much traffic. You picked the right time of year to ride. 😊
105 😳 no thanks. The highest it got in the first week of May was 88. The nights are soooo much cooler.
@@cyclingskills In the summer when temps reach over 110f your lucky if the nights hit 90f.🤪
Super inspiring! Keep up the great work!
thank you :)
This was awesome thanks for taking us with you!
I have to say that I have not seen this video yet, I am a 50-year-old person who for more than 30 years and in a very personal and not professional way has ridden a mountain bike, walked, run in the mountains and skied, in that sense, at Reading the phrase that appears at the beginning of the video was completely captured, it resonated and made so much sense that so many experiences flashed by. This is what I love about UA-cam, people who motivate by showing how they get the most out of life and still have time to share it with others, Thank you!
Thank you for the comment. Really appreciate your response. Cheers
Great video fellow cyclist!! I love Arizona I lived in Payson and pine!! Did some Backcountry riding around there this summer!! When it got hot I took the Amtrak and rode the Oregon coast!!🤣 🇺🇸🌎🚴🇺🇸
Great job, thanks for sharing! Hat’s off to you sir!!
I'm the same age as you and I am planning on doing the GDMBR from border to border in 2026. We aren't getting any younger and we are of the age where you know that there is no guarantee's of tomorrow as you said. If I'm going to do it, the sooner the better.
Go for it. Good luck and enjoy 👍
Love it, im trying to get back on the bike but have had a lot of crashing recently, watching this helps
Refreshing to see someone do this on a proper mountain bike, instead of the trendy graveler.
A donkey would be the real thing 😅
Wow! Great video. Fantastic editing and drone shots and riding shots. This might be the best AZ Trail video I've seen (my home state). Now hike the Grand Canyon part!
Thanks. I would hike the Canyon without the bike 😬 I am much more interested in the parts i haven’t ridden from the Mexican border up.
Great video! Thanks for sharing.
Great video. I just did my first bike packing trip overnighter in flagstaff this weekend. I covered 40 mi each day for 2 days and was spent!. Im 52 as well (i guess the youtube algo is dialed in!) Peddling a 60 lb bike at elevation is no joke.. Great effort. Glad you didnt backdown from something so intimidating!
Thanks, it took a full week to recover from this. But so worth it. I’ll do this (maybe somewhere else) again. Congrats on getting out there as well 👍
Holy crap! The plumbing in your legs is insane
Great job, it was an excellent adventure, I noticed that you use the Aeroe Spider handlebar, can you share with me how you prevent it from sliding down with the weight? I have one but it always moves no matter how much I squeeze it. Congratulations was a great video.
Thank you, I have had the same problem. The sliding handlebar cradle would eventually hit the steer tube and it was rubbing. I kept adjusting whenever I stopped. I will have come up with a better solution to that problem. Thanks for watching.
@
Dear friend, after your answer where you told me that you have de same problem I decided to send an email to Aereo people, they answered me immediately, and they notified me that they have a solution for our problem, Aeroe developed a new strap to avoid slides. They are offering me a new pair of straps without cost. If you know any other person with the same problem please comment about it. These straps are offered as spare parts online too. Regards, Ricardo.
Nice trip! love me some single track….also you are correct on the statistics …i think death from motor powered vehicle is more likely than animals…
Was that a rattle snake you filmed ? 😮😩🙂👍🏻
I think it was a Rattle snake. Pretty much all snakes I ever encountered are just trying to get away from humans.
Fantastic storytelling and documentary of your ride - nicely done! Any run-ins with scorpions at night?
Thanks- Zero Scorpions 🦂 👍
Good for you!! What a fun and neat trip! How many flats? How many crashes?
Look at the AZ Trail Race route cherry pick your sections. We don't do that section you did approaching Superior, but I have ridden is in another race. It was so full of catclaw thorns bushs It requited shin armor just not to 'bleed out'.
PS You'll want to go back one day & do Picketpost to the Rivers, almost all bikepackesr say it's their favorite piece of the AZT or maybe the world ,the 1st 3mi is not so great so don't get discouraged.
Thanks for the feedback. I am already secretly planning to ride from the Mexican border to Picketpost next year. (don’t tell my wife 😬) I’ll get to that section eventually. Hahahaha cheers 🍻
hi: just watched this video. what is the brand and model of your tent? thnx
It’s a Big Agnes tent - one person - not cheap, but light and good 👍
Do you think a gravel bike could do this trail? I have 2.1 tires but no suspension. Thank you for your journey.
Maybe - I wouldn't want to do it on a gravel bike. It's rocky with drop offs and really steep ups and downs. Not much fun on a gravel bike. MTB all the way. :) Hope this helps. Cheers
@@cyclingskills thank you. I don't have good technical skills either. Guess I'll have to look for something easier haha
Can you share a cue sheet or gpx file of your route?
Unfortunately I don’t have any gpx files. I mostly followed the official Arizona Trail Associations map which is downloaded offline on your phone with the FarOut app. (it costs a couple of bucks, but totally worth it) For the alternatives routes I just used Google maps cycling. Hope this helps
@@cyclingskills Thanks Mate!
Fantastic video! Depending on when you were riding through Phoenix, I feel like I might have seen you. Not many bikepackers riding around.
❤❤❤❤❤
Nice to see a bike packer on a full suspension ride; eventually where I wanna be.
What if you came across a detour, an opportunity or a crisis.
Would that be plan D or E?
If you had ridden this route every year for 20 years, you likely would rarely if ever go according to plans. This is not the Deutsche Bundesbahn.
so cool im 52 now my goal is 2025
You're making yourself old 😢
It's too bad. I wanted to watch all this video. It was interesting, and the scenery was nice. Then you started to use the name of the Lord as a curse word.
I am listening to more than just your words; Really? When it comes to even distribution of wealth privilege and freedom between the genders? A lot of men are quite selfish, self-centered and actually believe that the spirit of God is more prominent in the male race than women. (I disagree). A lot of men of the HERE and NOW are alone because of their selfishness and their outlook toward women as for our expected roles (when intimately involved with a man); the smart women who figure out the error of males, they don't stick around for too long. Some of them end up being 'beaten'. I could share biblical scripture about the teachings of Christ where equality is to be between the genders...