The Cowboy Trail: Nebraska's Rail Trail Wonder
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- Опубліковано 2 лип 2024
- Join me for six beautiful days on Nebraska's Cowboy Trail. Covering 195 miles from Norfolk to Valentine (and back), this trail provides all the beauty that the state offers. Despite battling a headwind almost the entire ride, the countryside more than made up for the extra challenge. And the kindness of Nebraskans was awesome. I rode this trail in June, 2024.
MILESTONES:
EAST TO WEST
0:09:34 Day 1: Norfolk to O'Neill
0:30:39 Day 2: O'Neill to Ainsworth
0:53:54 Day 3: Ainsworth to Valentine
WEST TO EAST
1:11:14 Day 4: Valentine to Bassett
1:27:35 Day 5: Bassett to Ewing
1:35:40 Day 6: Ewing to Norfolk
Other links:
Easton Corbin's "Raising Humans" • Easton Corbin - Raisin...
(get your tissues ready)
bikecowboytrail.com
www.roadsideamerica.com
If you like these videos, please SUBSCRIBE and if you really like them, you could buy me a coffee ☕️ (https:/buymeacoffee.com/raadventures)
I ride a Trek Checkpoint ALR5.
This video was filmed on a GoPro 11 Black, Insta360 One X, iPhone 13 Max Pro, Hover X Drone and I use Final Cut Pro X and Apple Motion for video production.
You can contact me at: bryan@ridealongadventures.com
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Wow awesome job, you did my state great and you are welcomed back anytime! I hate to say it but I road that route the first week of June and had a tail wind for 6 days. :) I'm really looking forward to your next video, I was stationed at the Air Force base in South Dakota for 8 years in Rapid City when they were building the Mickelson Trail and got to ride it in 2015. Another great trail!
lol. A tailwind would rock. I’m working on the Mickelson video right now. I really loved that area. After my ride I did some driving around (Badlands, Wall Drug, the missile silos, etc). Awesome place. I’m already planning to return. Thanks for the kind words and for watching.
Bryan,
As a lifelong Nebraskan, I wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you for your fantastic video😍😍showcasing Nebraska’s Cowboy Trail. Your journey along the trail was truly inspiring, and your detailed commentary and stunning visuals made it feel like we were right there with you. I wished I could have warned you about our wind. I’ve always said, the wind starts in Nebraska.
I had been told the cowboy trail was too rugged for a daily ebike commuter like myself. However, thanks to your video, I now believe that's not completely true. Even though I have a bum leg (a repaired ruptured quadricep), I am inspired to take a crack at a section of it or at least downhill from Valentine to Norfolk.
As a rookie UA-camr building my channel, Pedaling Past 60, with the goal of going full-time when I retire (5 years to go!) I deeply appreciate the incredible amount of work you put into editing your epic-length video. Most will never understand the effort that is. I watched it in its entirety and was searching for tissues at the end. You are a gifted storyteller.
I also loved the t-shirt (briefly pictured) with a bike and the caption "retirement plan." It resonated with me and I must have one!
Thank you again for sharing your hard work and for bringing such an amazing adventure to life. Keep up the great work!
Be safe,
John G
Pedaling Past 60🚴♂🚴♂
#GBR!
You're very kind, John. I thoroughly enjoyed this trail. It is definitely rugged in some spots (especially the eastern portion) but those wide open landscapes were just breath-taking.
Hey, in terms of youtube, I think we are all rookies. :) If you ever want to synch up on some ideas/techniques/etc, please reach out (bryan@ridealongadventures.com). I'm happy to share stuff and learn from you as well. Btw, I subscribed to your channel. Your Omaha riverfront ride: very funny "thanks to today's sponsor...uh...oh..." 😂
The t-shirt was a father's day gift from my son last year. It's a great conversation starter and, as I found out the very next week on the Mickelson Trail, another rider recognized me from my shirt.
@@RideAlongAdventures its quite an honor to hear from you! I definetly have a few questions and will reach out via email. Any tips on early retirement? LOL I could ride all day..and unfortuantly a prerequisite of my retirement will be old age🤣
Hi Brian. This has been one of those trails that I've not heard many positive stories about. Closed in sections, no shade, big gopher holes, and so on.
Your video is great. I think it gives a real good look at the challenges this trail has. But your storytelling during the ride made this trail very interesting to me.
Nice presentation my man , can't wait to watch your Mickelson video.
Thanks, Phil. Yeah, I get the feeling this trail is often overlooked. I saw only a handful of riders over six days, a very small fraction of what I saw on the Mickelson the very next week. I just kept reflecting on the word "cowboy"...rough, rugged, etc. It is appropriately named. At the same time, I've watched how the C&O (for example) has been improved and the old rough sections are now smoothly surfaced and something feels a little "off". I think this trail is well worth considering, especially if and when the state continues to expand the route both east and west. Oh, one more thing: most of the detours and rough patches are between Norfolk and Ewing. The further you head to the west, the better the conditions.
It is a tough one and you're going to get lucky with the weather. I got to say though the little towns make it worthwhile. I had great food on that trail. No problem with water.
I did my first tour from Chicago to Boulder Colorado in 2020 right as the pandemic started. I left in June 1st. The cowboy trail was definitely a highlight of the trip. I slept on the bridges. Pitched my tent on the planks at dusk and woke up at dawn to continue. Very few people were on the trail that year. I'll never forget a monster heat lightning storm lit up the sky like the apocalypse. No worries sleeping on those bridges in a downpour. The rain just runs off the tent through the slats to the creeks. It was tough going by Valentine because of the ballast. So I would roll out on route 20 at times. A lot of interesting geology. I tell anybody contemplating a tour in these areas to take your
foam ear plugs because the wind can be utterly maddening.
I remember feeling trepdeliciousness leaving the bus station in Chicago with such a long ride in front of me. I was hauling a BoB trailer.
awesome, stephen. Great stories. And major kudos for "trepdeliciousness".
@@RideAlongAdventures we did the same thing in elementary school! my state was Kansas and i'll never forget getting that packet from the Kansas CoC. i'm staggered that you turned around and cranked back. quite an achievement.
i had wind like that in Colorado that reduced me to hiding behind a tree but the next day was a glorious tailwind. unforgettable. i also had a samaritan stop and hand me an orange soda when i was in fear of dying of heatstroke. ten minutes later a guy stopped in a pickup truck and said, "hey man, it's hot out there, want a ride? i threw my trailer in the back with my bike and he rode me 25 miles right to a McDonalds. i gave him a hunting knife i found on the road. he was stoked and i was saved. it was upper 90's in blazing sun.
i was told in Nebraska that all the water at the windmills is good to drink but you have to tap it at the outflow, not the tank. those 'sandhills' cover a bounty of great water in an aquifer. a fascinating history of ranching there. i was also told you can camp in all the little town parks overnight.
i did twice on the cowboy trail, also got a fantastic burger in Valentine.
your video really captured the essence of the experience. nostalgic! thanks again, i'm subbed.
i was teary also at the Vet's statement. really got to me.
it's what we hope for on a tour. the slow road.
Finally got myself on youtube...enjoy your videos....I don't ride out on trails...I pedal along watching the video for fitness purposes. My sister had passed away a year ago last June 2nd, and part of the healing process was getting myself back into shape. I lost about 94 pounds since March of 2023. I do like to hike on a local rail trail as often as I can...and make the most of those trips. Thank you I do enjoy these videos...this reminds me of your Katy Trail...going past those small towns...that is interesting...and remind myself the countryside is a place to heal...not in the city.
I’m sorry for your loss. I’m sure she would be proud of your discipline and effort to get into shape. You are absolutely right: there’s a whole lot of healing going on across the countryside. Myself included. Thanks for watching.
Hey Bryan, what an incredible adventure!! Not sure if I could ever ride this trail myself since it's so far from any Amtrak stations, but it's okay, now I rode it already through your video and learned so much more than I would have ever learned riding it myself. You added even my Red-winged Blackbird birding video clip there, awesome. Looking forward to you next ride video, the Mickelson Trail 😊
Thanks so much for the quick turnaround on the bird question. That was awesome. It's funny because as I was getting dive-bombed, I almost just thought of calling you. :) They were really aggressive at some points.
Hello 👋 Bryan.. I always learn a lot watching your videos.. thanks for your effort.. It’s well appreciated.. And what a Surprise seeing Thomas with a quick response on the RedWing Blackbird..
Safe Travels 🚐🚴♂️😎💫
Oh Happy 4th 🇺🇸
Got to agree with you about Nebraska. It is a wonderful place with great people and beautiful views. There is just something about nothing! Love the guest appearance by Thomas. That wind can be brutal out there but you survived it well. Another great video brother! 👍🏼
Thanks, dude. I greatly appreciated your daily dose of encouragement and insight throughout the ride. 🙏
Good morning Bryan. Yep :D - A TV dinner was a special treat growing up in the 70's - fond memories. The salisbury steak was my favorite. Nicely done and thank you.
lol. good stuff. living large!
Great ride again Bryan, thanks for sharing your adventures! They are truly enjoyable and love your kind demeanor. I do local road rides and trail rides, some of which are hosted events on my bikes primarily in Fl and NC, however, you are giving me the inspiration in trying out a bike tour. Every time I’m out riding or watching one of your videos, I tell myself how Blessed we are for these great opportunities. I’m looking forward to your next ride, safe travels my friend. : )
So glad to hear it! Blessed is the perfect word.
Congrats, another winner! You are a trouper Brine, always happy despite your challenges. You literally found the middle of nowhere! Can’t say as that trail is my favorite, but I’m glad you did it so I won’t have too! We all had a Mrs. Stiles growing up. I’ve been a Cornhusker fan since the mid seventies (Johnny Rodgers punt return against the Sooners on Black Friday (don’t think it was called Black Friday back then?)). I had a 63 mile headwind riding around Lake Okeechobee back in March, it was brutal (you took the wind better than I did, I might have cussed a few, or more times). Don’t forget waitresses along with Taxi drivers and bartenders, where would we be without them? Looking forward to your video on the Mickelson Trail, now that is a trail on my bucket list! Think I covered everything. Till the next time. Thanks again!
Thank you. You are absolutely right about waitresses/waiters. Although I tend to refer to them for places to stay and stuff to see. I have to ride Okeechobee this winter. I’m editing the Mickelson video as we speak. I’ve been doing a lot of riding so the editing it taking a bit longer. It was a great ride. Thanks for watching! Always appreciate you staying in touch.
Enjoyed the video very much. Very well done as usual.
Glad you enjoyed it. We gotta hit The Drip again soon.
I wanna play the new game🤗. My 1 word description of the first 10 miles of a ride would be “Decompression Session”. I know, I know, it’s 2 words…but that’s what happens to me when I go on a ride. Thanks for the new video and game addition👍👍
Aww, heck yeah. I like that. That’s absolutely accurate. Someone else called it “debustling”. Perfect.
Thanks for sharing, brian! Always a treat when your video comes up!
I appreciate that!
Bryan, Well done. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it
Fantastic video!!!!
Thank you! Glad you liked it.
@@RideAlongAdventures, Did you decide on a prize for the person who's special word was chosen for the beginning of a ride? I know a good prize. What about a new Corvette? You could buy the person that wins a new Corvette. You would get a lot more submissions that way. OK, so here is my word, FUGETABOUDIT.
I always sleep in my Ford Escape when I travel. 👌👍🚴Love your videos!!
Thank you. Travel easy. 👍🏻
Bryan, another great production - thank you for the efforts
Velovation is my word for you contest. Definition - the exhilarating and transitional phase experienced during g the initial miles of a long bicycle ride, where the riders body adjusts, joints loosen, and a sense of adventure and excitement emerges.
Ooooh…good one!
This was highly entertaining and educational. So well done. Your attention to detail does not go unnoticed. Great tunes too. Especially the AI one. I had no idea that was possible. The Birds with Thomas bit was so good. Thanks for doing all this work. Looking forward to the George Michelson Trail one.
Glad you enjoyed it, Diego. I appreciate the feedback. I’m only the Padawan…you’re the Jedi Master. 😊
@@RideAlongAdventures You crack me up. Im thinking lightsabers now.
Adding subscription. Bike ride brought me in. Easton Corbin endorsement got my immediate sub. Dude is a great singer
Thanks for the sub. And-agreed. He is a talented dude. He has expanded my musical interests.
Bryan , I think you quite a 'real entertainer' yourself with the cycling, factoids and childhood stories. My word is 'blissicious'
Going back to a previous episode looks like you've found a comfortable saddle.
Thank you. That’s nice of you to say.
Ok, that’s an awesome word!!
Yes, the Brooks has been a wonder. I still get sore spots if I’m out of condition but it’s amazingly comfortable.
Feel your pain, going through implant now, glad your back. Thanks for sharing this trail.
Sorry to hear that. It’s not fun.
Great video as always! Excited to see you back!
William Jennings Bryan is actually from a town near where I grew up: Salem, Illinois. There’s even a statue of him there.
Thank you. Yeah, it’s sort of tough to identify people by birth location. Others have pointed out that Carson was born in Iowa. I guess Nebraska claims them because of their contribution to the state.
Glad your back in the saddle. Great video looking forward to the next one
Thanks 👍 yeah, man, it felt good to be back at it.
I recently found your channel and I am really enjoying your videos! Thanks for the free rides! Okay, trying to catch up, so onto the next one.
Welcome aboard! Enjoy.
Welcome back, beautiful scenery and videography. Nebraska looks great with its wide open plains. Your recollection of the Swanson TV Dinner hit home every point. How it was a treat when your parents went out at night. The excitement of picking out which meal to have, and always burning the skin off the roof of your mouth because you ate the ridiculously hot dessert first. (apple pie filling one was the most painful) Great memories!
lol. I’m happy to know someone else just dove right into the lava dessert. 😂 ahh, the little things that brought so much joy. Thanks for watching.
We 🚴🚴get to experience places we🚴🚴 may never get to ride to. Thank you ❤️
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hey Bryan! Every time I watch your videos, I’m a little bit smarter about so many things..lol.., I’ve laughed a lot, and I feel like I was on the trail with you!! Loved the little dance/excitement segment!! When you got to the part about most difficult rides, somehow, I knew a day from RAGBRAI 2023 would be near the top of the list!, My legs were screaming just thinking about the headwind you were experiencing on this trip … BOTH DIRECTIONS‼🙀Thanks so much for the effort you put into your videos!
Be safe and wishing you a tailwind on The Mickelson trail!!
So glad you enjoyed it. It was a great ride. And (don’t tell anyone yet) the Mickelson turned out to be my new favorite. 😊
Brilliant - love seeing all those places again. Seems like a very long time ago. Glad you asked Thomas about the dive bombing birds - have had loads of those as well. Look forward to your next adventure 🚴🏻♀️
I appreciated your advice prior to taking off myself. You definitely had me ready for the detours along the way. I think the funniest interaction was somewhere around 4-5 miles out of Norfolk when that guy said the trail was closed and I should turn around. In fairness, that's exactly what the sign said ("trail closed"). As we discussed in email, this trail has its challenges but I still really enjoyed it, especially the further west I rode. In Atkinson, there was this master plan map that showed a lot of aspirations for expansion (border to border). I don't know the timing but I'd definitely go back if they did that.
@@RideAlongAdventures I agree - to have a route all the way would be fantastic. 😊
It's really good to see you getting back out there Bryan. Thanks for taking us along. The Mickelson Trail is high on our wishlist, I'm looking forward to your report. Keep on posting and we'll keep on enjoying your perspective!👍. Ps. RAGBRAI starts in just two weeks! (Just sayin')
Thanks for the kind words and thanks for watching.
I've told you before that I live near the Erie Canal in Rochester and ride parts of it all the time. On your recommendation, I'm reading Wedding of the Waters and learning some of the rich history of the area. Thanks so much! Great video.
That’s a great book. Glad you liked the video. 👍🏻
Hi Bryan, glad to see you back on the trails. So, the euphoric feeling you get when beginning a solo or group ride, when everyone is juiced and you feel peppy, well, that's "pedelation" my friend.
That’s a good one. 👍🏻
Cool video!
Thanks! It is a great trail.
Hello Bryan. I was starting to have withdrawals from not watching your videos. Nebraska is a great state to tour in the summer. Much better than riding in Florida, which I hope to see your return this fall and winter.
One word that I always come up with whenever I start any ride, regardless of length is Excitement. Not knowing what opportunities and challenges are ahead. It's what makes every ride enjoyable.
Can't wait to see your video on the Mickelson trail.
Very true. Excitement fuels that first 10 for sure.
I’ve been wondering where you’ve been! Sorry about the dental issues. Can’t wait to watch this whole video!!!
Thanks, John. It's a crazy long process even without issues. And even crazier to think I've got another year to go!! 😂 Thanks for watching. I'm hoping to make this summer one to remember on the bike.
Thanks for video! Northern Coloradan here, I might ride the Cowboy this fall. I've ridden the Mickelson, Katy, GAP/C&O, Erie Canal, plus a bunch of short rail trails as connector routes. Always love a good rail trail. If you ever get a chance take the Lakes Region rail trails across MN.
Thanks for the tips. Any trails you would recommend in Colorado?
@@RideAlongAdventures We moved here last year, so discovering routes in CO. Not many rail trials, but the LOBO Trail runs from Longmont (home) to Boulder, then another series of separated trails go south to Denver. I've ridden half of the GDMBR from CAN to Breckenridge, CO, so I will finish that route one day. Side note, was going to ride the GDMBR this summer, but a minor surgery ended that this year. Maybe next.
Hey Bryan , we watched this video on our patio with a few neighbors. As non cyclists they were still kept interested by your commentary and wanted to see how the ride would end. As Beth and I are just getting in to bike packing (to start just after RAGBRAI) I think our vote for one word would be “unrevealed” as once we get on the bikes we don’t know what will be unrevealed. Great video and hope to ride with you one day.
Ryan & Beth
Thanks for the kind words...all the more considering your excellent content as well. I've been following your RAGBRAI prep videos. Great stuff. I'm skipping this year but I may be back in '25. "Unrevealed" is next level philosophical depth. 😀 Good word. As a subscriber, I'll be following you guys on your future adventures. yeah, let's hope our paths cross some day!
Been waiting for this, Cowboy.
Dude...this was an AWESOME trail. "Cowboy" is the perfect name. And, not to spoil the next one, the Mickelson was even more beautiful. It was a long-a drive out there but it was totally worth it. I thought of our eclipse trip because I was thinking of just sleeping in the van back then. :) We gotta catch up on some Finger Lakes stuff if you're still game.
@@RideAlongAdventures Oh yes. We do.
Wow! Thanks for another really awesome amazing neat and cool video, Bryan. I especially enjoyed your thoughts about what the first European invaders must have endured in those long ago times. My parents would take me and my sister on vacation trips to Colorado from our home in suburban Chicago in the late 1950's and early '60's, and when we were in Nebraska, they would often think about the hardships. Now, our 1954 Packard car, pounding along the two lane concrete without air con or seat belts, seems like pioneer times compared to the interstate highways of today. Anyway, thanks for all your hard work riding, shooting, and editing, and for your always interesting and entertaining thoughts.
Glad you liked it. Good memories of vacations. Lol. Same. Vacations were wherever the family station wagon could go. 😊
Wobbling is the word the first ten miles. Always a surprise on handling a fully loaded bike until your reflexes adapt. Looking forward to your Mickelson ride. I did it in May 22-25th this year. I want to do the Cowboy in 25 same month. Yes, child in the 1950s, TV dinners were a treat.
Good word! And very true. I’m not accustomed to all four bags most of the time so that definitely takes a few minutes to adjust. Add wind and it’s even longer.
Isn’t it funny how many little things were such a delight as kids? 😊 maybe it’s a circle of life thing…a lot of memories coming back.
Hey Bryan, I just finished this ride on my stationary. Loved riding with you. What a great nation we have the privilege and freedom to live in. I had an implant a few years back, but no complications. It was a long drawn out process
You asked us to give you what the first 10 miles of a bike ride was to us. That is my warm up phase and where I tell my self do I really want to do this!!
Glad to hear it. Total agreement. 🇺🇸
Gotta give you props on using that great Nebraska license plate to show what town you're in. Love the Western Meadowlark on the plate
👍 I tried to slip in a fun fact (state bird) without people knowing. 😂
Brian, thanks so much for this video. The quality of your productions is quite good. But that is extraneous. What really matters is your stories. I really found your comments on Nebraska very touching. I grew up in Nebraska, but I have only lived there 3 yrs out of the last 55. Your comments bring it all back to me. There is a simple beauty in those landscapes. Many (or most) might call it boring. You never did. This is the best video on the Cowboy Trail that I have seen. It gives me a much better feeling for the trail than others have, and now I want to put it on my list. But at 75, I need to be more proactive to make it happen. Thanks for your work. I am sure that producing a video like this is true work.
Thanks for the kind words. "Simple beauty" is a great way to put it and absolutely true. Those wide open spaces were just breath-taking. I hope the state continues to expand the trail. I saw a map with a really cool plan to go border to border, west to east. And when I drove further westward out of Valentine, I saw a lot of new trail being created. It's a real blessing to see our country at the ground level. Thanks for watching and I hope you can work it out to get out there. it's totally worth it!
I’m not a bike rider, but based on your description of the freedom, the wind in your face, the joy, etc., it sounds like your word should be “euphoria”. Also, I feel your dental pain. I just finished getting a molar implant. It took 9 months with no complications. It was worth the wait. I hope your turns out as good. Happy trails!
That's an excellent word. True. My gosh...9 months?! I'm wondering if I'm EVER going to arrive at the finish line. Mine is also a molar (#3). Thanks for watching!
@@RideAlongAdventures My dentist took it in 4-month stages to allow the bone to heal after each step with an extra month to order the top of the molar, so hang in there! We’re loving and laughing along with your videos. 👍🏻
I am glad you are back on the Tube. The Cowboy Trail looks like a wonderful ride though I imagine that inclement weather could make it quite miserable. BTW: I decided on a bridge over the implant.
Yeah I was happy there were no storms while riding because there didn’t appear to be a lot of places to take cover. It was definitely wide open spaces.
Yeah, I think a bridge is in the works. 🤔
I like the song.
It’s only slightly scary that it took one sentence to create it. 😳
Hi Bryan. My word is "Bo". For those of us old enough to remember Bo Derek in the movie "10", you know what I mean!!! She was a total 10, a beauty, exhilarant for us young men :-). So yes, the first ten miles of exuberance on a bike ride is Bo to me.
LOL. Dudley Moore's fantasy. Ok, that's a new stream of thought for this contest. 😂
Hello 👋 Bryan.. What an Amazing Adventure.. I am taking Notes 📝.. I,m learning a lot watching your videos.. I appreciate your efforts in putting this video together.. What a fantastic surprise to see Thomas appear with a answer Redwing Blackbird 🐦⬛
Happy 4th🇺🇸 and Safe Travels
🚐🚴♂️😎💫🌞🍀
Glad you like them! Thomas is a good guy AND a serious birder. 😊
Thanks!
Wow. Thank you! 🙏
Yikes...top of the leader board! I remember Des Moines to Tama -Toledo as a pretty brutal day. Those are character building rides.
Tama-Toledo…i couldn’t remember the name. My gosh. What a brutal day that was.
Not finished watching this yet but wanted to mention on your way to the Mickelson trail stop in Sioux Falls to see a muffler man. I'm from South Dakota and I'm sure you know about it but last I saw him he was a little "tired" looking. Enjoy your travels and looking forward to the rest of the Cowboy and Mickelson trails. The Mickelson is beautiful! Safe travels!
Bummer! I missed that one. I caught two more on the drive home to Delaware. They always make me laugh. Thanks for watching!
@@RideAlongAdventures I will have to correct myself, after looking into it the one in Sioux Falls SD isn't an official muffler man but another knockoff I guess but still worth the stop if you're ever out this way again. His name is Mr. Bendo.
I still "claim" Mr Bendo's. They are like Muffler Man cousins, along with Uniroyal Gals and the like.
First ten - 'Absolutely Gorgeous!' 😂
oh my...you're on to something there. 😂
Yay Brian’s back!
Thanks! It felt great to be back on the bike for a few weeks!
Free--- that's the word for me. All the ties, all the worries, all the doubts and nervousness are gone and it's just me and the bike. Free!
Excellent!
Unplugged !! Rolling along unplugged is a feeling like no other !!
So true.
Why do I feel like I'm being cheated on? lol
@@TheBane1979 whatever do you mean Bane? Cheated on ?? Not a chance !!
@@deniseemory4359 lol
I watched the video twice. Once to get a feel for the trail and conditions. The second time for the lovely experience of Nebraska.
Double thanks! I was happy to hear that there might be plans to extend the trail further westward. I drove that way and noticed there are several spots with a trail but they are disconnected from Valentine. Gives a reason to go back someday. 😊 thanks again for watching.
love the song.. from one Brian to antoerhF!
Dude…this AI stuff is pretty scary. That song was created using ONE sentence. 😳
Ooh Daddy Brian is/was in my home state! While I'm in Colorado.
Lucky! I happened to stop through Colorado to visit some friends. Another great state!
Brian, did you have any issues with goat’s head thorn giving you flat tires?
Believe it not, I went prepped for disaster but I didn’t even SEE a goat head. I’m wondering if they are seasonal?
@@RideAlongAdventures I hear it is worse in the fall. I’m thinking about a round trip ride week after Labor Day weekend. Don’t want it to be a train wreck so somewhat concerned.
We’re you running a tubeless setup or liners with tubes?
Tubeless. Plus a tube in my bags just in case. 😊
If those small towns are fortunate to still have a hardware store, you can almost always have a great conversation with the workers, customers and old guys who just hang out there. My Dad and his hardware buddies would sit on the “liar’s bench” on the porch out front of our local store. They’d gossip for hours or sometimes just sit there together in silence.
i love everything you just said.
Hey Bryan, another great video, thank you.
I’m from Cleveland and I noticed at the end of the video it looked like you had on a shirt from Cleveland?
Have you done a ride in Cleveland?
Yeah, that is my OTET shirt. I have ridden the Ohio to Erie two times. Once each way. I’m originally from Cincy. Still a proud Ohioan at heart. Thanks for watching!
Fantastic video! No goat heads! Always love your stories. Did you have to pay for parking?
Hey, likewise, buddy. Loved your summer solstice ride. No, parking was free at the campground. There were like 3 spots and all three were open.
So I’m watching the video this afternoon and I’m wondering if Bryan is going to mention the Red Wing Blackbirds that appear behind him in so many shots…. The at 1:04:00 my question is answered!! 😊😊
lol. They were seriously aggressive. 😂
Interesting and entertaining video. I've done the trail out and back 6 or 7 times and it was neat to see some of your shots and know exactly where you were. I always say that the Cowboy Trail isn't just a fun bike ride, it's an Adventure! After doing it once I was hooked and now do it every year. You never mentioned goathead thorns, did you not encounter any? Some years they are the scourge of the trail. Last year they had them a little better under control. Tailwinds, brother!
Cool, thanks! That’s awesome you’ve gotten out there so often. I really enjoyed it. For me, it was just really different scenery, landscape. Super beautiful. Do you know if there are solid plans to extend the trail? I noticed, while driving further west of Valentine, that there is a lot of trail being constructed. There was a really cool map in Atkinson that showed a really aggressive development plan going border to border. Very cool. Thanks for watching, Doug.
sorry...You mentioned goatheads. I was super paranoid about it so I brought a mess of extra sealant and even a tube if it got that bad. But I didn't see even one of them. I'm wondering if the wind blew them off the trail...?
The word for the first 10 miles is pedalgasmic 😮😂
There ya go. Nice.
Great video. You did the trail and area quite a bit of justice. Just in case you are itching to come back, paddling the Niobrara River East of Valentine is spectacular.
Also, my Mom's side of the family is from Atkinson. Was the guy that offered you a garage and tools named Ron?
lol…yes, I believe so. Heck of a nice guy. I seem to recall he was/is a teacher?
Thanks for the tip. Yes, I do believe I will be back. I’ve heard tales of the BRAN and that sounds awesome.
This trail is notorious for goat heads causing flats. No mention of flats in the video. Also, no mention of time of year or did I miss that. Love all the productions you do. My word for the contest is aroused. Thanks.
Yeah, believe it or not: no goat heads OR flats. I just rode it a bit ago--June 2024. LOL..."aroused". 😂
the Mickelson trail is on the list, probably for next year. I'm a no plan type a fella myself.
GORGEOUS LOL
You’ll love it. It shot to #1 on my rail trail list. Deadwood was incredibly cool. I’m trying to edit the video right now and I find myself just watching instead. 😂
I didn't get a look at that fellas bike, the one riding 180 miles a day. Was he self supported carrying all his gear?
I got a kick out of the birding with thomas add in lol
Just finishing this one. Looks like its gravel/sand/dirt?
I tend to enjoy all Rails to Trails, but that said, it’s probably a good thing you did the Cowboy Trail first. I think if you had done the Mickelson first, you might have been a bit let down by the CT. One man’s opinion. Keep riding.
I think you're right. They are also very different trails.
@@RideAlongAdventuresGood point Brian
Really enjoyed this video journey. I'm from NE and in June I completed BRAN 42 from Valentine to Louisville. I am very familiar with the Cowboy Trail and try to revisit it as much as I can. No mention of "goat heads" encountered during your trip through portions of the Cowboy Trail?
So, I was totally expecting a ton of flats as I had been warned but 0 goat heads and 0 flats. I run tubeless so maybe I had some and didn't know it but I even got down on the trail to look for them. Maybe they got blown off the path? I was surprised I didn't see more riders out there. I think it is a great ride. Such natural beauty all around and awesome small town vibes. I gotta look into the BRAN. Sounds like fun.
BRAN was fun but challenging. Always the first week in June. Route changes from year to year. Last year through the Sandhills was so nice. Got lucky with the weather. There are just certain stretches of the Cowboy trail where the goat heads are worse for some reason. For sure I run tubeless on rail trails. Oh BTW if the wind doesn't blow in NE it's like we don't have permission to ride.
hilarious. There was a super gentle breeze today in Delaware and I overheard people complaining about the "wild wind." I'm going to look into BRAN for sure.
@@RideAlongAdventures BRAN is always the first week in June, so you can put it on your calendar.
You are one he'll of an editor... you could make your own movies about anything and they would be very entertaining...😊 when you do the tent thing, inpaticular...😊
Thank you, Adam. You are too kind. it's a fun hobby and now that I'm retired, I can spend/waste a lot of time on silly effects like that. :) Thanks for watching, my friend.
What kind of bike are you riding? You ride on both dirt/gravel and paved roads but I don't think you have ever talked about your bike. I'd like to know what kind of bike you use, esp. what type of tires. Also, a discussion about your other equipment would be interesting. Love your channel. Thanks
I've done a few gear videos but they are getting old so i'll try to include more detail in future videos. I ride a 2020 Trek Checkpoint (ALR5) and I really like it. Solid ride. It's really versatile. As you mentioned I do roads/gravel/dirt/sand/muck and I have 43s on there currently. And I go tubeless of which I also have grown to be a major fan. Thanks for watching!
New word: debustling - the process that occurs in the first miles of a bike's ride where one mentally shifts from the bustle and detail of travel and preparation into the slow moving, unhurried pace of bicycle travel. For highly bustled individuals, this mental transition can be from hours to a few days.
Wow. Great word and extremely accurate.
Freedom!
in more ways than one!! 🇺🇸 Happy 4th of July.
Your one word for the first 10 miles deca pedal
Nice
My word is "shambabullous"🤠
ok, then! That's a fun word to say.
missed our BRINE as grampa called you. cowboy trail? how many goat heads ended up in the tires
you know, i was super anxious about those but I didn't see even one! Maybe they are seasonal? An earlier rider said they are often blown to the sides of the trail. I took a bunch of extra tire sealant and even carried a tube just in case. But, no problem. (thanks for missing me--it felt GREAT to get back out on the bike)
Hey, remember to use loctite on your bolts and nuts. It will keep them from vibrating loose and you loosing hardware from your bike racks.😊
I actually lost a washer when I removed the rack and stored it for awhile. My front rack gets less use.
funny shout out to Thomas! so the cat could have been a Bobcat, Cougar or Lynx! cowboy trail looks awesome and HOT
Thomas is awesome. 😊 yeah, that cat freaked me out. The trail is rough in places (sort of like a cowboy I guess) but the views are tremendous.
Hmssss "Th e only long bike tour I've ever been on was RAGBRAI back in 2012. I think what I was thinking was "Why am I doing this? :) Or maybe "I'm riding where?" Yeah, its kind of over whelming.
So true. It’s “fun” in retrospect. I think fondly about it now. 😊
First 10 = The Honeymoon Decade ;)
That's a great way to describe it. "Honeymiles"? Honeymoon Miles?
Not to be pedantic (but sometime my inner Cliff Claven jumps out when I least expect it), 1:03:25 Emily Bronte.
lol…I read your message in his voice 😂 regardless, you are correct! And I should have known better. AND I started the book a few nights ago.
Serene is the word from me. BTW Norfolk Va is pronounced by locals as Nawfuk.
lol. I should have clarified that my pronunciation is from someone who grew up in Ohio but lives currently in Delaware but also had a stay in California…so ultimately what do I know? 😂 I ran the Norfolk marathon one year-that’s a cool town.
Good word, also. Very true.
Not being critical sharing local stuff. Enjoy your adventures and hope to expand some of my adventures to other states.
i didn't take it as critical. i found it funny. I grew up on sort of both sides of the Ohio river so part of me drops my "g"s and part of me tries not to. I also grew up in a town pronounced both Cincinna-tee and Cincinnat-uh.
If you find the gravel on the trail too loose, Hwy 20 runs Parallel to the trail all the way. Light traffic and a wide shoulder. Much easier and faster.
yeah, I actually made good use of 20 in a few parts. Seems like the eastern part of the trail just needs some extra care and attention. The western part seems more maintained.
RAGBRAI this year?
unfortunately, no. believe it or not...more dental stuff. But I hope to be back out at it earlier this month and then most of August. I just can't skip the summer weather. Are you doing RAGBRAI?
@@RideAlongAdventures yes, first year for me. Inspired by many of your rides to get out there and do it for myself!
hope you have a great time!
Freedom. I know it sounds like free, but 2 wheels and a trail…
That’s a common theme. I agree totally.
Love Iowa 80. I was military police in the service. I misplaced all my MP insignia's, brass US, brass cross pistols etc. They were all available for sale at Iowa 80 and I replaced them all unbelievable. Oh yeah no such thing as "minor surgery".
I absolutely believe that. That’s a helluva place.
Word(s) for the first ten miles: Settling in or as a southerner would say “Settlin’ in.
i like that. thanks.
I wonder if King Orry was supposed to be from the Isle Of Mann because that's their flag on his shield?
Not sure. There isn’t much info. And the little shop next door has a lot of cool stuff inside. I chose the wrong day to stop by. 😊
At 10 miles on the first day you've probably reached the "Oh Well" threshold. If you forgot something, you're probably past the point where you'll go back and get it.
So.
Oh well!
You'll just have to do without it.
that is an excellent point! Although I think my threshold is about 5 miles. Funny story: I looked down at the end of the first day and realized I had my "dad slippers" on and left my bike shoes back in the van.
@@RideAlongAdventures Ha! Oh well! 😂
One thing about rail trails. Your always pedaling, not hard but always. Not enough to coast down, but always having to pedal. Slight incline you don't notice going up.
It’s true. Although the Mickelson broke that rule. It is definitely constant effort.
First ten miles, adrenalineeuphoria(?)
Definitely 👍
Purgatory: the first ten miles is a process of purgation to leave the hustle and bustle behind.
Ahh, nice. This is very true.
1st 10 miles of a multi-day bike trip: Optimistic
definitely.
First ten miles = Exhilaroride.
Nice
Word contest for the first ten miles: Pedalicious.
lol-you squeaked at the last second. I’m working on and hoping to finish that video today!!! 😂 good word.
First 10 miles: Startgasim
There ya go.
Ok... a word. Let's see... how about "TooLoose-LeTrec"? Ok, no hyphens. Hmmm... how about "ConTours"? More simple than that. Let's try "RELIEF" which means "RollAids"!
Let's go with RollAids...😂
Gord
lol. That’s good.
@@RideAlongAdventures Thanks Bryan... I'm still viewing the video. It's long so I'm taking it in segments. Will have more comments.
Gord
I've watched about half now and am looking forward the the rest. It's like eating gourmet food. You sample it bite by bite.
I'm really liking this video, Bryan. The scenery and trails going through all the little towns is just lovely... like going back in time... far away from all the insanity.
Plus, all your little episodes of Famous People and history of the area with pictures makes it just so entertaining.
Thanks Bryan... 👍 Your very good at this bro.
Gord
Bryan,
I just finished watching Day 3 to Valentine. Again, really great segment...
This is definitely God's country. Why? Besides being beautiful, there's hardly anyone else around but God. Definitely the road less traveled...
Maybe that was God's angel that stopped and gave you that bottle of water... I hear they drive silver trucks!😊
Gord
Thanks Bryan... what a great video trip. Nebraska is now on my bucket list. You really communicated your experience and reflections perfectly.
Some of the videography was really epic. When you stopped and put the camera at ground level and took footage of you sitting on the ground with your bike on it's side, beside you, with the wind blowing the blades of grass at 90° against the horizon. Shades of Forest Gump running across America.
That was timeless...
I also liked that you put your video-self into the TV frame in the old timey 50's picture... that was another really entertaining trick.
The whole story of your elementary school childhood and picking Nebraska as your state... and then after 50 some years actually doing what your teacher hoped for you. Very touching for sure.
The scenery as a whole was very beautiful... even if flat. It had that eternal kind of setting where the horizon can be seen 360°... everywhere you looked, there was the horizon.
And you got to experience the wind. The wind will almost always be in Nebraska because there is nothing there to stop it. It's a kind of freedom, even if going against it. You just need to change your expectations.
Loved that you were able to make lemonade out of the wind.😊
Gord
Icyclonit,= I cycle on it
I like it.
Cycloptimism
omg...lol. that's awesome. 😂
ex·hil·a·rat·ing = 1st 10 miles
right on!