Bikepacking the Pony Express Trail: Episode 01: "Gearing Up"
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- čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
- This episode is about preparing for the ride: Finding inspiration, outfitting the bike, training for the ride, selecting camping gear, and planning the route.
About the Series
The series is based on the book, Bikepacking the Pony Express Trail: One Man’s Bikepacking Journey to Discover History from a Different Kind of Saddle, by Scott Alumbaugh (TwoDot Books, available June 2023). Scott created and produced these videos for the Oregon-California Trails Association in support of its project to use videos such as these to encourage viewers to participate in trail exploration, preservation, and discovery.
Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA)
OCTA’s mission is to protect the Historic Emigrant Trails legacy by promoting research, education, preservation activities and public awareness of the trails, and to work with others to promote these causes. Learn more at octa-trails.org.
Stay in Touch
SUBSCRIBE to OCTA’s CZcams Channel: / @octatrails
SUBSCRIBE to the “Bikepacking the Pony Express” playlist: • Bikepacking the Pony E...
FOLLOW OCTA on Facebook: / octa1982
FOLLOW OCTA on Twitter: / octa_1836
FOLLOW OCTA on Instagram: / octa_1836
Learn more about (and subscribe to) Scott Alumbaugh’s Pony Express rides and research: ponyexpressrid....
Learn more about other publications by Scott at scottalumbaugh....
Learn more about the Pony Express Bikepacking Route: bikepackingroo....
Creative Credits
Music: “Thank You,” Adam Werner, from Deep. adamwerner.com. Used by permission.
Except as otherwise acknowledged in the video credits, all writing, images, graphics, video production, research, opinions, conclusions, and narration are by Scott Alumbaugh.
#oregontrail #californiatrail #bikepacking #ponyexpress #ponyexpresstrail
Copyright 2023 • Scott Alumbaugh • All Rights Reserved
Great introduction, Scott. I very much look forward to more episodes. And, for those interested, catch Scott's great 2-part article on the mythology of the Pony Express appearing in Overland Journal (quarterly of the Oregon-California Trails Association). Part 1 will appear in our Spring 2023 issue scheduled for release at the end of May.
Looking forward to reading the Overland Journal articles. Scott is also speaking at the OCTA Convention in Gering Nebraska on July 28th.
Well done to you. I read Don Weinell book on cycling the Oregon Trail. Amazing.
I read Don's book as well, though I only found it after my ride. I've been in touch with him, comparing experiences good and bad on the trail. He has a new book out following Custer's route to Little Big Horn. Very different style of book, but something you might enjoy.
I learned something new about bicycles today regarding those leather Brook saddles and how bicycles back in the day were compared to a horse. Very interesting how you modified your bike to handle the trip better, too. Another fascinating episode that kept me engaged through the final frame.
Thanks Gina. The bike worked well for me, but not everyone would make the same choices or modifications. A long, long time ago I hosted a podcast called "Bike Talk" on a local radio station. One of my guests was bicycle historian David Herlihy ("Bicycle"). I learned a lot about the early history from him, including the fact that in the 1890s, the first practical bicycles were known as "the people's nag," a far less expensive means of transportation than the horse.
Look forward to your next episode. 👍
Thanks Gregory. I hope it doesn't disappoint!
Excellent video of an excellent trip Scott. I'm waiting for the book. Thanks to Oregon-California Trails Assoc. for sharing. "...90% mental, and the other half is physical." Yogi Berra. Blessings.
Thanks for the note Mike. And the great quote!
Woo hoo! I just found this first video in your series and I am excited to watch the rest. This looks to be an awesome bicycle adventure. 2024?
Glad you found it and glad you like it. I hope you get a chance to make the ride.
Me and my wife just finished the California and Carson trail from the snake river to Placerville. Not on a bike, but in a jeep on the trail as much as possible. Hundreds of miles off road. What a blast! Looking forward to your next video.
Thanks Bryan. I think the jeep might be the ideal vehicle for that section. OCTA has done a lot of work along that part of the trail, especially around Gravelly Ford, I believe. You can a little more about the work at canvocta.org/?page_id=2192.
Looking forward to the rest of the trip.
One questuin. Why east to west?
Good question! The Pony Express Trail follows the overland emigrant trails, and I found the emigrant history more interesting than Pony Express history. There are quite a few journals written by folks who made the crossing, and they did so from east to west. I decided I wanted to see the trail in the same order they did: starting at the prairie, transitioning into the Great Plains, crossing the Rockies, etc. Also to see the landmarks in the order they did: Courthouse Rock, Chimney Rock, Scotts Bluff, etc. That being said, I hit quite a lot of headwind, so it's possible west to east might be easier. In either direction there would be challenges and rewards.
I agree with most of your tips but, I'd avoid the overpriced dry meals that you have to eat two of to feel fed. Also, speaking as a lifelong mountain-biker, gravel-bikes make lousy bike-packing or trail rigs. Too light, purely a bike industry marketing gimmick (90s 29er MTB with drop bars...) , tires too skinny, and drop-bars suck off-road (Esp. on technical descents or single-track). Also, check out Jones alt-flat bars plus the Moloko Bar from Surly; more cockpit space and hand positions with the comfort/practicality/leverage of flat bars.
P.s. I do have plans to do the stretch from South Lake Tahoe to Placerville when all the snow is melted & trail's dry.
Thanks for the comments Bart. Personally, I loved having a mountain bike on the trip. But not everyone feels the same. There were times, especially along the Platte River, where a gravel bike would have been ideal. On the other hand, I wouldn't do the section from Echo Summit to Kyberz, CA on anything but a full-suspension mountain bike. I scouted that portion as an out and back, and didn't have a trailer, and it was still a bear. The route has changed a little in the lower parts of that section since I rode it, and you may end up on more gravel road than single-track. You can find my rides on RWGPS, and of course you can purchase the full route guidebook at bikepackingroots.com. As for provisioning, I probably could have used a little more guidance and experience. But I went out with what I had, and am glad to have done so.
@@octatrails I've ridden on a HT or rigid bike trails wimpier folk think you need a FS for. Also, for Bikepacking, a FS is the worst, most prone to potential mechanicals on a big trip and with the least front triangle and general storage space/capacity. FS bikes are day-ride bikes only. Also, I'll have enough cush-factor for my needs with a 27.5 x 2.8(f) and 27.5 x 2.6(r) pair of Vittoria tires; anything rougher that a mid-level rock-garden I'll walk...
I'll still stand by a MTB purist viewpoint that drop-bars have No place in the dirt and alt-flats are where it's at. Sick and tired of roadies Ruining Our sport with their viruses. All roadies need to stay on the asphalt along with their Lycra-Spandex and anal ocd fascination with Strava, watts, grams, and data.