If you’re like me, January is the time of year when you start planning epic mountain bike trips for the summer. And sure, some day trips qualify as epic but for the truly adventurous, here are some multi-day bikepacking routes you should consider tackling on your mountain bike this year.

Kokopelli’s Trail

photo: bonkedagain.

If you’re a mountain biker you’ve heard about Moab and you’ve probably also heard about the miles of singletrack in Fruita, CO. But did you also know you can ride your mountain bike from Fruita to Moab? Kokopelli’s Trail is a 142-mile multi-use trail that starts in Loma, CO (just a few miles NW of Fruita) and ends on Sand Flats Road in Moab, UT where it passes by Porcupine Rim and Slickrock trails, among others. While there’s officially no water along the route, there are 8 small camping areas with toilets and some even have picnic tables. Most folks count on a sag vehicle to deliver their gear but with a little planning, a self-supported bikepacking trip is totally doable!

Continental Divide Trail (CDT)

This epic trail is roughly 3,000 miles long and stretches across the Rockies from Canada to Mexico. Much of the route follows gravel roads and bikers will have to take a few detours to avoid bike-free Wilderness areas. Still, there is singletrack to be ridden and some of the most amazing scenery in the country to enjoy. Each year mountain bikers compete in posting the fastest times during the Great Divide and Tour Divide races but for those with a more leisurely pace in mind, plan on a solid 2 months of continuous riding to complete this route.

The Arizona Trail

photo: agmtb.

The Arizona Trail (AZT) is a recently completed 817-mile route spanning from the Mexican border to Utah through deserts, mountains, and canyons. After 26 years of hard work, the entire route will be officially opened later this month and on February 4 there will be a big celebration luncheon in Tempe. Each April, mountain bikers race (unofficially) either a 300-mile or 750-mile section of the trail which is a good opportunity to ride the route with others.

Tahoe Rim Trail

Officially 165 miles of singletrack, the Tahoe Rim trail features several sections that are closed to bikes – but even with potential detours it’s an amazing route! If the views of Lake Tahoe aren’t enough, the singletrack and alpine scenery make this a must-ride. Camping is generally plentiful in the surrounding National Forest but you’ll need to do a little research to put together a solid custom route.

White Rim

photo: jkey6.

The White Rim trail in Moab is a 103-mile jeep road loop with conditions unlike anywhere else on earth. Truly rad riders can complete the loop in a single day but for mere mortals, there are several campsites along the way (reservations often fill up a year in advance so plan ahead!). There’s also no water along the route so it’s usually best to have a support vehicle. Read about Luke_E’s White Rim trip to get more info.

Colorado Trail

Stretching nearly 500 miles from Denver to Durango, the Colorado Trail cuts through the heart of the Rockies and features some the most challenging – and beautiful – singletrack you can imagine. Like some of the other routes listed here, portions of the trail are closed to mountain bikes so detours are in order. Fortunately there are plenty of places to camp and the route is well marked with trailheads at various intervals.

Maah Daah Hey Trail

photo: davebab.

The Maah Daah Hey trail stretches 97 miles between Theodore Roosevelt National Park North and South Units across North Dakota’s rugged badlands and rugged prairie. Each designated campground (there are 6-7 along the route) features potable water, though you’ll often find natural water sources along the trail. Mountain bikes aren’t allowed inside the National Park boundaries but an alternate route for bikers is provided across Buffalo Gap.

Trans North Georgia

Pinhoti trail

This is a fairly new, unofficial 350-mile MTB route across North Georgia, starting at the South Carolina border and ending in Alabama to the west. If you’re thinking this might be a good beginning bikepacking route to tackle, think again – the Trans North Georgia boasts 56,000 feet of climbing, more than a quarter of the climbing along the 3,000 mile Continental Divide Trail! Portions of the Trans North Georgia route follow the 165-mile Pinhoti Trail, another good multi-day option available to bikepackers. Both routes stick mostly to National Forest land where it’s easy to find camping and water sources.

C&O Canal Towpath

photo: diddleydawn.

Sure, the C&O trail isn’t singletrack and the grade never goes above 2-3%. Still, this 184-mile route is unpaved and offers a great opportunity for beginning bikepackers to get on the trail. The C&O trail starts in Washington, DC and ends in Cumberland, MD with plenty of places to stay along the way (read: you can do this without bringing a tent).

Paradox and Tabeguache Trails

Although technically two different 100+ mile trails, the Paradox and Tabeguache form a rough triangle with Kokopelli’s trail for an epic tour of western Colorado and eastern Utah. These trails aren’t as well traveled as some of the other bikepacking routes mentioned here so planning a trip can be a challenge. Trail surfaces range from singletrack to jeep roads to forest road riding.

Which of these trails is on your bucket list?

IMBA announced their list of 2011 Epic rides late last month and in case you missed it, here are the trails that made the cut. Two of the five new Epics are outside the US and, as IMBA’s Mark Eller notes, the new crop includes several backcountry trails. “For many years, the term ‘Epic’ was the only honorific IMBA used, so we started applying it beyond backcountry trails. Today, the variety of Model Trail categories provides more options, so it’s a good moment to go back to the original idea of an Epic ride.”

Brown County State Park (Indiana)

photo: MINiC.

With nearly 30 miles of singletrack, Brown County State park is a pretty solid pick for IMBA Epic designation. A couple quotes from singletracks reviewers: “the best trail system I’ve ever ridden,” and “if I could give this trail system more stars I would.” The trails are flowy and fast with rocks, boulders, and bridges to keep things interesting. And if great trails weren’t enough, Brown County State Park also offers fantastic views and scenery. As one reviewer put it prior to the IMBA Epic announcement, “I have ridden three EPIC systems and this is better than two of them!” Touché.

Kerr Scott Trails (North Carolina)

photo: plantme777.

North Carolina just bagged their third IMBA Epic trail with the addition of the Kerr Scott Trails this year. Dark Mountain was the first mountain bike trail built at Kerr Scott Reservoir back in 2002 and local volunteers have been working with the Corps of Engineers ever since to add more trails and more miles. Today, Dark Mountain is joined by the Overmountain Victory Trail and the Warrior Creek trail for a total of 35+ miles of singletrack. Sign up for next year’s BURN 24 Hour mountain bike race to get your fill of this Epic trail!

Mountain Hero (Yukon, CANADA)

Talk about a backcountry trail! Mountain Hero features 28 miles of hand-built singletrack crossing mining claims inside the Yukon, Canada’s westernmost province bordering Alaska. The IMBA description suggests bringing along bear spray if you attempt this one so bring your A-game.

Rattling Creek (Pennsylvania)

IMBA hasn’t posted a lot of info on this trail (system?) located near Lykens, PA but from the sound of it, this place is a hidden gem! There’s a 3/4 mile boulder field along the trail and riders say the trail flows well in either direction (a rare distinction among mountain bike trails). As best we can tell there are about 20 miles of trail at Rattling Creek, though we’d love some help filling in the blanks!

W2 Trail (Wales, UK)

Unlike most bike trails in the US, the W2 trail in Wales boasts a bike shop, showers, and bike wash right at the trailhead parking lot! The trail system itself features 27 miles of singletrack inside Afan Forest with a mix of tight, twisty stuff and clean jump lines. One ticket to Wales please.

For the US trails it looks like this year’s list is a sweep for states east of the Mississippi. Better luck next year left coast!

Yesterday IMBA released its 2010 list of Epic mountain bike trails and the six selections represent a diverse group of trails scattered across the US. The organization claims the trails on this year’s list “provide something for everyone” and we have to agree there’s a lot of variety represented.

photo by Terry_Tiessen

Black Rock (Falls City, OR) Trails for all skill levels, including some with amazing wooden freeride structures like the one shown above.

Fresno-Saucedo Loop (Big Bend Ranch State Park, TX) Miles and miles of trails and old 4×4 roads to explore in the area! Looking at the photos you might think these trails were located somewhere like Fruita or the desert outside Las Vegas.

MoCo Loop (Montgomery County, MD) Forty miles of trails connecting 9 (!) county parks. Plans include a connection to the 180-mile C&O canal path. Can you say bikepacking?

photo by bluejudad

Hurricane Cliffs (Hurricane, UT) This Epic route includes the JEM trail, Hurricane Rim trail, and Gould and Gould Rim trails. The Hurricane Cliffs route also hosts the 25 Hours of Frog Hollow race each year.

photo by trek7k

Oak Mountain State Park (Birmingham, AL) Of the six inductees, Oak Mountain State Park is the only trail I’ve actually ridden (yet). The park features great trails with decent climbs and a dedicated club maintaining the singletrack year round. Look for even more trails – for 30 total miles – to be added in the coming years.

photo by drdiederich

Rock Lake (Cable, WI) Thirty miles of singletrack in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

Add these and other IMBA Epics to your singletracks trail wishlist to explore in 2011!

Much of the Colorado Trail is open to mountain bikes.

Ever since I can remember I’ve always been fascinated with trails (go figure). I got into backpacking as a teenager and I quickly became obsessed with the 2,175 mile long Appalachian Trail. For a kid that’s too young to drive, the idea of a hiking trail stretching from Georgia to Maine is practically mind-blowing. Unfortunately bikes aren’t allowed on the AT (or the Pacific Crest Trail on the west coast) which makes it the slow lane for cross country expeditions.

Fortunately the idea of cross-state and cross-country (as in nation) mountain bike trails is gaining momentum. Just last month the annual Great Divide mountain bike race wrapped up and the winner rode his bike all 2,745 from Canada to the Mexican border in a scorching 17 days, 16 hours. Of course not all of us have the stamina (or the time off work) to ride across the US on our mountain bikes so more accessible cross-state routes are being established.

This year the 750-mile Arizona Trail Race covered the entire state of Arizona from Utah to Mexico for the first time. And here in Georgia, Dave Muse and his crew successfully completed the Trans North Georgia from South Carolina to Alabama in May and will be hosting an unofficial race along the route later this summer. For those who think this might be an easy ride, the mountain bike route is 350 miles long with 56,000 feet of climbing so bring an extra set of legs! There’s also the Colorado Trail that stretches from Denver to Durango and although some sections are closed to bikes, it’s possible to find alternate bike-friendly routes around closed areas.

Outside the US the concept of long distance mountain bike trails is taking off as well. Israel plans to spend $30 million to build 3,100 miles of bike trails in the Negev and around the Sea of Galilee. The first section of the Sea of Galilee trail opened this summer and will eventually circle the entire sea, giving tourists an interesting way to experience the history of the region.

This summer I’ll be taking my first overnight mountain biking trip via the San Juan hut system from Durango, CO to Moab, UT and I’m super stoked. In fact I’m already eying other long distance mountain bike rides like the Tahoe Rim Trail around Lake Tahoe and the BC Bike Race from Vancouver to Whistler.

Epic mountain bike routes seem to be good for regional tourism and for that reason we’ll probably continue to see more cross-state routes being designated. Even technology like the SPOT Satellite Messenger is playing a role in making long distance mountain bike trails safer and more accessible. Does your state have an official (or unofficial) cross-state mountain bike route yet? If not, get out there with a GPS and start exploring!

These days anyone can star in their own mountain bike video thanks to powerful and affordable digital video cameras. With a compact form factor and easy set up, helmet cams allow mountain bikers to give a first-person perspective of the trail.

The Epic Wide helmet camera (MSRP $209) features a 168°degree viewing angle and is lightweight (2.5 oz) and small enough that it can fit almost anywhere on your bike or your person.  Almost everything you need comes in the package, including batteries, 2GB SD card, 2 adhesive mounts, one swivel mount, a strap mount, a waterproof shell,  and for an additional $19.99, a handlebar mount. You even get all the cables necessary for connecting the camera to your PC. That being said, the Epic Wide doesn’t include software for editing your movies so the choice of video editing software is up to you.

The Epic Wide Stealth Cam sports a two-button operation which, once you read the instructions, is fairly straightforward. Playing around with the camera before you head out is a good idea and should clarify any confusion with the instructions.  This camera shoots video at 640×480 resolution, features a 2X digital zoom, and includes audio recording as well. At 30 frames per second, the Epic Wide captures decent footage, even in fast action (read crash). The Epic can also take photos in a burst sequence, allowing you to capture still images in three different resolutions.

Getting the camera out of the box and onto the helmet took just a few minutes. It may take you a few moments to decide where to place the mounts (on your helmet or on the bike). With the variety of mounts you get, try a few on your helmet and maybe one on your bike. Don’t worry if you’re not happy with your initial choices; you can easily get yourself replacement double sided tape at a Lowe’s or Home Depot (I found the exact same double-sided tape in the tape isle near the painting accessories).

On the trails with the Epic I found that it worked well enough. Mounting it on the visor of my helmets (THE ONE, Giro Xen) I could honestly say that it was so light that once I turned on the camera I couldn’t even tell it was there. Turning it on and pressing record was easy enough and I didn’t have to look at the camera to get things rolling.  It did take some time to get used to the other controls and I found myself referring to the manual frequently to remember the button sequence to get the Epic to shoot in different resolutions. After playing around with different settings I found that sticking with the standard 640×480 resolution worked best.

After using the Epic a few times and looking at the playback, I decided to keep the camera in the waterproof container because without the container the microphone picked up a bit of wind noise. In fact I ended drilling two 1/2 inch holes in the back of the container which was a decent balance of picking up ambient sound while minimizing wind noise. That being said, the audio quality still wasn’t that great.

The Epic’s overall video performance was decent but depended heavily on light conditions. As with many digital cameras, I found that in lower light levels it did not do to well; the picture came out a bit dark and needed to be brightened with editing software. On sunny days with some cloud cover the camera was fine and the picture came out clear when mounted on the helmet. Mounting the camera on my handlebars produced shaky video that gave me motion sickness on playback, so perhaps that’s not a great idea. Mounting the camera on the frame was still a touch shaky but not bad compared to the Blair Witch feeling you get with the handlebar mount.

The 168° degree lens tends to flatten out the picture on playback, taking a bit of the ohhh away from those drops. Nevertheless, you do get a lot in the screen at one time and the wide field of view eliminates the “tunnel vision” effect you might see with other cameras. Of course you can spice up your video in post production, adding music and clever editing to recreate the rush of bombing a slope.

The Epic Wide is incredibly durable. During testing, the camera survived without a scratch even after I cased a drop down really bad. According to my good friend who was taking pics at the time, he said it was the best, most perfect 720ºdegree crash he has ever seen!

Here is that crash one more time. I didn’t tank it the second time (just in case you’re wondering).

If you take a look at the videos embedded here, the video quality basically speaks for itself. For the money the Epic is a decent camera and is one of the smaller units out there which is perfect for folks who want a compact camera. The Epic took some serious abuse and survived without a hint of damage which is a big plus in my book. The lack of editing software and the inability to adjust to lower lighting levels could be an issue for those who find themselves riding in lower lighting often (indoors, at dusk, etc.). Most video editing software can compensate for the lighting issues so all is not lost.

Epic also just released an HD version of this camera at Sea Otter this year. The HD camera has the same small body but an improved image sensor. Hopefully I can get you all the skinny on that as well.

Camera specs

• 640 x 480 Digital Video with Audio
• 30 FPS
• Two button operation
• Multiple mount application
• comes with everything you need batteries and a 2GB SD card
• Less than 3 Oz

A quick thanks to the folks at Epic Stealth Cams for the chance at testing out their video camera.

photo from Jill Valerius / Susitna 100. Is that a mountain bike or a motorcycle?

If you’re still making excuses about mountain biking this winter, this should make you feel really bad: The Susitna 100 race starts tomorrow at 9am north of Anchorage, AK. Although it’s technically a “dirty century,” a more accurate title might be “snowy century.” Competitors can choose to bike, run, or ski the course through the Susitna River valley.

Last year’s bike winner took just over 16 hours to complete the course which works out to an agonizing 6 miles per hour plod. The second bike finisher took more than 19 hours and times basically go up from there…

Judging by last year’s results, the skiers have a slight edge over bikers in terms of speed while the runners take the longest (though some runners finished faster than the slower riders). There is also a shorter, 50K option which sold out this year. If you missed the Leadville cutoff this year, consider adding the Susitna 100 to your race calendar for next year!

photo courtesy Wikipedia.

It’s snowing here in Atlanta today but that’s nothing compared to what a team of adventurers will encounter when they attempt to bike around Lake Baikal in Russia later this month. Five riders hope to be the first to circumnavigate the largest freshwater lake in the world using only human power in winter. Oh, and they’ll also become the first to bike around the 1,300 mile shoreline.

This article has a ton of great detail about the expedition and even includes deets about the bikes the team will be riding: 29er single speeds! Christopher Pike, the guy who came up with the whole idea, says they’re going single speed because “the idea is to keep it simple … no gears to freeze up.” They’re also replacing all the bearing grease with stuff rated down to 60-below zero and installing carbide steel studded tires (natch).

The 1,300 mile trip will take 43 days and the team plans to load “no more than about 70 kilograms (154 pounds)” of supplies on each bike (!). They’re also still considering towing a sled or two behind the bikes if necessary. Fortunately it sounds like there are a few settlements on the lake where they should be able to resupply with food and fuel. The team also plans to bring along video equipment to film a documentary about the expedition.

Judging by the photos of Lake Baikal (in summer) it looks like an amazing place. The lake itself holds 20 percent of the world’s freshwater, is nearly a mile deep in places, and is completely surrounded by mountains.

The team has set up a website at cyclebaikal.com where you can learn more about their preparations and keep track of their progress on this map. Is there anywhere humans can’t go on mountain bikes?

photo via RidingtheSpine.com

Incredible news: After three and a half years and 21,000 miles in the saddle, the Riding the Spine crew has made it to the southernmost city in South America. The guys started out in Alaska in 2006 to mountain bike the longest continuous mountain range in the world and on January 10, 2010 they completed their journey.

From what I read, the team faced some unusual obstacles along the way: wolves, gun-toting drug lords, active volcanoes, freezing temperatures, and of course, monkeys. The guys “wild camped” each night, cooked their own meals, and did their best to avoid paved roads in favor of dirt and singletrack.

You can read more on the Riding the Spine website where there are tons of pics and videos. TopoFusion is hosting a Google Map showing the route just in case anyone else is thinking of making the trip. Word is there will be a book about the journey sometime early next year and we can’t wait! Why aren’t these guys on TV and all over the news right now?

Many of us take a small first aid kit on the trail whenever we go mountain biking but for epic, backcountry rides I like to be prepared for anything. Even on fairly short, local rides I’ve been in situations where I wish I had more gear – like the time a friend got severely dehydrated and we had to give him water straight from a small, dirty creek (he survived the dehydration but had a bad case of the runs at the hospital). That’s why I’m so stoked for Gear Pods’ Backcountry survival kit.

The GearPods canister system is modular and you can choose from pre-packaged kits (like the Backcountry which includes first aid and survival gear) or build your own using empty containers. The canisters look like those vacuum tube deals they use at the bank and fit your adjustable diameter bottle cage (though sadly it’s slightly too large for the standard cage I have). Fortunately the Backcountry is lightweight and compact enough to toss into your Camelbak for an all-day ride.

The Backcountry in stocked with items that can help you if you’re hurt, lost, hungry, thirsty, or cold. With first aid supplies, compass, whistle, keychain flashlight, fishing tackle, cook stove, water purification tablets, matches, mini saw, and much more, this kit has almost any situation covered. The kit even includes stuff to help you with MacGuyver-like bike repairs: duct tape, metal wire, and a sewing kit. The entire package is water-resistant which means all this important gear should stay dry even if you’re caught in a downpour.

If you like to get out and explore remote areas on your bike, consider bringing along a small survival kit like the GearPods Backcountry. It just might save your bacon!

Thanks to the folks at GearPods for providing the Backcountry for review.

Singletracks member Outdoornut clued me in to the latest issue of IMBA Trail News where they talk about the 5 newest IMBA Epic trails added this year. Here’s a summary from east to west.

photo posted by rodrodriguez2003

Pinhoti Trail (North Georgia). The Pinhoti Trail is sorta like Kokopelli’s younger, forested brother with 100 miles of point-to-point singletrack linking some of the best riding spots in north Georgia. If you like technical riding with a decent amount of climbing, Pinhoti is your man.

photo posted by Outdoornut

Spruce Knob (Seneca, WV). Outdoornut gives Spruce Knob 5-stars and it’s easy to see why from the photos. The main 15-mile loop is comprised of technically demanding rocky and rooty singletrack set amid pristine scenery. IMBA helped get this area removed from the 2009 Wild Monongahela Act which would have prohibited mountain bikes in the area so ride it now and enjoy!

photo posted by copperhippie

Copper Harbor Trails (Copper Harbor, MI). This is actually the second trail in Michigan to receive IMBA Epic status and from what we’ve read here on singletracks the trail is “Totally AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”. Extensive wood bridges make this trail both sustainable AND fun to ride.

photo posted by dauw

Curt Gowdy State Park (Cheyenne, WY). We’re pretty stoked to see Rowdy Gowdy got the Epic nod after just a few years on the scene. The trails at Curt Gowdy have something for everyone and feature scenery that’s tough to beat.

photo posted by bstill30

Plains of Abraham (Mt. St. Helens, WA). Singletracks members may know this one as Smith Creek Epic but now that it’s an IMBA Epic I suppose it’s time to get prim and proper with the trail description. This is rugged, beautiful terrain and if you plan to tackle this one you may want to consider bstill30′s advice and pack “energy bars, warm clothes, and a flashlight for good measure.” Awesome.

I like to be prepared for anything on the trail from bike and body breakdowns to hunger meltdowns and over the years I’ve come up with a list of items to handle almost any emergency. As a rule of thumb I try to “expect the unexpected” and pack my trail bag accordingly. Here are my tips.

The first thing you need to be prepared for an epic ride is a backpack or a hydration pack that has room for carrying what you need. If you look at cycling-specific hydration packs regardless of brand they all do a pretty good job at carrying water and stuff so it’s important to find the most comfortable pack that’s the right size. I purchased the Camelbak Octane 14+ since it has a 100oz bladder, a comfortable strapping system that’s both secure and non-restrictive, and an expandable zipper system that effectively doubles the storage capacity on demand.

Once you’ve settled on a pack, it’s time to fill it up. First and foremost you should pack a comprehensive first aid kit – one that contains everything you need to take care of most major abrasions you may get. Inside my kit I have bug spray, alcohol pads and sanitized hand wipes (both for cleaning any wounds), 4 x 5 prep pads, 2 x 2 prep pads, band aids (assorted sizes), Advil extra strength, compression bandages, thread and needle (sterilized in bag), Polysporin, Benedril (poison ivy cream), a hot/cold pad (to reduce swelling), steri-strips 2nd skin patches (holds cuts closed like stitches), a very sharp diving knife with serrated edge, a sling, and splints. Now this is a worst-case-scenario first aid kit and works great if you know how to use it but for some folks it may be overkill.

In terms of trail tools I recommend a good quality multi-tool that includes a chain rivet tool. If you have special wheels like Mavic’s Crossmax carry the tools that are used to adjust the wheel and true them as well. A good quality pump for tires is a must and if you have full suspension bike you may want to bring the shock pump as well (for them pesky stuck down situations). I also like to bring spare parts like SRAM power links, derailleur cable, and a spare derailleur hanger. Tire irons and patches and/or tubes are a good idea, and if you have tubeless tires a spare 2 ounces of Stan’s and a tire inflator to blasts the beads in place could come in handy on the trail.

Extra items that you will want to consider are a spare pair of gloves in case the ones you are wearing get wet and a water resistant jacket that will keep you warm when the weather doesn’t cooperate.  A high power tail light that clips to the bag is a good idea in case you’re caught in the dark and need to be seen.  Your wallet, cell phone and car keys are good to have as well – never leave home without ‘em!

Now that we have medical and mechanical emergencies covered it’s important to talk about food. I like to carry fresh fruit on long rides which I like to consume first since fruits tend to get bruised easily on rocky trails. I also carry a variety of snack bars (taste them before you go off the deep end and buy a box) and gel for fast energy. Another good thing I like to carry is a bag of trail mix (that’s what it’s made for after all!). More important than any snacks, make sure your Camelbak has enough water for your ride. I have found 100oz it usually good for about 4 hours and if I think I’ll need more water I carry a 500ml bottle in my Camelbak as well.

One final note about packing for your epic ride: bring whatever you like on your ride but always pack out what you pack in (wrappers, etc.) Keep a small bag so that you can toss the wrappers in without messing the inside of your hydration pack. If I have extra room in my pack I’ll stop to pick up small trash I find on the trail as well.

Packing for an epic ride takes just a little planning but pays off big time in the event of a trail emergency!