Cranking Through the Rockies – Bike Touring Video (Part 1 of 4)

Waterton National Park, Alberta

I rarely look back. Forward, onward, tally ho! Always new adventures on the horizon, people to visit, places to see, as they say. Perhaps you’ve picked up on that?

Maybe that’s the reason I so enjoyed digging into the videos from our bike tour between hikes in Acadia National Park while we “kicked back” in Maine. Photos are fun to flip through, but they don’t pick up the wind, the rumble of a motorcycle, a joke or stupid song (there were lots) or the patter of raindrops. And even though the experiences are fresh, taking the journey anew through the videos was a fabulous time. I loved combining them into one continuous film voyage to bring you along for the ride and hopefully inspire you to take your own tour. Or maybe convince you that touring is the dumbest thing ever and you’d rather get on a plane to Cabo instead. (I had those thoughts…see Day 23 in the video.)

It was interesting watching my tone change as the trip progressed. You can literally see me relax and get into a flow where I was less stressed or worried. Lots more joking as my goofy side took charge and my business side (which isn’t the real me anyway) slid into the background. It was still there taking care of logistics, but the rest of the time I was more carefree and open to whatever came our way. I think you’ll notice too.

When we were deciding if extended touring was for us, I would have loved to see a video like this with commentary from the rider rather than just music. From a couple hours of clips, I cut it way down to pass along the ups and downs of touring plus scenery from many parts of the country that most people never visit. I think you’ll dig it!

This is part 1 of 4 and covers 32 days from our start in Viola, Idaho to Spearfish, SD over 1,346 miles. (Here’s part 2.) Come along for the ride! It winds through the Rocky Mountains with some amazing scenery in Glacier and Waterton National Parks. Then we hit the plains and roll across Montana in a diagonal line to Spearfish, South Dakota.

Email subscribers, click here to view the video. Others, just click play below to watch the embedded version. A note that all videos were taken with an iPhone and were impromptu, unrehearsed and occasionally ridiculous. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Cheerio,

Dakota

P.S. In case you haven’t seen it, check out the stats summary with all the numbers from our bike tour.

 

7 replies
  1. Jeffrey Fritts
    Jeffrey Fritts says:

    Dakota & Chelsea, Hi guys…your video inspires me to get out and ride!!! The AWOL has a little over 500 new miles and is in the repair stand, upside down like a wounded animal with it’s dirty side up, getting it’s first tune up. Did I mention my first real JOB at the tender age of 14 was working in a bike shop?
    Do you guys know the song, “Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road”? I sing it every time I see road kill (skunk or not). I also have my own version of, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” “On the first day of Christmas my bike shop sent to me, a bicycle in a Christmas tree.” The song ends with my bank sending me a big credit card bill on the twelfth day. I love to sing on the road especially into a head wind as loud as I can. Really looking forward to riding with you in parts 2-4.
    AK Jeff (not riding his AWOL)

    Reply
    • Dakota
      Dakota says:

      Ha, you crack me up Jeff! When are you starting your own blog? I’d read it.

      AWOL looks good upside down, but better to get rubber side down on the roads before the winter rolls in! Pedal on amigo.

      Reply
      • Jeffrey Fritts
        Jeffrey Fritts says:

        Thanks Dakota…my children enjoy my stories too. They say I should have a blog. Maybe I will. When I look back I am just a normal guy, who has traveled all over the world and with over 5,000 hrs. flying time only scared myself, really bad, twice. The rest of the times I was only mildly concerned. But these are just the war stories of an old vet. Still, I have friends who have not even been out of the Midwest… Today in Walla Walla the temp is 72, sunny with calm winds and fall colors. Miss Abby was put back together with rubber to the road and I put 50 miles on that new tune up.
        By the way, thanks to you I have new hope of finding lower gearing for Miss Abby. A SRAM X7 crank set with 26/39 and a modified SRAM 11-36 with a Wolf Tooth Cycling 42t cog will give me a low gear inch of 16.9. The devil is in the details – front derailleur capacity, chain line and such. How is that for climbing?
        AK Jeff on his AWOL, Miss Abby

        Reply
        • Dakota
          Dakota says:

          That’s a lot of climbing capacity. I rode up 20% grades on 26 up front and 36 in the back and a 42 is some serious gearage. I’d say skip that if you can to avoid dropping your chain, or go with a 24 up front and a 36 in the back. Just my opinion, of course, but know that I don’t like to push a tall gear. I’m all about a higher cadence pedal stroke to save the knees and back.

          Reply
          • Jeffrey Fritts
            Jeffrey Fritts says:

            26 – 36 gives a nice 20 gear inch low. I am just looking ahead and will sort all this out as I load the AWOL and hit the road around home base I will quickly find out just how low I need to go. Knees, what knees, there is no gain without pain. JUST KIDDING…my favorite cadence is 90 +/- 10.

    • Dakota
      Dakota says:

      Grazie! Are you all fired up to come ride with us? YEAH!! You’ll love it. I’ll carry all the food and gear, all you and Don have to do is pedal. And add to the ridiculous antics. 🙂

      Reply

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