If for some crazy reason you wanted to mail us letters, food, inspirational reading or whatever, you can send to the following addresses (note the dates we'll pick-up the mail):
In Telluride, CO we'll pick up mail on June 18th
Gary and/or Kirsten Dotzler
C/O General Delivery
Telluride, CO 81435
Hold for Bicycle Travelers arriving June 18th, 2009
In Buffalo, WY we'll pick up mail on July 10th
Gary and/or Kirsten Dotzler
C/O General Delivery
Buffalo, WY 82834
Hold for Bicycle Travelers arriving July 10th, 2009
In Lyons, CO we'll pick up mail on July 19th ( you might give us a head's that we should expect something, as we did not send ourselves a package to Lyons).
Gary and/or Kirsten Dotzler
C/O General Delivery
Lyons, CO 80540
Hold for Bicycle Travelers arriving July 24th, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Our Gear List
Many people ask what kind of gear we take on extended bicycle tours. While we consider ourselves lightweight long-distance hikers, I wouldn't consider our biking set-up lightweight. Since we're a couple, we get to share lots of items. Where we have 2 of something, I've noted accordingly. This is not a complete list but it covers at least 90% of the weight we'll be carrying.
Panniers - Ortlieb waterproof back roller classics front and back
Handlebar bag - Ortlieb handlebar bag (2) w/waterproof map holders
Tent - Sierra Design Meteor Light CD, 2-person, very heavy, our one luxury item, (though it has begun to have leaking issues which we mitigate with our camp towels)
Sleeping Bags - Marmot Sawtooth down bag 15F, Western Mountaineering Caribou down bag 35F
Sleeping Mats - Thermarest Prolite 3/4 mats (2)
Tarp - 8x10 ft sil-nylon tarp for added rain protection at the festivals
Kitchen - alcohol stove I made myself, MSR 2-qt pot with lid, titanium sporks, wind screen
Pocket Knife
Rain Jackets - Marmot Precip Rain Jackets (2)
Rain pants (2)
Gloves - Outdoor Research Meteor mittens (just the shells)
Down Jacket - Mont-bell super lightweight down jacket (2)
Knit hats (2)
Veggie baggies from produce section, for hands and feet for cold/wet conditions
First-aid kit, small, just basics, some pain pills just in case.
Compass
Hacky Sack - Lightest weight fun around
Shoes - I cycle in running shoes, Kiki cycles in Keen sandals
Extra shoes - I have Tevas, Kiki doesn't carry any
Extra clothing - we'll have enough to dress differently in towns but that's about it.
Camp chairs - Opps, did I say we only had one luxury? So nice after a day in the saddle.
Guitar - Martin Backpacker Guitar, straps on top of the back rack
Thermarest repair kit - saved the day twice for me. I even fixed my pannier with this patch kit.
Fuel bottle - 20 oz. gatorade bottle for holding denatured alcohol (2 oz/day)
Books (2)
Colorado Gazetter - for hitting the small roads!
Headlamps - Petzl Tikka (2)
Camera - Cannon digital with small charger and USB cord
Bicycle Maintenence Stuff:
Set of bike tools (Alien II, Gerber multi-tool, patch kit, levers, among other things)
Pumps - we each carry one
Tubes - 2 spares
Tires - one spare tire, twisted and zip-tied so it's half it's size
Bike lock - one very small and very light just for locking bikes together
Notable items we don't carry: cell phone, ipod or any music playing device, gps
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Frequently Asked Question about the BBT
The following are questions that get asked a lot regarding the BBT. Below are the answers.
1) How did you come up with the idea for the BBT?
2) What type of bike are you using?
3) How are you carrying all your gear?
4) How much does your bike weigh?
5) Will a car be following along?
6) What types of roads will you travel on?
7) Does the BBT cost money?
8) How far will you be traveling each day?
9) Do you expect the idea of the BBT grow?
10) Where will you camp en route to each festival?
11) What do you do about drinking water?
12) Is bicycle touring expensive?
1) How did you come up with the idea for the BBT? I have hiked some long-distance trails and really enjoyed it. I have also done some bicycle touring. Then it dawned on me, "Why is it that trails and tours always go from say, coast to coast or Canada to Mexico?" It seemed like a better idea to plan a tour around events, like bluegrass festivals. So that when you arrive somewhere, there is a big party going on. I wanted to ditch the notion that a trail or tour had to go in a straight line.
2) What type of bike are you using? We use 1980-style mountain bikes with slick tires. We put on very comfortable seats with lots of cush. Our bikes have no suspension.
3) How are you carrying all your gear? We use 4 Ortlieb waterproof panniers each. Two in the front and two in the back. I also carry a backpacker guitar that straps to the top of the back rack. We each have a waterproof handlebar bag that is more like a feeding trough.
4) How much does your bike weigh? With gear, food and water, about 70 lbs.
5) Will a car be following along? No. The BBT is not meant to be a supported tour. Participants need to have everything they need to survive. Still, you could "credit card tour" if you wanted. That is, ride from motel to motel and eat at restaurants and hence carry small loads. The BBT does not discriminate. And heck, if you wanted to have a car follow you, that's totally up to you.
6) What types of roads will you travel on? We try to choose interesting routes from festival to festival. If there is a dirt road option instead of a major highway (Hwy 50 for example), we'd choose the dirt road option. The smaller the better in our book even if it's a bit longer.
7) Does the BBT cost money? No, the BBT is free. Compare this to the Ride the Rockies that costs $335 for 6 days of touring. The BBT is 8 weeks and free.
8) How far will you be traveling each day? We average 60-65 miles a day. If conditions are favorable, we might do 80 miles.
9) Do you expect the idea of the BBT grow? Yes, I think the idea of the BBT will strike a chord with long-distance hikers and bike tourers who are looking for the next adventure. One reason that it's unique is because you are bicycling to these big festive camping events and when you out on a long-distance adventure, these types of events have a special allure.
10) Where will you camp en route to each festival? Wherever really. That's the beauty of be self-supported. When ever you get tired, there is most likely a spot within a couple miles for you to plop down your tent for the nite. Often that will be in Nat'l Forest campgrounds, SWA's, or nice people's farmland. Or just out in the trees somewhere. One can be pretty stealth and low impact on a bicycle. That said, we are not opposed to getting a motel if the weather has been particularly heinous and we are miserable.
11) What do you do about drinking water? When bicycle touring, unlike hiking, you pass establishments often (gas stations, stores, etc). We fill up at these spots. If its a place you can't serve yourself, (a bar, a rural home), I have never ever been refused when I have politely asked someone if they would fill up our water bladders for us. We also carry a water filter that allows us to filter river and stream water. So for us, when it is, say, 1 hour before camping time, we'll fill up about 1 gallon of water and pack it on the bikes. In this way, we can then bicycle on and when we see good camping, we can take it and it won't matter if it is near water or not.
12) Is bicycle touring expensive? It definitely does not have to be. We keep meticulous records of how we spend money and I can tell you unequivocally, that it is cheaper for us to bicycle tour than it is for us to live in one spot. That's because when you are bicycle touring, you can't really buy anything except food. When you are living in one spot, you have all the lures to spend money at your fingertips (home depot, internet, etc). If you are credit card touring though and getting motels every night, it would be a different story.
1) How did you come up with the idea for the BBT?
2) What type of bike are you using?
3) How are you carrying all your gear?
4) How much does your bike weigh?
5) Will a car be following along?
6) What types of roads will you travel on?
7) Does the BBT cost money?
8) How far will you be traveling each day?
9) Do you expect the idea of the BBT grow?
10) Where will you camp en route to each festival?
11) What do you do about drinking water?
12) Is bicycle touring expensive?
1) How did you come up with the idea for the BBT? I have hiked some long-distance trails and really enjoyed it. I have also done some bicycle touring. Then it dawned on me, "Why is it that trails and tours always go from say, coast to coast or Canada to Mexico?" It seemed like a better idea to plan a tour around events, like bluegrass festivals. So that when you arrive somewhere, there is a big party going on. I wanted to ditch the notion that a trail or tour had to go in a straight line.
2) What type of bike are you using? We use 1980-style mountain bikes with slick tires. We put on very comfortable seats with lots of cush. Our bikes have no suspension.
3) How are you carrying all your gear? We use 4 Ortlieb waterproof panniers each. Two in the front and two in the back. I also carry a backpacker guitar that straps to the top of the back rack. We each have a waterproof handlebar bag that is more like a feeding trough.
4) How much does your bike weigh? With gear, food and water, about 70 lbs.
5) Will a car be following along? No. The BBT is not meant to be a supported tour. Participants need to have everything they need to survive. Still, you could "credit card tour" if you wanted. That is, ride from motel to motel and eat at restaurants and hence carry small loads. The BBT does not discriminate. And heck, if you wanted to have a car follow you, that's totally up to you.
6) What types of roads will you travel on? We try to choose interesting routes from festival to festival. If there is a dirt road option instead of a major highway (Hwy 50 for example), we'd choose the dirt road option. The smaller the better in our book even if it's a bit longer.
7) Does the BBT cost money? No, the BBT is free. Compare this to the Ride the Rockies that costs $335 for 6 days of touring. The BBT is 8 weeks and free.
8) How far will you be traveling each day? We average 60-65 miles a day. If conditions are favorable, we might do 80 miles.
9) Do you expect the idea of the BBT grow? Yes, I think the idea of the BBT will strike a chord with long-distance hikers and bike tourers who are looking for the next adventure. One reason that it's unique is because you are bicycling to these big festive camping events and when you out on a long-distance adventure, these types of events have a special allure.
10) Where will you camp en route to each festival? Wherever really. That's the beauty of be self-supported. When ever you get tired, there is most likely a spot within a couple miles for you to plop down your tent for the nite. Often that will be in Nat'l Forest campgrounds, SWA's, or nice people's farmland. Or just out in the trees somewhere. One can be pretty stealth and low impact on a bicycle. That said, we are not opposed to getting a motel if the weather has been particularly heinous and we are miserable.
11) What do you do about drinking water? When bicycle touring, unlike hiking, you pass establishments often (gas stations, stores, etc). We fill up at these spots. If its a place you can't serve yourself, (a bar, a rural home), I have never ever been refused when I have politely asked someone if they would fill up our water bladders for us. We also carry a water filter that allows us to filter river and stream water. So for us, when it is, say, 1 hour before camping time, we'll fill up about 1 gallon of water and pack it on the bikes. In this way, we can then bicycle on and when we see good camping, we can take it and it won't matter if it is near water or not.
12) Is bicycle touring expensive? It definitely does not have to be. We keep meticulous records of how we spend money and I can tell you unequivocally, that it is cheaper for us to bicycle tour than it is for us to live in one spot. That's because when you are bicycle touring, you can't really buy anything except food. When you are living in one spot, you have all the lures to spend money at your fingertips (home depot, internet, etc). If you are credit card touring though and getting motels every night, it would be a different story.
Friday, May 8, 2009
The Future of the BBT
I envision the Heart of the Mountains Bluegrass Bicycle Tour (BBT) developing along the same lines of say the Appalachian Trail, or the Pacific Crest Trail, or Adventure Cycling routes like the Northern Tier or the more obsure Hayduke Trail. How is this you ask? Let me explain. Each of the aforementioned trails or routes was at first just an idea someone had in their living room. This idea progressed to the point that the person actually went out and did the trail. Word got around, maps and data books were printed, more folks began to do the route and before you know it, you've got a cemented adventure that people do on a yearly basis.The reason I gravitate so much to the BBT idea is because I have always thought that it is so cool to visit a location when something is going on. Usually this happens to me by accident in my travels. I happen upon a location that happens to be celebrating something and I celebrate with them. Always remembering fondly that location because it was so lively during my visit.
Then I thought, why not, instead of just letting this happen randomly, make it happen on purpose. End up in a location that is getting down, on purpose! Get it?
That's what the BBT is all about. You are on a bonafide bicycle tour, but every 3-4 days, you end up in a location that is having a big party with lots of kindred spirits. You get your solitude on the bicycle and then you get some rest days listening to music and camping with cool people. It seemed like the perfect marriage.
My ultimate vision of the BBT is that it becomes an annual event that people for the exact same reasons they might hike the Appalachian Trail. Is there a good reason? Who knows, I know I love to do it and I know so many who do as well that I'm confident that the idea could blossom.
In years to come I could see the entire tour starting each year in Lyons, Colorado, the home of Planet Bluegrass. There'd be a kickoff party, (modeled after the PCT kickoff party), each year around the end of May at the Planet Bluegrass location where there's plenty camping and the kind folks at Planet Bluegrass might even supply some entertainment for the event. New Belgium might even get into the act as they love bicycles as well. After 1-2 days camping in Lyons, we'd all set off for Pagosa (300 miles) and the Bluegrass Festival there, beginning the 8 weeks of travel around Colorado and Wyoming while going to 6 Bluegrass Festivals along the way. The tour would end where it started, Lyons, Colorado, at the wonderful RockyGrass festival, some 1750 miles later and 99 bands later.
That's the idea. My wife Kiki and I will be the first to complete the tour in 2009 along with anyone else who might want the join in. Then hopefully the idea will catch on as more long-distance minded folks see the beauty of coupling their love of the outdoors with their love of music.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
The Beginnings
The love of bluegrass music and festivals. The love of bicycling. A penchant for doing things simply. These were the seeds that led to the idea of the "Heart of the Mountains Bluegrass Bicycle Tour".It began with our bicycling to the Four Corners Folk Festival in 2008 from our home in Crested Butte, Colorado. A 3-day ride for someone taking backroads and more importantly, taking it easy. It was so liberating to be at such a big event and not have all the stuff we normally take in our cars and trailers. We realized that all that extra stuff just made our life extra complicated and we could enjoy the festival so much more by having less and yet still having everything we needed.
So then my long-distance hiker/biker mind began to do some research on how we could link up more festivals. I found what I believe to be the ultimate bicycle tour.
6 Festivals in 8 Weeks, 1750 miles, 99 bands, 0 Gallons of gas. Now we're talking!
We (wife Kiki and I) have done a coast-to-coast bike tour (1999) and really enjoyed it, but I have to say, I am way more excited about this tour because of all the carrots at the end of many sticks, the festivals. Now we will be bicycling for 3-4 days, then hitting a huge camping party with my favorite type of music. It'll be almost as if the party is simply for our arrival! Here's the itinerary:
(All mileages approximate, dates are for the festivals)
Crested Butte ---> Pagosa, CO June 5,6 200 miles
Pagosa ---> Palisade, CO June 11-13 200 miles
Palisade ---> Telluride, CO June 18-21 150 miles
Telluride --- > Bighorn Mnt, Buffalo, WY July 10-12 600 miles**
Buffalo, WY ---> BearTrap Casper WY July 17-19 200 miles
Casper, WY ---> RockyGrass, Lyons, CO July 24-26 300 miles
Lyons, CO ----> Crested Butte (home) 150 miles
**This 600 mile leg will go via the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone NP.
On average, we cover 65 miles a day, sometimes more sometimes less. We ride mountains bikes with slicks on them and use 4 panniers each. So as you can see, we are not built for speed. We love to stay on smaller roads when possible and often like to do 20-40 miles of dirt roads as an option that might help us avoid something not so desirable.
That's it in a nutshell, The Heart of the Mountains Bluegrass Bicycle Tour. Heart of the Mountains, because when drawn out on a map, it roughly makes a heart shape, plus we love the bluegrass band Mountain Heart, so it all seemed to fit.
The BBT is open to anyone who wants to do it. All you have to do is free up some time and come along. The BBT is not a supported bike tour. That is, there is no car following us. We carry everything we need on our bikes and buy food along the way. The BBT is Free. It doesn't cost a penny to do it. (Compare this to the $335 per person for Ride the Rockies). It sure would be nice if there are others doing it with us so we could have a mini-peloton of bluegrass afficianados making the tour that much more fun! Think about it.
Look for more posts as the BBT takes off on June 2, 2009. We'll be giving updates on how the riding is going and how the bands are performing. And if you'd like to join for any of the legs, email kikngar@yahoo.com .
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