For the edification of our viewership, I thought I might share a few things I learned upon a recent road trip adventure to the single speed mountain bike world championships.

Pack Less: No matter how well you organize your goods, two weeks of four people living out of one car gets chaotic.  Its better to have less to sift through, less to carry around.  I could have brought fewer tshirts, fewer shoes, fewer strings, rubber bands, tripods and shovels.  (yes, I actually did bring all that crap. No, I don’t know why).  Recent studies show it’s not as gross as you think to wear your tshirt four days in a row. (just don’t ride in the same one 4 days in a row)

Carbon Soled Shoes are EVIL: When going on adventure mountain bike rides, one at times finds oneself climbing up steep sections that are unrideable.  In the single speed worlds, these are pre-requisite parts of the course.  In Durango’s SSWC course, they threw wall after wall at the riders, which would have been tolerable had I not had the Specialized Pro Carbon Torture shoes on my feet.  Now, these types of shoes are just fine for sprinting through Mt. Sutro, down to Bender’s, or racing your friend down the tower trail of Twin Peaks.  But try to walk up a mountain in them, and your feet will HURT!   Today, I buy some flexible soled shoes.  Today, I say adieu to blisters and more blisters.  This advice may come in helpful in cross races, too.

Off Road Recreation Area = ATV playground.  Sure, it sounds nice, after all, we’re all about recreation in the dirt.  However, the no-holds-barred lands known as Off Road Recreation Areas tend to be spiderwebbed with hick trails, fueled by gasoline and hootch, going everywhere, making the provided map all but useless.  To make matters worse, an Off Road Recreation Area gives mountain biking the worst element of road riding: No, I’m not referring to an amateur roadie’s over inflated ego, but rather to being passed by cars (and ATVs, and Motorcycles)

Never ask for MTB routes at Action Sports, Bakersfield.  See above. (it was his “favorite” local mountain bike trail)

Be an Ambassador: Because it was the Single Speed WORLD championships, it was arranged for me to pick up an Austrailian on the way out of town.  This man endeared himself to everyone he met through being an all around good natured fella, a hell of a bike rider and basketball player – and he brought cheap tourist trinkets with him.  It’s a good trick.  The plastic ‘ro, riding in my ‘ru, down the road brought about many a laugh and a story.  The children in Durango smiled new smiles when he handed them clip on Koalas.  The Aussie diorama can still be referenced on my car’s dashboard – currently located on Fulton & Arguello (until the damned dpt comes ’round)

Other Lessons: Make new Friends. Lean into the turn. Explore.  Dont’ use the Map unless you have to. Relax. Let it Ride.  Go Ride.  Draw Pictures.  Take time. Make time. The sound of silence is a beautiful one. Don’t be traffic.

man, I sometimes wish I was still on the road.

Next year is New Zealand… anyone want to take a trip?