2024 Black Hills Bounty - Still Aint Worried

I don't know what you've been told,

But time is running out, no need to take it slow.

I'm stepping to you toe to toe,

I should be scared, honey, maybe so.

But I aint worried 'bout it right now (right now)

Keeping dreams alive, 1999 heroes.

I aint worried 'bout it right now (right now)

Swimming in the floods, dancing on the clouds below.

I aint worried 'bout it. 

I Aint Worried, Ryan Tedder, Brent Kutzle, Tyler Spry, John Eriksson, Peter Moren & Bjorn Yttling (2022).

After a couple of days, the reality of another Black Hills Bounty sets in.

The 2024 Black Hills Bounty approaches.

Since becoming the first official finisher of the challenging Cloud Peak 500 in 2020, Paul Brasby has enthusiastically herded friends from Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Colorado to join annual, week long bikepacking group rides through the Central Black Hills (2021), the Southern Black Hills (2022), and the Northern Black Hills/Bear Lodge Mountains (2023). See, Black Hills Bounty Page (2021-present). This year, they chose to start in Nebraska and then follow my BackBone Grande route from the South Dakota border to Spearfish, with a couple of unique twists along the way.

It's all coming up soon. And, as Yogi Berra would say, "It's deja vu all over again."

Every year, in the weeks leading up to the ride, these Bounty-riding friends ask very few questions, about any of it. Same thing this year. And I never quite know how to interpret that.

Maybe by now they know what to expect. Maybe the route is too easy. Maybe they're thoroughly prepared. Maybe.

Nah. This group is like the Top Gun fighter pilots playing Dog Fight Football before their improbable mission. They aint worried 'bout it right now.

The Official Theme Song for the Black Hills Bounty.

I Aint Worried, New Republic (2022).

End Of Summer BHBH Overnighter

In June, Black Hills Bike Hub hosted "Bikepacking 101," a gathering of local cyclists looking to learn more about bike packing, remove barriers for newcomers, and build our bikepacking community. The enthusiastic audience engaged a moderated panel addressing a variety of topics. A palpable buzz filled the air. See, Bikepacking 101 Social and Bikepacking 101 - A Brief Report. 

USFS Low Standard Road 160.2A winds through the Bald Hills.
This will be on Day 2 of the Rough Road route on BHBH Overnighter #3.

A few weeks later, nine bikepackers, including four intrepid first-timers, rode the BHBH Overnighter #1 out of Sturgis on roads and trails around the Bear Butte area to camp at USFS Alkali Springs campground. The group set up camp, cooked dinner, and chattered well into the night around a roaring campfire. The next morning, and the morning ride home, flew by far too fast.

A month later, six bikepackers rode out of Spearfish on the BHBH Overnighter #2 on their choice of two routes - primarily single track or primarily rough roads - to camp at USFS Timon campground along Roughlock Falls Road. That group included two more first-time bikepackers and featured a surprise visit from legendary bike packer Jason Thorman. Great to see you, Jason, and thanks for the treats and refreshments!

USFS Trail 1601 of the Rough Road route will be on Day 1 of BHBH Overnighter #3.

There's still time to join the summer fun. BHBH Overnighter #3 is set for next weekend, Saturday August 24 and Sunday August 25. For details, go to the Events page on the Black Hills Bike Hub website or their FaceBook Event - Overnighter Stop #3. 

Once again, each day will offer a Single Track route and a Rough Road route. Both start Saturday afternoon at the Big Sheep Management Area parking area off Victoria Lake Road, both camp at the Sheridan Lake North Unit Group Campground, and both return to vehicles the following morning. That's a short, fun get-away in less than 24 hours total.

Check out the routes. You may find something you haven't ridden in a while, maybe never. And you may find some interesting people.

Endurance Racing of Another Sort

I love remote routes with long sight lines, but this is ridiculous.

Long time cycling buddy Dan Cook, sailing out of the Santa Cruz Yacht Club, recently finished the 2024 Pacific Cup with his son Mackenzie. Yeah, so what?

That's a 2,070 nautical mile race from San Francisco to Hawaii, in which they chose to race in the smallest boat allowed - a 24 foot double hander. My pickup is almost that long.

And people think bikepacking is crazy.

MacKenzie and Dan Cook finishing the 2024 Pacific Cup in Hawaii.
(image by Kelli Cook)

One of my best cycling buddies in Colorado during the 1990's was Dan Cook, a mechanical engineer by education who developed into a financial planner. A man of many interests, Dan would annually dust off a mountain bike to crank out impossibly fast times, day and night, on a slew of 24 hour mountain bike relay race teams with me. We finally ended our run in 2003 with a Duo Team at the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo, which was my impetus for returning this year. See, 24 Hours In The Old Pueblo - Back At It and subsequent posts.

Unfortunately for me, Dan then moved to Northern California and we moved to South Dakota. It didn't take long for Dan to return to his love of sailing, which he had enjoyed as a young engineer in the Houston area years before. The physical and mental challenges of sailing connected with his inquisitive, problem-solving, engineering mind. Of course, he regularly took along Mackenzie, his then grade school aged son.

According to mom Kelli, Mackenzie surpassed his dad in sailing knowledge and skill at about age 14. He sailed competitively through high school, college, and now into his own career as an engineer. Among many big races on many big boats, Mackenzie has sailed from the mainland USA to Hawaii five times. So, why not race the 2024 Pacific Cup in a 2 person, 24 foot boat? Dad, how about it? 

Mackenzie and Dan Cook ready to start the 2024 Pacific Cup from San Francisco.
(image by Kelli Cook)

So, they did. Skipper Mackenzie Cook and crew Dan Cook sailed "Nobody's Girl," a 24 foot double hander, for 15 days over 2,000+ miles of Pacific Ocean from San Francisco to Hawaii. 

Amazing. And nuts.

I can't wait to hear their stories.

A younger Mackenzie Cook - How He Started Sailing A-Cats (2013).

Seize The Moment Squirrel

Don't come around here no more

Don't come around here no more

Whatever you're looking for

Hey! Don't come around here no more

Don't Come Around Here No More, Tom Petty & Dave A. Stewart (1985).

What's left of my water bottle and lid.

With my Jones bike still pretty well loaded from last weekend's Black Hills Bike Hub Overnighter Series group ride, I hop on it for a morning spin around town. As is becoming a habit, I stop at a park to make coffee and breakfast. And to just watch the world wake up. It's a nice start to the day, much like my early morning commutes in the past, but without actually going into work.

In addition to coffee, oatmeal, and various bars, I often carry a water bottle filled with trail mix in the Mountain Feed Bag attached to the handle bars. Mess-free, on-the-fly access. Always right there.

I eventually ride home and absent-mindedly lean my bike against a mature linden tree in our front yard. Three hours later, I glance outside to see a squirrel excitedly dancing on top of my bike. Oh, no! There's food in that top tube bag! He better not be eating through that spendy bag!

Dashing out there, I find the bag undamaged, but the water bottle with trail mix is eaten. Yes, the bottle. Large chunks of both the water bottle and lid are gone, and only a handful of trail mix remains. Tiny, squirrel bite-sized pieces of clear and orange plastic lie scattered like confetti. 

Squirrel's view of the loaded bike leaning against her tree.

In all my nights of bikepacking, I've only lost food to critters once. On Day 6 of my Cloud Peak 500 Wyoming in 2020, I mistakenly left my bike laying on the ground overnight with some food in that top tube bag. A critter, presumably a ground rodent of some kind, enjoyed a sample of every bit of food therein. But that's it. And I've never lost food when leaning a bike upright.

Lesson learned, at the price of a vintage water bottle. Secure food. Protect gear.

Don't Come Around Here No More, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers live, with Stevie Nicks (2009). 

Paul Brasby's Legacy Rides

Bikepacking buddy Paul Brasby of North Platte, Nebraska sports a lifetime of individual cycling accomplishments in a variety of disciplines. But his legacy will be his family and his impact on each of their lives. In the latest of years of family focused experiences involving cycling, Paul recently rode the Mickelson Trail twice, northbound and southbound, on a 5 day bikepacking trip with his 13 year old grandson.

This is a story worth telling. 

Rather than writing something myself, I asked Paul if I could reproduce his FaceBook posts on this Mickelson Trail ride, which includes some of the family history behind it. He also captured many great images along the way, of which I selected five for each day to show here. To see all of Paul's images, go to his FaceBook page.

Get out there with others. You never know the impact of your actions.

Day 0 

Bikepacking with Papa...

It all started on our son's 13th Birthday when Tony and I went on a 80 mile road ride and ended up at Lake Maloney where the rest of the family met up with us. We celebrated Tony's birthday at the lake after our arrival. Among his gifts were a new tent and sleeping bag that, of course, was set up and used at the lake that night.

Fast forward many years later and Tony asked if I would take his oldest son Anthony on his 13th birthday bikepacking trip. The memories that were made when Tony and I rode together are still fond memories of his childhood to this day.

So it began. Nana would buy a tent and sleeping bag and Papa would take them on an adventure on two wheels. Four years ago, Anthony and I had a great two day bikepacking trip on the Niobrara River near Valentine, Nebraska. We rode to the waterfalls, camped out under the stars, rode through some back roads on private land (with permission), and checked out a herd of buffalo.

This week, Mattis is with Papa on a 6 day Bikepacking trip on the Mickelson Trail in South Dakota. We are doing the Micky Double, as I like to call it. An out and back of the 109 mile Rails-to-Trails system from Edgemont, SD to Deadwood, SD for a total of 218 miles. A one way route that our youngest daughter Tiffany and I did many years ago on a tandem, with Sherri being our support driver. That, too, brings back fond memories!

With loaded bikes and a new tent and sleeping bag, we headed out the door for the Black Hills of South Dakota. This time, we have a new added item for the trip, a fishing rod, for the little fisherman in the family.

Enjoy the pictures. For the Black Hills of South Dakota has become my go to spot for bikepacking.

Day 0...travel day.

Paul Brasby and grandson Mattis loaded up for their big week.

Iconic Carhenge outside Alliance, NE.

Big buffalo welcomes Mattis to Custer.

Strolling around Crazy Horse Memorial.

Living large in a tipi at Fort We-Like-It Campground outside Custer.

Day 1

Day one on the Mickelson Trail with Mattis.

Custer to Edgemont...45 miles on the trail and Mattis got his first half Century with 50.2 miles of total riding.

Day 2

Day two on the Mickelson Trail with Mattis.

Edgemont to Custer...45 miles and 48 miles of total riding.

Day 3

Day 3 on the Mickelson Trail with Mattis.

Custer to Rochford...40 miles.

Day 4

Day 4 on the Mickelson Trail with Mattis.

Rochford to Deadwood...28 miles 31 total miles.

We are now up to date on our trip. Day 5 starts this morning.

Day 5

Day 5 on the Mickelson Trail with Mattis.

Not the start we wanted, but Mattis finished the Micky Double a day early, with a mic drop.

Mattis woke up sick to his stomach, laid his bike over trying to stop, and struggled to hold down breakfast. Five miles into a 27 mile day, Mattis had to stop. With his hip hurting and his belly turning, I was starting to think we may need turn around and head back to our KOA cabin. I gave him a salt tablet, electrolyte tablet, GU packet, Vit-C, and ibuprofen and let him rest for a bit.

Mattis got back on his bike and never looked back. I had a pesky front tire issue I was dealing with, so I told Mattis to start the climb and I'll catch up. I had all I could do to catch him. He had a nice cadence going and, one by one, the miles ticked by. We found ourselves at our overnight stop by 1pm and decided to push on for Hill City. We arrived at Hill City at 5pm and decided to push on for Custer to put our finishing stamp on the Micky Double. We arrived in Custer at 7:05pm. It was a long day, but his spirits were high. What a comeback from a rough start earlier in the day! Proud of you Mattis! Way to push through and finish what you started!!

Totals for the day... 65 trail miles and 68.5 total miles.

Heather Heynen's Spearfish 280

Bikepacking is not for everyone. More than anything, it requires gumption and grit. Gumption to get out there. Grit to see it through. 

For a continuing story of gumption and grit, here's an update on the burgeoning bikepacking journey of local fitness and wellness expert Heather Heynen. 

Spearfish 280 map (from bhexpedition.com website)

Two years ago, Heather dreamt up and then completed a three day solo, self-navigated bikepacking trip on a self-created route from home that covered 193 miles and 16,000 feet of elevation gain on every kind of surface. That's a lot to unpack in one sentence, and it's worth doing. Thankfully, Heather eloquently expressed her experience in a heartfelt article How Going Solo Will Change Your Life. Read it.

Last month, Heather's journey led her to tackle Jason Thorman's new Spearfish 280, a challenging single track and mixed surface bikepacking route through the Black Hills of South Dakota. Once again, Heather went right at that challenge and gracefully shared her unvarnished account. Bikepacking The Spearfish 280.

Whether you bikepack or not, her story is compelling and inspiring.

Black Hills Bike Hub Overnighter Series

Last month, Black Hills Bike Hub hosted "Bikepacking 101," a gathering of local cyclists looking to learn more about bikepacking, remove barriers for newcomers to start, and build our bikepacking community. See, Bikepacking 101 - A Brief Report. A panel of five bikepackers bought loaded bikes for a show-and-tell and answered questions from the crowd and from moderators Weston Neiffer and Evan Walterman. It was an evening celebrating bikepacking.

Fueled by the crowd's enthusiastic response, Black Hills Bike Hub offered a group overnight bike ride:  Bikepacking Overnighter Series - Stop #1. In general, the concept was to gather for a group start from Sturgis, ride to a group camp site at USFS Alkali Springs Campground, and then ride back to Sturgis the following morning. It was not a race or timed event. Not everyone even had to ride the same route. To broaden appeal, riders could choose from distinct Single Track, Mixed Terrain, and Gravel routes on both days.

With Bear Butte looming in the background, a posse of happy campers
on the inaugural (BH)2 Group Bikepacking Overnighter cruise over 
the Centennial Trail (Trail #89) en route to Alkali Springs Campground.
(image by Eric Clayborn)

Nine enthusiastic riders joyfully pedaled on that initial group bikepacking ride, four of whom had never before strapped camping gear on their bike for an overnighter. Several noted how their loaded bike handled differently than expected, sometimes positively and sometimes negatively. All rolled into camp smiling, with bikes and bodies intact.

Over a robust campfire that evening, riders cooked dinner, talked bikes and gear, shared stories, and bantered ideas for future rides. After a restful night and casual breakfast, the group eventually meandered back to Sturgis. All told, a success on its own and a template for the future.

The Centennial Trail (Trail #89) at Bear Butte Lake looking south toward the Black Hills.

Buoyed by the group experience and determined to build this community, Weston and Evan immediately sketched out plans for the next group bikepacking ride. And it's here already.

This weekend (Saturday, July 27 - Sunday July 28), Black Hills Bike Hub will host a group bikepacking ride out of Spearfish up to USFS Timon Campground, with Singletrack and Gravel routes. Given the start in Spearfish and the camp site at Timon, the routes necessarily will entail some elevation gain on Saturday and some hoop-and-holler descending on Sunday. Check out the RideWithGPS files that are linked in the Black Hills Bike Hub Event posting Bikepacking Overnighter Series - Stop #2. 

Hope to see you out there.