Where To Go From Here

Where do we go from here, now that all of our children are growing up?

And how do we spend our lives, knowin' that nobody gives us a damn?

I don't wanna live here no more, I don't wanna stay, 

Ain't gonna spend the rest of my life quietly fading away. 

Games People Play, Alan Parsons & Eric Norman Woolfson (1980). 

Choose, you must.

Even a less traveled road has an occasional fork. 

A decision here shapes your short term experience, not always as expected. The more developed road may eventually dead-end, while the more rugged road may be but a short connector. Or not. You won't know until you go through it.

Choose. Ride. Adapt. Persevere. Learn. Take ownership of all of it.

The decision here, and your response to it, shapes you. Builds you. Prepares you for the next fork.

But first, you must choose.

Games People Play, Alan Parsons Project (1980).

2025 Black Hills Bounty - 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).

AI composite image of a Black Hills Bounty rider.
JK - this is Gustaf Hakansson, the famous "Steel Grandpa."

The 2025 Black Hills Bounty approaches.

Bikepacking buddy Paul Brasby inspired this ride during our 2020 Cloud Peak 500 adventure by asking me to create a week-long bikepacking tour of the Black Hills of South Dakota. At the time, he was diving headlong into bikepacking and longed to share this new-found passion with his friend circle of experienced cyclists.

Since then, Paul has enthusiastically herded friends from Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Colorado to join week long tours through the Central Black Hills (2021), the Southern Black Hills (2022), the Northern Black Hills/Bear Lodge Mountains (2023), and along my BackBone Grande route from the Nebraska border to Spearfish (2024). See, Black Hills Bounty Page (2021-present).

After four years, they're still coming back for more, drawing more friends each year. 

It's all coming up again soon.

And this group just shows up and rides. Aint worried about a thing.

The Official Theme Song for the Black Hills Bounty.

I Aint Worried, New Republic (2022).

BackBone Grande Visual Tour (7) - Buffalo to North Dakota Border (miles 380-421)

Well, it's all right, riding around in the breeze

Well, it's all right, if you live the life you please

Well, it's all right, even if the sun don't shine

Well, it's all right, we're going to the end of the line.

End Of The Line, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty (1989).

The BackBone Grande is my 420+ mile backroad bikepacking route across the State of South Dakota along the spine of the Black Hills and through the surrounding prairie. Inspired by my experience riding the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, I designed it to create that type of experience here in my back yard. Tracking rough roads that showcase the best of our scenery, history, culture, and wildlife, the BackBone Grande is a great ride on its own and as a shakedown for the GDMBR.  For a collection of my stories all about it, go the BackBone Grande Page.

For those more visual learners, I've selected images along the route from various scouting trips, the first through-ride, and other rides. Here is my seventh installment of the BackBone Grande Visual Tour, from the town of Buffalo to the North Dakota border (miles 380-421). 

From the cowboy town of Buffalo, the BackBone Grande continues to streak across the Northern Prairie on solid county gravel past large cattle ranches. Then, with the North Dakota border practically within sight, a fun Low Standard Road climbs to a forested, lumpy oasis in the midst of millions of acres of grassland. It's a lonely outcropping of Custer Gallatin National Forest, with the surprising Picnic Springs Campground waiting on top. 

This isn't part of the Black Hills, but rather a farewell gift of a final, backcountry gem before the border.

It's the end of the line. And it's all right.

Here's a photo gallery of the BackBone Grande route from the town of Buffalo to the North Dakota border (miles 380-421). Also, here are links to prior blog posts about this section. BackBone Grande Introduction - Oasis in the Northern Prairie; BackBone Grande Through-Ride - Grand Finale.

Also, here are links to prior Visual Tour posts:  Nebraska Border to Buffalo Gap (miles 0-95); Buffalo Gap to Custer (miles 95-135); Custer to Hill City (miles 135-163 & alternative); Hill City to Hanna Campground (miles 163-225); Hanna Campground to Spearfish (miles 225-265).

Rolling out of Buffalo on Lyons Road (Old Highway 85).
(image by Paul Brasby)

Further east on Lyons Road.

(image by Paul Brasby)

Turning north on Brown-Johnson Road.

(image by Paul Brasby)

Approaching a big ranch on Brown-Johnson Road.

(image by Paul Brasby)

Wily fox surveys from a unique vantage point.

(image by Paul Brasby)

Pondering the journey ahead on South Cave Road.

(image by Paul Brasby)

South Cave Road looks to be climbing toward some hills.

(image by Paul Brasby)

Surprising evergreen-topped lumps ahead along Tufte Road.
What's that doing out here?

Tufte Road starts to climb up that valley.

(image by Paul Brasby)

Climbing in earnest on Tufte Road.

(image by Paul Brasby)

Turning off Tufte Road onto USFS Low Standard Road 3123.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Another sweeping switchback on Road 3123.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Topping out.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Another curve leads to another pitch.
(image by Paul Brasby)

It's not flat on top.

Still rolling around on Road 3123.

Road 3123.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Approaching Fuller Pass.

A view from USFS Picnic Springs Campground in Custer Gallatin National Forest.
It feels like you're back in the Black Hills.

No reservation, no fee, first-come-first-served USFS campground, with 9 sites and 2 group sites.
Spring water, picnic tables, fire pits, and vault toilets.

Looking back toward Buffalo from Picnic Springs Campground.

(image by Paul Brasby)

Cresting Fuller Pass on Road 3123.

(image by Paul Brasby)

Time to descend.

Fuller Pass Road, USFS Low Standard Road 4113.

Dropping back onto the prairie on Fuller Pass Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Final stretch to the border on Rhame Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Mile 0. The border between South Dakota and North Dakota.

End of the line.

(image by Paul Brasby)

End Of The Line, Traveling Wilburys (1989).

BackBone Grande Visual Tour (6) - Spearfish City Campground to Buffalo (miles 265-380)

Ventura Highway in the sunshine

Where the days are longer

The nights are stronger than moonshine

You're gonna go, I know

'Cause the free wind is blowin' through your hair

And the days surround your daylight there

Seasons crying, no despair

Alligator lizards in the air, in the air

Ventura Highway, Dewey Bunnell (1972).

The BackBone Grande is my 420+ mile backroad bikepacking route across the State of South Dakota along the spine of the Black Hills and through the surrounding prairie. Inspired by my experience riding the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, I designed it to create that type of experience here in my back yard. Tracking rough roads that showcase the best of our scenery, history, culture, and wildlife, the BackBone Grande is a great ride on its own and as a shakedown for the GDMBR.  For a collection of my stories all about it, go the BackBone Grande Page.

For those more visual learners, I've selected images along the route from various scouting trips, the first through-ride, and other rides. Here is my sixth installment of the BackBone Grande Visual Tour, from the Spearfish City Campground to the North Dakota finish (miles 265-380).

Now clear of the Black Hills, the BackBone Grande streams out of Spearfish on the city bike path to connect with surprisingly pretty Lookout Mountain Road to start a nice, long roll into the prairie on mostly fast county gravel roads, with a few miles of paved connectors and a couple of Minimum Maintenance Roads. Water is scarce. Re-supply dries up. In abundance here is utter exposure to the elements. One will experience all that the prairie offers.

Highlights include twisty Crooked Oaks Road, Belle Fouche National Wildlife Refuge, Geographic Center of the United States, stagecoach stop at the near ghost town of Harding, unique earth formations on Gilbert Road, and the cowboy town of Buffalo.

There's no place like the open prairie to feel the free wind blowing through your hair.

Here's a photo gallery of the BackBone Grande route from the Spearfish City Campground to the North Dakota border (miles 265-380). Also, here are links to prior blog posts about this section. Introducing the BackBone Grande - Oasis In The Prairie; The First Through-Ride - Prairie Gold.

Also, here are links to prior Visual Tour posts:  Nebraska Border to Buffalo Gap (miles 0-95); Buffalo Gap to Custer (miles 95-135); Custer to Hill City (miles 135-163 & alternative); Hill City to Hanna Campground (miles 163-225); Hanna Campground to Spearfish (miles 225-265).

Spearfish bike path heading out of town.

Lookout Mountain Road. Good gravel road past small ranches, to start.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Lookout Mountain Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Lookout Mountain Road, hinting of the road to come.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Lookout Mountain Road starts to climb a bit.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Lookout Mountain Road. Believe it.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Yeah, Lookout Mountain Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

196th Street rolling toward St. Onge.
(image by Paul Brasby)

196th Street rolling toward St. Onge.
(image by Paul Brasby)

St. Onge Bar has limited supplies and limited hours, but is the last commercial stop for 100 miles.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Sale Barn Road is wet practically all the time.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Sale Barn Road, riding north away from the Black Hills.

Crooked Oaks Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Crooked Oaks Road. Uniquely pretty in the spring, and gorgeous in the fall.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Brooker Road flows through big cattle country.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Brooker Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Geographic Center of the United States, just off Harding Road (Old Highway 85).
(image by Paul Brasby)

Battle Creek Wetlands Project. BLM land for surface water and dispersed camping.

Harding Road. No escape from the elements.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Harding, a stop on the Medora-Deadwood stagecoach line.

North of Harding, on Harding Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Further north of Harding, on Harding Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Curious locals checking us out.
(image by Paul Brasby)

They followed us for awhile, before peeling off into the prairie.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Gilbert Road, looking east.

Gilbert Road. The prairie turns a little lumpy.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Gilbert Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Gilbert Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Gilbert Road.

Gilbert Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Decisions. Decisions. On U.S. Highway 85 into Buffalo.

Ventura Highway, America (1972).