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.