Straddle & Paddle was born in 2017 from a bikepacking.com contest and a little bit of Minnesota/Wisconsin rivalry. The route has inspired hundreds of Arrowhead bikepacking adventures and this year celebrates its 5th birthday. Happy Birthday, Straddle & Paddle! Straddle & Paddle is a 180 mile, 3-4 day bikepacking adventure in the Arrowhead of Minnesota's north shore. In this interview, I talk with Peter Pascale, the original creator of the route to discuss how it all came together and what makes it meaningful to him. Photos: David Vessel Photography Interview with Peter Pascale: Why did you create Straddle & Paddle 5 years ago? I was inspired by Bikepacking.com’s 2017 route contest. Now, I’m not a native Minnesotan (raised in Pennsylvania) but it still bothered me that Wisconsin beat us to the map! The Bikepacking.com route map that is. Dave Schlabowske’s wonderful Tour de Chequamegon route had been published the year before. Since I consider bikepacking.com the definitive source of inspiring routes, I wanted to see Minnesota’s great north represented. Having ridden northern Minnesota for years, I knew we had all the elements of a great bikepacking experience. When the contest came out in 2017, I figured it would be a great project, a chance to get Minnesota on the map, and… maybe win a prize. Turns out - the Straddle and Paddle took fourth place - not too shabby when the top first and second go to lifetime bucket list routes in Australia and New Zealand respectively! I did want to win that red Surly Krampus for my wife (I’m a huge surly fan), but the prize pack for honorable mentions was still very fun, and I split it with David Vessel - the amateur photographer friend that helped document the route. What was your process like for creating the route? Well, I’ve been refreshing my soul in the north woods and north shore of Lake Superior for almost 30 years. I was introduced to the BWCA, and the North Shore, working for the Minnesota Conservation Corps in the early 1990s. The ‘Arrowhead’ is just a place more midwesterners should experience. I knew there was cultural value - Native American history, fishing and logging history, the small towns, etc. And I knew incorporating the BWCA would be really special. I had been doing wilderness trips out of Sawbill Lake for years. You can literally get a free day permit and rent a canoe from the outfitters right at the lake, and do the wonderful Kelso Lake loop in a half day. So I thought it would be great to incorporate the Boundary Waters in the route, even though I expect most folks don’t actually get in a canoe! I did a lot of pre-rides, usually sneaking away during a family trip for a morning to explore a segment, or see if lines on the map that nearly connect could be bushwhacked through (most always… no). This led to many great experiences and discoveries - some of which are on the route. For example - locals know the beautiful falls on the Cascade River just south of Eagle Mountain Trailhead, but I only discovered it because it’s on old maps of the area. I also got EXTREMELY lost bushwhacking northeast of Grand Marais following a line on a very old cross-country recreation map. That did not become part of the route - though I did come across a functional moonshine still in the woods! I connected enough of the segments to ride the majority of the route with friend Ron Lancaster a season before submitting to the contest. Then rode it again with another friend David Vessel to document it for Bikepacking.com. David is an accomplished amateur photographer and his photos brought the route to life. I’ve since re-ridden a longer version solo and continued to explore segments. I was set to ride again last year, but the forest fires pushed us east - to a great four-day ride in the Porcupine Mountains at the western end of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Who helped create the Straddle & Paddle route? I’d have to start with two gravel pioneers - Jeremy Kershaw from the Heck of the North , and Joshua Stamper of Gravel Conspiracy . Between the two of them - I believe they have ridden the entire arrowhead. Their events are inspiring, and they have been extremely generous with their knowledge and route maps. Joshua was running the Gravel Conspiracy the first time Ron and I did the entire route, and we ran into him at the Trestle Inn. Jeremy’s Heck Epic (now Fox and Wolf) and the Grand Du Nord events use some of the same roads. He steered me right, while challenging me to push harder with his events. I think the Heck of the North is my favorite gravel race of all time. There’s also Jay Decoux - mayor of Grand Marais and owner of the Fireweed Bike Co-op. Any section of road not ridden by Jeremy and Joshua he knows first hand. There was a large format topo map at the back of the Fireweed and you could point to any thin line and Jay could say ‘likely flooded’ or ‘too much logging traffic’ or ‘definitely worth riding’. Jeff and Sarah at Sawtooth Outfitters have been supporting family adventures up there for years. It’s a great place to rent a canoe or buy gear. And they too have been willing to pour over maps and answer questions about the area several times. They have also invested countless hours into the development of single track in the Tofte area - including Jackpot - a new connection between Lutsen and Tofte that you can incorporate into the route. Stop by, say hi, (and it never hurts to spend some money there). I don’t know their names, but the USFS personnel I’ve run into on the route have been very friendly and helpful. On the first ride through, we ran into staff doing work at Crescent Lake and they gave us the extensive if hard-to-read ATV maps of the area. Finally - David and Ron have been great riding partners, and it wouldn’t be possible without my wife Kathy supporting (and sometimes participating in) adventures. I imagine you’ve spent a lot of time on these roads; what is your favorite part of the route? I love the quirky Trestle Inn - see if you can line up your visit with Bingo Night! So many of the smaller lakes with small campgrounds are quiet and nice. Hog Back lake is not too far from the Trestle and very quiet. Silver Island Lake has sites right on the lake including one with a dock. I also always have to stop at the falls on the Cascade river, and then whoop down the fast and windy downhill just after the falls. But I also think some of the best parts of the route, aren’t officially on the route. What makes this route special? I think the most special part about the route is you can make it your own. It’s extremely composable. Want to do something shorter? You can cut off a lobe. Want to add a day? You can expand into the Isabella area west, or the Gunflint area east. The route is a suggestion - Even I haven’t ridden it the way it was laid out more than once. Two real highlights that aren’t on the original route but that I would definitely recommend. First - the abandoned Cramer Railroad tunnel. The Cramer tunnel is the longest railroad tunnel in MN and is just south of the Trestle Inn. Just east off the road, and a fun (if spooky) place to check out. Many have incorporated this into their rides. Scott Haraldson’s excellent ride report includes photos that will convince you this is a must-add. Section 29 Lake road, which you can pick up just east of Divide Lake campground, is a way to add miles through some very remote and beautiful country. It starts as a gravel road, and slowly devolves through single lane, dirt track, and single track trail before dumping you back out on Gravel Road 7 just south of Lake Kawashiwi. I think it’s my favorite road section. It passes through the July 4th 1999 blowdown area which is wild to see even after 20 years, and gets pretty remote. One thing to note - you’ll exit the blowdown area and come to a grassy clearing. There are two exits - the right exit is a fake trail leading to a swamp! The left is the actual trail that will take you into the woods. A short ride after - you’ll hit a 'Tee' in the woods. You can take a left and explore Coffee lake, or take a right to continue on the ATV trail back to the gravel road. But I encourage folks to decide what experience they are after, and adjust the route accordingly. To celebrate the five year route-iversary - I’ve published an updated route map with new and revised points of interest, and the two additions noted above. I’m always happy to answer questions and my DMs are open @peterpascale on Twitter. Updated Straddle & Paddle Route Map

Having twins 4 months before the pandemic meant that I was going to be spending a lot of time at home. Regaining some of my old freedoms took about two years and during that time I taught myself how to sew bike bags in the evenings with grandma's old sewing machine. Words & Photos: Josh Rizzo In middle school I made hemp bracelets and tried selling them to all of my friends (they didn't buy them). In high school, my friends and I started a male crochet club. I've always had a little bit of a creative itch and really enjoy crafts and using my hands to make things. I've long admired sewing and the people who are patient and creative enough to figure out how to turn fabric and string into something beautiful and practical. When I was little my dad bought a tiny handheld sewing machine and would fix clothing with it. Then my wife and I had sewing machine in our basement that was passed on from my grandma to my mom and then to me and my wife but I never paid any attention to it. Finding a twin-dad pandemic hobby Then two things happened that made me go to the basement searching for that old sewing machine. 1. I stumbled on an article on bikepacking.com about sewing your own frame bag . I was pretty intimidated at the idea of sewing but it really intrigued me so I cataloged it in the back of my mind. 2. We had twins. Let me correct that; we had surprise twins. Raising babies is a lot of work and multiplying that by two doesn't make it any easier. I spent a lot more time in the house and new I needed a home hobby. Well by the time I learned how to make a frame bag, there was no turning back. Every evening, I put the kids to bed and ran to go get the sewing machine. My sewing obsession quickly turned into fanny packs, stem bags, roll tops, stuff sacks, and tool rolls. We're now out of the first 2 years of having twins so life has opened back up a lot. But overall, life still moves slow and we prioritize short family adventures over epic dad-is-going-away-for-a-week adventures. My 5-year old son loves the bike bags that I make and always asks me to make new ones. But what's even cooler is that he now wants to learn how to sew himself and just made (with a bit of Dad's help) his first stuff sack. We're repurposing rain coats, old flannels, and even retired rock climbing rope to make bags that will cary our next adventures. I personally find the activity both enjoyable in the moment and rewarding in the long term. I don't sew quite as much anymore but still love to pull out grandma's machine and create something new.

In total Todd-Poquette fashion, he recently started spewing on social media about another crazy project that he just made up. When Made U.P. bikes first crossed my feed, I thought it was maybe a pipe dream, something on his wish list, or just a casual napkin brainstorm session he was sharing. But as his social media musings accelerated, an official Facebook Page showed up out of nowhere and then a bona fide website, MadeUPeh.com . I can only image he's been cooking this up for a while since planning graceful geometry and creating a prototype for something as nuanced as a friggin' Upper-Peninsula-adventure-dedicated bike doesn't happen overnight. So I reached out to Todd for a 9am Zoom call. And his response? "Nope, 9:06am." You have to admire somebody who is that relentlessly on brand. (never mind that I showed up an hour late forgetting that the U.P. is on Eastern Time; sorry Todd) Sometimes Less is More So let me be a little transparent here. When I first started seeing all the cryptic teases about a new bike brand that seemed to be alluding to a new niche category, I had to ask myself, "do we really need another bike category that we all have to subscribe to and continue with the endless n+1 nonsense? Sure, I love bikes as much as the next person (I mean...I publish bike content almost endlessly), but there are a few ominous downsides to having a different bike for every single type of riding. I''m personally a one-bike guy. I have always been a wholehearted, lifelong bike believer because of the simplicity, community, and raw pleasure I get from riding two wheels with people I love. Now, I don't want to over-romanticize this because I love geeking out about gear, but when we jump on the "more and more of everything faster and faster" train, we lose something. We lose simplicity (consumerism is addictive), the environmental benefits (most of our bikes are shipped from Taiwan and they can't manufacture them fast enough), and the equitable nature of an inclusive community (expensive sports leave out people who can't afford to keep up). Full disclosure: I'm not opposed whatsoever to adding another bike. But I don't buy a bike just to sell it a year later and get a new one when my riding style shifts by a few degrees. Our sport can be exhilarating and accessible. Bikes can be simple and versatile. They can be endlessly adventurous and still benefit the environment (and our own communities). It was fun to see a neat bike project... ...but ultimate I just kept scrolling. But when I gave it a little more a chance, I saw that the entire heartbeat of Made U.P. bikes addresses these exact issues that I see in the bike industry and that are also a part of my own bike story. Meet the Made U.P. Lake Ehfect Okay, before we get into the details of the bike, let's address the name itself. The first bike announced under the Made U.P. brand gives 3 nods to the U.P. indicating that it fully intends to be be built around the adventurous heartbeat of the wild Upper Peninsula of Michigan. First is the the play on being "made U.P." which has two meanings. It is actually made and manufactured right in the U.P. but it's also a playful way of saying they're making it up as they go. Todd says a core message at the heart of Made U.P. is to dream something U.P. and go for it… or spend the rest of your life wondering what would have happened if you had. Second is the lake effect reference. Lake effect is a meteorological phenomenon that causes cooler summers and a butt ton of snow in the winter. With 1,700 miles of coastline, you better believe the Upper Peninsula gets a full dose of lake effect weather. Third and lastly, the spelling of ehfect includes "eh". The yoopers in the U.P. have a little thing called yoopernese where they say 'yah' instead of 'yeah', 'de' instead of 'the' and end of lot of their sentences with 'eh'. Don't ask me why. One bike. Four seasons. All surfaces. Less Hype. Back to the downsides of the bike industry and where Made U.P. fits into that whole mess. According to Todd, "I’ve been a fast food cook. Was a truck driver. Worked retail and construction. Spent a lot of years in food distribution and hospitality. Moved into the non-profit sector. Started youth programs and events encouraging people to discover the best version of themselves through outdoor adventure. My approach is simple: I remind myself every day I have a lot to learn. I work hard. I listen to people, figure out what they want, and give it to them. I don’t sugar coat things." "I tell it like it is because that’s what I’d want from you. We shouldn’t be telling people they need a bike for every season or surface. It’s not responsible. It’s fake. It’s hype. " The Lake Ehfect is Made U.P.'s first bike and it's built around 4 principles: 1. Steel is real Not a new concept, so who cares, right? Well, expensive materials like carbon tend to cost a whole lot more and often come with goofy, non-standard tube and component sizing which increases the barrier to entry and decreases the serviceability and versatility. But it goes deeper than that. Yoopers are literally the people who brought the world iron ore - it's only fitting that their bikes are forged with the steel heritage they cut their teeth on. Further, the steel gospel is always preaching (and I happen to be a subscriber of steel, myself) the field serviceability and lifespan that comes with the simple, versatile, and sturdy material. 2. One bike. Four seasons. If anybody understands how ridiculous weather and jacked up terrain demand a lot out of a bike, it's the yoopers. Full stop. If you've ever scratched your head wondering why the heck people do rides like The Crusher and Marji Geskick and go bikepacking in the Upper Peninsula , then you get it. Marquette, MI gets 154 inches of snowfall in the winter and summer rides are punchy with sand and boulders (that is if the road is even still there when you show up). Lake Ehfect promises to carry you over anything you throw at: Bikepacking, mountain biking, gravel biking, and fat biking in the winter (but not water biking , those things look real dumb). With standard, no frills specs and a blend of mountain and gravel bike geometry, just swap out the wheels in winter for snow biking and again in the spring for mountain-y riding and junk. According to Made U.P., " The fact Lake Ehfect fits a 4.6" tire doesn't make it a fat bike - it makes it capable of adapting to its environment. Riding U.P. here demands a lot of a bike. We wanted a platform that would handle whatever Lake Superior throws at it ." 3. One bike. Every surface. We all have that one friend who has a completely different bike for gravel, single track, bikepacking, bikepacking on sand, bikepacking on babyheads, fat biking, fat biking on slush, and fat bike racing (and a tall bike, but everybody actually should have a tall bike). Lake Ehfect isn't for that friend and it just doesn't care. This bike proves you actually can have a single awesome bike that will take you anywhere . 4. One bike. Less hype. There is a lot of marketing noise around bikes. Made U.P. seems to be on a mission to put raw and genuine passion into a purpose built machine without the puffery of making something flashy in order to maximize profits. No doubt that's harder done than said, but I'm excited to watch this unfold. Todd is known for his marketing “hype machine” but if you ask him about it he’ll be quick to counter. “Lets talk about hype. Remember back a handful of years when Giant decided to blanket the planet with 650b and the industry declared the 29er was dead? That’s hype. That wasn’t about what was best for cycling or the consumer, it was a gimmick, and a lot of folks followed. Where are we at now? The 29er platform is alive and well. I had a bike brand guy tell me the other day “I’ve never understood why you would want just one bike”. Of course he can’t… he’s paid not to. Can people get by with one super versatile adventure rig? Yes. Will some people need more than one bike. Yes. That’s not hype. It’s the facts.” Give me the Lake Ehfect details, please 2nd Full disclosure: I know nothing about bike geometry and will just smile and nod my head if you get on a roll about bottom bracket spacing pros and cons. I just want to ride. That being said, here's what we know about the Lake Ehfect: To kick things off, the Lake Ehfect is not a boutique bike. Everything about is meant to be utilitarian, not glamorous. You won't see fancy hubs and headsets. Instead you'll see an absurdly useful bike that's accessible to all riders on all surfaces. Here are basics of what they call, "the one bike to ride them all": USA steel frame and fork Fat tire compatible (up to 4.6") 180mm q-factor (which they claim, "we don’t know of any fat compatible frame with a narrower q-factor ") MTB geometry Dropper post Direct mount packs Bikepack ready Drop bars or flat All the bosses Also, it's not a just a bike. Here's what else Made U.P. is cooking. 1. Bike Bags : Made U.P. is partnering with Morrow Packs to create a full set of bike bags including direct mount packs. These will even include panniers, yep panniers. This one was surprising to me but Todd took panniers on his Project Adventrus scouting ride last year and swears by the improved handling on crazy back roads that are offered by the low center of gravity on panniers over a seat pack. Plus you can carry a lot more stuff for longer trips without having to buy expensive ultra-light everything. 2. A rack: The Lake Eheffect will also come with an optional rear rack. I haven't seen any details but I have to imagine it'll be bomb proof and highly functional. 3. An iconic route called Project Adventrus: More on this in an upcoming story but Made U.P. will also be the home to yet another of Todd's projects called Project Adventrus . This is an epic 1,600 mile route circumnavigating the entire upper peninsula. It's a long term development with support of many people and organizations to build an iconic midwest tour similar to the Tour Divide. How to follow the development of Made U.P. and the Lake Ehfect Made U.P. is constantly teasing more and more developments related to the bike, build, bags, and rack. While carefully planning a bike that is versatile (and practical) to use in four seasons on all terrains, Todd loves to make things U.P. as he goes and you can count on their more plot twists and big reveals as this evolves. As they're currently in the prototype and testing phase, Todd and Made U.P. are collaborating with Equinox Bicycles on continued design revisions during testing, Winnebago Bicycle , Morrow Packs , and Project Adventrus partner Marc Salm. To stay up to date, check out Made U.P. on Facebook and Instagram and visit their website for stories or to get in touch.

After a long break, hyperborean reporters Seeley Dave and Cowboy are back with a new partner, Birkie, a 10-month-old puppy. It is crust season, so come on up and git sum while the ephemeral conditions last. This longer video gives you a tour of the Penman trails, including the tunnel and the old sawmill as well as the Seeley Hills and a bit of gravel. For more from Seeley Dave, visit the Life Above Eight website and YouTube channel .

The Crusher in the Upper Peninsula is scheduled for Saturday, July 16 (with Expedition versions offered all summer). Check out this sweet video from glowingrock of last year's 225 EX. I bikepacked some of this route last summer as well and can confirm it's bonkers. Learn more about The Crusher or view more videos from glowingrock .

The 10th annual Fat Bike Birkie took place on Saturday, March 12, 2022. Due to the cold temperatures the race was pushed back two hours. In this story, James Kirchen shares a recap of his 2nd time racing. Story: James Kirchen, Chippewa Falls Photos: @americanbirkebeiner While only my second attempt at racing fat bike, and eager to get out and ride after months of training, I must admit I was pleasantly surprised to find out there was a two hour delay due to very cold temperatures. The 2021 race was moved up due to over 40 degrees at the finish. That’s what you get for winters in Wisconsin. Staying in our cabin near Stone Lake, my brother-in-law (first time fat bike racer) and I woke to negative 16 degrees. "Those kinds of temperatures make you question your sanity, but we didn’t come all this way to bail. As I’ve heard it put – There’s no bad weather, just wrong gear." Race time for us and the rest of the half-fat was 10:15 am and the temps made it all the way up to zero degrees. Woo Hoo! Even at that temperature, I have to admit I had done no training, so what gear should I wear? Our plan was to just layer up and use hand and toe warmers. It was a beautiful sunny day. We followed the 350 full fat bikes out and the trails were unbelievably well groomed, packed hard, and fast. It was like riding a hard packed gravel road. Following the powerlines out was pretty easy until the pacer peeled off and we turned into the woods… up hill! With my nose and mouth the only exposed skin, it was my right-hand thumb that is numb as we start the race. Of course, a necessity for shifting for the next hour plus. As we hit the ups and downs of the trail, the ice on all the trees from the weekend before made for a sight that was spectacular. The sun is coming through and reflecting off those trees, all bent over the trail making it feel like you were riding through the woods with a glass ceiling. As my brother-in-law put it, “If I wasn’t busting my butt up all those hills, I could have enjoyed what was probably one of the best sights I’ve ever seen.” On we rode and found a couple aid stations with water, which I brought none of being it would freeze. As I grabbed a small cup, put it to my lips – why was I surprised it was warm? If it wasn’t warm, it would freeze. Thanks to those volunteers toughing out the cold as well as all the fans (especially our wives who were real troopers to stand around in that weather for over and hour). This year’s race felt a little faster for me even though my time was almost identical to last year. My brother-in-law, who had never experienced the Birkie trail simply said upon finishing, “I was not ready for hills like those!” By the time we got back to the cabin, got our post-race warm up drink, he was already thinking about next year. It was such a great day – I’d highly recommend this for anyone into fat bikes. With three different distances, there is a race for you – just find some hills to practice on. Already looking forward to next year but will soon hang up the fat tires for the road bike and mountain bike. On to another adventure.

David Markman made a shift from racing to photographing gravel races, ultras, and other competitive events. His photos capture grass roots community and cyclists fighting through their hardest hills. In this interview, we talk about his background and what the heck was up with that crapper. To view more of David's photography, visit his adventure photography website or check him out on Instagram . Photos: @markmanoutdoorphotography What makes you interested in photographing bike races and ultras I’ve raced cycling and ultra events for many years, and I’m a strong believer of giving back. My focus shifted after racing the tour divide in 2016. I was really burnt out of all things bikes. When you trained as much as I did to overcome such a wild race as the divide you end up eating, sleeping and living on your bike. I had lost touch with why I got into cycling in the first place, I had lost touch with friends and family. I needed to take a break from bikes but I loved the community I had become a part of. So I decided to pick up a camera a start photographing small events, it really just grew from there. I still ride bikes but now it’s at a dad pace with my girls. Maybe one day I’ll get back into ultras. You've photographed a zillion races. What's your favorite and why? I don’t know if I have a favorite they are all so unique and I enjoy every one. I enjoy working with races that still have a grass roots feel because that’s what got my into ultras. It wasn’t big events with aero helmets and a call up for all the pros who were going to destroy the field. It was guys in jean shorts and sleeveless flannel who would stop mid race and enjoy the place they were in and probably pass around a malty beverage. These are the kind of events I can be the story teller. I can bounce around and find outstanding spots to capture the blood, sweat and tears. Typically it will be at the top of every hill or at the end of the muddiest road. I saw a great photo of you wearing Crocs on a toilet in the middle of a gravel road. What's the story there? Haha yeah that’s a good one. I’m a part of an event called the filthy 50. As a part of that we have this unspoken option for racers to “catch the crapper”. We put a toilet on course near the end of the race and people can sit on it and get their photo taken. There are always snacks and beverages there but it gives people the motivation to keep going. If you’ve made it to the crapper then you can finish the race. I ended up photographing the crapper last year and needed some test shots so I photographed myself. Not too often I can post a photo of myself on the toilet. Do you bike? If so, what bike and where do you love to ride? Like I said I still ride but not as fast or as much as I used to. Family pace is good for now, I like watching the kids figure it out. Hopefully they will want to race when they get older. I wish high school bike programs were a thing when I was in school. Favorite camera? Oh my Nikon D850 for sure, it is a beast of a camera-but I rarely use it for events other than headshots before the race. I have two Nikon D7200 that have been my work horse event cameras from day one. They both have over half a million shutter clicks. I have put them through rain, snow, mud, drops, basically the ringer and they keep up with me. I don’t mind shooting with older equipment as long as I have good glass. I put all of my money into my lenses.

Nate Long took his 5-year old son on a 30 mile 2-day bikepacking trip on the Red Cedar Trail in Menomonie, WI. It was his son's longest ride to date, and they did it back to back days for a total of 30 miles. Check out their father/son story and video here. Story and Photos: Nate Long ( Nathan Long on YouTube ) The trip started out as a spur of the moment decision. I had some days of vacation with nothing else planned, and my son also had the same days off from 4K school. He had just turned 5 years old, and the weather was quite warm for early October, so we decided to take advantage of the unseasonably warm conditions before the weather turned cold in Wisconsin. A week earlier, a couple friends had bikepacked the Red Cedar Trail with their kids, and it was a great route to introduce my son bikepacking. We had biked a couple miles of the southern section before, but this would be the first time biking the entire 15 mile route from Menomonie to where it meets the Chippewa River. My son's longest ride yet The route is quite flat, being a railroad grade that was converted to trail. The route follows the Red Cedar Valley and passes the small communities of Irvington and Downsville, and also into the Dunnville State Wildlife Area. It offers great views of the Red Cedar River, old train bridges, small waterfalls, prairies, marshes, forests, and sandstone bluffs. The longest ride my son had done prior was 12 miles, so this would be a big challenge for him, especially on a small 16” wheeled single speed bike. While I do have proper bikepacking gear, the spur of the moment trip did not allow for much preparation time. Knowing the route was flat, I decided to use the Burley to haul our gear. This allowed us to pack more than I normally would as weight and space wasn’t an issue. We loaded up the gear and bikes, and took the short drive to Menomonie to start the trip. We set out shortly after noon, and the temperatures were already above 80ºF. The plan was to make a stop half way in Downsville and visit the Scatterbrain Café for food and ice cream. My son enjoys the views of sandstone cliffs, autumn colors on the trees, and the many small bridges we cross along the way. We spot a gaggle of turkeys that cross the trail in front of us. Further along the way we see a field to our right with round hay bales covered in white plastic. My son comments on seeing the “White marshmallows out there” and asked jokingly “Do they put them out there to roast?” Kids say the funniest things. We turn off the trail in Downsville and up the street to the Scatterbrain Café. Here we refuel our bodies with food, soda, and ice cream and escape the Indian summer heat for a short bit. Then back on the bikes, we get back on the trail and continue the mission to reach the Chippewa River and our camping spot. Stopping occasionally for snacks, checking out waterfalls, and some encouraging words, my son continues to count the mile markers as we near the Chippewa River. With renewed strength as he sees the end, my son motors ahead and we make our way onto the sandy beach and pick out a spot to setup camp. A tent, a campfire, a river, and a well earned night of sleep I pull out the sand toys we packed along and my son quickly goes to make sand castles, stacking rocks, and also throwing stones in the water to make the biggest splashes he can. We roast marshmallows and make s'mores by the campfire. It was a long strenuous day for a little 5 year old, so we head into the tent early for a good nights sleep. In the morning we awaken to a beautiful sunrise and watch an eagle hunting for fish on the river. I make my coffee and we eat breakfast and pack up camp for the return trip, to hopefully beat the climbing temperatures. We make stops in the same locations as the day prior, along with another stop at the café for a root beer float and some food. Life lesson: the last leg is always the hardest The remaining 7 miles were challenging for the tired legs of a 5 year old. I remind him that our only option is to bike back to the truck, as no one was coming to rescue us since mom was at work still. I have him count down the mile markers and he realizes we only have a few miles to go. When he spots the parking lot up ahead at the trailhead, he sprints ahead with renewed energy, excited to have completed the trip. 30 miles in two days is quite a feat for a 5 year old. Showing him video of the trip, he’s excitedly asking me when are doing another one. Adventures with your kids make great memories!

In the summer of 2021, ten guys and I went up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for a bikepacking trip on parts of the Crusher route. Story, Photos, & Video by Josh Rizzo Our annual tradition is to explore Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Michigan for 3-4 days and this was our first route that wasn't an official bikepacking.com route. Despite studying aerial maps and reading about the area, what we found was a complete surprise. As Wisconsinites, we often joke about how Michigan "stole" the Upper Peninsula from Wisconsin. But after learning more about the history of how the UP became part of Michigan and how it often gets left out of Michigan maps and USA maps, I started calling the UP the "forgotten peninsula". Here's the video of our trip and our thoughts about the forgotten peninsula: ROUTE INFO:

Polar Roll is definitely a crazy venue, and a race that's unpredictable. Come along in this shortened version of the race and hear how things went. After 45 minutes hydration on the bike was frozen, how long can you push the limit without hydration? Let's Race! See more on the Bike Life With Rob YouTube Channel .

The Kasner family has two young boys diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Friend and neighbor Adam Klotz is hosting the KKD Gravel Ride which is intended to raise awareness and money for research to fight this terrible disease for the Kasner boys and others who battle Duchenne, a rare genetic and eventually fatal disease. The inaugural KKD Gravel event takes place on Sat June 11, 2022 at the Dakota County Fairgrounds. The event has 3 distances: the Gravel Half 79er, The Gravel 79 Challenge, and the Gravel 158 Ultra. The first 100 registered will be entered into a drawing for a brand new Wahoo Kickr (V5). To learn more, visit the KKD Gravel Facebook event , the Registration Page , or the Kasners family page here . Interview with friend and neighbor to the Kasner family, Adam Klotz: Who are the Kasners and what is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy? The Kasner Family is made up of 4 crazy boys, AJ, Ben, Caleb and Dunky (ABCD) and their parents, Sarah and Dan. They reside in South Minneapolis where they love their neighborhood and thoroughly enjoy the summers where they walk, run or bike wherever they go. AJ and Ben are college-aged and living their best life. Caleb and Dunky are 8 and 6 and are living a life different than any of us ever dreamed of. Nearly 4 years ago, these boys were diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (Duchenne). Duchenne is a progressive, neuromuscular disease that affects primarily boys and is terminal as there is no treatment or cure. The disease happens because these boys are missing dystrophin, which is a necessary protein found in the muscles. With each muscle movement, muscles breakdown and build back up, but Caleb and Dunky's never build back up. So essentially they are losing the ability to move their bodies with each movement they make. Kids with Duchenne are usually wheelchair bound by 8 - 12 and have a life expectancy around early 20's. In addition to their physically failing bodies, there are also behavioral issues that come with Duchenne, which are exacerbated due to the daily steroids they have to take. You're a friend of theirs. Why go through all this work to raise awareness and funds when it's not even your own family? Fortunately, I don’t consider it “work” because I very much enjoy all things bikes, riding in organized bike rides, and being in charge. Adding to that is the pure joy I get out of doing something for my neighbors the Kasners. Dan and Sarah have been neighbors and friends of ours for something like ten years. My wife and I have two children who are roughly the same ages of Caleb and Dunky, and our kids have grown up with one another. Seeing the impact of Duchenne on them made me want to do something to show my support and maybe even help. Biking and the biking community has been very helpful for me in my life, and so an annual biking event to raise awareness and funds made sense. Tell me about Dakota County. What are the gravel roads and scenery like? KKD Gravel is the gravel roads that everyone grew up with. KKD Gravel starts and finishes in Dakota County, and it travels into Rice, Le Sueur, and Scott Counties as well, depending on the distance ride you are doing. I chose that location because I grew up in Dakota County (minutes from the starting line), and so growing up I knew the surrounding gravel roads well. And when I now ride these gravel roads with my wife, who is also an avid biker, she describes them as the type of gravel roads that she also knew growing up, despite her being from the Duluth area. So we’ve concluded the best way to describe the gravel roads we ride for KKD Gravel, is to describe them as the familiar gravel roads that everyone grew up with—relatively flat, uninterrupted skylines, corn and soy fields, spattering of cows, small townships here and there with their clusters of small surrounding homes, farmhouses, scents of manure and fertilizer, large irrigation systems, suburban outskirts, and various paved connecting thoroughfares. KKD Gravel is not a gravel ride in the harrowing driftless region, nor one that takes place in a densely wooded logging region, like in Cable, WI. While I love riding events in those regions, KKD Gravel is different, and I’m particularly fond of it for that reason. A couple last things: The gravel is fast, which is great because in my opinion it makes rides like these more accessible to those who are new or relatively new to riding gravel. And for those veterans of the discipline, it allows for you to perhaps complete your first Ultra, or ride 79 or 158 miles and then weed and mow your lawn later that day. For the 158 Ultra riders, you’ll also get lakes for your scenery, and a surprise or two for the course medium. What's the significance of 79? The distances offered for KKD Gravel are 39.5 miles (or the Half 79er), a 79 mile Challenge, and a 158 mile Ultra. I’m also considering adding a 17.9 miler. The distances are based on the number 79, which is significant in the Duchenne community. 79 represents the 79 exons in the dystrophin gene. The dystrophin gene is the largest gene in the entire human body, which makes any treatments extremely difficult. Every child with Duchenne has a mutation in the dystrophin gene. There can be duplication of exons, deletion of exons or nonsense mutations where the gene just stops. Caleb and Dunky are missing exons 6 - 17, which is considered a rare mutation of the disease. Believe it or not, there are hot spots of this rare disease and Dunky and Caleb do not fall in the hot spot, making their mutation even more rare. We target 79 because our goal is someday they can have a treatment that would help them produce full length dystrophin, the 79 exons that they need. It's hard to believe how lucky most people are to just be able to jump on their bikes and go for a ride. Just one exon missing from one of our many genes we have can result in such a terrible disease.

Kate Coward found ultra endurance racing later in life. Now she's hooked on pushing boundaries, losing her GPS in the middle of storms in the dark, and helping others live their fullest potential. In this interview, we talk about biking, motherhood, and Arrowhead 135. Kate Coward is a Minnesota based athlete, mother, business owner, and coach with an addiction to pushing boundaries in everything she does. She helps people discover their full potential with custom ultra-endurance training plans. To learn more about Kate or her business, Full Potential Performance Coaching, visit her website . Kate, you've already had an incredible career as an endurance athlete. Where do you go from here and what exactly is your personal best? Thank you! I’m a little panicky because I feel like I found this sport late in life and there is so much I want to do! I’m still searching for my personal best. I seem to be getting stronger and faster as I roll through my 40s — so I’ll take it! I have a number of goals on my list to accomplish, and you never know where life will head but I will work toward them. The toughest thing for me is focusing on a sport or a season. I enjoy anything long and hard across any mode of transport all year around, but to be truly competitive you have to specialize and have an off or rest season. What's the hardest event you've ever done? 2020 Iditarod 350 hands down. It was the most physically and mentally demanding event I’ve done. I lost my GPS at mile 100 and then my phone. I was blind for the next several days feeling my way through windblown “trails” or whatever was left of a trail I could find, through lakes, rivers, and mountain passes. I had to use my intuition to get to the checkpoints - thank goodness I have a great sense of direction. There were a few hours here and there I thought I was walking off into the abyss. "I walked for endless miles through storms, in the dark, in -50 F weather and had a lump in my throat for 2 days straight on the trail. I was scared and lonely. There was a legit threat of safety from the outrageous numbers of moose on the trail. Everything hurt. My brain was tired from all the emotions and working so hard to overcome the mental pressures. So that win was so sweet and catapulted my confidence. Maybe that is what I’m the most proud of? How was your 2022 Arrowhead Ultra? Highs, lows, and how does it compare to your other Arrowhead events? I love the Arrowhead trail and community, so that did not disappoint! The 2022 race was somewhat uneventful for me. The weather was warm and the snow wasn’t super fast, but firm and rideable. There was no risk of frost bite. I had no epic battles with myself or the trail. I didn't eat or drink enough which hurt me, but my body knows what to do. I had some aches and pains, but nothing unusual. I think the biggest hurdle was that nearly the entire race was rideable, and so it was very physically demanding because it was just non-stop riding. I’ve completed this route 8 times, 6 of which were actual races, and every other journey had a struggle, either internal or external. I’ve walked my bike for hours on this trail, fallen asleep at the wheel and ridden into trees, shared hours on the trail with new friends, breast pumped milk at checkpoints, biked alone during a -30 F night unsupported when there was no race in 2021. When I did the race on foot, I did a double 270 mile with very little training and in my first trimester of pregnancy. On skis, I had to get cortisone shots in my forearms after my tendons flared up and I got nerve damage from double pole planting for 35 hours. So much drama! 2022 was “easy” relative to other years. I was kind of trained - just held onto some fitness from the summer gravel season. Weather-wise, we lucked out because just 1 day after the race cut off, the region experienced record temperature temp of -42 for the date! I had some “lows” but pretty quickly pulled myself out of them with my mental techniques. I know the course well enough now I sort of know where I am, but I don’t bring a computer or watch, so sometimes an hour feels like many hours … so the biggest challenge is staying present and trying not to anticipate the finish. I think time was slowed down since there wasn’t anything interesting to focus on, people to chase or be chased. "The highs were DEFINITELY being on the starting line with this awesome community after 2 years apart, and then rolling into CP2 and CP3 because the volunteers and Embark Maple crew were totally awesome!" I always look forward to these checkpoints for the people as much as the recharge. How does motherhood tie into your purpose as an athlete, coach, and business owner? Many of us have been socialized to think your life is over when you have kids — or that you won’t be able to be as fast or strong since your body changes (as a woman). I’m still besties with all my alpine ski racing friends from when we were teenagers, we are all raising our kids together now and sharing outdoor experiences with them. Also, pay attention - there are a number of the most insane female pro female athletes out there who have kids and continued their careers and are thriving. This has been such a passion of mine. "I changed my expectations and approach to my training and competition after having my son, and turns out I just got stronger and faster." Ultra racing it the greatest equalizer … age and gender seem to fade as we do harder and longer events. This really inspired me to show other (women especially) that you have so much more potential than you know. Maybe things change with kids. Maybe your long run on Saturday is half with a kid in a stroller at a slower pace. Or maybe you have to get on the trainer at 9pm. It’s all possible, just about changing your expectations, getting creative with your workouts, and having a supportive partner or family. What's the achievement you're most proud of? Hard to say. I usually put everything I have into everything I do in many areas of life, so I usually walk away feeling proud I gave it all. Finishing in the top 15 at Unbound 200 last year, my second gravel race, was definitely a highlight. The caliber of talent was the most concentrated I’ve ever been around. I was very surprised at the finish! Flat bars or drops? Equal opportunity! Music or silence? If I’m with others, always silence (or chatting of course). Long runs - podcasts Short runs or races - music. Biking: podcasts. Bike races: silence. Favorite on-course snack? Embark Maple! Favorite place to ride in The Nxrth? I love the Driftless region down near Lake Pepin. It’s as close as we can get to mountains and gorgeous views. Book recommendation? My favorite book is the 2nd of the Pillars of the Earth Series by Ken Follet, World Without End. love epic sports books such as Iron War by Matt Fitzgerald, about the epic Ironman Triathlon battle between Dave Scott and Mark Allen, arguably two of the best Ironman triathletes of all time. Otherwise I recommend Andrew Coggan’s Training and Racing with a Power Meter book -haha!