From town to country, the new Velo Orange Campeur is my main bike as I pass the winter in Albuquerque, New Mexico. With 45mm Schwalbe tires, the bike is capable of mild dirt road exploration, light trail riding in the Sandia foothills, and daily commutes. A Carradice Camper saddlebag and an Ostrich handlebar bag carries most of my stuff, although I look forward to a custom frame bag soon.
For more demanding adventures, I reach for even bigger tires…
Surly Pugsley
I’m currently riding a first generation Surly Pugsley, purchased secondhand in Seattle before moving to Anchorage, Alaska for the winter. The purple Pugsley was the first mass-market fatbike available, while other builders and smaller manufacturers pioneered the design. It’s been a great bike and allowed me to ride every day this winter in a season of record snowfall. As the snow melts, I find new uses for this highly versatile bike. I rode Schwalbe Big Apple 26 x 2.35″ tires on 65mm rims leaving Anchorage on a mix of dirt and paved roads– as such, a hybrid bike to satisfy my hybrid needs. To read about the evolution of the Pugsley from a conventional fat-tire snow bike to the all-season tourer shown below, read this post about one bike for all seasons.
In Montana, I refit fat tires for the Great Divide Route and the coming months of dirt roads and trails, including the Colorado Trail, and assorted routes through CO and NM.
The final arrangement of the bike, at the end of the trip, is completely described in my post entitled Kit List: The Surly Pugsley. The full evolution of the bike is described in Pugsmorphology.
1985 Schwinn High Sierra
Assembled from a stock 1985 Schwinn High Sierra, this bike was ridden in various forms in France, Mexico, Canada and the US from 2010 to 2011. This bike was ridden on the Great Divide Route, leaving from my front door in Maryland. This has been my favorite bike to date.
A bike that has labored and sweat and bled.
A bike as many years in life as I, of perfectly matched proportions.
My 1952 Vincent Black Lightning, figuratively.
Once a typical mid-80′s ATB, this bicycle is chameleonic, molding it’s aptitudes to the nature of its surroundings.
From the 1985 catalog, this is how I acquired my High Sierra.
1995 Trek 520
I left on my first bike trip in the fall of 2008 on a 1995 Trek 520. The bike featured a mix of favorite parts from several bikes, including those from a broken Miyata frame that had been destined for travel. In its place, the Trek was a great bikes for several years of touring. I eventually realized the benefit of bigger tires.
Riding south from Ferndale, CA into the Lost Coast region, through Petrolia and Honeydew and along ridgelines past Shelter Cove toward Usal Beach and Highway 101. Below, Usal Road. Photos: Matt Blake
great looking, lightweight setup! I really like those Jandd mini frame bags, and of course the Carradice.
Happy exploring.
Thanks Cass. That Jandd bag is the best value/perfromer in bicycle luggage. We met in Anchorage through Adam at the co-op, then along the Seward Highway (mi. 224, “Creekside”) for some riverfront camping on the Nenana. I was on the ’85 Stumpjumper, now it’s the High Sierra. I liked that vintage Panasonic you rode for a minute. It’s always inspiring to check in with your travels. I don’t say that kind of thing often. Happy riding.
Hey, I didn’t realise that was you Nick!
Your lovely camping spot featured in this post: http://whileoutriding.com/2009/11/06/catching-up-the-denali-highway-ak/
Too bad the Stumpy has gone, that was a lovely bike, I have some pictures of it somewhere. The High Sierra looks to be a very able replacement.
The Panasonic was lovely, and I did toy with the idea of continuing my journey on it… Or buying it and sending it home. But than figured it would probably have a better retirement trundling round the backroads of Guatemala.
In principle I am a one-bike guy, and try to avoid collecting heaps of metal, despite how charming an old Ridge Runner or Stumpjumper (or Prairie Breaker) can be to my eyes. I did manage to hold onto the Stumpjumper, however, and due to the cost of shipping/flying it will remain in Alaska for future use. If you, or anyone you know ever needs a bike up there, it’s capable and available. I manage to satisfy my appetite for old bikes by helping others that are looking for bikes; this has connected me with a few other High Sierras (’84, ’86) and a beautiful Univega Alpina Sport (’84), a equal to the Stumpjumper. Univega here: http://velo-orange.blogspot.com/2011/06/more-staff-bikes.html
I’ve become a bit of a vintage ATB nut.
/Users/daplin/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Masters/2012/02/19/20120219-232614/IMG_0028.JPG
Daniel, The photo doesn’t appear but I suspect it’s your 83-84 Bridgestone MB-3. Send it to my e-mail at nicholas.carman@gmail.com.
Indeed, you certainly have (-:
Letting bikes go is hard… It was a good exercise of detachment at Mayapedal, building up classic old mtbs, then watching them get collected to be sold at the market…
I’m really happy with my Surly Troll, I might just hang onto it for a while… I like the company’s attitude, how they go out on a limb to build stuff that they think would be useful rather than just big sellers.
Was curious to see what type and size of tire you used on your bike while riding the great divide? I’m planning on riding it this summer on my Surly LHT. I have 700c rims and looking to get the widest tire possible. I debating at trying the schwalbe dureme 700 x 50mm. I know surly states the widest it can handle is 700 x 45mm, but I’ve heard of others fitting 50mm. Thanks for any help / advice.
Andrew
andrewsuff@yahoo.com
Andrew, I think you’ve got it figured out. The most efficient tire for the Divide will let you ride long distances quickly over moderately-rough roads; to do this, volume, not tire tread is most important. For example, racers tend to ride the lightweight low tread tires like the WTB Nano, Conti Race King, and Kenda Small Block Eight. I happened to have Schwalbe Marathon tires (26×1.75 / 559×47) on the bike when I took off for the Divide from Maryland. They already had about 5000mi of wear, and one tire made it all the way to Missoula, while the other is still with me. First, as a testament to the Marathon line, that is about 10,000 and 12,000 mi, respectively. The 47mm size was the best imaginable compromise for the paved riding to reach Banff, and for the dirt tracks of the Divide. Most of the Divide is well-groomed FS roads, with some pavement and some bumpy sections. However, the more you carry the bigger the tires should be. Additionally, bigger tires will allow you to run lower pressures with confidence, reducing bodily fatigue and stress to the bicycle. The Dureme is my ideal tire considering weight and relative ride quality (to the Marathon Plus or XR, for example). The 50mm tire is likely to run a little narrower when mounted, so clearance probably won’t be an issue. I picked up a used WTB Nano in Jackson and enjoyed riding that tire up front for a while, which increased confidence while cornering and softened the ride, which is another interesting option. In all, the Dureme sounds great.
Here’s a link showing a Divide rider on 700×4?mm tires on a Specialized Crossroads. Reportedly, she had a great time.
Here’s the link: http://gregmu.wordpress.com/category/great-divide/
I rode with Greg for several weeks, one of several Surly Trolls (the bike, not Greg) in our bunch.
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I thinks I loves em both,the Pugs for sure (I must needs build me a fat bike inthe next year or so),and that Schwinn is flat awesome!
The DC
That’s a nice bike… My dad has been using a Fatback during our Alaskan winters here. I borrow it from time to time – those things are fun!
Those things are fun. It’s a slippery slope. I found myself in NM on the same bike I was riding in the winter in AK. Have fun.
nicholas
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Just happened on your blog yesterday and I’m really digging it. What kind of tires are you using on the Campeur? I’m looking for an on-road/off-road tire that would be good for long gravel road rides and they look nice.
Hey Ryan,
I have Schwalbe Mondial (700×47; 28×1.75″) up front and a Schwalbe Dureme (700×50;28×2.0) in the rear. Both tires feature long-wearing rubber, reflective sidewallls, and a useful tread. They are appropriately heavy and durable, so if you wish a lightweight gravel tire I suggest some of the 1.75-1.9″ models from Vee Rubber. Mike at Black Mountain Cycles carries their most useful models: http://www.blackmtncycles.com/2012/02/vee-rubber.html. Oh, and if your frame doesn’t take a tire this big, Mike sells a fantastic frame for the price of a Surly. Check out the Black Mountain (Monster)Cross frame: http://www.blackmtncycles.com/2013/01/monotone-bike-building.html.
But yes, I am a Schwalbe fanatic. The Marathon tires will roll for many thousands of miles.
nicholas
hey nick. I’ve been lurking hard on your site for awhile. i originally stumbled over it while searching for info about fat tire wheelsets, etc and more or less fell in love at first “visit” I really admire the fact that you share your experience & expertise via this medium; I have this aversion, you know, to the whole computer thing and have more or less just vamped about as a consumer of info & goods. the fact that you take the time to pass it on is really awesome and not to sound cheesy, a genuine inspiration. it’s funny, you know, i live without a car, out on the eastside of the sierra nevada, which is a pretty wide open up&down place to not have a car, and everybody thinks i’m a nutcase pedalling around to do my thing, and it’s inspiring to check out other folks who aren’t in a hurry. and so i wanted to say thanks.
your (and the philosopher joe cruz) adventures have infected me with fatbike fever and today, after prolonged obsessive consideration (do i really need another bike? do i really need a 40lb bike? will my girl let me park another bike in her yard?, etc, etc) i pulled the trigger (or clicked the mouse, as it were) on a pugs. it’s ridiculous, you know. I’ve got a bloody fleet; a 30 yr old schwinn cimmaron for most travels and a big dummy town car, and a pile of projects, and yet…
if it weren’t for you & joe cruz i probably coulda shaken the bug. the new bike should arrive on my girl’s doorstep with enough time for me to personalize it before launching on extended expedition in death valley n.p. and i couldn’t be more excited.
if you find yourself rolling round the great basin give a holler. and thanks for putting it out there.
Michael,
I am excited for your new Pug! Should be a blast to ride, especially in the rugged deserts and valleys of eastern California. I surely like the sound of your Cimarron, too. I’ve spent considerable time aboard an 85 Schwinn High Sierra.
Let me know how you like the new bike. Oh, and if there are considerable puncture risks in those parts, consider a tubeless setup. It will cut some weight from the wheels and make a nearly flat-proof set-up. I might have some more current tips than what is published here, if you need. You can e-mail at nicholas.carman(at)gmail.com.
I will someday make it to the Great Basin.
nicholas
Hi. Sorry to bother you, but I have questions about your trek bike and I hope it’s not a bother to ask.
I found your website through google when I typed “black trek 400″. My local bike shop is selling a used trek 400 for $450, and I don’t know if I should purchase it for commuting purposes. I read that you bought a used(?) trek 400 elance. (If you don’t mind answering), – About how much did you pay for your trek 400?
- What sort of wheels did you equip your trek? Did you feel the wheels could handle lots of mileage and tough roads (ie. rolling over small cracks, ridges, uneven pavement)?
- Since the trek 400 is an old model, was it difficult to buy replacement parts because some were discontinued and not sold anymore? Is the framework of the bike so old that modern bike parts have trouble fitting into the bike during assembly?
I have concerns that the trek I’m thinking of buying is over-priced and whether or not the wheels they put on the bike ($20 each) are too cheap to handle lots of mileage (I average 50 miles/week).
Thanks for your time and if you do not answer, that’s okay.