**not sure why all my single quote marks got replaced with question marks. I?m using Tapatalk?maybe it?s that & should use the regular web forum.
I joined awhile back but haven?t posted much and hoping to benefit from the wealth of knowledge here as well as add value if I can. So an introduction is in order.
My name is Wayne, live in N. Utah and have been bikepacking for about 3 years. I can?t say I?m super experienced yet but I have a passion for the sport. Cycling background started with road racing from 2013 - 2020, then got into gravel racing, then got into more adventurous forms of gravel where I quickly discovered I love to be off-grid, explore and push myself into areas requiring self-sufficiency, taking on a little risk, and learning how to get myself out of sketchy situations (that I usually have myself to blame for); and especially the community! I?m an admin for the Utah Gravel Grinders Facebook group, also a wonderful community. Not really into road racing anymore?though I do ride my road bike still. The culture is just a little too intense for me. LOVE the culture of the adventure cycling / bikepacking community.
Once I discovered bikepacking, my love of cycling has increased even more because of it. I?ve done 6 solo 3-4 day rides, and ?attempted? 2 bikepacking races. The Pioneer 400 in Idaho I made it 230 miles before scratching, then last year the Utah Mixed Epic I made it 540 miles before scratching because of some significant flash flood risk in the canyons I was navigating as I was nearing Green River. But in hindsight I should have found some high ground and waited out the storms. This year I am training for the 900 mile Big Sky Spectaculaire in Montana, Aug 21. Next year, my dream is to do the Bright Midnight in Norway. We?ll see. Biggest barrier to success I think is 1) mental game 2) nutrition.
Anyway, I?ll have lots of questions, including one relating to eating right away. Thanks again for having me. Here?s a few photos. 2 bikes I use, depending on the terrain. 1) Norco gravel bike w/ 650B / 2.1? Vitoria Mezcal & Sram Force 1X soon to be converted to 12 speed using the Ratio conversion kit. 2) Why Cycles Wayward 29+ w/ Eagle GX, current running Vitoria Mezcal 2.6?, Old Man Mountain rack. For the Big Sky event I?ll probably run 700c wheels with 42mm tires.
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