tips_nature

Tips that can make your trip more fun ...

... Everybody had to find out by him or herself, but we stumbled upon some things, places, ideas that can be something for you as well! Like Pie town, coming from the south you hit pie town after 4 days in the bush, you die for a shower and a PIE! See Nita in the house with the toasters, were you can stay and enjoy a good meal after a hot shower.

It is heaven. The next day, before leaving a an other go at the different pies at one of the cafe's before you go all the way down to Grants. Enjoy it, because Grants has nothing real special to offer accept the big road restaurant for truckers, Pedros,where you can eat your tummy round for little money. They have a different menu every day.

Black bear and grizzly bear live along most of the CDT. So be prepared, but don't overreact!(Some bikers cary bear bells and bear spray, we did not.)

Bears are not going to attack you as long as you keep your distance. Put your food, pans, toothpaste and (sun)cream far away from your tent. Most bears do not associate people with food and will not attack you when they are hungry. Only when they have cubs they can be unpredictable when you are there suddenly on there path. Step backwards very slow, do not show your back, and you will live...

The change to so bears is when the sun goes down, they start hunting then, if you're on your bike by that time and scared... sing, sing, sing your hart out! I ensure you, they will stay away!

Tips, when you do encounter a bear |

Rattlesnakes are venomous snakes with movable front fangs and usually have a rattle at the end of the tail. Be aware in New Mexico and Colorado! Especially when going for a pee and when putting up the tent. They sleep under stones and other shady places and lie on the road after dark. (Use a torch in the nights!)

Their body reaches one meter and a half in length. Their back exhibits brownish rhombs bordered by cream colored lines. Length wise, their neck looks striped. They possess fangs, fed by poison glands located behind and under the eyes. A gland very sensitive to heat, located before the eye, allows the snake to stalk its prey in total darkness. (!)

Everything about rattlers

Most of the roads are dirt and gravel and of good quality. Offcourse are there some parts that are heavy washboarded and some parts that are clayish and impossible when wet.

Washboarded:New Mexico from Chaco Canyon to Grants, Cuba to Abiqui. Ride you bike on the sides of the road and think about something 'nice'.

Clay: New Mexico from El Rito to Canon Plaza. Colorado from Del Norte to La Garita. Put up your tent, the road will be impossible when wet.

Push your bike at: Fleecers ridge, Montana (From Wiseriver to Butte).

Weather is impossible to predict, but we found it ideal to bike de CDT from south to north.

We started at the end of May in New Mexico, because until the beginning of June it is still pretty cold up in Montana. May in New Mexico is hot but just about OK for biking, just drink a lot! Then you arrive in Colorado in June, the snow has melted and the nights become a little warmer. The best part of traveling north is that Montana is warm in August. There are still wildflowers and the weather is dry. Perfect conditionsall the way!!

Take a look at our statistics|

The tip is: buy a book with all the wildflowers of the rocky mountains in it, there are so many beautiful flowers on the side of the road that you really start to wonder ' what is on earth is the name of that gorgeous flower'.

Ofcourse as a biker you're always busy with 'weight', so books are usually out of the question. Good for you that there is a wildflower mini book version. You can buy it every where on the road.

My little book about wildflowers on Amazon.com|

Front suspension, that feels good downhill

With front suspension, your arms doesn't have to catch all the bumps by themselves, the wheel stays longer in contact with the ground and required maintenance is still limited.

Make sure you don't need any special tools in the case that you want to adjust the compression.

Watercontainers

The normal waterbottles we use are just 1.5l softdrink bottles - gives you more water at hand.

Minimum drink water per person is 4l a day, plus any water for cooking and cleaning. To cover this in New Mexico, two MSR waterbags are employed - 4l respectively 6l. The MSR water-filter fits, and can also be used as a field shower.

Wheel & Tyres

The standard MTB wheels are often built more for light-weight than for the heavy loads of camping gear and water bottles.

Use tyres with knobs on the side only when going on asphalt. With trajects of more than a day on tracks with soft sand, mud or rock, choose a full profile.

Foldable tyres with strong sidewall-long life & easy packing

New Mexico is in bloom in May/June! The big cacti bloom in pink, white and yellow. Do not touch is the advice!

The roadside from El Paso to Hachita and from there to antelope wells, the Chihuahuan dessert, is packed with beautiful cacti. The Chihuahuan Desert covers a vast area from just south of Albuquerque to the state of Zacatecas in Mexico.

Desertplants |

Chihuahuan Desert |