ABOUT OUR MOUNTAIN BIKE TRIPS

What’s different about Bikerpelli?

First off, every one of our events is built from the ground up to be a perfect day of riding. Our events are the rides that we love pedaling, the ones we want others to experience for their quality.  Each event is built around that idea first.

We are not outfitters or guides.  We do not do custom trips or small groups – you want an outfitter for that & we’re glad to recommend one if you’re looking.

If you're not already familiar with our trips, we're sort of the "Home Depot" of mtn bike tours - everything you need & nothing you don't.

Sometimes a picture's worth a thousand words. Check out this slideshow documenting one of our trips - Slideshow

The idea is for you to ride a solid 3-5 days without worrying about camps, gear, meals, shuttles or logistics. All you do is travel from point A to point B several times a day. And by traveling lite, you'll enjoy every mile.

You'll need to supply your own bike & camping gear for our events, which isn't much. All meals & camps are provided - you basically bring your bike, some clothes, toothbrush, a tent & sleeping bag. You'll receive detailed info about exactly what you'll need once registered.

We'll supply everything you need once in camp & at aid station points, your job is to happily spin pedals between those points. We do not guide the trail itself but do provide full route maps and detailed pre-ride briefings with all the goodies on secret trails, shortcuts & options.

Of course, should the need arise we're prepared to handle any emergency & keep you safe.

Our multi-day trips are large - anywhere from 40-100 riders per trip. The size depends on the limits of the terrain & what we feel we can handle without compromising safety, quality or environmental concerns.

We aggressively practice Leave No Trace backcountry ethics and expect our riders to do the same. Part of what we're selling is an experience in some truly magnificent terrain. If you can't respect the land then our trips aren't for you.

A big part of the magic are the riders you'll meet along the way. From a former rider:
"One of the things that makes it so great is the participants. This is a true slice of the mountain biking community pie. You'll have every fitness and skill level covered, and if you're not coming out with a friend, you'll find one at the check-in line. Just a bunch of people that love mountain biking, and one of the best trails in the country to share it with them."

A typical day looks like this –

Early AM breakfast, coffee, tea & route briefing. Stretch. Eyeball the maps. Lube the chain. Pack the tent. You're usually on trail by 8:30.

10-25 miles of perfect biking with 50 of your new best friends. Some hammer, some yammer - you set your own pace & most fall into groups of 2-8 riding partners of the same skill level. You will meet a lot of people and inevitably find a handful that you enjoy spinning with.

An ample lunch & resupply at roughly the halfway point for the day. Mechanical, medical & emotional support. Shade. A chair. A shuttle van if needed. Another route briefing. A really big map on the side of a truck.

Another 10-25 miles to camp with possible shortcuts or addt'l miles depending on your mojo for the day.

Pull into camp amid the cheers of others, grab a beer & a snack. Setup your tent, change clothes, grab a shower if you like - dinner will be ready soon. Sign up for a massage. Discuss that gnarly maneuver you pulled off (supposedly) earlier in the day. Lie about it since everyone else is.

Huge, fresh dinner around 7. Campfire around dark. Forty chairs around campfire. Someone will fall asleep in the chair & be made fun of tomorrow. Collapse in your tent or under the stars for the best sleep of your life.

Gear & Logistics -

Every multiday event comes with a registration kit outlining all the logistical & gear details you'll want to know about that particular event. Bike rentals, gear lists, meeting times & places, itineraries, weather conditions etc. Once registered we'll email your kit to you, usually within 24 hours.

Here are a few basics:

If you're flying out, you can ship your bike ahead of time to one of several locations who will hold it for you. We usually get a deal with a local shop who'll receive & assemble your bike for a reduced fee, or you can ship to your hotel. They can usually make arrangement for off-hour arrivals & are very good about accomodating us.

Bike rentals are available for most rides. This is a good option if you don't want to ship your ride or would like to try out a better bike – the local rentals are usually very high quality.

Ideally, most our events are best enjoyed from a full-suspension rig, it's simply more comfortable over a long haul. It's not necessary, though. Plenty of riders have ridden on entirely rigid bikes.

Flat tires are a fact of life when biking and most will experience 1-2 per trip. Ocassionally someone will be cursed with a hidden thorn that takes out 4 tubes. That's rare tho. Using a tubeless setup like Stan's NoTubes has all kinds of benefits, just be sure to get it dialed in before the ride.

We carry a good selection of spare parts - tubes, tires, shifters, grips, spokes, wheels, derailleurs - all stuff we've seen get busted in the past. There isn't much we can't fix in the field.

All your camping gear will have to fit into a single duffel bag, so pack smart & share whatever you can. You'll receive detailed info about exactly what you'll need once you're registered.

We recommend you carry a quality Trail map and compass and know how to use them. We'll tell you in advance which maps are the best for the trip and usually have them for sale at the trailhead as well.

What kind of shape do I need to be in?

Depending on the trip, you'll be in the saddle anywhere from 3-6+ hours per day. You'll receive a training guide once registered that will help you prepare & know what to expect.

The #1 comment we hear on our tough trips is, "if I knew it was this hard I would have trained." The easier trips are more casual. Pay attn to the difficulty charts we've built for each event and remember that difficulty is subjective.

Is there a certain pace to the ride?

Not really. There's a loose start in the AM after discussing the trail for the day. People typically fall into groups of 2-8 based on riding abilities & conversational topics. Some hammer, some yammer. There's no structure from us about pace with the exception that you'll need to pass the lunch stop by a certain cut-off time. Cut-off times are generous, we rarely have to use them.

Do you have guides on the trail?

This is not a guided tour. If you're expecting a sushi chef, hotels rooms, numerous bike guides, or a large staff catering to your needs, this is not your trip! Our focus is to provide the logistical support necessary for you to ride the trail in style. That includes terrific meals, water, facilities, shuttles where necessary, a beautiful campsite, a warm campfire, nightly rubdowns & showers and anything else we can do within our resources to ensure a fun & safe trip. You will need to be entirely self-supported while on the trail between camp & sag stops. We do have a shuttle van available each day, but it does not travel the trail itself, just the support points (approx 10-20 miles between each point depending on the trip). Your job is to spin pedals until you reach those points, and to handle all your personal needs while off-trail. And remember that we are prepared to handle virtually any emergency & ensure safety of our riders should that need arise.

How's the food?

Awe-inspiring. Lunch is lite to keep you feeling strong on the bike. Breakfast & dinner are huge & varied. All-you-can-eat chips, salsa & guacamole and fruit are available as soon as you reach camp each day. All meals are served with meat "on the side," so if you're a vegetarian you won't be punished with mac & cheese for three nites.

What's the camping scene?

Primitive camping – technically, we're car-camping, but camps will be minimal. There'll be a big kitchen for group meals, snacks, a campfire, a hand wash area, portable privies available on numerous occasions daily, and lots of tent space that nite. Camp showers are available for a quick rinse.

There's also a travelling bevy of massage therapists, so grab a good rubdown if you want. They charge for their services seperately so plan accordingly.

What do I need to bring?

Apart from your bike & riding gear, you'll need to show up with everything you'll need for the weekend, excluding food & bike tools. Tent, sleeping bag, clothes & personal items are really all you need, you'll receive a gear list once registered. Each rider is allowed one large duffel bag to be shuttled from camp to camp. Bring what you need to be comfortable, but remember that it ALL has to fit into one duffel bag. The one exception to this rule is a folding camp chair.

What's the weather like?

We plan each trip around the optimum time to be in the area. Typically days in the 70's-80's & nites in the 40's-50's.

Still, weather's about as predictable as a herd of cats, so plan for contingencies. We've seen 98 degree days, we've seen snow. Your gear list will reflect a temperature range for days & nites, as well as specific clothing you'll want.

Where should I fly into?

Once registered you'll receive a large info pack from us detailing all the logistics around flying in - locations, times, car rentals, hotels, altitude issues, bike shipping or rentals and lots more. Some events you can fly directly into town, some will require addt'l driving.

Can I ship my bike out? Or can I rent a quality bike there?

Yes, several options. We'll fill you in later once registered.

Why don't you supply energy bars for the trail?

We supply all your meals EXCEPT your on-trail food. Some people like LaraBars, some like Clif Bars, some like pork chops. Seriously, there's no way to make this politically feasible so we don't even try. Strangest combo we've seen: Beef jerky with peanut butter & dried apricots.

What are the best tires for the trail?

There's a great discussion about this every year among the gearheads, the consensus seems to be larger volume (2.1" – 2.4") meaty treads to deal with aggressive terrain. Tubeless systems with sealant do well as long as you've got them dialed in before the ride. Our recommendations tend to be event-specific and are outlined in the registration pack you'll receive. We usually give a couple favorite tires as well as size & tread recommendations.

Do cell phones work on trail? What about personal 2-way radios?

Cell access is extremely limited on most days, don't count on it at all. 2-Ways are usually only effective for a mile or two regardless of advertised range – there are a lot of obstructions out there. Still the 2-ways are very popular & a lot of folks use them.