The teen years mean father and son trips are a lot lamer than they were when my son was young. Not that I’m slower, or less adventurous, but I’m just not as cool as his friends are. [as usual, click photos to enlarge.] The solution to this, is of course, to bring friends. (more…)
The Planned Group Jeremy and I had not gotten out for a bikepacking overnight since the weather turned winter. I planned to take my family, and invited Jeremy and some other friends to add to the fun. The Actual Group By the time Saturday rolled around, it was Jeremy and I and a daugher each.…
On a -40ºC bikepacking trip, I learn an important lesson, not about bikepacking in the cold, but about taking better care of indispensable equipment.
Previously, I had written about making your own bike pogies. Now, I’ve made a video. It isn’t winning any awards, but it may help you to make your own bike pogies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nozucL2oWaA
Prologue: Pogies are giant mittens that go on the handlebars of bikes to allow the user to wear light gloves but still work the controls and not freeze their hands. They are a not necessity for winter cycling but they sure are a great way to keep hands warm. If you know how to sew,…
[Editor’s note, I know this is technically the first published, but I wrote it as the 4th in the series. Read them in any order and they should still make sense. Also, I get asked a lot of questions about my tarp.] MYOG Sleep Systems, introduction Canada can get cold. The Canadian Rockies can get…
Mid March, my friend Katrina organized a very fun overnight bikepack to Lake Minnewanka. The original plan was to get up early on Saturday, bike from Goat Creek trailhead through Banff (town) and then ride up to the Lake Minnewanka trailhead and proceed to the LM8 campground. The year previous, this is exactly what an…
When my kids were young, they took naps. Tadhg stopped around 10 months. Fiona would still occasionally nap until she was 5. Now this is purely anecdotal, but Tadhg mostly napped in a crib at home, while Fiona took part in what has been a tradition in Scandinavian countries for generations: the outdoor nap. For…
Fiona and I had enjoyed the previous weekend’s trip to Shadow Lake, that Tania suggested we do a quick overnight to the campground at km 7.2, Lost Horse Creek. Tadhg and I decided to bike, both of us generally prefer biking when it’s one of the options. Tania left herself the option to ski or…
Every year I try to make it out on a couple of trips alone with each of our kids. The one-on-one time is great bonding for all of us. I try to choose something that will be at least some challenge so the kids can take some pride in it afterward. I have high hopes…
Dr. Ops, Full Coverage Drop Bar Pogies
Price range: $205.00 through $215.00
Winter bicycle pogies
Price range: $120.00 through $140.00
GloGlo: kid-sized pogies
Price range: $100.00 through $110.00
Winter bicycle pogies - smaller size pogies
Price range: $100.00 through $130.00