BT 700 Bikepacking

Here's some more incentive to roll up to the start line for the Summer Solstice grand depart. Strategic drops of Rally Beer along the route. Whose ready to keep up the party pace? www.drinkrally.ca Sign up here: http://www.bt700.ca/bikepacking-grand-depart.html

Looking ahead to your next bikepacking adventure, even if it has to be close to home (thanks, COVID), could be good for mental health. A Cornell University study discovered that the anticipation of an experience (like a two-wheel off-road trip) can increase a person’s happiness substantiallymuch more so than the anticipation of buying material goods. And, yes, that would include a new bike or fancy bikepacking bags. https://journals.sagepub.com/d/abs/10.1177/095679761454655...6 In a separate study, published in Applied Research in Quality of Life, people planning a vacation were reported being happier than those with no intention of going away. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releas/2010//100218125204.htm Mentally, I know I had a tough time getting over not having a winter cycling trip to plan for this year. But the thought of riding one or more of the local routes like the new Hasty Highlander in the coming months made that tough pill easier to swallow. Has planning for a bikepacking trip helped anyone else get through the pandemic winter blues?

How would you define "bikepacking?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP4e_F6PhXk

Ontario by Bike has a nice round-up of some of the bikepacking options in Ontario: https://www.ontariobybike.ca/2021bikepacking

Looking for some ideas on how to fuel your bikepacking and other outdoor adventures? Let me suggest tasty and nutritious energy balls. I've put together an e-book full of 25 energy ball recipes ranging from PB&J to, yes, Buttertart. Head over to BT700.ca to download your FREE copy. (Click "more" at the top to find the page with the link to the book.)

Your bikepacking options for 2021 just got more grand. Introducing Ontario's newest multi-day bikepacking route. The Hasty Highlander taps into some of the best trail and backcountry gravel terrain in central Ontario. Trip length ranges from 475 to 800 kilometres based on routing options. All the details are available at http://www.bt700.ca/hasty-highlander.html

BT 700 Grand Depart now up on the bikepacking.com events page: https://bikepacking.com/event/bt-700-2021/

The December issue of the excellent Canadian Cycling Magazine has a feature on our bikepacking trip in Colombia last winter. The cover image stars Tabi riding out of Villa de Leyva on the bounty of dirt paths in the area. Our route can be found here: http://www.bt700.ca/colombia-bikepacking.html

Ladies and Gentleman #Konabikes just released the ultimate machine for the BT 700 or any fat tire adventure. No punchy hill or butter tart pursuit is a match for that 11-112 out back. And looks like hydration will never be an issue again. https://www.lafieldguide.com/archive/first-look-2021-mtbgb