Bikepacking Basics: East Texas Edition

Join us for our 2nd annual Bikepacking Basics Group Ride & Clinic!  

We are taking the guess work out of bikepacking and helping you get on your bike and into the outdoors.  

This year we are mixing things up!  The event is now 3 days long, there are 2 routes to choose from, and we're going to East Texas: home of the East Texas Showdown!  This event will take place on two new routes developed by Patrick Farnsworth of Bikes or Death. These routes include some of the same roads featured on the Sam Houston Restaurant Tour and the East Texas Showdown, and have been designed with the beginner bikepacker in mind. Each route will be led by either Patrick Farnsworth or Ariel Marlowe AND we will have a sag (support vehicle) following all riders just in case someone needs assistance.  

This year the format will be a little different. We are going to hold the Bikepacking Clinic on Friday evening and then on Saturday & Sunday we're doing a bikepacking trip to put into practice what we just learned. 

Ready for a good time? If so, see below for the deets.... 

About the Ride

The routes have been designed with safety as the number one priority.  However, bikepacking comes with some inherent risk.  The course is on public roads and we cannot control traffic, wildlife, weather, dogs or people.The roads are about 90% gravel.  There are some rough sections of gravel and some sand, but everything should be rideable.  We recommend a minimum tire width of 38c, add more volume for comfort and traction in sandThe pace of the route will be slow with mandatory stopping points for all riders, giving us the opportunity to all regroup.  This is a no drop ride and a member of the BoD staff will run sweeper to make sure no one is left behind.  

What we Provide

Even If you don't have all the bikepacking bags, that's no problem!  We will have a sag vehicle to help carry your gear to camp.  Space will be limited and we encourage everyone to carry as much of their own gear as possible, but we will be able to support you if you run out of room.We will have a mechanic on the ride to address any mechanicals along the rideIf we can't fix your bike, the sag vehicle will be equipped with a rack to haul you and your bike to camp.  We got you!Bikepacking Basics Clinic - topics to be determined by surveying all participants Professional photos of the event will be available to purchase Camping is Free at both the Bullet Grill House on Friday night and Big Woods Hunter camp on Saturday nightFree Beer on Saturday eveningFree breakfast and coffee on Sunday morningA chance to be the first to ride a brand new Central Texas Route created by Patrick Farnsworth.  After this trip we will be submitting it to Bikepacking.com!

Camping

Friday Night: Primitive* camping behind the Bullet Grill is free and available to all riders.  Camping there is not required.  Plenty of room for tent camping, some trees for hammock camping, but trees coverage/hammock spots are a bit sparse.
Saturday Night: Primitive* camping at Big Woods hunter camp.  There is plenty of flat ground for tent camping and plenty of trees for hammock camping.  

*Primitive means no water, electricity, or restrooms

Two Route Options

 

 

Headquarters:
Bullet Grill House
401 TX 156
Point Blank, TX 77364
- Free parking and camping (primitive) on site.  
- Camping onsite is not required.  There are other camping/hotel/airbnb options in the area.  

Itinerary 

Friday, April 26th
5pm - Check in + meet and greet + grab food/drink at the Bullet Grill 
6pm - Bikepacking Basics Clinic
       Patrick & Ariel will be presenting on Bikepacking Basics.  The topics discussed will be tailored to the participants. After registration we will poll everyone who signed up and get a pulse on the topics you could most benefit from.  

8pm - Free time: socialize at the Bullet or head back to camp and start getting ready for the next day
10pm - Lights out/Quiet Time

Saturday, April 27th
8am - Wake up, break down camp, load up to ride
10am - Bullet Grill opens for breakfast
11am - Wheels down.  Regardless of which route you are doing we will all leave as a group and will ride together for the first 12 miles before splitting off.
1-3pm - Arrive in Camp*
*All participants will be camping in the same location, Big Woods Hunter camp. The campsite is primitive with no water, electricity, or restrooms.  There is plenty of level ground for tent camping and lots of great trees for hammock campers. 
5pm - Dinner time. You are responsible for your own meals at camp. There are resupply options on route for food or water, so please prepare and pack accordingly  
6:30pm - Campfire chat discussing some Bikepacking Basics and rider experiences.  This is also a great time to ask questions that may have come up during the ride.  Patrick will be recording this conversation to release as an episode for the Bikes or Death Podcast. Participation is voluntary.  
10pm - Lights Out/Quiet time

Sunday, April 28th
8am - Wake up, break down camp, load up to ride
9am - Breakfast - Bikes or Death will be providing breakfast, but you are welcome to bring your own
10am - Wheels down
          Everyone will ride together the 15.7 miles back to the Bullet Grill
12pm - Back at the Bullet: Ariel and I will stick around, grab some food, and hang out for a while.  Everyone is welcome to join us and reflect on what is sure to have been an epic weekend :)
2pm - We out!