It’s been a long time coming. The old Burple Beasthas served well for almost 10 years, and it was time to hand him over to Lucy. Introducing my new Why Cycles Titanium Fat Bike… Sylvester. Here’s a first looksie, hoping to do longer-term review in the next couple of months… spoiler alert, I’ve loving this bike!!!
Anyhoo… here’s the video – ride on!! — and if you’re curious on all the specs, details, weight, etc – you can find that info here.
Man, I feel blessed. The fam and I just got back from almost four months on the east coast of North Carolina – Wilmington to be exact. Beautiful city, beautiful state, beautiful people- embracing a way of being called the “Salty Life”. Southern hospitality, boats, beaches, fellowship. Fresh seafood. Southern food. Fried food. Good times for sure. Somehow my scale hasn’t been accurate since I got home… weird… No way could I have gained that much weight 🙂
As I slowly reintroduce my body to my bike and sub-freezing temps back here in Idahome, I’m reminiscing on another magical year that God has afforded our family. Since Angela stopped posting to social media, and I only do it for Dirty Teeth stuff, Trail Magic Monday, etc – we decided to go old school and start printing photo albums again. So we can sit down with the kiddos and sift through all the smiles from time to time.
So I’ve been organizing pics to print out, and got stoked to make a little photo journal – mainly for us, close friends and family… as a reminder of how important it is to SMILE… smile to yourself, strangers, loved ones, everyone 🙂 Anyhoo, cheers to a New Year of health, happiness, blessings, and many more SMILES!
Family Adventures
Silverton, COFDR Monument – Washington, DCSalty Life – Wilmington, NCHoover Dam – NV/AZ BorderFirst time to a drive-in!!We watched Jungle Cruise 🙂 – Driggs, IDHanging at our first Ice BarPearl Street – Boulder, COFord TheatreHistoric Wilmington River WalkAirlie Gardens – Dawsons Creek filming location – the girls were so excited!Colonial Williamsburg, VAFort Fischer AquariumYorktown, VAFerry to Southport, NCTesting out Zac’s teardrop, WydahoHot Dawg GangHolocaust Museum – Washington, DCWright Brothers Memorial – Kill Devil Hill / Kitty Hawk, NCChanging of the guard – Arlington National CemeteryU.S. Capitol – Washington, DCBodie Lighthouse – OuterBanks, NCSalida, COWashington MonumentMt. Vernon, VASkipping rocks – Breckenridge, COLeadville, COUSS North CarolinaFrisco, COCamp Cabin Life!
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself. It is thinking of yourself less.”
– C.S. Lewis
I hope every single one of you is having a blessed Holiday Season!! I know I am 🙂 We finished principal photography on Echoes for Netflix out in Wilmington, NC, jumped in the car and drove 2,500 miles back to Idaho to get home just in time for a gorgeous white Christmas!! As I sit here writing, this is the view from my bedroom window – can’t wait to go play in it soon!!
I’m stoked to get some Youtube videos out ASAP – currently working on a long-term review of the kLite Dynamo System as well as some tips & hacks to keep your hands warm during brrrr cold winter riding.
Also looking forward to volunteering at Jay P’s Fat Pursuit in a couple weeks and enjoying this amazing Idaho winter!! My new fat bike arrived at Fitzgerald’s in Victor, ID – and a friend will be bringing it to the Wood River Valley soon… can’t wait to build it and share it with ya!
Alrighty… as always, I hope these monthly updates serve as a reminder that we can all be more selfless in our day to day lives, period. We can all be cheerful givers by holding a door open, giving up our seat or our place in line… helping someone with groceries, randomly paying for someone’s coffee, etc…
Without further ado – here’s the December stats:
December 2021 Totals: Â 4 people/organizations gifted, monetary value of $350
Total since inception (Feb 2021): Â 75 people/organizations gifted, monetary value of $3318
Here’s a little info about our Trail Magic recipients and gifts they were given in December:
Annie L. / Bike for Good – Glasgow, Scotland (Alan J.) – £75 / $100donation to Bike for Good. Annie just became the first person to ride and complete the Highland Trail 550 bikepacking route in the Winter. The Highland 550 is known as one of the toughest bikepacking races when it’s held in the Summer!! She used this awesome feat to help raise money for Bike for Good, a Glasgow-based charity that provides low-cost/high-quality bikes to the public, while keeping junked bikes out of landfills. Learn more about all the good they’re doing here: https://www.bikeforgood.org.ukÂ
I grabbed this from Annie’s insta @a_girl_outside
Allan S. – Sweden (Alan J.) KR 456 / $50 donation to his gofundme. Allan was bikepacking in a small town in Puebla, Mexico when he was hit and run by a car which left Allan unconscious and in critical condition. After 16 days in the two hospitals with numerous surgeries,  Allan was left with numerous medical bills. He has insurance, but there’s a cap, and he’s looking at over $40k out of pocket. To learn more and support his recovery effort, click here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/its-time-to-admit-that-i-really-need-your-help
I grabbed this from Allan’s insta @allanshawphoto
Bikepacking Roots – USAÂ (Alan J.) – $100 donation. Â They are a great non-profit by bikepackers for bikepackers. Â Their mission statement:Â Bikepacking Roots supports and advances bikepacking, the growth of a diverse bikepacking community, and access to and the conservation of the landscapes and public lands through which we ride. Â Learn more:Â https://www.bikepackingroots.org
JBJ Soul Kitchen – Red Bank, NJÂ (Alan J.) – $100 donation. Â They are a non-profit community restaurant that serves paying and in-need customers. Â There are no prices on the menu, and patrons that can’t afford to pay are not pressured to. Â That’s where our donations come in handy… Feeding healthy, quality meals to those in need. Â Learn more here:Â https://www.jbjsoulkitchen.org
So that was December!! Thanks for reading!! Now go ride your bike 🙂
As always, if you have any ideas for giveaways, nominees, or want to be part of delivering some magic, etc – please hit me up!! This is 100% a collaborative effort!!
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself. It is thinking of yourself less.”
– C.S. Lewis
November was a little slower month for Trail Magic, mainly because I haven’t been able to put out many Youtube videos lately… which equates to less revenue from ads, etc for me to use for giving – BUT we still were able to gift a few awesome people/organizations that I’m stoked to tell you about below.
On another note… my “real” job in Wilmington is ending just before Christmas and I’m looking forward to getting back to “YouTubing” in the new year! Lots of good stuff in the pipeline once I find the time to film and edit again! Until then, I’ll be putting up random Ride 365 challenge videos and some other stuff as time permits…
Also, I intend to start highlighting some of our Trail Magic recipients at the end of our videos… hopefully this will get Trail Magic on the radar of more of our viewers and help grow the giving!
Ok, so that was a mouthful 🙂 Thanks for being part of the fun and helping us give back and pay it forward…
PS – I have a new fat bike coming my way!! My Mukluk has served me well for 9 years, and I’m giving it to my 13 year-old daughter so we can ride together 🙂 Hopefully the new steed will be waiting for me when I get back to Idaho. I can’t wait to build it, ride it, film it, and share it with ya…
Okee dokes… as always, I hope these monthly updates serve as a reminder that we can all be more selfless in our day to day lives, period. We can all be cheerful givers by holding a door open, giving up our seat or our place in line… helping someone with groceries, randomly paying for someone’s coffee, etc…
Without further ado – here’s the November stats:
November 2021 Totals: Â 4 people/organizations gifted, monetary value of $272
Total since inception (Feb 2021): Â 71 people/organizations gifted, monetary value of $2968
Here’s a little info about our Trail Magic recipients and gifts they were given in November:
Margaret Bokros & C- Town Bikes – Conyers, GA (nominated by Doss W)–  $50 gift card to Whistle Post Tavern for Margaret and a $50 cash tip to the mechanics at the shop. Doss met Margaret in the mid-90’s when she owned Pedal Power in Stone Mountain, GA. She was always super personable and passionate about cycling. Margaret is now in her early 70’s, works at C-Town, and still bleeds positivity for the local cycling community, and is a blessing to all!Â
Cycle Action Network – Wellington, NZÂ (Anonymous) – $100 NZ ($72 US) Donation – CANÂ advocates for getting more people on bikes, and improving cycling infrastructure throughout Aotearoa (New Zealand). Learn more here: https://can.org.nz
Coastal MTB – Encinitas, CA (Derek W) – $100 donation – They are a NICA Youth Cycling Team in Southern California. Some of the kids are struggling to afford bikes, gear, clothing, etc and this supports getting more kids on bikes!
So that was November!! Thanks for reading!! Now go ride your bike 🙂
As always, if you have any ideas for giveaways, nominees, or want to be part of delivering some magic, etc – please hit me up!! This is 100% a collaborative effort!!
Here’s a glimpse at a super fun, albeit tough section of the Colorado Trail… Section 7 starts at Copper Mountain Ski Area and quickly climbs up the TenMile Range and drop over to the Breckenridge side to the parking lot at Gold Hill Trailhead. The 3k climb over 5 miles will get your lungs goin, but as you can see from the thumbnail… and if you watch the video… the rewards are well worth the effort – the higher you get, the higher you get!!
As always, if you have any ideas for giveaways, nominees, or want to be part of delivering some magic, etc – please hit me up!! This is 100% a collaborative effort!!
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself. It is thinking of yourself less.”
– C.S. Lewis
Halloween has come and gone, and my family is already busting out the Christmas movies!! Hope you’re all getting out and enjoying yourselves. Normally, I’d be getting in late season singletrack sessions at home… but this year we’re livin’ the “Salty Life” in Wilmington, NC – so it’s stand up paddleboarding the Intercoastal waters and swimming in the warm Atlantic… and lots of seafood… crammed into 60 hour work weeks… Cycling fitness has taken a hit, but can’t wait to get home in December and jump on the fat bike and get back to Idahome! Until then, we’re still chugging along with Trail Magic Monday!
Hopefully these monthly updates serve as a reminder that we can all be more selfless in our day to day lives, period. We can all be cheerful givers by holding a door open, giving up our seat or our place in line… helping someone with groceries, randomly paying for someone’s coffee, etc…
Without further ado – here’s the October stats:
October 2021 Totals: 4 people/organizations gifted, monetary value of $350
Total since inception (Feb 2021): 67 people/organizations gifted, monetary value of $2696
Here’s a little info about our Trail Magic recipients and gifts they were given in October:
Kain Kulinski – Laonia, WI (Anonymous) – $50 Gift Card to Bikes N Boards (his local bike shop) We also donated $100 to Forest County Area Singletrack Association (Kain’s local 501c3 trail association of which he’s also the VP). He has been busting tail on building more trails and by far puts in endless effort to the cause. He regularly spends 20+ hours per week, while maintaining his “real job” – running a freelance fabrication business. His selfless time commitments have made a huge impact on the local trail systems. **Note – as of posting this, we still haven’t received the gift card in the mail from Bikes N Boards, but will send it to Kain as soon as we do!
Phoenix Bikes – Arlington, VA (Anonymous) $100 donation – Phoenix Bikes has two primary operations: one as a youth education program and the other as a community bike shop. They engage local youth and adults with bike mechanic workshops while doing everything they can to get everyone on bikes. Check them out: https://www.phoenixbikes.org/about-us/what-we-do/
Friends of the Iron Belle Trail – Bessemer, MI (Enni G.) $100 donation – The Friends of the Trail is a volunteer group that maintains, protects, promotes, and works to enhance a local section of the Iron Belle Trail, a non-motorized trail being built across Michigan. The trail provides a safe place for folks of all ages and abilities to engage in healthy, outdoor exercise, connect with nature, and socialize with area residents and visitors. This section is located in a remote, economically distressed, but gorgeous part of the natural world just a few miles away from the south shore of Lake Superior.
So that was October!! Thanks for reading!! Now go ride your bike 🙂
As always, if you have any ideas for giveaways, nominees, or want to be part of delivering some magic, etc – please hit me up!! This is 100% a collaborative effort!!
What is the BEST chain lube for bikepacking and cycling in general? Depends on who you ask… but I’ve tried a zillion over the years and Dumonde Tech has been my favorite for a while. But I decided to give Wolf Tooth’s new WT-1 a try to see if it could de-throne the champ… If you’re not completely stoked on your current chain lube, I suggest you give this a looksy 🙂
As always, if you have any ideas for giveaways, nominees, or want to be part of delivering some magic, etc – please hit me up!! This is 100% a collaborative effort!!
Looking for a minimal, lightweight seatpost harness for bikepacking? The homegrown company, Wayward Riders, out of New Zealand might have something up your alley. I’ve been using their Louise v2 for a few months now, and have given it my stamp of approval. Check the video, and put this on your radar… especially if you like techy singletrack, have a dropper post, etc – ride on!
As always, if you have any ideas for giveaways, nominees, or want to be part of delivering some magic, etc – please hit me up!! This is 100% a collaborative effort!!
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself. It is thinking of yourself less.”
– C.S. Lewis
Fall is in the air and the colors are turning!! Hope you’re all getting out and enjoying this magical time of year 🙂 I’ve been working crazy hours on a TV show, and haven’t had much free time to ride bikes, much less make Youtube videos… but that’s a good thing as it’s “real” work and putting food on the table for the family and making sure we stay covered with health care takes precedence. But we’re quietly moving full steam ahead with Trail Magic Monday!
Hopefully these monthly updates serve as a reminder that we can all be more selfless in our day to day lives, period. We can all be cheerful givers by holding a door open, giving up our seat or our place in line… helping someone with groceries, randomly paying for someone’s coffee, etc…
Without further ado – here’s the September stats:
September 2021 Totals: Â 5 people/organizations gifted, monetary value of $370
Total since inception (Feb 2021): Â 63 people/organizations gifted, monetary value of $2346
Here’s a little info about our Trail Magic recipients and gifts they were given in August:
Jeffery Sharp – Hachita, NM (Jay Petervary) $50 gift card to Amazon. Jeffery is a logistical lifesaver for so many people that race the Tour Divide and tour the GDMBR. The route ends/begins at the Antelope Wells border crossing, and there’s literally NOTHING around for miles and miles. Jeffery picks up/drops off riders, gets them some warm food and showers, helps with packing bikes, secures transport to airports, and a myriad of other help.
Corky Vert – Bellevue, ID (Angela J) $50 gift card to Fuego (local restaurant) – Corky constantly and tirelessly gives to the children of Blaine County, ID. She pours time, energy, love, and passion into the local Awana Program.
Great Cycle Challenge $70 donation – GCC is a month-long cycling challenge to raise money for kids with cancer. Â The Great Cycle Challenge has raised almost $40 million in the last 5 years to support research to develop better treatments and find a cure for childhood cancer. Â My friend, Kevin, took part in the event, and I’m looking forward to joining in next year! Â More info: greatcyclechallenge.com
Support Evacuation and Resettlement of Afghan Cyclists – (Alan J) $100 donation – Organization run by Shannon Galpin out of Breckenridge, CO to help the female cyclists involved with the ‘right to ride’ movement in Afghanistan. This fundraiser goes directly to support the evacuation costs and support cyclists and family members that need safe housing and food. This also is aimed at raising funds for resettlement costs, mental health and trauma support, and will also be working to rebuild and support the identity of these cyclists with bikes and bike community. More info here: https://fundly.com/support-afghan-cyclists
Operation Light Shine / Matt Murphy – Nashville, TN (Alan J) $100 donation – Matt was an elite Special Ops soldier. In 2019, his sister, Sarah, was kidnapped and murdered by sex traffickers. Matt quickly saw that law enforcement agencies are woefully under resourced, understaffed and under supported in this fight. OLS helps ensure that law enforcement has the resources, staff and support they need to fight against child sexual exploitation and trafficking. Learn more here: https://operationlightshine.org
So that was September!! Thanks for reading!! Now go ride your bike 🙂
As always, if you have any ideas for giveaways, nominees, or want to be part of delivering some magic, etc – please hit me up!! This is 100% a collaborative effort!!
I shoved a GoPro in Jay P’s pocket – then cut together a straight dope look at the trials and tribulations of his winning race effort on the 2021 Great Divide Classic / Tour Divide B2B. It ain’t all roses, that’s for sure – but positivity and smiles are part of the recipe for JayP’s seventh completion of the Divide. Hoot! PS – Thank you Joe Polk (MTB Cast) for allowing us to use your call-ins…
Hope you enjoy this raw look at life on the divide 🙂
As always, if you have any ideas for giveaways, nominees, or want to be part of delivering some magic, etc – please hit me up!! This is 100% a collaborative effort!!
Alan's Mountain Biking Adventures 