Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
This installment of Weekend Snapshot highlights scenes from off-road rides around Texas, Arizona, and England’s Chiltern Hills. Start your week with a look back at how a few fellow readers spent their Saturday and Sunday, and use the short form to share a photo from one of your recent bikepacking getaways here…
Today’s Weekend Snapshot is all about connecting with new and old friends, and it finds a handful of folks from our worldwide community making the most of their time away in the saddle. Catch up with readers in two US states and a lovely corner of the English countryside below, then scroll further to find some related posts from the archive and a form to share a little something from one of your adventures.
Texas, USA
By Thomas Ronge
Last weekend, a few members of our local bike polo club and other cycling friends went on a 145-mile overnighter to the Sam Houston National Forest in Texas. Thanks to the rain the region experienced over the last few weeks, our entire route was lined with a splendor of wildflowers before giving way to the Texas pine curtain. Along the way, we made a new friend, Nathan, who’s riding the southern tier from California to Florida right now. Meeting Nate just then and there reminded me of a friend who recently said, “I am convinced that I could not have made friends with so many of you from behind a windshield and steering wheel.”
Chiltern Hills, UK
By Matt Bark
Pedalling under the dappled light of bluebell carpeted woodlands, through quintessentially British countryside villages draped in wisteria, and pushing bikes up steep chalk climbs for amazing views from the ridge lines. The first truly sunny weekend of the year was the perfect opportunity to ride Cycling UK’s new bikepacking route, the Royal Chilterns Way.
Arizona, USA
By Collin Crane
Earlier this spring, a group of fools set out on our fourth annual spring break bikepacking trip, escaping northern Michigan’s relentless winter for The Fool’s Loop outside of Phoenix, Arizona. After leisurely rolling through the deep-pocketed regions of Scottsdale, our group of patheletes quickly realized a sedentary winter had not prepared us for the demanding terrain within Tonto National Forest. Revived by fine dining in Cordes Junction (McDonald’s) and a night of rest on the pillows of a run-down motel, our crew was fully defrosted and out of hibernation.
Our legs now conditioned by days of riding (and pushing) water-logged bikes, we were eager for the fast-flowing singletrack on the Black Canyon Trail. Between dodging prickly pear cacti, weaving tight corners, and avoiding cliff edges, we soaked in miles of sweeping Sonoran Desert views. With the sun on our faces and a view of the Bradshaw Mountains (pictured here) to the West, we slowed our pace, drank in the warmth, and savored the remaining miles toward our Holiday Inn metropolis oasis, reluctant to return to our wintery homes.
Send Us Your Weekend Snapshot
We’ll be selecting three photos per week to feature in Weekend Snapshot. Send yours along for consideration, and if it’s selected, we’ll be in touch! Note: We prefer 3:2 ratio landscape-oriented photos.
Further Reading
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