BICYCLE CAMPING ADVENTURE
Different Spokes for Different Folks
Well, those panniers finally got tested and I found out what loading down your bike with camping gear -- and radio gear -- can feel like!
It just so happens that by coincidence my friend and I chose the date of the July Spartan Sprint to go bicycle QRP camping.
My first task was to convince my friend Eric Hanson, AC6YB, to go bike camping with me. He is a mountain biker extraordinaire but whines about having to carry any kind of weight. I knew I had to sweeten the pot so I told him that I'd carry all of the radio gear and the food, even providing him dinner.
With his agreement to go, all that was left was to choose the day, time, and place. That wasn't too hard. Since we both live in Southern California, we decided on a well-known, popular mountain bike area in Big Bear, overlooking an inland valley east of Los Angeles.
We knew of a few areas along the ridgetop in Big Bear where we would have some excellent antenna locations. Another reason for choosing Big Bear was because the Snow Summit Scenic Sky Chair is there and what a better way to "ride" to the top but by ski lift.
I know, you're raising your eyebrows, but we did ride our bikes. We just got most of the elevation gain out of the way by riding the chair lift.
In the week prior to our trip, Eric teased about what a "dorky" trip this was. I mean, who else would be loading up mountain bikes with camping and radio gear, riding a chair lift, and then casually riding a few miles to a camping location to play with radios?
Well, that's exactly what we did. I was excited (as I usually am) about going and enjoyed packing up the panniers. I even gave them a test run around my apartment complex. It didn't seem too bad riding on flat ground. Could it be that much different on an uneven dirt road?
After a very pleasant ride to View Haus, the top of the ski lift, we rolled our bikes over to the patio area and asked one of the employees to take our picture. We were all smiles and ready for our adventure.
After our photo shoot, we hopped on the bikes and off we went. It wasn't long before one of my panniers popped off and was dangling from the bike. Luckily, I stopped before my back wheel had a chance to eat the pannier. What a disaster that would have been.
Throughout the ride, I had to continually check my panniers because the hooks would pop off. I don't think they were made for mountain biking. Any big bump, rock, or jolt would send them flying.
After about five miles, we came to Grand View Point. It is a beautiful outcropping from a ridgetop and we had thought about finding a campsite close by. From Grand View, we could see another part of the ridge which looked perfect. It was just East of us but would be a little tricky to get to.
Eric just pointed and said, "Let's go over there." Its always scary when he does that! With him, I never know where I'm going to end up and what I'm going to have to endure to get there.
To get to our location, we had to pedal down the road some more and then bike hike up a very steep, slippery slope. I absolutely could not get my bike up and had to drop the panniers and hike the bike up. I then went back down to get my stuff.
Sure enough, Eric had picked a great campsite and we had perfect trees as antenna supports.
We quickly set-up camp after enjoying our yummy sourdough sandwiches. Antenna installation went well as Eric doesn't have the trouble that I do. In fact, he doesn't even let me help anymore. He says it jinxes him! Imagine that!
With everything done, we were able to play some before the Sprint started. I made a few contacts and felt confident that the Spartan Sprint would be a success.
1800 hours: The Spartan Sprint is off and running, so I am calling CQSP CQSP CQSP de AC6XK. . .î Twenty meters sounds hot but I don't hear any ARS members out there.
I try answering some CQs but no luck. I finally worked a station in Minnesota. He didn't give me a very good report but at least I knew I was getting out. Besides working Eric on 40 meters, I only worked that one other station during the Sprint. It was the worst I'd done and I was extremely disappointed.
At 2000 hours, Eric came dashing over, smiles all over his sunburned face. He had just worked Oklahoma on his 49er. Definitely something to smile about. His goal was to work one other station besides me but didn't expect to get someone so far away. We gloried in his accomplishment and then celebrated with some red wine that I had brought along.
While chatting about his QSO, Eric looked up at my antenna and noticed that one of the 20 meter legs had broken and was dangling in the wind. "Rainey," he said, "take a look at your antenna."
"Oh no! Not again," I exclaimed. No wonder I had difficulty. It was a wonder that I worked the one station that I did. Another antenna mishap to add to my growing list.
List of AC6XK's Equipment
+ Mountain bike
+ 2 panniers, bicycle rack
+ Sleeping bag and ground pad
+ Thermal top
+ Long-sleeve flannel shirt
+ First-aid kit
+ Camera and film
+ Bug repellent
+ Sunscreen
+ Toothbrush and toothpaste
+ Food and water
+ Headlamp
+ Binoculars + Bandanna
+ Leatherman tool
+ Whistle
+ Lip balm
+ Compass and map
+ Old favorite Birkenstock sandals
+ Comb
+ Norcal 40A, SST--20 meter
+ 3 Ah battery, power cord
+ Whiterook key
+ Helmet
+ Gloves
+ Small bicycle pump
+ Extra tube
+ Multi-tool
+ Patch kit
At the end of our adventure, Eric admitted that it was pretty fun -even if it was dorky! I learned what it felt like to carry weight on a bicycle and it really wasn't that bad.
Of course, I didn't have many hills to ride up either. I would certainly try it again and be willing to travel longer. Bicycle camping isn't that difficult and most people already have the equipment they need for an overnight stay.
Eric went super-lightweight and was able to strap all of his equipment on a rack and in a small handlebar bag.
Give it a try! You'll have fun!
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Lorraine Y. Aubert, outdoors editor of The ARS Sojourner, is a seasoned camper, avid QRPer and seasonal ranger at Mt. San Jacinto State Park Wilderness in Southern California. She lives in Hemet, CA