Hi Bryan. I hope you are kicking butt and taking names, lol. Yeah, the dogs!!! That was the best dog day I had on this tour. I love looking ahead expecting to see one fly at me but that one got me good. I wish I had the camera recording when he did it but was so sneaky. Thank you for approving this episode and saying hello. Looking forward to your next channel's, RIDE ALONG ADVENTURES, episode upload.
Wow! That Jack Russel! I was on a ride a couple days ago when a Jack Russel came out of nowhere and ran right under my bike! Ran right over it with the back wheel! I stopped and the owner said it was ok. As I left, here it came again! Ha ha. Never learn. Take care!
Hi Chris. Oh do I miss my days in Minnesota. I had such a great time. Glad to hear you like the channel and have kept up with the seasons. More on the way.
You are welcome. I really like doing these multiple days episodes because it tells the story much better than a day here and a day there. A huge part of the process is the daily routine of getting on the bike and doing the miles back to back. So fun!
You should have called this episode "Dog Days" in Arkansas. When its raining hard multiple times while camping do you ever get stuck in the tent for a couple of days? I found riding down south there are a lot of training of rain for multiple hours or days.
I've had to wait for rain to stop in the morning but not for a day or multiple days. I think the latest might have been to 11am or so. Yeah, the dog encounters were non stop in middle Arkansas. What a state that is!
It really is a great state to bicycle in. Wait until the next episodes. There is much beauty left of Arkansas to show you guys. Hot Springs National Park is certainly unique and after that is the Ozark's with crazy lush wilderness and serious climbs. The last of the episodes will be pretty special as I ride the Razorback Trail from Fayetteville to Bentonville, legit. Gotta get editing. Thanks for watching.
I pay close attention to your videos, trying to glean snippets to improve my own postings You have such a great command of the natural lighting and sounds ❤️❤️👌🏼👌🏼 IF there was one thing I could ask….. when you present the maps of your route…. Maybe show them a few seconds (like 5-7) longer? Please? TANKS!!! ❤️❤️❤️your show!
I see what you are saying and I get it because there isn't much time to take a long look at the map. I actually would like the viewer to study each route. I take a long time making sure the maps to the days are dead on correct in relation to what route I took. I think that no matter how long you look at them it will never be enough time for the pace of the video. Any chance you could pause on your own to really take a look? If you watch on your phone you could pause and take a screen shot. The maps are generated with google maps so you could actually use the app to look even deeper into the routes. I have several guys that watch the channel who punch in the destinations as they watch the episodes. I f you scroll on the time bar at the bottom of the screen you will se I add the destinations of each day as if in chapters. Hope this helps. Thank you for watching.
Thank you. I'm trying to keep up with weekly uploads but not likely possible in the coming months while I work. This last episode took about 40 hours to edit. Thank you for watching.
got an OG lynskey with the thin tubes and red badge that came out before the GR300 but only 28 tires, love that bike. I ride southern roads with no shoulder and it is scary, you make it look fun. Great video and audio, cheers.
Great video Diego! Always enjoy watching you take in this beautiful scenery, and it’s a nice, calm end to my Sunday too! Hope you’re well and looking forward to more. 👍👌
Hi Daryl. That's great to hear about you having been stationed down here. I'm all good, thank you. A couple of more weeks to finish my season and then back to editing this fourth season. Except the next episode, Hot Springs National Park, on July 6.
Hey Deigo. Have you thought about posting shorts on RU-vid of your upcoming episides on Thursday's or Friday's ? In my opionon that would help get you more views.
That's great advice and I do have shorts for all the episodes I post as Reels on my Instagram account. Same name. I tried doing Shorts with RU-vid but it ended up cluttering the RU-vid page in a way that seemed unorganized to me. I'll keep it in mind, though. Im always looking for feedback. My biggest hurdle is creating the Thumbnails so they draw viewers to check out the episode. This last one his doing great but I have had others to awesome episodes that haven't taken off. Someday I'll crack the RU-vid code, I hope. Thank you for the feedback and for watching.
Diego, this episode did not disappoint at all. You certainly handle dogs much better than me. Yikes! I don't like being chased by them especially when they jump from the dark shadows. ❤😅. As others have expressed, thanks for bringing us along on this journey. 😊
Hi Verlin. Yeah, that dog ambushed me good. He was crouched behind a dark bush and leaped at me barking away. Not sure how I didn't fall off the bike. But it always is the same thing, they are just goofing off and mostly saying hello in their own way. Well, they are also saying "don't even think about messing with my space or people", lol. All fun as long as you are nice to them. Respecting other people's dogs is also important to me so Im not likely going to yell profanity or be nasty to one by all most means. Glad to hear you liked it. Thank you.
I have been binge watching you cross the country four times now since I discovered you a couple months ago. I am 70 yrs old and rediscovered cycling about a year ago and you inspire me to do more and go farther. I really appreciate you sharing your adventures with us Diego. I will be looking forward to seeing the rest of this tour after your fishing season and excited to see what's next for you. Be safe my friend.
Hi Trav. You have a great voice, checked out your channel. "The Older I Get" is really great. I'm psyched to hear you enjoy my cycling/America content. Even more psyched to hear that you are out there cycling. It really is a great activity to do. It changed my life in so many ways as you can tell from my tours and all. The rest of season 4 was one of the best crossing I have done and it will be fun to edit and share with you guys. As soon as Im done with my guiding season I plan on getting it all finished before I go do a tour somewhere. Please be careful out there and I look forward to hearing how it goes with you and your cycling. Later, bro.
Hey there FlyScoutRider! Just stopping by again to wish you safe and happy travels! My friend and I will never forget you and your quest to travel across the states! 🙌🏆🙏❤️
What up, bro? Great to hear from you. Im currently working my guiding season which is February to July. My plan is to continue editing season 4 which is about 1/3 done and finish it in the summer months before going on another tour and season 5 content gathering. I hope you are doing some crazy s... Be safe out there.
That day where I was zig zagging all over the place is likely one of my favorite types of days to bicycle thru a region. There are more diverse scenarios coming upon before I ride into Oklahoma and onto US Route 66. Thank for checking this one out.
So cool. My family and I road from Kentucky down to that border crossing into Louisiana about a month later than you. We have been working our way down the Mississippi River trail over the last 4 years. Next year we hit the gulf! Great Video, thanks for sharing.
Hi Chase. Im not sure I stopped at HWY 240 Grill. I looked it up and it doesn't look familiar. My days in Arkansas were spectacular. I can't wait to have free time to edit the content I gathered properly. Im in the midst of my guiding season which keeps me away from editing time. As soon as Im done in July I will start cranking up the episodes of Arkansas and all the rest to Los Angeles. This tour is a bit of a zig zag thru the southern states thru OK, TX panhandle, NM, CO, UT, NV, and CA. 7 National Parks on the way as well. Hope you stick around. Thank you for watching.
Thank you for checking in. I work seasonally as a fishing guide in the Florida Keys from February to end of June. I try my best to edit weekly uploads but once I start guiding I loose my editing time. As soon as I am done in late June I will start editing the rest of this season 4 all the way to Manhattan Beach, California. There is still 2/3 of content to get thru and it gets better the further I get west. Expect the next episode to upload July 6.
Hi Dusty. Arkansas has beautiful state parks and I was psyched to show a little of them. There are plenty more so if you go that way please let us know what you find. Thank you for watching the episode.
All the components I used to build it are listed in the description box of each episode. The list includes even the fenders. One of my favorite components are the SUN Dynamo front hub, the SteerStopper for locking the front end, B-17 Brooks saddle, and the Arkel Handlebar bag. But all of them I have learned to love by using them thru the years on the tours. If you have any specific questions about any of it please let me know. @@chrisriegert3102
Great video. I will go on a bike trip in Korea this year again. When I see your videos the next one will be in the USA. I just have a lot of respect for the distances and the accommodation options in the USA. Greetings from Germany.
Greeting from the US. Korea sounds great. Im still well hooked on the Wild West here and so much to se but someday I will head east. There are some routes here that have great camping options but others that can be tricky. Either way, I hope you make it here. Lots of beauty and open riding miles to do. Thank you for watching.
Hi JP. I am currently working my guiding season until late June. My plan is to edit daily thru the summer months and finish creating the rest of season 4's tour. This last episode, Arkansas, is about one third of the way so there is a bunch of miles and states to still get thru. Also 6 National Parks and lots of climbing and dropping. Thanks for checking in.
My tent is a Niak by Hilleberg The Tentmaker. I have both tent bodies for cold or hot stretches but only carry one at a time. The other I leave with someone that can send it to me wherever I might be. I also have an Enan which is great but the Niak is my favorite.
Hello Verlin. Thanks for checking in. I am currently working my guiding season until July. Im a fly fishing guide in the Florida Keys and work on the water during the weekdays. the weekends are busy too with errands and such. The last four years I have been juggling between fishing, cycling and editing. The Arkansas episode is the last one I could finish before starting my guiding. It is certainly not the end of season four. It’s about one third of the tour so far. Once Im done guiding in July I plan on sitting down in front of the computer non stop for the summer months to create the rest of season four’s episodes before I go on the next tour. The second half of the tour from Arkansas to OK, TX, NM, CO, UT, NV, and finishing in California only gets better. Im looking forward to sharing it with you. I hope you are enjoying warmer weather. Thanks again for checking in.
You are welcome. I do use a dynamo. My headlight tail light and dynamo brands are in the description box of season 4’s episodes. If Im riding, they are both on. The dynamo allows me to do this and I recommend it.
Thanks for another fantastic touring video! You mentioned in the comments that you put sealant in your tubes- I've never heard of that before. Do you think it helps to prevent flats? I can see how the extra weight would be worth it if it saved a few tubes along the way, especially when you're not close to any bike shops.
Sealant in the tubes is a game changer and a negligent factor weight wise if you are bicycle touring especially considering the benefits. You will prevent most flats and will keep tire pressure. The thing to keep in mind is that if you have an actual flat (ex. large enough piece of glass) you will have to thoroughly survey your tire and remove all the particle that actually were sealed by the sealant. Most times these are wire from tires shreds. You also will have to patch the punctures in the tube as well. What I do if too many sealed punctures there (I've had as many as 8) is clear the tire and use my spare tube. Later that night I spend the time to patch the punctures on the tube and replace it since it has sealant in it. Remove the spare and go on. The spare won't have sealant so I rather keep it that way unless Im somewhere where there is a bike shop and can get some sealant and a new tube as a spare. Then I throw the compromised punctured one out. Sorry for the long explanation but that is the logic I use on the road.
Getting chased by a pack of dogs is always the most nerve-racking part of a bike tour for me, lol. You handled that a lot better than I do. I have two questions for you: about how many hours do you ride for each day? How often do you take breaks throughout that time?
Dogs are mostly either saying "stay away" from my pack and space or they are saying "hello". They do this in every which way imaginable and rarely are looking to be aggressive. I mainly worry about dogs that are on the actual road ahead of me because it makes me think that they will protect that space. This is rare. The amount of hours depends on how far that day's destination is and how much climbing and head winds there is to get there. I would say that a good average is seven hours even though there are some days I cut short for a bunch of reasons. I aim to do 65 to 80 miles if the grade is in the 1,000' to 2'000' range. The answer to how often I take a break is all the time. For one, Im stopping constantly to record this and that with my cameras (I record between 1 and 2 hours of footage a day) but if I see anything of interest I stop and absorb it. I always say that my favorite thing about bicycle touring is the touring. With that said, I love to go fast and ride at a steady pace that pushes me. The biggest variable as to how fast I go is wanting to get to that day's destination before dark. I don't mind riding in the early morning dark but with people drinking and driving, hurrying to get home after work, or just tired from a long day wherever, I rather be off the road before dark. This doesn't always work but I try. Hope all this is good info. Please let me know if you have other inquiries. Thanks for watching
Thank you for the videos, I plan on doing a tour, hopefully soon. I'm in Florida. What oakleys are those that you wear btw? Do you like that bike it's a new brand to me. I've got a Surly Bridge Club Thanks again
Hello, Anthony. The Oakley glasses are Flak 2.0 XL with a clear to gray photo-chromatic lens. The bike is a Lynskey GR300. A list of all the components is in every description box from this Season 4. Also on a Post I uploaded a few weeks ago. It’s a phenomenal and versatile frame. But your Surly is a superb bike to tour so no need to look elsewhere. I hope you get out there touring. Florida has lots of options. Check out the USBRS site for options. Thank you for checking in and for watching my channel.
I’ve started editing the Hot Springs NP episode but Im also in the midst of my guiding season and have hardly any time to edit. Not sure when I’ll be able to get it finished but be sure I will as well as the rest of the ‘23 tour. Thank you for asking. Please check in later.
tech question for you if you don’t mind me asking. Which brand of inner tube sealant are you running these days ? It seems like you may have used “Slime” when you first began doing this with your inner tubes but in a Washington trip it was “Squirt” being used and you got a flat. Thanks! Your videos are remarkable.
Hi Phillip. I have not become attached to any specific sealant brand so can't say. I mostly pick up what is around or a tech at a shop recommends me. I do love riding with it in my tubes. Thank you for reaching out
Thank you sir. Because of your videos & inspiration, I did a charity bicycle ride last year from Rochester, NY to Florida. And this June 2 I’ll be starting from Santa Monica pier going across the country.
Santa Monica is great place to start a tour across the country. Im psyched for you. These tours from sea to sea are something special. They grab on to you and transform you and your perceptions of life in a very special way. Keep me posted. @@MichaelSlattery-h6o
New sub here. Have you done a "Bike & gear" video? Curious about how you chose your bike and what you consider neccessary for what you do. Also, do you have a suggestion for a bug/sunscreen spray? Thinking about bullfrog.
Hello, Sam. Thank you for subscribing to my channel. You ask about choosing a bike. I would start with a bike that fits you and that is not to difficult to figure out. There are many RU-vid episodes that can guider you thru the measuring process and you will find that bikes come in many sizes to accommodate. What type of bike is more of a question. I like a road bike geometry. Touring bikes are made a bit longer to accommodate for panniers without getting in the way and with a more upright position to avoid back fatigue due to the likelihood of long hours per day of riding. Having bosses to add racks is very important as well. The geometry of most bikes can be altered by trying different stems and handlebars. There are many options. Lastly, the Lynsey bike Im using, which is excellent, was offered by the company for me to use on this tour. I only took the fork and frame and built it up myself with my choicer of components. If you are interested in the component list, it is in the description box of every episode of season 4. About sunscreen, I don't use any. I choose to wear long sleeve clothing, tights that go below my knees and long pants when cold enough, and always wear a face covering (buff) with head gear. I only pull it down when I am recording into the camera. Let me know if you have further questions. Thanks for watching the episode.
I still have the Co-Motion. I ride it in my neighborhood with friends but when I go for my long rides I take my Lynskey. The Lynskey I built last spring for this last tour 2023. It's a boss bike. All the components used are in the description box of all the episodes of season 4. I use Schwalbe Marathon Mondial DD tires with tubes. The tubes have about 6oz of sealant.
Way over my head, sorry. I use 30/46t crank and 11-34 cassette. It's all I have ever used and it gets me over most anything. Thank you for passing this on and for watching the episode.
Ok. Sorry, thought u went with the stock setup. Didn't look very low climbing gears. Thought sounded like u got a new bike. Your gearing is good then. ( I didn't read your specs listed) :) @FlyscoutRyder
Hello. Im sorry you are not in the video. I am not sure why that would be, I remember videoing when I saw you guys but often times I don't use footage if it's shaky or other reasons. Maybe that is why I didn't leave it on there. I usually use less than 10% of the content I gather to create the episodes. Thanks for checking in.
Thanks. I was particularly interested in what looked like front fork panniers, and the g300 has carbon forks, which I don't think allow front panniers. Did you change the front forks ?
Great question. You are right the carbon fork doesn't allow for a rack unless you do some customization. I do love having panniers instead of the dry bags you see me carrying with the cages. I have a titanium fork that I had made to try for next tour but haven't tested it yet. I would even try a steel or aluminum fork. The GR300 frame is the biggest draw for me. It is so bad ass. Also, as you will find out once I start uploading the Utah episodes, I added a frame bag to my rig and actually liked it a lot. For next season I have a longer new one to try out that will have more space. The weight displacement inside the triangle is worth taking advantage of.
@@FlyscoutRyder thanks. I have an Arkel frame bag and panniers, along with a handlebar dry bag. Lynskey tells me no providers on the front forks. Which ones are you using on the front forks that are working with the carbon forks. Thanks for all your info, helpful !
Hey Deigo, I was binge watching season one and the first few episodes of season two and I just saw the episode of where you were introduced to the Lynskey Gravel Bike. Is this where you decided to invest in your Lynskey Bike that you are using this season? How is it different from your bike last season? Plus if I have a route suggestion for you where do I send it?
Hi Greg. It was during season 3 in Oregon that I met Xanthia from Australia riding her brother's Lynskey. Later on when I got home I looked into a next bike for the next tour. I decided on Lynskey so called them and asked if they would want to be involved with my channel. They liked it and offered to send me a frame and fork. From there I built it up with my components of choice. If you look in the description box of all the episodes of season 4 so far, you will find the complete list of them. The bike I started with in season 3, Co-Motion Pinion Divide, I didn't care for so half way down the coast I flew back home to Florida and swapped back to my old Cannondale. Flew back to California and started the second half of the tour to the Mexico border. I love the Lynskey bike. It is the best bike I have ever used. As for route suggestions I am all ears. I love dreaming about my next tour. I have a great plan for this year but finishing editing season 4 might hold me up until 2025. There is still 2/3 of the content top create and it takes a lot of time. Thank you for checking in.
My suggestion is to start in St Paul, MN. Ride to Michigan along the Lake Superior to Sault St Marie. From there back to St. Ignace. We will talk about how to get you over bridge if you decide to go this way. Once in Mackinaw you are going to the Sunrise Side of Michigan along Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair.. From the Detroit area you will wind up back in Toledo then you will head east along Lake Erie to Cleveland. Take Erie trail to Columbus. From there head to Philadelphia , ride the trails to Washington D.C. then take to Eastern Coast route all the way back to your home. This route also would give your several trails in a few states you haven't touched yet. Plenty of camping and scenic places to see.
@@gregtarver8028 Thank you, Greg. That sounds like a legit tour. Coming down along Lake Superior and Lake Huron would be great. All so fun. Thank you for this.
Hillebereg the Tentmaker's Niak. I also use the Enan but the Niak is my go to. I have both a full mesh body for when it's hot and one that only has mesh in the entryway for cold weather. Best tent, ever.
I would love to but no plans as of yet. My goal is to cover all 50 states on my channel and even beyond that, document as many National Parks, rail trails, and such here in the United States. My goal is to help people realize that there is a way to travel by bike here creating the demand thus promoting the growth of cycling infrastructure. As you can see my channel isn't growing enough to sustain itself or provide me with enough funding to progress at this goal. Maybe I will crack the RU-vid code and get there someday. As of now, I am four years working at my seasonal business to self sustain, touring when I can to capture the content and the rest of the time is spent in front off the computer editing. Thank you for asking and maybe someday I will go visit overseas. I've spent time in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Japan so I am aware of being there. I spent 7 weeks getting around there with a backpack. Had a ball. Take care. Thank you.
Yeah cracking the RU-vid code is the hard one .. but for traveling i feel Asia budget as you know would be cheap ie 1 day usa is 5 days Asia … i feel that itchy boots business model has cracked the RU-vid code…. I think you cracked the editing … i just spent the last year trying to learn the editing and better filming making …the cost of camera gear has been trail and error replaced many things hopefully next month i start filming and touring again
Very cool to hear you are from Lake Village. It must be interesting to watch the clips of when I rode thru there. If you know the pastor at the church please tell him I say thanks for the shelter.
Hi Russell. I'm ok, thank you for checking in., I am a flats fishing guide of 30 years here in the Florida Keys and at this time I am in the midst of my guiding season. I started in February and it'll go until July. After the tours and gathering of content I race to edit as much as I can so as to keep a weekly upload pace but once I start spending my time on the water I loose the editing time until season ends. Short of it is that I will start editing in July and not stop until I finish the episodes for season 4. So far Im not even to half way and I guarantee you that the very best is yet to come. This is my life for the last four years... fish, tour, edit..... Thanks again for checking in. Means a lot.
