Tips

Guidepost: Strava

by Andy Amick

This is the second in the “Guidepost” series. The first post described using Instagram as a guide for our personal journeys. In this post, Strava is discussed as a more focused guidepost that can keep us on our trail towards a specific goal. Yes, I realize the issues with using a social media site like Strava or Instagram as […]

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Guidepost: Instagram

by Andy Amick

Yes, I realize the issues with using a social media site like Instagram as a personal guidepost. After all, social media is about likes, comments, expanding your reach, and going viral, right? Stick with me for a bit and let me explain how I’m proposing to use Instagram as a useful tool for our personal […]

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Plan, Save, Ride – Make That Big Trip A Reality

by Andy Amick

The extreme polar vortex or winter weather in general can lead to daydreams of bike touring on a warm summer day.  Now is the time to plan for that trip so that it can become a reality. My own reality is that the Tour Divide ride start in 5 months and I need to save […]

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Become A Better Technical Rider

by Andy Amick

There is no secret formula, product, or shortcut  to become a better technical rider.  The only way to improve those skills is by riding more technical trails on a regular basis.  That is great news because it means more rides and more trails.  Of course, there will be falls and failures, but those don’t have […]

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Bikepacking On A Budget

by Andy Amick

So you’re ready to try out bikepacking, but don’t want to invest in lots of new gear?  I’ve been there and you can get started without spending a fortune on bikepacking specific gear. If you have done any camping or backpacking in the past, you probably have most of what you will need.  It won’t […]

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Hiking Stick With Paracord Spiral Hitched Handle

by Andy Amick

My sons and I have each made hiking sticks from limbs that I trimmed in the yard.  My kids used aspen and mine was made from a maple branch.  Each stick used a different paracord wrap and somehow my kids were able to choose different ones without arguing about which design was better.  Amazing. My […]

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Repackage Toothpaste Into Smaller Containers

by Andy Amick

When designing the OutThere kits, I worked really hard and spent countless hours to find items that would make the kit as small as possible.  But somehow the fact that a full travel tube of toothpaste was included instead of a smaller amount escaped me.  A travel size tube is more than enough for at […]

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Simple Lightweight Gear Repair Kit

by Andy Amick

Recently, I updated the items I carry for gear repair on bikepacking trips.  All items are now packed in a single ALOKSAK bag making my gear repair kit more organized and waterproof.  The idea for this came from Stick’s Blog and his post on his updated ditty bag which comes in at a very light […]

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3 Keys To Successful Winter Riding

by Andy Amick

The snow is on the ground here in Colorado, but that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the riding season.  It just means it’s time to layer up and have more fun! Here are 3 simple ways to make your own winter riding more enjoyable: 1. Toasty Extremities Nothing ruins a winter ride faster than […]

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Tip – Secure Your Hydration Tube

by Andy Amick

The No Logo frame bag has been on my singlespeed bike for several weeks and it is working great.  But there was the lingering issue of how to route the hydration tube coming out of the frame bag be to make it easier to grab and take a drink.  That problem now has a solution. […]

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