A famous trail in the Eastern U.S.

Welcome to the Bike Bulletin. It’s as good as smooth roads and long descents.

As always, you can reply directly to this email with your thoughts.

Here’s what we have today.

• A Tour Divide documentary

• Some stats

• Chain care

• My recent bike trip

ROUTE ON MY RADAR

C&O Canal Towpath and the Great Allegany Passage

Here’s what you’d be getting yourself into.

• 334 miles (537.5 km) from Washington, D.C. to Pittsburgh, PA.

• 90% unpaved trail (no cars and very few intersections)

• Guide - adventurealan.com

• Aspen’s Wanderings video - youtube.com 

I just rode this trail at the beginning of January. It was excellent. Ideal times are not the middle of winter. Despite being the only bikepacker on the trail, I enjoyed the countless benefits of this route. You can find free campgrounds every 20ish miles with Port-A-Potties, fire rings, and tables. The surrounding towns are used to seeing thousands of cyclists every year. And the scenery was gorgeous. The C&O towpath follows rivers to Cumberland, MD, then the Great Allegany Passage weaves through the hills to Pittsburgh. In the warmer months, ice cream shops line the route. People are jumping in the river. You get immersed in a mini bike touring ecosystem.

BIKE TRIP TIP

Chain Care

On a multi-week bike tour, a healthy chain means a healthy bike. You don’t have the luxury of packing degreaser, brushes, and a spray bottle. How do you maintain your drivetrain? I use a “good enough” approach. First, there are two types of chain lubrication. Oil versus hot wax.

Oil Lubricant

Oil is the traditional way of lubricating chains. It creates the classic black grease on your hands and does a great job of reducing friction and preventing rust. It’s easy to use and takes no special equipment. Just drip the oil onto your links, work it into the crevices, and wipe off the excess.

Hot Wax

Like tubeless tires, hot wax is the (not so) new kid on the block. You coat your chain in molten wax using a wax pot (e.g. an old slow cooker). This creates of thin layer of protection for your entire chain that can triple your chain’s life compared to oil. This is because oil collects dirt and contaminants while wax doesn’t. You can rub your hand along a waxed chain and it doesn’t end up black.

Maintenance

You’ll do the same thing for oiled and waxed chains. Bring a rag, lubricant, and maybe a rubber glove with you on your bike trip. (They make dry wax lubricant like this.) Ideally daily (I tend to do every other day), wipe down your chain with the rag. You may have to use some water to clear noticeable debris. When it is visibly cleaner, apply your lubricant. Work it into the chain. Remove the excess.

It’s not a perfect method, but it’s enough to take you thousands of miles. If you have lots of space, perhaps back a small bottle of degreaser.

You should check your chain stretch if you notice your shifting getting worse. A bike shop can loan you a chain checker. Once your chain has stretched 0.5%, it’s time to replace it.

WHAT I’M WATCHING

90’s MTB Masters (1992)

Pro rider Lachlan Morton rode the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route in September, from Banff, Canada to the Mexican border in an (unofficial) record-setting 12 days. A media crew followed his 2700-mile journey. They show the challenges of this route, the mentality of an elite athlete, and his crazy diet. I counted 5 clips of Lachlan chugging half gallons of chocolate milk. The Tour Divide forbids media crews, so while he didn’t get the official record, he did capture the attention of thousands of bikepackers worldwide.

Watch on YouTube.

Some Stats

• 62 Years. The age of an Oxfordshire, U.K. attempting a 32-hour cycle to raise money for a local animal sanctuary. (charitytoday.co.uk)

• $173 million. The amount loaned by Scott Bikes due to troubles in cycling sales. Approximately 50% of their yearly revenue. (Cycling Weekly)

• 105 Thousand. The number of packages delivered by cargo bike in Toronto and Vancouver in 2023 by company nrbi. (nrbi.co)

• $2000. The rebate offered for electric bike purchases for Atlanta city residents. (Newsweek)

• 378,253 people. The number of Scottish people in a recent study that showed a 15% reduction in mental health medication use among cycle commuters. (academic.oup.com)

A Note From Sam

Feel free to reply directly to this email and share any feedback or ideas you have. I read every email.

If you want to share this email, forward it, or send them this subscribe link: https://bikebulletin.beehiiv.com/subscribe.

Find me on Instagram, TikTok, and Strava