2021HERO_2

What is a Ramble?

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Summer Ramble

July 14-17, 2021....

What to bring on a Ramble.

No need to pack the kitchen sink.

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Summer Ramble +

August 18-22, 2021....

What's included on a Ramble?

Everything you'll need.

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Fall Ramble

September 22-25, 2021....

2021partners_20_PANARACERnew-1

rambleride

Yeah, it was almost the Solstice, but sleep was calling.

Having a good sleep system is important on Rambles and all outdoor trips. Know what you need. Me? I sleep hot and can get by with a 45* bag down to almost freezing. Mrs. Ramble on the other hand brings all the covers with a 30* bag. Check out the bags and pads @bigagnes_ has to offer to set you right sleeping in the dirt.

#rambleride #bigagnes #motherofcomfort #sleepinthedirt #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking #adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling #rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #ibiscycles #hakkamx #shimanogrx

Happy Father’s day to my stepfather Dannie Nall. NorCal legend and my cycling inspiration. Remember when cross wasn't cool? Of course you don't. Because guys like him made it cool. I never have a ride where his teachings don't come to heart. The work I do, the rider I am, the person I strive to be is due to him.

The best father, grandfather, and friend one could ask for. And...first sag driver on the Ramble!

@ben_delaney wrote a piece once about his role in CX. Look it up on @velonews

#rambleride

Summertime temps; on the rise.

Heat is a factor on Rambles. There are several reasons why we have a capped participation and water access is one. A few Rambles past it was so hot we supplied 260 gallons of water to riders on the first day! Luckily we're now starting at higher elevations keeping temps in check, but it'll still be hot. Good news? Camps all have water to jump in at the end of the day.

Riding in the heat takes some acclimation so don't shy away from the difficult, hot rides. Drink plenty of water always, and take it slow. The best way to get used to the heat is get out there.

#rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking #adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling #rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #shimanogrx #colorado

Life is better over 10K feet.

June is a special time in Colorado. Sure the weather can be unpredictable, and you’re as likely to have 90 degrees or 4” of snow (remember that Ramblers?). But what’s special is most passes start to clear and roads are still closed to cars. It’s gravel bike and bikepacking bliss. Still a few weeks left before the annual July opening dates. Get out there.

#rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking #adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling #rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #ibiscycles #hakkamx #shimanogrx #colorado

Not every adventure needs to be epic. Sometimes an overnight pedal into the mountains is more than enough to set things straight.

Headed up into the Roosevelt NF tomorrow for a #s24o. What are your weekend plans?

#rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking #adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling #rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #ibiscycles #hakkamx #shimanogrx #colorado

Went to visit an old friend, Deadman’s, today. Climbed both sides and explored some new roads. Such a great area we're so thankful survived the fire, and though we're not riding it this year, looking to when we can.

But for now, I'll come back now and again.

#rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking #adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling #rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #ibiscycles #hakkamx #shimanogrx

What’s a collection of chairs called? A crush?

We have a crush of @bigagnes_ Big Six armchairs for the rides. But you won’t be getting one unless you rented with your registration. If you don’t want to sit in the dirt, you have until next Friday the 28th to order for our July ride.

#rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking #adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling #rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #bigagnes #motherofcomfort

Did you know we keep our fleet of @ibiscycles Hakka MX demos all year? We do. Come ride with us sometime and check out what is one of the best gravel bikes out there. It’ll cost ya a beer on the way in. It’s just a short trip to Fort Collins, where the gravel is phenomenal and the beer never runs out. You can even book a training camp with our friends @bikesportsco to get your gravel on with a Hakka MX.

#rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking #adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling #rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #ibiscycles #hakkamx

I'm not sure if folks realize that the ride is a family affair. Today is WD’s 22nd birthday, and he's the only other person besides me who's worked all of them starting at 16. I don't know how many more events we can cajole him to come out on ‘cause his own life is calling. If vintage clothing and denim repair is an interest, give him a follow @coloradoclassicsthrift.

#prouddad #rambleride #independentevent #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking #adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling #rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel

With the lemons of 2020, comes the lemonade of 2021. The new routes are looking fantastic here in Colorado and we can’t wait to get out there with you!

September is full but still some openings for July and August. Come Ramble!

#rambleride #independentevent #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking #adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling #rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel

Planning new rides is a serious business. And often frustrating. Planning starts with an idea and pouring over maps and satellite imagery, but not without multiple trips and riding first hand; we'll never take riders on the unknown. Heck, even existing routes need to be, at the minimum, driven before events to make sure they are still possible after winter.

We're not a one-day and need to hook together roughly 400 miles of awesome. Routes need to be drivable for support, and campgrounds need to be in the correct locations. Once we have a place and route, we'll go there in the month we'd like to ride initially and spend close to three weeks over a few trips riding the route and getting more intimate with everything about it. That includes any permit partners, business partners, landowners, or anything else that will make it successful. Routes constantly change once we get on them, so riding them is a critical part of the process.

Case in point: is a .4 mile overland a deal-breaker? Maybe. On a map, it looks easy, and some ruins could make a good lunch spot, but I won't know until I see it. Can it be marked? It's NF, but can I get the OK even if tire tracks exist? Can we drive it, or if not, where does support divert and catch back up? What's the alternative? Often a route will be derailed or miles added because of the tiniest issue.

The only way to know for sure is to ride it ourselves.

#rambleride #independentevent #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking #adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling #rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel

Ever wonder where the idea for the Ramble Ride came from? I recently answered several questions about the Ramble for a story. Turns out, Ramble Rides have been long in the making.

Q: Where did the idea come from, and how did you get it off the ground?

A: The first Ramble Ride was in 2016—just a single ride with friends. The following year so many folks were interested; we held three and attracted @newbelgium as a partner for a while. Since then, except for 2020, we've hosted at least three rides a year. They've grown fast in terms of location options and participation.

The idea of supported trips was, for me, something I've done for some time. So when I recognized the possibility of hosting rides, I was really comfortable with a format. I've been riding since 1986, and my first trips were credit-card touring on long training rides of 300-400 miles. They were popular, historical early season rides to get ready for racing. You'd carry just a change of clothes and ride all day, stopping at motels and restaurants. These trips morphed into a more Ramble-Esque ride where we'd have a group of riders, and someone would leapfrog a support van ahead 20 miles or so, everyone taking turns driving.

During that same time, I had lost my driver's license and started riding my bike to college at San Jose State from Santa Cruz. Three days a week, sometimes four, 140 miles a day round trip carrying books and clothing for two semesters. That necessity was the one thing that prepared me for long, solo miles on a bike with gear. Wet, dry, hot, cold, tired; as a cyclist, I grew more having to do this for a school year than any other thing I've done.

After that year, I took the plunge into self-supported touring and took a break from school and toured Europe for a year, riding in nearly every country, including many Eastern Bloc Countries at that time. Nothing teaches you more about living on a bike than living on a bike.

All these early experiences heavily influence what Rambles are today from format, to the challenge and growth opportunities we provide for riders.

#rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking #adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #rideyourbike

Much to the dismay of many of my bike friends, I'm not much of a maintenance guy. That's why it's essential to have a good shop to set things straight and keep me rambling.

This little trick by @bravenewwheel helps keep my @rideshimano shifting snappy and was a question whenever I came across riders on our last trip. Details matter.

Shout out to our favorite shops that keep us rolling right!

#rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking #adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling #rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #ibiscycles #hakkamx

I’m often asked what tires I ride, and which are best for the Ramble.

@panaracer_world Gravel Kings, 38c. 100%.

I’ve been riding Panaracer road,MTB, and gravel tires for over 25 years almost exclusively. If you’ve keeping track, way before they supported Ramble Rides. You could bump up to 40c if you’re riding loaded or like to aim for rocks, but 38c does it all for my needs.

#rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking #adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling #rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #ibiscycles #hakkamx #arizona #newmexico

Where we’ve been? 10 days riding this desert scalpel on some new routes for 2022 that’s where.

I love this bike and have been on an Ibis Hakka MX for almost four years now. It’s my do-all, ride anywhere bike. Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah; it never fails to impress no matter the route and conditions.

Come out on a Ramble and you’ll have a chance to demo a Shimano GRX equipped Hakka for yourself thanks to @ibiscycles support and partnership.

#rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking #adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling #rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel #ibiscycles #hakkamx #arizona #newmexico

We're looking for help!⁠
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2020 was the year we were expanding. Instead, we canceled six events. 2021 will be the year we get back up. But 2022, game on again.⁠
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Volunteers remain a vital role on Rambles. Work that gets rewarded with a free entry. ⁠
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But we need a core team for six and more events—people who'll join us for events and assume a leadership role for their area. It's paid work, 1099 and expenses. You don't have to live in CO necessarily, but it's helpful. You'll need to live in the West, though, for easier traveling. Having a flexible job or lifestyle where you can work for up to a week on events is vital. The event season is April through October, and you don't have to be available for every occasion, but preference is given to those that can work most or all of them for consistency. ⁠
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Working a Ramble is rewarding. It's important that you're a people-person as you'll see all range of emotions on a 5-day 400-mile ride. Days are long, starting around 5:30 am and not over until they are. We work in downtime for folks and have a pretty good delineation of responsibility for camp and route help, though we all work together when needed. ⁠
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What we need are leaders—folks who can make a decision and stick by it. You see something that needs doing, and you do it. Especially on the route, because no matter how much work we do, over 350-400 miles, there will be surprises, and no one will be available to tell you what to do. Safety first, experience second. But the ride is moving, so act fast. ⁠
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Interested? Let us know below or DM an email address. We have an excellent foundation team now, but to do more events, we need more help, and we're looking for all skill sets. 2022 events will be in Colorado, Arizona, and Utah. ⁠
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I know this seems early, but 2022 events in less than a year!⁠
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#rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking #adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling #rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel

Looking good is feeling good. ⁠
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#rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking #adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling #rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel

Not all Ramble Ride experiences are about being on the bike. ⁠
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You'll remember the riding for sure, but the memories you make with the people you're riding with are just as special.⁠
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#rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking #adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling #rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel

Sure you're cool. ⁠
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But are you John Watson taking a picture of John Watson cool?⁠
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Prolly not.⁠
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#rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking #adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling #rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel

All our roads are less traveled. ⁠
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#rambleride #rideshimano #shimanogravel #bikepacking #adventurecycling #gravel #gravelbike #explore #travel #cycling #rideyourbike #adventurebybike #travel