Bikepacking Nevado de Colima

What can we say?  Iohan is weaving (or riding) his magic again!  Be sure to follow him in his adventures as he tours the best parts of parts unknown!

Great Program, Applications Open #beablackburnranger2016

It is pretty rare for a company to give back as prominently as Blackburn Design is giving back.  The bicycle accessories company is in the fourth year of appointing 6 people to serve as their brand ambassadors.  In exchange for testing equipment, Blackburn Design sends the applicants to Ranger school.  The term "Ranger" is what Blackburn Design calls it's ambassadors.

It is a pretty good deal if you have the time.  The company asks it's rangers to choose between riding the Pacific Coast Route (not to be confused with the Pacific Crest Route), or the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMTBR).  Both routes are mapped by the Adventure Cycling Association.



Blackburn says they know who their customers are and they give the ranger sponsor-ships to people who are able to represent the brand well.  In the first year of the program they asked everyone they could think of if the person was planning any long distance rides.  Today, it is a little different, the program has a lot of fans who watch for the application process to open each year.

It is interesting to note, getting the most clicks on your application video posted on You Tube is not a guarantee you will become a ranger.  The person, actually family, with the most clicks last year did not get the nod from Blackburn.

So what does make a good Blackburn Ranger?  The only way to know is to apply.  If you are sitting on the fence, now would be a great time to get your video done.  The written part of the application is very straightforward.  It is a good deal for everyone.  Blackburn Design gets publicity and earns a good name in the community.  The Ranger gets an experience of a lifetime!

You can apply for the ranger program here.

Be A Ranger 2016 Samuel Littlefield

Here is the latest #beablackburnranger2016 video!  Looks like a lot of people are tuning into the Blackburn program.  We wish every one of them the very best as they make their push to be a Blackburn Ranger.

You don't have to win the Ranger program to be "out there".  Anyone can go, it is just a matter of deciding that is what you want to do.  Sure, it is a challenge to take this much time off and ride that many miles, but you have to be willing to do it for yourself first, and as a sponsored rider second.

Last year there were over 30 applications from people who wanted to be a Blackburn Ranger.  They only choose 6.  But nothing stops the guy who really wants this.  

While the Blackburn Design team ask rangers to choose between the Pacific Coast and the Great Divide, there are many routes across the country one can choose from and plenty which need to be discovered.  

Biking Vail Pass

Smiling Faces, Spectacular Scenery, Thrilling Run

Vail Pass is on the boundary of Eagle and Summit counties.  The resort towns of Vail (West side) and Copper Mountain (East side) are potential destinations, depending on your direction of travel.  A popular tourist activity is to catch a lift to the top of the pass and then barrel down to one of the towns.  For those from the flat lands, it is a lot easier to go down one of the slopes than to pedal up.  We did both!

Cycle The Summit

We rode the Mountain Wave, a private limo ride from the town of Breckenridge where we were staying for a few nights.  For a meager $25 bucks we got a lift to the top of Vail Pass.  The folks at Mountain Wave will pick you up in Frisco if you don't want to ride all the way back to Breckenridge.  Other tour companies are based in Frisco, Silverthorne and Vail so you can take the route from East or West, depending on where your base is.