Adirondack Sports February 2024

Bikepacking 101 – If you’re new to the
term, “bikepacking” is the self-supported
riding of bicycles on multiday adventures in
an ultra-light manner, typically off pavement
(but not exclusively) with a leave-no-trace
ethos. The history is steeped in competition
and gear development to ride longer
and faster establishing a Fastest Known
Time (FKT) on developed routes. There
are two variations, the Independent Time
Trial (ITT), which can begin any day and
time of the year, and the group start known
as The Grand Depart, with a scheduled start
date and time. Competitors carry satellite
tracking devices to document their ride and
as a safety feature. The course is presented
to riders a few weeks before the start to be
uploaded to their GPS devices.
A company called “Trackleaders”
rents tracking devices and provides an
online map of the route for viewing. The
basic rules* are simple: ride as fast as
you can, as safely as you can, alone and
without outside help. No pacelines, no
drafting, no sharing equipment (assisting
with mechanicals is allowed), no caches
(although mail drops are permitted). A
self-supported ride allows for resupply
at grocery stores, gas stations, convenience
stores, lodging at motels, camping
at campgrounds. In essence, anything
publicly available to all riders is fair play.
Riders may leave the route for resupply
or to go to a bike shop but must reenter
the course where they exited. Once the
clock starts, it doesn’t stop until crossing
the finish or scratching. There are no set
sleep/rest periods, it’s up to the individual
to rest as needed without sacrificing
personal safety. Distances vary but there
seems to be a lot of events in the 500 to
1,000-mile range.
*Rules can vary widely event-to-event
and ultimately are up to the discretion of
the race director. Rules have evolved over
the years. For example, it was once acceptable
to have film/video crews document
a rider. However now many organizers/
directors view this as outside influence,
COMMUNITY
St. Lawrence Triple
Crown Challenge
1,600 miles in 16 days
By Michael Feldman
giving those riders a psychological boost.
While not a disqualification, a rider subject
to receiving questionable outside help
or missing part of a route may have an
asterisk placed by their name. This is especially
true during FKT attempts.
Western Ontario, June 2023 – It’s my
day two on the BT 700 (Butter Tart 700), an
800K bikepacking race. I’m at a junction
leaning over my handlebars, staring at the
“Ride With GPS” app that the race director
uses for this event. It’s well put together
with resources and route descriptions.
It’s blistering hot, no shade, I’m low on
water. I’m ready to quit. They’re offering
a bypass around a “rough” section of the
route. The complete route includes the
longer and forewarned “rough” section.
Not only have I registered in the solo race
category, I have also committed to racing
the inaugural St. Lawrence Triple Crown,
so I’m figuring any deviation would at best
award me an asterisk and at worst a disqualification.
In a cloud of dust, a car rolls up and a
nice lady asks if I’m okay. Even though I
assure her I am, she insists on giving me
a bottle of Powerade, an example of what
is known as “serendipitous trail magic.”
Drinking the Powerade reenergizes me
and I stay on course. The “rough” section
turns out to be mostly nice singletrack and
well-worth riding.
Triple Crowns – A triple crown series
combines three distinct ultra-endurance
bikepacking events for a composite finish
time. The original Triple Crown began
in 2012 with three classic bikepacking
events: Tour Divide, Colorado Trail
Race, and Arizona Trail race. All must
be completed in a calendar year from
their respective Grand Departs to keep a
level playing field. In 2023 race directors
collaborated from the BT 700 in western
Ontario, Canada, the Log Driver’s Waltz
(LDW) in the Ottawa Valley, Canada, and
The Adirondack Trail Ride (TATR) in New
York, to create the St. Lawrence Triple
Crown (SLTC). See COMMUNITY 33 ▶
■ BT 700 GRAND DEPART
FROM ECO CAFÉ IN ST.
JACOBS, ONTARIO.
JODY DIXON
■ JODY AND MIKE AT
LDW GRAND DEPART
IN ALMONTE, ONTARIO.
■ ST. LAWRENCE TRIPLE
CROWN ROUTES. JEFF HEHN
FEBRUARY 2024 31
■ BT 700 WATER CROSSING.