Photo Credit: James Adamson, @_james_ adamson_, dropmedia.tv
It has begun, the singletrack onslaught of good times, big miles, Big Gulps, possibly Big Bites (ok, I added that one, another 7-Eleven delicacy), the relative unknown, and, going out on a limb here, anguish. James Adamson, Kurt Gensheimer, and Justin Schwartz, our hometown hero, are connecting Lake Tahoe to San Francisco through as much singletrack as possbile, carrying as little as is thought to be reasonable, and staying at friends' places along the way in a trip to be referred to as The Commute.
They started here:
Photo Credit: James Adamson, @_james_ adamson_, dropmedia.tv
Justin Schwartz, Marin shredder extraordinaire, Mount Tam Apparel Founder, rocking WTB Trail Boss 2.25 29" TCS Light tires and a Volt Team Saddle and.. a down jacket. 30 degree starting temperature at the shores of lovely Lake Tahoe. Then, upward:
Photo Credit: James Adamson, @_james_ adamson_, dropmedia.tv
Day one now done, they spent the night in Soda Springs and their day wasn't without effort - roughly 55 miles and 7, 200 feet of climbing complete with a descent down the final steps of Hole in the Ground in rapidly approaching darkness.
Photo Credit: James Adamson, @_james_ adamson_, dropmedia.tv
Real trails, real talk, real tire - the trio are all rocking Trail Boss tires for their journey. You can see the aim of the game here is to carry enough water to not die, yet still have the bike as shredable as possible, hence the stay at places along the way and no bikepacking bags. They definitely got their shred on:
Photo Credit: James Adamson, @_james_ adamson_, dropmedia.tv
Castle Peak, leaning on swooping singletrack, covering tons of rad trail every day, can life get better?
Photo Credit: James Adamson, @_james_ adamson_, dropmedia.tv
Well, they faced this view this morning, we assume, yes, yes, dangerous when talking trips, that they get to descend into that, maybe wince their way out. There was talk of a potential WTB Nevada City sleep over along the way, then the realization that Nevada City would involve really unnecessary climbs over foolish ridges and what appeared to be a paved descent - yuck. So, looks like Big Granite Trail is what they're bombing on the way to Foresthill. May the trails be tacky and the grins everlasting, good luck shredders. You can peep their adventure as it unfolds on their Facebook page. More to come as it comes in.