gumpmtb

So, a few years and about 30lbs ago I had a very specific use-case for this product. I was traveling for work for about 200 days a year and wanted to have the option to train on a hardtail that would break down to fit in a large suitcase using couplers. In the interest of saving space, I planned on ONLY bringing flat pedal shoes, since they can be used to go down to breakfast in the hotel or out to dinner after work. I was going to bring a Feedback Sports stationary trainer with me for those nights when there weren’t trails or decent roads near the hotel, or when I got done with work too late. Power meter pedals would allow me to use one of the many training apps like TrainerRoad, Sufferfest, or Zwift so I could keep the inside riding interesting and I could stay fit for when I got back home and could ride real trails. Now that I’m old and fat, though, I see that would have been a waste of money.

I’ve used it on the east coast. It does great on a dirt road and some double track, but it loses the target pretty quickly on singletrack. You have to go back and retrieve the drone because it just stops and can’t figure out a way though the branches. You can help guide it, but it makes its own decisions. I compare it to riding with a dog who likes to stop and smell things often.

I guess a Cessna is not a bad way to get around. https://www.pinkbike.com/news/photo-epic-reece-wallace-flies-planes-and-bikes-in-bc.html

I have a 200 mile commute to work (one way each week). I used to do it in a Honda Accord and would stop for 5 minutes to fill up with gas each way. Now I do it in a Tesla Model Y and stop for 15 minutes to charge each way. It’s a little longer, but it gives me time to use the restroom and grab a bite to eat, so I show up a little more refreshed. I’ll admit that it does take much longer when it’s below freezing out, though. Up to 40 minutes. But that’s enough time for a good poop, so… Most of my charging is done at home, and most of my mountain bike rides start within 30 miles of home. I wouldn’t need charging infrastructure for most of my rides, but we have two nearby trailheads with electric car chargers (that I don’t use—I always have plenty of range because I filled up in my driveway, so the PHEVs can use them instead). I keep a bike inside the car most of the time, and it’s not much more difficult to do that than it was in my partner’s Subaru Forester. There’s a lot of space inside. For the local rides I put the bike on the hitch mounted rack. Really any hatchback with a hitch is pretty utilitarian, but even more so if you can just fuel it at home.

Wish I could upvote this more. So many trucks at the trailhead, but shouldn’t we be more concerned about the effect that our transportation has on the nature we love to play in?