Wild West Route - Cross Country Stars Take on Bikepacking
Chloe Woodruff, Evelyn Dong, Kait Boyle, and Rose Grant are very familiar with pushing their limits on a bicycle. When they decided to take on a section of Bikepacking Roots' The Wild West Route, Chloe, Evelyn and Rose were venturing into unfamiliar terrain. Kate was not, as she is a co-creator of The Wild West Route and program coordinator for Bikepacking Roots. Carrying everything you need to sleep, eat, and ride strapped to your bicycle can be quite challenging. We caught up with these four rad women to find out what piece of gear they were most happy they brought, wished they'd left at home, and were bummed to have forgotten.
Chloe Woodruff
What is something you brought and couldn't have survived without?
2x Trader Joe's Pound Plus chocolate bars.
What is something you brought that you didn't end up needing?
Dish gloves.
What is something you didn't bring but really wished you had?
An adult--or medium-sized child--sized sleeping pad. Apparently I bought one for the trip sized for a toddler.
Evelyn Dong
What is something you brought and couldn't have survived without?
I brought an XL flask of whiskey and could not have made it through the trip without it! Especially the snowy part.
What is something you brought that you didn't end up needing?
Pretty much all the repair stuff and bike tools I brought I didn’t end up needing. Spare spokes, cable, DARTs, quick link, multitool. Doesn’t mean I regret bring all of that though!
What is something you didn't bring but really wished you had?
Hot sauce. I forgot to bring hot sauce. I’m still sad about that.
Kait Boyle
What is something you brought and couldn't have survived without?
Aside from the obvious - bike, snacks, water, I think shorts that are really comfortable keep me surviving. The Wild West Route is all dirt roads, so we were constantly pedaling. We even had a zero-coasting day that was 5.5 hours of continuous pedaling. A happy butt is thriving while bikepacking. I wear Patagonia MTB board shorts.
What is something you brought that you didn't end up needing?
My repair & first aid kits!
What is something you didn't bring but really wished you had?
My puppy!! I really want to tow him in a trailer bikepacking sometime...just not on a trip with some xc pros ;)
Rose Grant
What is something you brought and couldn't have survived without?
Rain pants! That first day could have been miserable! Thanks to Kait for that recommendation.
What is something you brought that you didn't end up needing?
1. My handgun- .38 Smith & Weston airweight revolver 2. Rubber Dishwashing gloves (waterproof gloves for cold wet descents) but neither of which I would leave at home next time.
What is something you didn't bring but really wished you had?
I had a hard time coming up with anything, which means I guess we planned pretty well, but I would have loved to have a second pair of riding shorts about the 3rd day!
