Bicycle Touring Utah, Part I - Cycling All 5 National Parks - S4 E27

[@scotttolliver8909]

I discovered your channel a few weeks ago and just finished watching the season 4 videos you’ve posted-absolutely AMAZING! I’m excited to see the rest of your journey unfold. I’ve tried following other touring cyclist channels, but I often find myself losing interest-whether it’s the personalities or overpowering music, they just don’t hold my attention. Your videos, on the other hand, are exceptional. They’re not only incredibly engaging but also deeply inspiring. While I’m not planning a cross-country tour like yours, I am gearing up for a ride this summer from Cincinnati to Cleveland, then Pittsburgh to Washington, DC-11 days and about 670 miles. Everyone has to start somewhere, right? Your content has been a great source of motivation for me, and I can’t wait to see how the rest of season 4 plays out.

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Hi Scott. Great to hear you found my channel and are digging it. I think doing these tours you are thinking of, including the GAP Trail, is a great way to get into bicycle touring. Lots of support and safety in them so you can focus on the cycling and camping without the extra logistics, too much climbing, and acclimation to managing traffic. You will still get some of that but way less. Plus, the scenery is out of control. I'm here to help so if you have any questions please do't hesitate asking. Thank you for watching and leaving this very encouraging comment. Be safe.

[@scottsears6440]

I may have said this before, but you convey a wonderfully positive attitude. I really enjoy your energy.

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Thank you, Scott. I have fun out there.

[@peterfreidel7721]

You may remember that day, and night for a long time 😊❤❤❤

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Hi Peter. You are correct, the scenery and experience makes it a great life memory.

[@df7816]

Man, ? looks like it was the most magical and restorative chance of serendipity ever.

[@FlyscoutRyder]

That's a great way to put it but I sort of feel some level of that every day when touring. The challenge/reward aspect of the whole thing makes it inevitable. Thanks for watching.

[@zenfishbike]

Paradox, Doe, La Sal...that's my backyard. You did an impeccable job covering it. Perfect imagery, perfect commentary, perfect music. I also know the Utah parks quite well and look forward to your coverage of those adventures. Subscribed. I've toured a little but have found it unnerving dealing with motorists. Watching this might have me back for another try. Fly safe.

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Your backyard is as good as it gets for bicycle touring. There are a few stretches that were difficult but very few and for short spans. The ride from Moab to Green River for instance. That'll be on the one after next episode. The rest of the state from Green River to Zion is top notch for both cycling as well as for camping. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@davecornelison]

Outstanding!

[@msjadeli]

Watched this last night on my phone before going to sleep and am watching again now on the tv. Just when I thought I'd seen every kind of terrain, you share something new on your travels. Diego, your grit in climbing all day long always amazes and impresses. Glad you found that wonderful campsite in the dark. I like your philosophy about pushing through challenges to the sweet spot.

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Psyched to hear you watched it again, thank you. Climbing is a lot of fun once you get in the groove of it. Time passes by as if in a meditative way. You can take in the sights way better than when hauling butt on a downhill. Not that I don't love them as well. Ahhh!, it's all a lot of fun. Even when doors keep closing on you and you have to keep looking for that entry way into bliss. Thanks for watching.

[@mray8519]

I love that area. I’ve been thru Paradox valley dozens of times, once on my motorcycle standing up the entire distance, it was like flying. There used to be a young woman running the Bedrock store, then later a man from NY, who was an unusual character.

[@FlyscoutRyder]

You got me picturing you (someone) motoring down the valley standing up on the motorcycle, lol. There is a something very unique and special about this descend into Paradox. Captivating indeed.

[@dougmiller7258]

Gorgeous

[@miguelrodvel1548]

Excelente video, saludos desde Durango, México.

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Miguel de Durango. Como anda? Gracias por ver el video. Utah es extraordinaria.

[@miguelrodvel1548]

@FlyscoutRyder andamos muy bien. Espero algún día conocer esos lugares por dónde has pasado, se ven hermosos.

[@joyfultrails]

GORGEOUS video. Thanks for sharing it!

[@FlyscoutRyder]

You are welcome. Thank you for watching.

[@jackfarris7056]

Quite the postcard images of Utah. Follow your dream... You're killing it mate.

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Thank you, Jack. Great to hear from you.

[@lavonaltenhofen2725]

After waking up stealth camping like that you know that you've won

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Hi Lavon. You are very much on point. Man, that was a legit find. I couldn't show it but I spent close to one hour in the pitch dark with hardly a shoulder and serious trucking traffic blasting right by me. Great memory but certainly challenging. That spot was amazing to wake up to. Great to hear from you. I hope you are planning on some bad ass tour as you usually do. Take care.

[@erikvonbold]

Stunning scenery!!!

[@FlyscoutRyder]

You are welcome, Lori. Thank you for watching.

[@erikvonbold]

@ Lori?

[@FlyscoutRyder]

@ Sorry, Erik. Not sure what that was about.

[@DarkSkyOverland]

Wow, what an intense start to your Utah adventure! The Las Sal Mountains Pass sounds like it really tested your determination. Glad you found a safe spot to camp after such a challenging day. Can’t wait to see how the rest of your journey unfolds-Utah’s National Parks are going to be incredible! 🙌🏻

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Utah was kick ass!! So much fun I can't even think about it. I plan on going back someday, for sure. The National Parks were out of this world and I think I did them justice with my experiences and documenting. I'm working on Arches and Canyonlands and I'm blown away watching the footage of these parks. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@porkchop1343]

Very cool. The western part of the United States is beautiful. I love traveling out there.

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Thank you. I love traveling out west too.

[@KamaTanha]

You give a lot to relate to, man. I've done three ~1,200 mile solo tours in that style out there, but never in that part of CO and UT. Closest I got so far was a leg though St George and Zion on my way from Lake Mead to the North Rim. When I get back out there (I live in New England) , the roads in this video are where I'm heading; CO to UT. I appreciate you showing the views, your off the highway campsites, the truck traffic, 4k+ climbing days, the 3k+ coasting days. Just heaven. Glad you're getting to do it. I just joined your paid Pareon. You've got my modest support. Wish I could do more.

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Hi Brett. Thank you so much for the Patreon support. I left you a message there. Yeah, the west is amazing and the western Colorado into Utah area is one of my favorite. There is so much beauty and so often little traffic that it makes for excellent cycling. Also lots of wild camping options. You have been thru it with your routes so you know. I appreciate you sharing about my content. I have been working to progress at the content creating for five years now and it is nice to get the encouragement. Take care and stay in touch. BTW, I watched your Surley episode and you have a sick bike. I like all the water bottles, and your tire and saddle of choice. Schwalbe Marathon Mondials are my go to as well. Take care and be safe.

[@417cycleguy]

Totally absolutely magnificent Isn’t it great to cycle good roads, beautiful scenery and LOW LOW traffic. It doesn’t get any better!! ❤️❤️ For some reason I feel I was there with you in this video. I guess because I’ve been there , done that and I’m goin back this April! Can’t wait for your Arches and Canyonlands entries! I noticed in this video you’ve used longer intervals between scene changes. That’s neither worse nor better I just seemed to catch it this time. IT’S ALL GOOD!! Yes!!! Thank you once again for your posts, your perseverance, your enthusiasm, your creativity, ❤😮😊🙏🏻🚴🏼🚴‍♀️✅

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Hello, Dale. Always great to read your thoughts, so helpful. The west of Colorado coming into Utah is one of my favorite rides. Excellent cycling like you say. About the longer intervals, I think you mean the downhills. I've been meaning to share the feel of the downhills in a greater extent and I put so much effort into gathering the smooth footage that it seemed fitting in these two drops in this episode. There are others coming as well. On this last tour of the Cascades I gathered lots of it with all the climbing and dropping I did there so look out for more of it in Season 5 later on. Next is Arches and Canyonlands. This episode is a bit of a change up so beware. Take carte and thanks , man.

[@bikerider.56]

My son got married last May in Arches and my wife and I rented a couple bikes in Moab and rode the Moab Canyon Trail. It was truly spectacular along the Colorado River. I can't wait to go back again. Look forward to the Moab video.

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Congratulations to your son. What a spectacular idea to marry in a National Park, especially one like Arches. Moab is a great town to gather a nice crowd and enjoy the sights. The next episode covers Arches and Canyonlands' Island in the Sky. Hope you like it. Let me know. Thank you for watching.

[@vernthomas207]

Another great video! The scenery on the west slopes of the Rockies is spectacular and you see it and feel it on the bike. Glad you found a spot to camp in the dark too. Your drone footage is so good. What is the music you had playing for your CO to UT segment? It is really good.

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Hi Vern. All the music I use for each episode is listed in their corresponding description boxes. There is also a link for each episode's music so if you press on it will take you to the website that I use. You can then look it up on your music application of choice and see if you can add it to your music source. Thanks for watching.

[@bikerfrode]

I'm from Norway so its amazing to see the view. You can see so far, we always have a mountain on the way. Cycling here is very much up and down hills. 😅

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Hello Norway. Very cool to reach that far. My channel will give a good insight on what America looks like all over. Yeah, a lot of our western states have unbelievable "Big Sky Country" scenery. That's the nickname for Montana, but you can find it in a lot of the sates out west. Thank you for watching.

[@MBT32]

Wow, that first shot is worth a landscape painting! Paradox Valley toppled my expectations, amazing views. Added to my list of places to go. What a great campsite you found in the dark. You're right, you keep on riding and the road provides. I must have camped near that area just off 191 north. 50 ft from the road. Thank you for another awesome episode, Diego!

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Hi Mario. Yeah, that Paradox Valley blew me away. I was taking the sights and the seemingly endless downhill on a perfect day. I certainly had no idea of the kind of day I was about to end up with. I was on that Highway to Moab (191) for an hour in the pitch dark, no shoulder, and non stop trucking traffic. That camp spot was 100% a total oasis. Great to hear from you as always. Take care.

[@MBT32]

@@FlyscoutRyder that road is dangerous, in some places, during the day, I can only imagine how scary it was at night. I like to take it easy in descents with views like that. After sweating my A off going up, I want to savor it.

[@FlyscoutRyder]

@MBT32 Agreed. I find myself slowing down more than I used to.

[@RideAlongAdventures]

As always…beautiful. Utah is amazing.

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Hey Bryan. Hope all is great. You were in this neck of the woods recently so you know its beauty. We have to get back there. Thanks for watching, bro.

[@TheSouthernTriker]

Man this was a great one as usual those seem hills seem killer, but so glad you pushed through and made it to closer to your destination and it’s wild you just literally camped in the mild of nowhere lol 😂 but good job man ❤

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Hi Souther Triker. You have a great channel, by the way. Thanks for creating much needed trike content. So many trike folks out there. Yeah, those hills and head winds out west can get you. Stealth camping in Utah is about the easiest to do in the country. There is so much unpopulated land. On these next series of episodes, except for the next one, you'll get a good glimpse of how easy it is to camp out there. Thank you for watching. Keep them coming.

[@pppjourneyonabike5992]

Could keep watching these episodes for an hour+ if had the footage. Thanks for posting.

[@FlyscoutRyder]

That's great to hear. I wish I could edit faster and upload more often but I am a "small time" KZbinr that has to actually work to make a living. The dream is to someday (soon I hope) grow and be able to spend more time on my channel. Season 3 has longer episodes that went, at times, 45 minutes and I really enjoyed the way they came out. It more accurately represented the day to day feel of touring by sharing how many multiple days come about. Thanks for the great comment.

[@brianboschma]

Well done - Utah was a great landscape to explore in the 70's. Thanks for the scenes.

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Hi Brian. I can imagine how much wilder Utah and the whole country/world were in the 70's. I have read about the early days of the colonization of the country and have learned of our degradative impact. Where I live in the Florida Keys it has changed so much in the last 30 years that it has made it challenging to digest. I guess it's a fact of life. Being new to me, the west, offers a sense of "out there" that is refreshing. Thank you for watching.

[@MBT32]

Ahaha you scared the s out of that little fella on the side of the road 😂

[@FlyscoutRyder]

You are the first to say anything about that chipmunk. Im pretty sure you've ran into some yourself.

[@MBT32]

@@FlyscoutRyder a bunch... One little guy made me company (in exchange for some crumbs, of course) when I was admiring the Delicate Arch!

[@verlinrice9955]

Oh my😅😊! This episode was spectacular once again. Thanks Diego for taking us asking with you. I especially enjoyed the first descent when the only sounds were the wind and rumbling of tires in pavement... no need for exits music at the point. I can hardly wait for the videos of Moab.

[@FlyscoutRyder]

So cool you commented on the music-less downhill into that canyon, Verlin. I'm always trying to keep evolving and not falling into a set pattern with my edits. Progression is the key to a fulfilling life, haha. With that said, I have always struggled with the use of music in my content. This season has made me believe that there is a place for it. Seems to me that it helps in sharing the mood of the moment. And since I recall these moments, it helps to project the mood. Always great to read your thoughts about the episode, thank you. It helps in the progression 😉

[@22Vets]

Lovin' it! But those headwinds... 7-mile Bridge was brutal two days ago. Gotta finish watching later. 🙏 Persevere!

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Hi Lance. Great to hear from you. I always wonder how you are doing and what kind of adventure you are managing with. Persevere is a legitimate word, thanks for throwing it out there. Please be safe out there.

[@stevent5050]

Just subscribed! Absolutely fantastic stuff sir, and I'm loving your Ti setup.

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Thank you, Steven. If you are interested in what components I used to build this bike you can find all of them listed in the description boxes of each episode. Thank you for watching.

[@LoriVillarreal-j8h]

Great to see a new video! Thank you !!

[@PumpkinVillage]

What an epic ride and finding that camp spot was really good. Bike question. Have you ever changed your wheel bearing or are you still riding the originals? I need some new wheel bearings and was just wondering what you had done. Take care, Al

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Hi Al. I've never changed wheel bearing on a bicycle hub. I use these hubs that are sort of bulletproof. The rear is a DT Swiss 240 and the front is a dynamo hub that is way too complicated to do. I would recommend a bike shop where a technician can advice you or look here in KZbin (changing bearings on bicycle hub). Thanks for watching the episode. Let me know what you figure out.

[@pppjourneyonabike5992]

Wow, those views. Spectacular!

[@aguyinarkansas]

Absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing and be safe out there

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Thank you. You too.

[@ChuckHarris-go5nz]

Beautiful thanks for sharing

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Welcome, Chuck. Thanks for watching.

[@pppjourneyonabike5992]

Is there anything about bike touring you get anxiety from after all your touring?

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Haha, heck yeah I get anxious out there at times. I believe that it is mandatory but it turns into hyperawareness and that is a good thing. It's important to stay cool headed and vigilant. Endorphins help with that.

[@pppjourneyonabike5992]

Curious if you kept or made a rwpgs gpx for your trips?

[@FlyscoutRyder]

I have not used RWGPS but I get asked that a lot. It seems to be popular and useful. I've done it a certain way for so long that I prefer it as it is. I've been recommended to do Strava but I kind of like the "keep it to myself" routes until I post the episodes in the channel to share.

[@kiwisafa101]

PLEASE, can you help. I am from New Zealand and I fly into Seattle early June to cycle to Nova Scotia. I have not decided on the final route, (mile by mile), do you have your route in a format that you would be willing to share? Could you please DM / PM me?

[@driftwood4458]

Ride there on the ACA Northern Tier.

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Hi Kiwi 🇳🇿. I would love to help best I can. The routes I have taken are in my episodes as I go and not in any specific place as a whole. I would look into Adventure Cycling Association and the United States Bicycle Route System for route options. Sounds like a great option for you is the Northern Tier Route. It is very popular, unreal beautiful and it happens to have very little traffic in comparison to other routes. Once you reach the eastern USA you will find lots of Rail Trails that will get you to the NE corner of the country. Thank you for watching. Watching my channel's content will help in creating expectations. I have crossed these states that are on the Northern Tier Route but you will have to search thru the thumbnails of all the season and crossing to put the specific states together. My crossing tend to look like an EKG line because I like zig zagging to go look at this and that while traversing the country. Take care and be safe.

[@SteveWimberley-o3q]

Really good Diego. Incredible scenery ! Thanx for sharing. Well done.

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Bro, you are the best. Always psyched to know you watched the episode and enjoyed it.

[@HomeInBeing]

I'd prefer to live in Utah than Colorado 🤠

[@FlyscoutRyder]

Two very tough choices indeed.