Big Bend Ranch Bikepacking - Surly ECR and Salsa Fargo

[@LesCyclopreneurs]

Nice, thanks for your videos, we will follow your adventures!

[@BluecollarBackcountry]

Great trip and video. I did that trail in 2010 and have been wanting to do it again. This is fuel for the fire. hahaha!

[@BradBeaird]

Do it! Great trip but be sure to take along a spot tracker and plenty of water as I'm sure you already know, lol.

[@woodsidechase3399]

I like these kinds of adventures. Pretty country.

[@BradBeaird]

Likewise. Great area to explore.

[@rowerowewyprawy]

Kraków :) Good luck guys! Greetings from Poland :)

[@BradBeaird]

Thanks!

[@BradBeaird]

By the way we loved Poland!

[@sonalmalhotra07]

Lovely had coyotes wake me up in my tent in Grand Canyon National park. Thanks

[@BradBeaird]

Thanks for watching. We've spent a little time camping in Grand Canyon National Park as well. Beautiful place.

[@alkoop100]

Great works , Captain !! 🙌🙌🙌

[@BradBeaird]

Thank you!

[@veriest1]

Nice! I carried five liters when I hiked the OML (park next door) and thought I cut it close once.

[@BradBeaird]

Yeah water is very important haha.

[@kevinkirby3158]

Planning a biking trip to Big Bend in a few weeks. Were you running tubes or tubeless?

[@BradBeaird]

Definitely tubeless. Puncture city down there man.

[@hafizullah8569]

Great! you did it.

[@BradBeaird]

Thank you my friend!

[@hafizullah8569]

@@BradBeaird welcome :D

[@stephenwhite546]

Great video as usual Captain . Do ether of you carry the Garmin inReach ? It’s good to have on trips like that in case you you get in trouble . Helps the first responders .

[@BradBeaird]

We do not, but we have discussed either it or the spot tracker as future option to add to our kit.

[@stephenwhite546]

Seriously ether ones a good have . Especially when you get into areas like you were . I’d miss the videos if ya got bit by a snake or something . Those diamondbacks are nasty .

[@Jaydad4701]

👍🏻 very cool!

[@BradBeaird]

jason illg thanks! It was a good trip. Challenging terrain.

[@davidcornelison3969]

What month did you ride this? Nice job!

[@BradBeaird]

End of January

[@rocksandrocks]

what psi were you guys running?

[@BradBeaird]

We softened up to 12-15 psi

[@zacstewart6366]

Would love to know your thoughts on the bikes ERC or the Fargo are the two bikes i am looking at to buy, but doesnt know which one? Whats your thoughts

[@BradBeaird]

Haha well man that is a tough one. Both are great bikes and pretty similar in their geometry. The main difference is the Fargo is a drop bar bike and the ECR Moloko's, so that might be the deciding factor for some people. Personally I wasn't a fan of drops, and I didn't want to go to the trouble of replacing shifters, etc to switch a fargo over, so I went with the ECR and I've been very pleased so far.

[@zacstewart6366]

@@BradBeaird thanks Brad, its so confusing to work out what is the best bike to get. I feel like I have worked it out, and then i find I am back at square one. Have you both done much single track on the ERC and Fargo?

[@BradBeaird]

@@zacstewart6366 Yes we have done single track. Although not they are not the optimal bikes for single track, for most things they do just fine. Most single track folks want some suspension, and the bottom bracket height is a tad low for really intense single track, however, we've pulled it off without issue for most of the stuff we do.

[@zacstewart6366]

@@BradBeaird thanks Brad for the advice. really appreciate it.

[@maithaiyou]

Great scenery. Well shot and love the music. And you did all that on hybrids? Terrain looks more suitable for full suspension mountain bikes

[@BradBeaird]

We rode a Salsa Fargo and Surly ECR mountain bikes. They are hardtales designed for bikepacking.

[@newcan1701]

man, you gotta add an extra trailer to move that hub ...

[@BradBeaird]

Load 'er up!

[@kennyness8881]

I’m no weight weenie, but I’ve watched several of your (entertaining and very good) videos, and I’m surprised that you bring SO MUCH stuff. It looks like your bikes and equipment weigh 75#. Now that you have experience, why aren’t you shedding some gear weight?

[@BradBeaird]

It's a fair question to ask. Perhaps a simple answer is that we like a lot of comforts when we bike tour. We ride for enjoyment of the journey, and are less concerned about the miles. We could certainly scale back the tents to single man, go ultra light on pad, sleeping bag, etc. But for me personally, I love the extra space of the bigger tent, the comfort of a nice pad, and have a sleeping bag that is probably a bit more budget. We often bring along chairs. Again it's just about the enjoyment of sitting comfortably around a fire up off the ground, etc. That being said, we do slowly upgrade and lighten up the gear a little as time goes on.

[@kennyness8881]

@@BradBeaird thanks for the answer. Doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the videos, I just cringe when I see your pics because I have been you-a +30# bike with 40# of gear and stuff. It would be so easy to cut that gear weight in 1/2 for nominal $, and increase the joy factor of riding, all while sacrificing very little (and yes, that is my voice of experience speaking). Thanks for the videos. Keep them coming. We are NWArkansas folks who spend time at many of the same places you do.

[@BradBeaird]

@@kennyness8881 Appreciate you watching. Always enjoy feedback from folks and certainly continue to learn all the time. Having a great time with the trips and looking forward to doing some more! Hope to see you out there sometime!