Mountain Bike For Access Suggestions
Elk
Contributors to this thread:
I am considering biking into one of the areas I will hunt in September. I am a very casual biker (as in I have box store bought mountain bike) and I ride it some each summer primarily to help with the heat when I'm trying to work my legs and lungs to get ready for elk season. :)
Anyway, the place I'm going to has a closed road (except service vehicles) that I can ride for 1.5 miles followed by a good horse/bike trail for another mile. The elevation gain is very mild by mountain standards, and one I can replicate here at home.
So here are my questions for those of you who use your bikes to ride in for your hunts.
1. What light would you recommend. I have a good headlamp that I will have on, but I'm thinking I would like a bike mounted light in addition or instead of my headlamp for the ride in and out.
2. If you had to choose between having a nice camp at your truck and biking 2.5 miles each morning before you could even start hunting or backpacking in which would you do and why?
3. What else should I consider that I haven't thought of because I've never done it this way before? (No, I don't have an eBike, I don't know if they are allowed where I'm going and most importantly I can't afford one)
Thanks for the input!
I rode my bike 2 years ago on an Elk hunt. We went 6 miles before we started hunting, trolled for Bulls for another 8, then 6 back to camp; 20 miles every morning. I will be doing that same hunt this year and next. I also taking my bike on my Wyoming Elk hunt this year. Wyoming F&G currently treats bikes the same as game carts so I can ride roads otherwise closed. For a trailer I have a modified Burley but will probably get the new QuietKat single BOB.
To your point, 2.5 is nothing if the road/trail is decent. Also, full suspension is the way to go for us casual riders if a newer bike is in the cards. Lots of good lights (hi lumen), I use both heading in and out, on the bike and the headlamp.
I bought a rechargeable LED light on Amazon for $24 that is 2000 lumen.
BTW, any LED light with more than 1000 lumen is excellent for blood trailing after dark.
bad karma's Link
Here's the link to the light.
Wear a helmet! Even with one I knocked myself out riding out one night. Without one I'd have likely died.
Wear a helmet! Even with one I knocked myself out riding out one night. Without one I'd have likely died.
Ohio, no I bought a diamondback release 1. Private timber ground that is enrolled in our travel management program; no motors allowed.
And 2 pairs of bike shorts.....
I'm an avid MTBer. We do night rides in the winter when the sunlight is short. I always use two lights when riding. As Jaquomo stated, WEAR A HELMET! Have a helmet mounted light and a handle bar mounted light. I like/use the Gloworm (https://www.jensonusa.com/Gloworm-Alpha-1200-Lumen-Light-Set-1200-Lumen-2-Cell-Battery?pt_source=googleads&pt_medium=cpc&pt_campaign=shopping_us&pt_keyword=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpYK9upGz4gIVR9bACh2lZQEMEAQYBCABEgLdffD_BwE) for my helmet light and have a Cateye on the bars. Two Gloworms would be even beter. Go for quality and lumens. You want to be able to see and don't want a cheap light going out on you.
I always like to wake up near the elk. Have you thought about spike camping in and riding the bike out mid-day for a good lunch and shower?
Thanks for the input guys. The spot I may bike into is just one of the spots I hope to hunt so I'm not ready to invest a bunch of money. I haven't actually been there. It could be great. It could be a bust, but there is no way to know except to check it out in September. If I find a cheap bike trailer on Craigslist or FaceBook, I'll grab one but otherwise, I'll make due this year and then possibly do more in the future. Yes, I definitely plan on wearing a helmet. I may not be the smartest guy, but I am smart enough to know how not to be stupid. :)
Many years ago I used a MB to ride about 2 miles up an otherwise closed, old 4WD road to the trail head. Most of my hunts were multi-day bivouacs back then. It was mostly up hill going in. There was NO way I was going to attach my bow to the bike unprotected, so it made for quite a load with my pack. While it was quicker coming back out, going in, up hill, wasn't any quicker or easier than hiking.
Hunt on a bike pretty much every year. Bow goes on my pack on my back. Never on the bike. Don't even think about one of those silly handle bar bow holders or something similar. A good cart can bring out 1/2-2/3 an elk in one load. I don't currently have one, but I would go with a fat tire if I was buying a bike specifically for hunting. There are many advantages to a hunter, from stability to shock obsorbtion without the need for a very high end full suspension bike.