rainy day, MX

As soon as my scratches healed up and tight muscles relaxed during a 2nights’ stayover in Vincente Guerrero, we took off in continuation of the second section of Baja Divide Route.

Spencer and I bisolated for the first time during this “group supported” ride and did another day of easy 30 miles+ on a double track through some fun hills and piles of garbage mixed with crashed bones of livestock on the way to Nueva Odisea. We could have planned better for rainy chilly weather here in winter. It’s been cloudy with a few showers. Spencer’s water proof jacket lost the proof qualities, plus most of our bags are only water resistant. We got soaking wet again and had to stay at a hotel in San Quintin-right off MEX 1 to dry up and chill in a nice double room with a beach view. Another lesson learned: test your rain jacket or get a rain poncho. Pack up ziplock bags to protect your electronics and stuff. Lastly there’s always an option to wait out in a tent.

On the flip side I had more downtime to write and process 1st section’s experiences. See below about the machine that has been carrying me gracefully and successfully up and down steep Mexican hills through mud, sand, salt ocean waves and boulders.

I bought a new Surly Krampus 29+ for the price of a used one- $1150+ $100 shipping. The following 10 amendments by http://www.pedalextremities.tumblr.com:

- Changed grips to Ergon Gs1 - Cut the handlebars from 750mm to 620mm - Changed the saddle from WTB to Brooks C17S - Brake pads - haven’t changed them yet, but, have an extra set of BB7 mountain sintered pads. - King cage - headset - water bottle cage - installed, but, Revelate Design’s fuel tank interfered with the bottle cage. Spencer didn’t have a blot long enough to stack some extra headset spacers to make it work (not enough time before we left). - Replaced Shimano 11-36t cassette to Sunrace MS3 11-42t - Change the pedals from shitty clip/cage style $10 pedals to fixation flat pedals - Changed 94bcd 33t Surly chainring to 94 bcd 30t Vuelta chainring - Converted the stock rims and tires to tubeless via the gorilla tape method. Check out how here: www.pedalextremities.tumblr.com - Installed Tubus evo rear rack with fabricated adaptors to clear the 29+ tires. Spencer fabricated them at his studio a week before we left. He actually made two different sets. One pair made of aluminum and another out of steel. (same thing, check Spencer’s blog)

first bumps, MX

We have been riding now for over a week with a half break/soak day in hot springs near Ejido Uruapan and an official rest day in Vincente Guerrero today. My body has been feeling a little traumatized by bumpy roads and lack of civilization amenities. I had a minor crash and hurt my wrist. However, besides saddle butt rash, bruises and scratches, bikepacking life through Baja Divide is sweet and happy.

I learned a few good lessons thus far. If you are an absolute beginner female rider like me, see below:

-Unlock your phone before you leave the country🤦🏻‍♀️ - I have been dealing with T-Mobile for 10 days unable to use Mexican SIM card. We bought it from a local phone company Telcel in Tecate ($2,5 for the SIM card and $50 for 1,5 GB). -If you need your soft drugs you can safely sneak in some weed through Mexican Border in Tecate. Customs officers didn’t bother checking any of our bikes or bags. Really, why would anyone sneak in drugs into Mexico??? I definitely regret not bringing any. So far we did not encounter any local mota dealers. They say cocaine is easier to get that marijuana here unless you are in a big touristy town. -Definitely need to have a good rain jacket and a pair of warm gloves and a hat as it gets rainy and windy in the beginning of the route, especially after the sunset.

*** Below is my full packing list including bags (all of the bags -courtesy of revelatedesigns.com-muchas gracias):

- handle bar bag- https://www.revelatedesigns.com/index.cfm/store.catalog/handle-bar/Sweetroll - rear pannier bags (2)- https://www.revelatedesigns.com/index.cfm/store.catalog/rack/NanoPanniers - tank bag (small) -https://www.revelatedesigns.com/index.cfm/store.catalog/cockpit/Jerrycan - fuel tank bag - https://www.revelatedesigns.com/index.cfm/store.catalog?CategoryID=2&ProductID=3 - frame bag - https://www.revelatedesigns.com/index.cfm/store.catalog/frame-bags/fullframebags - feed bag - https://www.revelatedesigns.com/index.cfm/store.catalog/cockpit/MountainFeedbag - Water flasks and bladders (10 liters capacity) - lotion - Chamois butter (!) -The butt gets very polka-dotty quickly if not - Chapsticks - Contacts - handy for a rainy day when glasses get all moggy and dirty - Glasses - sun and regular - Long sleeve shirt - non cotton - thin - Wife beater - Tank tops -2 - Short sleeve shirt - Bras - 2 - Long John’s - Underwear regular -2 - Cycling panties with chamois -2 - Rain jacket - Wind Vest - Down jacket - Socks - 3 - Cycling/hiking shoes - Flip flops - Riding Shorts - Jean shorts - Hat - cycling - Summer hat - Helmet - Hair ties - Swimming suit - Phone - Headphones- in case you are a light sleeper, I haven’t used them as of yet - Speaker - Sports towel - Sleeping bag liner - Coffee mug - Spork - Gloves - cycling - Sleeping mat - Sleeping bag - Meds - Passport - Phone cable and charger - Headlight - Wet wipes

Sharing with Spencer - Tent (sharing with Spencer) - Tent stakes - Camera and camera gear - Go Pro and accessories - Bike tools - Spare parts - Sealant - Pump - Break pads - Extra rear adapter - Inner tube - Solar Charger - Dust Mask - Ground sheet - Emergency blanket - First aid kit - Clothes pins

I would add: - Scissors - Electrical tape

into the unknown

Baja Divide reports are going live from a campsite just off the dirt road by Rancho El Bano, MX.

I’ve been bikepacking now for just about 3 days with a way more experienced partner in crime Spencer who happened to know quite a bit about this type of adventurous shit.

On the first day we rode a good 3,100 feet + up Otay Mountain which I could not really ride and had to push about 98%.

Just to admit, I’m brand new to mountain biking. My fitness level was wishing for more training and less smoking but I figured the best way to get fit for steep mountain bike climbing would be baptizing through Divine Baja Divide.

We are following Baja Divide Route (see here www.bajadivide.com) that so far has been spoiling us with versatile views and impressive mountain designs.