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Hey, there fellow adventure riders!
Are you ready to tackle one of the most epic enduro rides in Southern California? Well, get ready to hear all about the Big Bear Trail Ride, or BBTR for short.
The BBTR is a two-hundred-plus-mile ride that surrounds the gorgeous Big Bear Lake and runs through the San Bernardino National Forest. This ride is not for the faint-hearted, as it combines gnarly jeep trails, double-track, single-track, and fire roads, making it a challenge for even the most seasoned riders.
But don't worry, there are different routes available for all levels and styles of riding, from hard enduro riding to adventure riding. And the best part? It's not a race, but let's be honest, when you put three hundred riders together in a timed event and post the top finishers with a plaque, it's basically a race.
We have competed in this event for the last three years, and let me tell you, we've learned a lot about how to finish this grueling ride. The first year we attempted the BBTR, we timed out and rode out with the sweepers at about 130 miles, and we were pretty dead by that point. In the second year, we completed about 140 miles before throwing in the towel. But, in the third year, we trained and prepped for the ride, which made a huge difference. We completed the entire two hundred miles, but finished in 14 hours instead of the allotted 12, so we didn't get a plaque, but we were still pretty stoked!
Now, you're probably wondering how we managed to complete this grueling ride. Well, we're here to spill all our secrets! In this video, we're going to share everything we've learned about pre-hydration, packing in the calories, getting enough electrolytes, beating heat exhaustion, staging gas and food throughout the ride, bike preparation, and lastly, conditioning.
We've discovered that pre-hydration is key to completing this ride. You don't want to start the ride dehydrated, or you'll be setting yourself up for a world of hurt. We'll tell you all about our hydration strategy and what drinks we bring along to keep us going.
Calories, calories, calories! You'll burn a lot of calories on this ride, and if you don't replenish them, you'll hit the wall hard. We'll share our favorite calorie-dense snacks and meals that keep us going for hours.
Electrolytes are essential to keep your muscles firing and prevent cramps. We've tried a lot of different electrolyte supplements, and we'll share our favorite ones with you.
Heat exhaustion is a real danger on this ride, especially during the summer months. We'll tell you how to recognize the signs of heat exhaustion and what to do to prevent it.
Staging gas and food throughout the ride is crucial, especially if you're riding with a group. We'll show you how we plan our stops and what we pack in our bags to keep us fueled up.
Bike preparation is also essential for this ride. You don't want to be stuck out in the middle of nowhere with a broken-down bike. We'll show you how we prepare our bikes for the BBTR and what tools and spare parts we bring along.
Finally, conditioning is key to completing this ride. You need to have a certain level of fitness to tackle two hundred miles of off-road riding. We'll tell you how we trained for the BBTR and what exercises we did to prepare.
So, if you're planning on attempting the Big Bear Trail Ride, we encourage you to take what we've learned to help you finish this grueling ride. It's an epic adventure that's worth it.