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AJ DeLauder

@ajdbike

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Probably busy doing a long ride, being with my family, or eating too many cookies.
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Cannon Hill lookout was a highlight for many Mountaineer Monster riders, but you don’t have to do the full route to reap the rewards of this climb. This short but steep climb from Rowlesburg offers the best viewpoint around and is a great option if you’re short on time and high on stoke. If you’re looking for more, this route is part of 6.2, which adds a higher and more rugged circuit above the lookout before circling back down to climb up to Cannon Hill Park. Consider riding the Mountaineer Monster Grand Depart in October! The 275 and 465-mile routes both include this out-n-back. Cannon Hill gets its name from events during the Civil War. During the Battle of Rowlesburg in 1863, Union forces fortified the hill to protect the strategic Baltimore and Ohio Railroad from the assault of over 1,000 Confederate soldiers. Union troops positioned cannons atop Cannon Hill, a defensive effort that helped prevent Confederate forces from disrupting vital supply lines. Today, Cannon Hill is a historic site and park with a pavilion and lookout over the strategic Rowlesburg junction. There are two gates on the grassy doubletrack road up to the lookout, and bikes can pass around their edges. Remember these gates when you’re flying back downhill through blind twists and turns! https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48653837
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Wanna go for a ride with the Snallygaster? This 72-mile route links up a series of small towns in eastern Preston County (Terra Alta, Albright, Kingwood, Tunnelton, Rowlesburg, and Arboy) and celebrates the area’s local cryptid, the Snallygaster. The Snallygaster was first reported in Maryland in 1908, but was later seen in many locations regionally. This flying reptile, with a long, metal, bloodsucking beak, steel-like claws, a single eye, and a 20-foot tail, was known for attacking people, drinking their blood, and stealing chickens and children. At one point, the Smithsonian offered $100,000 for its capture. In 1932, its offspring reportedly surfaced with “octopus-like tentacles” and was sighted numerous times before being drowned in a vat of moonshine. In 1982, the state of Maryland put the Snallygaster on the endangered species list. Natural and cultural highlights along this route include the Cranesville Swamp, @screechowlbrewing, the Cheat River in Abright and Rowlesburg, Kingwood, and Tunnleton’s historic railroads and rail trails. After climbing up Lantz Ridge from Rowlesburg, and if timing allows, the Carriage House Bakery is worth stopping for a well-earned dessert, just ten miles from the ride’s end. Parking, lodging, and food exist at multiple parts of the loop; check the POIs for all the options. Consider planning your ride out of the @cheatfest in May (Albright), the @prestoncountybuckwheatfestival in September (Kingwood), or the Chestnut Festival in Rowlesburg (October). If you like this route, be sure to check out @ajdbike’s @snallygaster.bikepacking 200, a bikepacking race covering this and much more terrain in the area.
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Community is what makes bikepacking special! Private aid stations and crews aren’t allowed in bikepack racing, but a mutual aid station is fair game! Travis Olson (@mountainrideswv), Race Director of @gruskwv, came up to Preston County and set up an aid station at Mile 29. There isn’t much resupply on-route between the start and Terra Alta (70 miles on the long routes) or Masontown (74 miles on the short route), so the food and drink is much appreciated by riders.  The aid station came complete with the “monster trap” - a luxurious chair where riders could rest their bones, but often found it hard to summon the will to leave. Photos by @dennypry @prycreativeco
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The Mountaineer Monster Grand Depart is one month away! We are stoked to see y’all riding around North-central WV, challenging yourselves, and looking for cryptids. Riders will roll out of Chestnut Ridge Park at 7:30a on October 25th. We have three epic routes - 110, 275, and 465 miles - and a cryptid-themed scavenger hunt! Register at the link in our bio, and we’ll send over the Rider Packet with all of the information for the event. If you have already registered, remember to sign up for tracking with @followmychallengeusa! Rental trackers need to be ordered by 10/15, so don’t delay!
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The Snallygaster 200 (@snallygaster.bikepacking) is next Saturday, 9/13! Created by @ajdbike, it is the next race in the @wvbikepackingseries! Looking for something similar but shorter? Our day route “Snallygaster Stomping Grounds” is great day ride option looping out of Terra Alta, WV, and it shares a few miles of gravel with the bikepacking course! The route comes in at 71.8 miles with 7,424ft of gain. The route links up a series of small towns in eastern Preston County (Terra Alta, Albright, Kingwood, Tunnelton, Rowlesburg, and Arboy), presenting an all-day excuse to frequently explore, swim and get a snack or bite to eat.  The northeastern edge of this route along the Maryland border is tied to the Snallygaster, a legendary flying reptilian with a long metal bloodsucking beak, steel-like claws, a single eye, and 20-foot tail. Its name came from German immigrants as Schnelle Geeschter, translated as “Quick Ghost” that would swoop down on unexpecting prey. The Snallygaster was first reported in Maryland in 1908, but later was seen in many locations regionally. It attacked people, drank their blood, and carried away unattended chickens and children.
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While we are gearing up for the Rocky Mountain Summit in CO & Ride Your Damn Bike Fest in AR, there are tons of great opportunities for bikepacking with friends in cooler weather this month!⁠ ⁠ 🚴‍♀️Ride to Valhalla Overnight with Out Our Front Door in WI⁠ 📅Sepot 12-15⁠ A 3-night Bike Camping Adventure⁠ ⁠ 🚵‍♂️Sky Camp - Point Reyes campout with RAR.Bay Area in CA⁠ 📅Sept 12-14⁠ Pack up your bike for a 3-day self-supported campout adventure⁠ ⁠ 🌳Snallygaster 200 Grand Depart in Oakland, MD⁠ 📅Sept 13⁠ 4th annual bikepacking event in western Maryland and Preston County⁠ ⁠ 🚴‍♀️Philly to Schwenksville with Bikeout in Philadelphia, PA⁠ 📅Sept 13-14⁠ A celebration of Philadelphia's beautiful trails⁠ ⁠ 🚵‍♂️Endless Mountains Grand Depart in Towanda, PA⁠ 📅Sept 20⁠ A multi-day self-supported race and touring event along the Endless Mountains loops⁠ ⁠ 🌳A Fierce Green Ride Grand Depart on El Lobo Lupus in AZ⁠ 📅Sept 26⁠ This ride is completely self-supported through the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest⁠ ⁠ 🚴‍♀️Craters and Cones Part Deux with Campfire Cycling in AZ⁠ 📅Sept 26-28⁠ Summer advanced bikepacking 3-day trip⁠ ⁠ 🚵‍♂️The Sand County Caress with Winnebago Bicycles in WI⁠ 📅Sept 26-28⁠ ~106mi over 3 days (2 nights) through the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge⁠ ⁠ 🌳Canada Tour with 718 Outdoors out of Montreal⁠ 📅Sept 26⁠ 8-day / 7-night self-supported bike camping trip⁠ ⁠ 🚴‍♀️Lost Sierra Overnight with California Travis, and Coyote Brush⁠ 📅Sept 27-28⁠ A self-supported ride through Plumas National Forest⁠ ⁠ 🚵‍♂️Do it Yourself Adult Overnight with Out Our Front Door of Chicago, IL⁠ 📅Sept 27-28⁠ A 2-Day Semi-Supported Bike Camping Adventure⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠Check out our Community Events Calendar (link in bio) for a variety of events taking place across the US and Canada.⁠ ⁠ If you are new to our calendar, we share community-focused, non-competitive bikepacking events from great organizations around the United States and Canada. ⁠ ⁠ If you host events, let us know - we would love to add them to the calendar so we can help more bikepackers connect!⁠⁠ ⁠ #bikepacking #bikepackingroots #community #communitybuilding #adventurebybike #diversifyoutdoors #bikecamping
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2 Months until the Mountaineer Monster Grand Depart! Rider Packets were sent out two weeks ago, filled with loads of information on the course, race format, and more. If you have any questions or did not receive the packet email, please send us a DM. If you haven’t registered for the Grand Depart, it’s not too late! We have three distances to choose from - 110, 275, and 465 miles - and there’s also an option to participate in the Cryptid Scavenger Hunt! Register at Google Form linked in our bio. In order to participate in the Grand Depart, you need to register a tracker on @followmychallengeusa before October 23rd. If you don’t have a tracker, you can also rent one from Follow My Challenge. Tracker rentals must be submitted by October 13th.
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The @wvbikepackingseries continues next month with the Snallygaster 200! The Grand Depart leaves from the Oakland, MD Town Lot at 7AM on September 13th. To register, head over to @snallygaster.bikepacking for all the links! Designed by @ajdbike, this amazing and difficult route goes through 4 of the 7 state parks in Garrett County, runs the entire length of the Meadow Mtn Trail, scoots around the rim of the Blackwater Canyon, visits countless gorgeous and forgotten dirt/gravel roads in Preston County, including Peddler’s Glory, and incredible roads in the north of Garrett County. Best of all, there are a ton of towns and gas stations along the way for resupply and plenty of places to camp. Not to mention, you’ll always be within an hour of Oakland, so if something goes terribly wrong, getting a ride back to the start won’t be a massive pain! There are two route distances to choose from: Snallygaster 200 Route: Total actual distance: 197.1 miles Total elevation: Approx. 22,000 ft. of climbing. Surface type: 65-70% gravel/dirt/rural roads and 30-35% actual pavement. Snallygaster 100 Route: Total actual distance: 104 miles Total elevation gain: Approx. 12,000 ft. of climbing
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🍁Looking for a bikepacking trip during peak fall foliage? Join us for the Mountaineer Monster Grand Depart on Saturday, October 25th at 7am. 📒The rider packet, full of route, resupply, and other information, will be released later this month. Make sure you’re registered for the Grand Depart (link in bio!) in order to get the Rider Packet sent directly to your inbox.  🚵‍♀️The 2025 Grand Depart of the Mountaineer Monster has 3 route options to choose from: 465, 275, and 110 miles. The 270-mile route rides through the best and chunkiest gravel that Monongalia, Preston, and Taylor counties have to offer. Race during the Grand Depart or tour it with friends - either way, we want you to register! 👀stay tuned for more details about the Cryptid scavenger hunt that will be happening during the Grand Depart! Have questions? Drop ‘em below or send us a DM!
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The @wvbikepackingseries continues tomorrow with @gruskwv, but if you can’t make it to GRUSK, there are two more bikepacking races to enjoy later this fall! The Fourth Edition of the @snallygaster.bikepacking 200 rolls out on September 13th at 7am from the Tiny Corner Bike Shop. The route is designed by @ajdbike, and there is also a 100 mile option! Rounding out the series is our very own Mountaineer Monster 465! Designed by @dplandis, the route loops out of Chestnut Ridge Park on October 25th at 7am. There are two shorter options for this Grand Depart - 110 and 275 miles. Register at the link in our bio to stay up to date and get receive the Rider’s Packet in the coming weeks.
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Happy West Virginia Day! Good luck to all the mountaineers brave enough to take on @hillybillyroubaix tomorrow! 
 #westvirginia #happybirthday #gravelbikes #gravelroads #countryroads
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Expect it all on the toughest route in the regional network: Mountaineer Training Grounds! 💪 This epic 'figure 8' adventure packs in 6 climbs, chunky sections, and loose gravel that'll keep you on your toes all day long. Start with the southern loop, featuring Red Rock Rd, the Deep Space Network Earth Station, and a thrilling descent down Sanders Hill. Then take on the northern loop, pushing through the Calvert Shaver Climb, Fort Dawson, and Greggs Knob before tackling the legendary Songbird Hill—17% grade, anyone? 😅 Pro tip: If you’re feeling the burn, skip the final climb and save your legs with Saltlick Rd. And don’t forget to treat yourself at High Ground in Terra Alta after the grind, or try the infamous Chicken Balls at the Mountaineer Mart. 🚴‍♂️🔥 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46961561 #mountaineergravel #visitwv #visitmountaineercountry #almostheaven #GravelCycling #GravelBike #GravelRiding #GravelGrinder #GravelAdventure #GravelRoads #GravelRace #GravelJourney #Bikepacking #OffRoadCycling #ExploreByBike #AdventureCycling #CyclingLife #RideGravel #GravelCyclist #CyclingAdventures #RidingGravel #GravelCommunity #BikeAdventure #GravelVibes @visitmountaineercountry @wvtourism @wvgravelseries
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