{"id":23096,"date":"2020-06-15T17:00:43","date_gmt":"2020-06-16T00:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com\/?p=23096"},"modified":"2022-01-06T09:31:28","modified_gmt":"2022-01-06T17:31:28","slug":"bike-n-boats-how-to-bike-shuttle-your-sup-trips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2020\/06\/15\/bike-n-boats-how-to-bike-shuttle-your-sup-trips\/","title":{"rendered":"Bike-n-Boats: How to Bike Shuttle Your SUP Trips"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re reading this, there\u2019s a pretty good chance you\u2019re into rivers. Or lakes. Or the ocean. Doesn\u2019t really matter. I\u2019m a river guy these days, mostly based on geography\u2013I live in Missoula, Montana<\/a>. It\u2019s pretty far from the ocean, and three fantastic rivers converge within a few miles of its quaint downtown, making rivers the logical choice. I also think it\u2019s super fun to float down a river, whisked by gravity along an aquatic conveyer belt past diverse wildlife, multi-colored rocks, and verdant riparian forests.<\/p>\n

The only thing I don\u2019t like about rivers is that they require a shuttle. It\u2019s especially silly when only two people are paddling, like when it\u2019s just my wife, Chrissy, and me. Taking two cars always seemed wasteful and reduced the precious quality time that river trips (and adventures in general) deliver. Yeah, you can hitch, but that was iffy before the Coronavirus pandemic and pretty much impossible now. Fortunately, there\u2019s an easy and fun alternative to the dreaded two-car shuttle dance: the humble bicycle.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

My in-laws gave us a canoe as a wedding present and in the 15 years we\u2019ve owned it, more of our river trips have included a bike shuttle than not. But bike shuttling isn\u2019t just for rivers. Oceans have tides and wind, and most lakes I\u2019ve been on serve up plenty of wind as well. Setting a shuttle for a downwinder or a \u201cdowntider\u201d seems extravagant at best and annoying at worst, so ocean and lake paddlers end up battling wind or tides to return to their launch point. Bikes can broaden your access to ocean and lake paddling, allowing you to explore new areas and experiment with new routes. Plus, riding a bike is almost<\/em> as fun as paddling a boat, so you get two adventures for the price of one!<\/p>\n

Most rivers parallel a road\u2014maintained or not\u2014and those roads typically follow the river\u2019s gradient for the most part. That makes bike shuttling pretty convenient and often fairly painless. That being said, if you haven\u2019t been in a bike saddle for years, starting off with a 20-mile bike shuttle may not be the best move. Fully loaded trailers definitely make pedaling a bit harder, so it\u2019s a good idea to get a little bit of saddle time before you embark on a big adventure.<\/p>\n

Over the years, I\u2019ve (mostly) traded my canoe paddle for a SUP paddle, and I\u2019ve learned a few tricks that can make bike-shuttling less challenging and more fun. These tips are specific to bike-SUP shuttling, but they can be applied to pretty much any type of float trip.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Scout your route.
\n<\/strong>You don\u2019t necessarily have to drive the route you want to bike in advance, though you\u2019ll likely end up doing that anyway as you set up the shuttle. At the least, check out Google Maps, Google Earth, or some other online mapping platform to virtually scout the route and make sure it\u2019s a go. Sometimes, you\u2019ll find an alternative route on a less busy road that makes for more pleasant (and safer) biking. I\u2019ve ridden along some pretty busy and narrow highways that were frankly a bit terrifying. Finding routes with quiet country or logging roads is definitely preferable, but sometimes it\u2019s just not possible. A bit of online research may help you ID alternative routes that are more fun and safer.<\/p>\n

Be sure to wear brightly colored clothing and use bike lights if you\u2019re riding at dawn or dusk so that cars can see you. Always be safety focused.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Sort the logistics.
\n<\/strong>This goes hand-in-hand with \u201cScout your route,\u201d but it\u2019s worth mentioning specifically. Some trips are better for biking first and paddling second. Some are the reverse. Knowing which direction the river flows and how that jives with your driving route is key to efficiently setting up your bike shuttle. In general, you\u2019ll have to stash either your boat(s) or your bike(s) at one end of the route.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Depending on the trip specifics, you may have to double back and pick up one or the other when you\u2019re done. Example: you drive to the put-in, drop off your board and paddling gear, drive back to the takeout with your bike, bike back to the put-in, paddle to the takeout, and then drive back to the put-in to get your bike. Alternatively, you drive to the takeout first, drop off your bike, then continue to the put-in with your board, paddle back to your bike, bike back to the car, and then grab your board on the way home. If you map this all out in advance, you\u2019ll be able to plan the most efficient shuttle.<\/p>\n