Filtering by Tag: Adventure Cycling
Controlled Chaos
Old City, Morocco -- Sony NEX-5 16mm @F/9.0
Celebrating the release of Bunyan Velo issue number 04, this is another shot from my Morocco bikepacking trip. A speeding Moped races down the narrow stalls full of people, vendors, goods and bikes. A crazy scene, which could be described as 'Controlled Chaos' is something that has to be experienced to be appreciated.
You can read about the trip in the current issue and then next week I will upload the full Photo Essay.
Fargo's, Fargo's, Fargo's -- Tis the season for Fargo's
At long last the 2014 Salsa Fargo's are really rolling out the doors. I know the non-Ti models have been shipping for a while, but now the Ti ones are hitting peoples doors. This means that a ton of cool Fargo Adventures are about to take place. As incentive to share your Fargo plans, I have a brand new Porcelain Rocket handlebar Pack (and possible another goody or two) that I will give away to the person who shares the coolest story of how they intend to use their new Fargo.
Stories must be shared on my Facebook page. If you don't have FB, then go ahead and drop a line here and I will share it with the FB audience. You must have a Fargo in possession or on order for this to be fair, so lets everyone play nice please...
Lets give it 30 days and then I will pick the winner. Have fun and lets share some stories.
Ok, 1,2,3 GO!
Handlebar bag will be black w/o the pouch -- Photo (c) Scott Felter
NAHBS Bound - 2 Weeks and counting
With the show being on the East Coast this year, I am going to make the pilgrimage down to Charlotte with the MM and a rented (Lensrentals.com as always!!) Fuji X-T1 in tow. I am looking forward to seeing all of the amazing creations from some fantastic frame and bike builders.
While checking out this segment of the bike industry is my main goal, a secondary effort will be spent evaluating the new Fuji X-T1. A camera that is really generating a ton of buzz and one that I feel could really make a great (rugged, weather sealed) bike adventure camera. I shot the Lost Coast trip with two Fuji cameras and a little Nikon V1 with mixed impressions. Both of those cameras had pros but a ton of cons. I am excited to see what Fuji has done and give it a real chance. I am really stoked to try out the WiFi component and do some live blogging while roaming the show.
After finishing up with NAHBS, I will head to the mountains of Western NC for some trail riding on the new Salsa Cycles Spearfish. I need to learn how to set the bike up to go tubeless in preparation for a run on the AZT in April. An area full of flat inducing Goatheads, I have to figure this whole thing out. Sooner or later, manufactures will make the whole process of running tubeless easier...
If you are going to be at NAHBS or out in those western regions of NC and want to connect, please comment or drop me an email.
It appears that the Fuji X-T1 is in stock at BH Photo with the kit lens, while the body only is still on 'Pre-Order'.
Winter Bikepacking in Alaska
My latest photo essay is now live from last years trip to Alaska. A two month tour of the interior by Fatbike. Read more about it at stories.glenncharles.pro
A special thanks - Salsa Cycles
Bikepacking Morocco - Salsa Fun Guy Green Gen1 Fargo
There are many things that change our course as we travel along the path of life. Some bigger than others and some more profound than others. As I sit here on my 51st birthday, I can honestly say that not many things have had as big an impact on my life as one bike and one bike company, Salsa Cycles and my Fun Guy Green Fargo.
For three years now I have lived passionately on one of their bikes, first the Fargo, then the Mukluk, and now a new Fargo and a Spearfish. Their bikes, their spirit and the people of that company embody the soul of Adventure by Bike. Something that I am trying to use as a mold for this life I am living.
I wanted to simply take this moment of introspection to share my gratitude to these people and their bikes and the support and friendship they have shown me. May the spirit of Adventure By Bike take you wherever you desire!
Two Months by Fatbike, Ti Mukluk - Alaska 2013
English Countryside, Gen 1 Fargo - 2011
Biking around the country, Gen 1 Fargo - Where it all started (c) Andrea Johnson
Touring the Gaspe Peninsula - 2012 Ti Mukluk
Fatbiking the Lost Coast, Ti Muk -- 2013
A slightly different perspective
My writeup of the Lost Coast is now live up on the Salsa Culture site. That has a few more words about the trip and what it meant to me and the others. Take a look and let me know what you think. I have mentioned it before and I will say it again, an epic set of coastline that I look forward to seeing again.
A couple of other pics, in color, to highlight the story:
Go Fish
Madagascar was the plan, but things change... Now, where to take the Fish?
Photo Essays
My Salsa Cycles Ti Mukluk and Porcelain Rocket bags struggle to keep pace with my skinny tired friends along the California Lost Coast.
I am really excited to start a new feature called Photo Essays. These will be image driven stories with a few words thrown in to help tell the tale. My first story is live now documenting my 500 mile Fat Bike journey along the famed California Lost Coast. Head on over and check it out here or by following the new 'Photo Essays' link on the left.
A bit of color
No matter what is going on in my life, an opportunity to get out on the bike is guaranteed to clear my head and my soul. Yesterday I put down the Monochrome and grabbed the little Nikon AW1 for our afternoon/evening ride. Unseasonably warm temps made for a wonderful ride along the back roads and the rough shoreline of the Bold Coast.
The AW1 is not a bad camera, with some nice features, but some of the 'usability' decisions that Nikon made, largely for underwater use, can make it a frustrating camera at times. As with all things, it is about tradeoffs; does the camera and its capabilities out weigh any issues, whether those be IQ or Useability related. Still, for just taking snapshots in all types of conditions, it is a nice little camera. Because of its weather and shock proofing, I am able to carry the camera on the Black Rapid sling as I ride and simply swing it around when the shot is at hand. I have a review coming on that strap setup which I really enjoy for active pursuits.
The Lost Coast - The Story Soon
Traveling the lost coast was like a trip back in time, rugged, remote, beautiful
Images and a few simple words -- coming soon....
An ode to TMAX
It was my favorite film to shoot during 'those' days. I don't know why, maybe the grain structure or the big dark contrast, or the way the blacks could really block up on you adding to that intense contrast .... I may actually never know, but in any event the TMAX look very much influenced the way I see B&W.
With B&W I can focus on blacks and whites and shades of gray, structure, form, shapes and subtleties. It becomes easier for me to tell the view exactly what it was that I saw and therefore, hopefully, easier for them to see what I saw. These 4 images from yesterday, developed in SEP using the TMAX filter and some of my own adjustments, were captured during my winter ride.
I brought the trusty Trangia with just enough denatured alcohol to warm up my Snow Peak TI pots and make a lovely cup of tea. It wasn't cold, but instead raw from the moisture in the air. Having a cup of tea as I sat overlooking the water was a fitting way to end the day.
Warmth in the cold Winter
A rare break from the Cold winter allowed us to get out on the beach for a ride in our late fall clothes. Warm air was a cruel reminder that we still have 2-3 months left of old man winter.
I purposefully shot directly into the sun using a 6 stop ND filter to give me the silhouetted images that added some impact to the lovely, but relatively flat light. The first shot shows how things looked with the sun coming over my shoulder. Nice, but not quite as dramatic as I was going for as can be seen in the last two silhouettes.
Two Fat Bikes, some snow, a good woman, and some Irish Whiskey
Oh, yea, don't forget the Leica Monochrome...
Follow Your Dreams -- Live Your Passion
Two months touring Alaska in mid winter on a Salsa Mukluk. I climbed this pass in hopes of finding a shortcut, only to realize that I was stuck. Just get out and do it because there are no guarantees.
May each and every one of you find the inner strength needed to follow your dreams and live your passions -- for it is only then that we are free and truly LIVING our lives.
Happy New Year
Self portrait, Denali National Park