Former World Tour bike racer turned professional gravel bike rider, Ted King is now an ambassador for the general sport of cycling. He does a little bit of everything that involves bikes, and is always looking for new ways to get more people to join him. Lately, he’s gone on some big adventures in all kinds of weather, covering epic miles in one push. And along the way he noticed that he’d like to travel the routes again, just a little slower. So King put together Ted’s XL’ent Adventure—a series of bikepacking events that will feature incredible routes and (hopefully) excellent company.

Just because the adventures are spread out over several days of riding and camping doesn’t mean they’ll be easy. The “Megahopper,” for example, will cover 414 miles with more than 43,000 feet of climbing in 4 days. The terrain is varied, with sections of smooth pavement, rough gravel, and questionable doubletrack. All of the trips require back-to-back big days in the saddle, carrying much of your necessities on your bike. There will also be refueling stops at shops and restaurants along the way.

So far there are 3 multi-day events, in California, Vermont, and the Pacific Northwest, spaced out from May to September. There aren’t a lot of rules, but King's website says, "Naturally, a group will spread out throughout the route. We therefore have predetermined overnight points where we will stop, set up camp, eat, talk, laugh, and learn."

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There are no fees or registration costs. No timing chips or the pursuit of an FKT. It’s not a race. The idea is to go on a really fun bike ride. King says, “Bikepacking is intriguing, exciting, and adventurous, but it’s not as easy as rolling out your front door for an hour long spin. Bikepacking takes us out of our comfort zone and presents a number of challenges.” It’s an opportunity for problem solving and community — not everything will go according to plan, but King is sure that, “as a group, we can lean on each other, learn from each other, and have an incredible experience with one another.”

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Micah Ling
Freelance Writer

Micah Ling is a freelance writer based out of Salida, Colorado. She splits her time in the mountains biking and trail running. Connect with her on Instagram and Twitter.