Uphill Into A Headwind
LightNews LightNews
banner
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Uphill Into A Headwind
@intoaheadwind.bsky.social
53 followers 1 following 180 posts
No matter which way I go,
Conditions change to make it so;
I’m going uphill or into a headwind.
🚵🏼‍♂️

#BicycleTouring focused account of @bioalex.bsky.social.

#Cycling #Bicycle #BikeSky #BicycleTravel
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Uphill Into A Headwind @intoaheadwind.bsky.social · Jul 31
My 6th long bicycle journey has begun, so I guess I’d better start posting about it and making this account more active!

The current #BicycleTour is basically me taking a break from the grinds of capitalism & being a bicycling nomad until I find a place to stop.

#BikeSky #BicycleTouring
Reposted by Uphill Into A Headwind
bioalex.bsky.social
Still it seems to keep rebuilding that thick web coming out of the fork after daily damage from riding so it seems to be surviving well enough. But I’ll be a little sad when the day comes that the web stops getting rebuilt. 😢
November 12, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Reposted by Uphill Into A Headwind
bioalex.bsky.social
So, I seem to have a #spider of some sort living in the front fork of my #bicycle. I’m worried about it. Not because of any fear on my part, but because I think I may have picked this hitchhiker up as far back as Yosemite & I’m now in the Mojave near Vegas. It may die of dehydration. 😢
Photograph of where the front fork meets the body of a green bicycle showing a bunch of spider web around the fork and front fender over the front tire
November 12, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Reposted by Uphill Into A Headwind
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
I know I still have some catching up to do, including Searles Valley, Panamint Valley, Death Valley, & the ride to & from Tonopah, but I am rather excited that my #Fallout #NewVegas tour will start tomorrow with a route looking something like this.☢️🚵🏼‍♂️💪🏼
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #FONV
Screenshot from Mapy showing my bicycle route plan in the Mojave Desert around Las Vegas routing through most of the main places set in the game Fallout New Vegas
November 11, 2025 at 4:35 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
I know I still have some catching up to do, including Searles Valley, Panamint Valley, Death Valley, & the ride to & from Tonopah, but I am rather excited that my #Fallout #NewVegas tour will start tomorrow with a route looking something like this.☢️🚵🏼‍♂️💪🏼
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #FONV
Screenshot from Mapy showing my bicycle route plan in the Mojave Desert around Las Vegas routing through most of the main places set in the game Fallout New Vegas
November 11, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Reposted by Uphill Into A Headwind
bioalex.bsky.social
Fantastic thread on how to dress for cycling in cold weather, particularly useful for me as a bicycling nomad still looking for a place to stop for the winter & planning to chase the sun north to Alaska when Spring comes. 😎🚵🏼‍♂️👍🏼
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #Cycling
travtufts.bsky.social Travis @travtufts.bsky.social · Dec 2
In honor of my first <30ºF bike commute of the season, let's talk about how to stay warm in the 20s, 10s, and even 0s.

For years I biked for transit in Boston 9 months a year, pausing in winter – but one year I decided to just keep going. So can you!

Here are some tips 👇🏻, please share yours too!
November 11, 2025 at 4:07 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Back in the #MojaveDesert at last! I really love #cycling through the #desert, camping just about anywhere on the plentiful BLM land. Sure, I need to pay closer attention to my water consumption & supply, but there is surprising comfort among the rocks, sand, creosote, & sage
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
Photograph of the Mojave Desert from California 58 coming down from Tehachapi showing a plain of sand, sage, and creosote bushes stretching to hazy mountains in the distance under a blue sky with distant clouds Wide angle Photograph of the Mojave Desert from California 58 coming down from Tehachapi showing a plain of sand, sage, and creosote bushes stretching to hazy mountains in the distance under a blue sky and a bright sun with distant clouds Photograph of plains and hills of the Mojave Desert with sand, rocks, creosote, and sage under a clear blue sky Photograph of California Route 14 stretching through the Mojave Desert towards hills leading to Red Rock Canyon under a clear blue sky with a cliff of layered red rock off to the left
November 9, 2025 at 11:47 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
So, my next main destination after Tehachapi was pretty clear. I am incapable of passing through Tehachapi without making my way to Tonopah (& you better believe I’ll be doing Tucson to Tucumcari!). Especially since Death Valley is on the way. Desert, here I come!
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
Selfie of me on my bicycle wearing a lime green bicycle helmet, clear cycling glasses, a forest green buff, a lime green windbreaker, and a backpack, in front of a sign for Tehachapi Depot with the old train depot building behind it Photograph of the main road in Tehachapi lined with trees, flagpoles, and a water tower with Historic Downtown Tehachapi painted on it, under a clear blue sky Photograph of a sign reading Historic Downtown Tehachapi with an arrow pointing towards town under a clear blue sky Selfie of me on my bicycle wearing a lime green bicycle helmet, clear cycling glasses, a forest green buff, a lime green windbreaker, and a backpack in front of a sign for Historic Downtown Tehachapi
November 9, 2025 at 6:32 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Not many pics from the grueling climb up CA58 to Tehachapi, because I was too busy pushing my bike up ~1100m of elevation gain that turned out to be over 1500m total ascent. It was a long day, but I made it to a wonderful #Warmshowers host. 1/2
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California
Photograph of boulders among dried grasses on rolling mountain foothills under a bright sun and clear blue sky Photograph of boulders among dry grass on mountain foothills with a mountain rising out of the haze in the distance Photograph of the lights of Tehachapi under mountains silhouetted against the orange glow of the early morning sky
November 9, 2025 at 6:04 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
And it’s time for yet another rant about #Mapy #bicycle routing, this time courtesy of CA65. Bicycles are allowed on CA65. In the area of the oil fields near Bakersfield, all of the side roads are private oil company property dirt roads with No Trespassing signs. And yet… 1/
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
Screenshot from the Mapy.com app in navigation mode showing it trying to route my bicycle off the busy main road where bicycles are allowed onto unpaved private side roads, presumably to avoid high speed traffic Photograph of California Route 65 showing a broad shoulder stretching into the distance between desert oil fields under a clear blue sky
November 9, 2025 at 5:43 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Continuing down the San Joaquin Valley towards Bakersfield #California, the farmland and orchards gave way to desert and oil fields. Not the most pleasant scenery to ride through, but at least the road had a nice shoulder.
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
Photograph of oil derricks and power lines silhouetted against a blue sky and bright sun in the California desert near Bakersfield Photograph of a beige oil derrick on a rocky sage covered hill under a clear blue sky Photograph from the “cockpit view” from my bicycle looking down a wide shoulder of a black asphalt road between desert oil fields
November 9, 2025 at 4:55 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
From Teaford Saddle, I had a long downhill through North Fork, the center of #California, to the San Joaquin River. I was walking my #bicycle up the long climb on the other side when 2 guys in an SUV stopped & asked me how long I’d been traveling. I told them & they were so excited… 1/3
#BikeSky
November 9, 2025 at 1:49 AM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
After Yosemite, I passed a pleasant night at a #Warmshowers in Mariposa. The next day was rainy & nasty & my brakes weren’t stopping me very well. I camped in some National Forest land, & spent the following day there resting, drying out, & replacing my brake pads. Finally. After 4674km. 😅🚵🏼‍♂️
#BikeSky
Photograph of very worn bicycle V-brake pads from my rear brakes resting in my hand showing the wear of 4674 kilometers of hard travel. Photograph of very worn bicycle V-brake pads from my front brakes resting in my hand showing the wear of 4674 kilometers of hard travel.
November 8, 2025 at 11:56 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
As a bicycling nomad who has been living by the rhythms of the sun rather than the numbers on the clock, I laugh in the face of the time change!

Though admittedly, it will feel somewhat odd looking for a place to stop for the day when the numbers on the clock are around 16:00-16:30. 😅
November 2, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Reposted by Uphill Into A Headwind
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
At long last, #Yosemite thread 🧵.

On the climb up to Crane Flat on CA120, I crossed a mile of elevation again. Pretty nice view from up there looking northward.
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California

1/16
Photo of a Garmin Fenix 7 on my wrist showing the elevation and compass screen displaying the current elevation as 1613 meters above sea level Photograph of the forests and mountains looking northward on CA 120 at an elevation of 1 mile (~1609 meters) above sea level.
November 1, 2025 at 6:03 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
At long last, #Yosemite thread 🧵.

On the climb up to Crane Flat on CA120, I crossed a mile of elevation again. Pretty nice view from up there looking northward.
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California

1/16
Photo of a Garmin Fenix 7 on my wrist showing the elevation and compass screen displaying the current elevation as 1613 meters above sea level Photograph of the forests and mountains looking northward on CA 120 at an elevation of 1 mile (~1609 meters) above sea level.
November 1, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Reposted by Uphill Into A Headwind
bioalex.bsky.social
Look, this will get posted in due time on my @intoaheadwind.bsky.social account for #BicycleTravel when I get caught up there, but for the moment, I just want to say how thrilled I am to be #cycling through the desert & camping on BLM land again! 🚵🏼‍♂️👍🏼
#BikeSky
Photograph of a tent and bicycle in the Mojave Desert among the creosote bushes and burro bushes, and broomsage, with mountains lit be the setting sun on the horizon under a clear blue sky
November 1, 2025 at 12:39 AM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
I know I’m way behind, and I promise Yosemite pictures and points beyond are coming soon, but…

I’m about to leave Tehachapi, and Linda Ronstadt knows where I’m headed.
😁👍🏼

#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
October 31, 2025 at 3:43 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
PSA: if anyone ever wants to know which direction the wind will blow on a given day in an area I am #cycling through, simply draw an arrow from my destination pointing towards where I’m starting the day.😜

Really living up to my username today. 💨🚵🏼‍♂️
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #IntoAHeadwind
October 26, 2025 at 6:49 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
The climb up to Yosemite on CA120 was tough and ended up taking me an extra day. Especially the climb up New Priest Grade Road was rough (and Old Priest Grade would have been rougher as it was much steeper). Barely made it into Stanislaus National Forest after Groveland to camp. 1/2
#BikeSky
Photograph of the Tuolumne River stretching into the distance beyond foreground trees under a clear blue sky Photograph of a road sign telling drivers to “Turn off air conditioner next 5 miles”, presumably to prevent cars from overheating as they climb the steep big climb over that distance Photograph from the top of New Priest Grade Road looking back down over the valley of the climb, all under a clear blue sky Zoomed photograph from the top of New Priest Grade looking back down the valley showing the Tuolumne River in the distance
October 26, 2025 at 2:29 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Catch up time. 🧵

Last post was from Napa Valley. I went east over the mountains on CA128. Had some nice views and some tough climbs. Ended the day on a downhill to Solano Lake Campground. 1/5

#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
Photograph of a mountain top vineyard along California Route 128 under a clear blue sky
October 26, 2025 at 3:47 AM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
There were much better views of Napa Valley #California on my way down into the valley, but I didn’t feel like stopping on a fairly steep twisty road with no shoulders to try to get pictures. So we’ll have to settle for this view from the valley floor.
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
Photograph of rows of grape vines leading towards mountains in the background under a partly cloudy blue sky
October 13, 2025 at 7:00 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
If you’ve ever wanted to see huge chunks of obsidian, Bottle Rock Road from near Kelseyville to Cobb #California has seemingly been carved through an entire mountain of it!
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
Photograph of a large chunk of obsidian protruding from a dirt embankment
October 13, 2025 at 6:56 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Saw this pretty cool sculpture of an elk in a field just south of Laytonville #California. Sadly, have not seen any real elk on this trip yet.
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel
Photograph of a metal sculpture of an elk posed so it appears to be grazing on the low hanging branches of a tree in the middle of a field
October 13, 2025 at 6:46 PM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
And sadly, all good things must come to an end. Goodbye, Avenue of the Giants, perhaps my favorite route to #bicycle in the entire US. Hello again US101 with all of your truck traffic (but hey, quite a lot of wide shoulders!).
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California
Photograph of a wider part of the Eel River giving way to a broad far bank rising to a forest covered mountain under a clear blue sky Photograph near the end of the Avenue of the Giants with Forest on the left side of the road and the Eel River and more Forest on the right under a blue sky with a bright sun Selfie of me on my bicycle wearing a lime green bicycle helmet, a forest green buff, and a black tank top, looking sad because I’ve come to the end of the Avenue of the Giants. Photograph of the on ramp to US101 at the end of the Avenue of the Giants with signs saying Freeway Entrance US 101 on both sides of the on ramp
October 10, 2025 at 12:49 AM
intoaheadwind.bsky.social
Heh. As I was taking my phone off the QuadLock mount to take some pictures of the Avenue of the Giants, I accidentally pressed the photo button & got the first shot, which isn’t bad if you ignore my head intruding. 😅 Anyway, the Avenue is a magical place.
🌲🌲🚵🏼‍♂️🌲🌲
#BikeSky #BicycleTravel #California
Photograph looking straight up under redwood trees showing them towering up into the forest canopy beyond which is clear blue sky Photograph of the Avenue of the Giants between towering redwood trees Photograph of a huge redwood tree trunk in the foreground with towering redwoods in the forest beyond Selfie of me on my bicycle wearing a life green bicycle helmet, a lime green windbreaker, and my backpack. The photo is aimed upwards to show the redwood trees towering over me
October 10, 2025 at 12:36 AM