Hi! We’re Ian and Kaylee. In early 2018, we transformed an empty Sprinter cargo van into a cozy camper that we lived in for almost two years. We traveled across North America, bringing our tiny house along with us everywhere we went! Occasionally we ditched our four wheels for two-wheeled cycling fun. Since then we’ve been exploring the backcountry of Montana and the woods and waters of the upper Midwest. Where will our travels take us next?
Lake Superior Circle Tour
Taking on the world’s largest lake by bike
Traveling more is a common New Year’s resolution for many people. Every year, we use the New Year as a opportunity to reset and reevaluate our goals when it comes to living a life of adventure. We’ve got 21 ideas for New Years resolutions for travelers and vanlifers to make 2021 the best year yet!
The FINAL DAY of our Lake Superior Bike Tour! We did it! We biked around the world’s largest lake! We bike 106 miles from Kenton, Michigan, through Wakefield, Bessemer, and Ironwood. Across Northern Wisconsin on Highway 2, through the Kakagon and Bad River Sloughs, and finally back into Ashland, WI. Plus our tips for biking in heat and humidity!
While biking through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on our Lake Superior Circle Tour, we were for the most part away from the shore of Lake Superior, rolling through the deep forests and waters of the Northwoods. We started off Day 18 of our cycling tour on the Iron Ore Heritage Trail, passing through the mining communities of Negaunee and Ishpeming. Later we discovered the most “Yooper” bar in the entire U.P….you don’t want to miss it!
Sometimes you encounter the weirdest roadside attractions while bike touring. On our Lake Superior Circle Tour, we discovered Lakenenland, a quirky junkyard sculpture garden, while biking from Au Train to Negaunee, Michigan. We also spent time cycling on the Iron Ore Heritage Trail, visiting the Ore Dock in Marquette, and sipping craft brews at Ore Dock Brewing Company.
One of the best things about bike touring is trying local delicacies along the way. When you are in the U.P. of Michigan, you have to try a pasty! On Day 16 of our Lake Superior Circle Tour, we started at Luce County Campground, biked along the Fox River and through the Seney National Wildlife Refuge, passed through Munising, and ended our day in Au Train.
Finding the perfect gift for the cyclists in your life can be difficult. That’s why we wrote this guide with our favorite cycling gear for riding, commuting, and bike touring. These 21 gifts are sure to be things that will make a cyclists smile, but also gifts that they will actually use while biking. Our gift guide ranges from small gifts and stocking stuffers to bigger gifts for the cyclists you love.
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is full of picture perfect sandy beaches and roaring waterfalls. It’s a wonderful part of the Lake Superior Circle Tour, but bike touring on M-28 can be sketchy. See our complete route for bike touring through the Hiawatha National Forest, Tahquamenon Falls State Park, and the woods and wetlands of the UP. Plus our recommendations for a cheap campground for cyclists!
Bike touring is one the most exciting ways to travel. Propelling yourself with your own muscles is extremely liberating. You can travel farther than you can backpacking, but you also get a more intimate, slower experience than on a road trip in a car. Unfortunately, bike touring comes with it’s own unique problems and dangers, particularly if you will be riding on high-speed roads with narrow shoulders. Here are some steps you can take to stay safe while bike touring.
Your bike shorts are probably the most important item of clothing that you will bring with you on a bike tour. A quality pair of padded bike shorts can save you a lot of grief on long days in the saddle. We review Men’s and Women’s padded bike shorts and tights from Aero Tech Designs, and discuss some other strategies for avoiding saddle sores and pain when bike touring.
We tested out KÜHL men’s REVOLVR pants and women’s KONTOUR Skinny pants on a road trip through Western Montana. It’s often a challenge to find clothing that strikes a balance between being technical and attractive. KÜHL’s travel pants are designed to provide the versatility that you need so that you can take less clothing with you while traveling.