Flyscout Ryder

03/15/2025

Riding Extraterrestrial-looking Land In Utah To Capitol Reef N.P. - Cycling Across America - S4 E31.
If you haven't seen what Utah can look like, you gotta watch this episode. It's a seemingly "out of space" experience. I leave Hanksville after camping in below 20 degrees and head to Capitol Reef National Park over this surreal landscape. I was waiting for a UFO to land and take me away at any moment. It didn't help that there was the rare vehicle passing by. After about 30 miles I reach the park and get my mind blown with its beauty. The Fruita Campground was great and set me up for a mid 3,000' climb towards Bryce Canyon National Park. This one ends with a (not) breaking and entering into a closed Dixie National Forest Campground waiting for a close to 0 degree night of camping.

If you haven't seen what Utah can look like, you gotta watch this episode. It's a seemingly "out of space" experience. I leave Hanksville after camping in ...

03/01/2025

Cycle Touring Utah's Magnificent Landscapes On My Way to Capitol Reef National Park - S4 E30.
With Moab behind me, I set my sights northbound to Green River where I camp at a state park for the night. The next morning I head Southwest towards Capitol Reef National Park, one of five national parks Utah happens to have. A low grade incline for way too many miles slows my progress. I end up camping in the town of Hanksville on a cold night with temperature of 18 degrees.

With Moab behind me, I set my sights northbound to Green River where I camp at a state park for the night. The next morning I head Southwest towards Capitol...

02/16/2025

Hiking Canyonlands National Park's Needles District - Cycling Across North America - S4 E29.
Utah's city of Moab had me abducted for close to a week. With Arches and Canyonlands National Park so close to Moab I was forced to stop cycling across the country and do my best to experience these natural wonders. After visiting Arches and Canyonlands' Island In The Sky District to the north of the city, I drove south on 191 for two hours to do some more hiking and see what the Needles District is all about. Needless to say, it was beyond my expectations.

Utah's city of Moab had me abducted for close to a week. With Arches and Canyonlands National Park so close to Moab I was forced to stop cycling across the ...

02/02/2025

Hiking Utah's Arches and Canyonlands' Island In The Sky - Bicycle Touring USA Docuseries - S4 E28.
I made it to Utah. On this episode I join up with my two friends, Jason and Cooper, to visit Arches National Park. We ended up hiking close to 10 miles and seeing most of the well known arches. There was lots of goofing around and laughing too. The next day I rent an SUV and drive the 35 miles to Canyonlands National Parks' Island in the Sky. This is one of the three regions that make up this National Park. Island in the Sky is one of a kind and a great start to my days in this amazing state.

I made it to Utah. On this episode I join up with my two friends, Jason and Cooper, to visit Arches National Park. We ended up hiking close to 10 miles and...

01/18/2025

Bicycle Touring Utah, Part I - Cycling All 5 National Parks - S4 E27.
With the Southern Rockies of Colorado behind me I set my plan in motion to see as much of Utah and its five National Parks during the next two weeks. But before I finish my first day crossing the border Im faced with the most challenging day of my 2024 tour yet. The Las Sal Mountains Pass was a challenge with heavy head winds and steady climbing towards the end of the day. Not to mention ending up on a freeway with hardly a shoulder in the middle of a pitch black dark night. How I managed to find an oasis of a stealth camp was a thing of wonder.

With the Southern Rockies of Colorado behind me I set my plan in motion to see as much of Utah and its five National Parks during the next two weeks. But be...

01/05/2025

Cycling Over the Southern Rockies On My Lynskey GR300 Ti Bicycle - Cycling Across America - S4 E26.
I start this next stretch from Ouray after riding the Million Dollar Highway and waiting on a snowstorm to pass by. The first day I attempt to reach the box canyon town of Telluride, but things didn't go as planned. As often happens, I had no idea there was a legitimate pass to get there. Dallas Pass is just short of 10,000' in elevation but it is no joke. By the time I got to Placerville, 16 miles from Telluride, heavy traffic and night time catches me off guard. Luckily I met a family that took me into their home. The next day and a half were absolutely perfect. The Southern Rockies are not forgettable.

I start this next stretch from Ouray after riding the Million Dollar Highway and waiting on a snowstorm to pass by. The first day I attempt to reach the bo...

12/22/2024

Spooky Cycling On CO Highway 550 - Few Guard Rails to Your Death - Bicycle Tour Across USA - S4 E25.
Colorado's Highway 550, between the Victorian Mining Towns of Silverton and Ouray, is also called the Million Dollar Highway. This is because of how much it cost to build it ($1M per mile) and/or because of its vast beauty. To get there I had to ride over Red Mountain Pass at over 11,000' in elevation during a snowstorm. This took lots of "getting going" but once I started from Silverton I entered my "happy place" and likely ended up cycled one of the top ten days of my life. The views of the San Juan Mountains were to die for, literally. The steep grade, few guard rails with crazy drops to your death were along the entire ride. This is one of the most dangerous roads in the United States for a good reason. You gotta watch this one and see.

Colorado's Highway 550, between the Victorian Mining Towns of Silverton and Ouray, is also called the Million Dollar Highway. This is because of how much it...

12/07/2024

Got My Butt Kicked Cycling Over Coal Bank and Molas Passes in Colorado - Cycling Across USA - S4 E24.
Two high mountain passes on Colorado's Highway 550 were in my path cycling from Durango to Silverton. Took close to 6,000 feet of elevation gain in just over 50 miles to get there. The scenery of the San Juan Mountains was spectacular and two sets of downhill action rewarded me plenty. Silverton, a Victorian Mining Town, is nestled in a canyon surrounded by giant mountain tops in every direction. This day was one of the most memorable of my tour across the United States.

Two high mountain passes on Colorado's Highway 550 were in my path cycling from Durango to Silverton. Took close to 6,000 feet of elevation gain in just ove...

11/23/2024

Unreal Landscapes Bicycle Touring Into Colorado's Southern Border - Cycling Across America - S4 E23.
New Mexico was exceptional but it's now time to cross over into Colorado with its massive mountains and endless beauty. This episode starts with a blue bird day on which I descend from Brazos Pass to Chama, New Mexico. The next day I ride to Pagosa Springs thru massive mesas and all kinds of varied landscapes. Pagosa Springs had me meeting, Jake, the owner of Pagosa Mountain Sports who helped me with my breaks. From there I cruise over to Durango with a mix of road construction, a little bit of tail wind, a lot of head wind, a sort of innocent Yellowjacket Pass, and crazy traffic towards the end. Oh, I also got lucky and happened upon some wildlife. Once in Durango I take a day off to document their awesome cycling infrastructure, the city, and the Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad Depot and Museum. It was all legit!

New Mexico was exceptional but it's now time to cross over into Colorado with its massive mountains and endless beauty. This episode starts with a blue bird...

10/12/2024

Spellbinding Scenery Cycling Over Brazos Pass During Fall - Bicycle Touring North America - S4 E22.
Now I'm deep into climbing and dropping on the Rockies and this one was far from easy. To get thru Brazos Pass you have to get in elevation and then keep constantly climbing and dropping over and over again up at the top before an insane 8.8 mile downhill towards Tierras Amarillas. The Aspen trees were in full fall color making for unreal scenery. This one is truly one of the most beautiful and toughest passes I have ever done.

Now I'm deep into climbing and dropping on the Rockies and this one was far from easy. To get thru Brazos Pass you have to get in elevation and then keep co...

09/28/2024

Stealth Camping My Way Thru New Mexico On My Lynskey GR300 - Bicycle Touring North America - S4 E21.
Route 66, Interstate 40 and the Great Plains are now behind me and my route is now heading to the first of endless passes on my way west. The first one is called The Mora Wall at 9,500 feet in elevation. It's one of many high passes in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. This range is the most southeastern section of the Rockies. The second pass is part of what is known as the High Road To Taos which goes from Santa Fe to Taos thru some unbelievable scapes. On my way I pass thru Las Vegas, New Mexico, where I stealth camp behind a gas station and again behind a New Mexico State University Forestry Research compound in Mora the next night. Lots of aspen trees and insane downhills on this one.

Route 66, Interstate 40 and the Great Plains are now behind me and my route is now heading to the first of endless passes on my way west. The first one is c...

09/14/2024

Digging Deep Cycling The Great Plains On My Lynskey GR300 - Bicycle Touring North America - S4 E20.
The last of three installments of Route 66 from eastern Oklahoma, thru the panhandle of Texas, and now northeastern New Mexico. The "West" is now in full effect with outstanding open scapes and golden grasses as far as one can see. The route is a mix of old Route 66 with its unique towns, Interstate 40, and its quiet frontage roads. I say good by to this iconic stretch of road and head north towards New Mexico's Sanger de Cristo Mountain Range.

The last of three installments of Route 66 from eastern Oklahoma, thru the panhandle of Texas, and now northeastern New Mexico. The "West" is now in full ef...

08/31/2024

Serious Wind Management Riding Across The 100th Meridian - Cycling Route 66's Great Plains - S4 E19.
The Lone Star State is next as I ride across the country for a fifth time. This is also where I finally jump over the 100th meridian and into the Great Plains. Texas proved to be a formidable state to cover on two wheels because of its "no joke" head winds. I learned all about why this state's panhandle, along with Kansas, Colorado, northeastern New Mexico and Oklahoma, were jointly coined "The Dust Bowl".

The Lone Star State is next as I ride across the country for a fifth time. This is also where I finally jump over the 100th meridian and into the Great Plai...

08/17/2024

Badass Times Cycling On America's Mother Road - Bicycle Touring Route 66 On My Way West - S4 E18
That's right, I'm on the Historic 66 and loving it. There is so much to see and it is plenty challenging. Continues rolling hills and inconsistent road shoulders with plenty of traffic make for alert riding conditions. Oklahoma City was plenty hectic and entertaining and I meet up with my friend, Mike. This episode is one of three covering Route 66 from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Santa Rosa, New Mexico. So buckle up and get ready to experience a bit of American history on two wheels.

That's right, I'm on the Historic 66 and loving it. There is so much to see and it is plenty challenging. Continues rolling hills and inconsistent road sho...

08/10/2024

Half Way Across the United States On My Titanium Lynskey GR300 - S4 E17.
Oklahoma is not what I expected. This is one of three episodes of the seven days it took me to get thru this state on my way to California. While visiting my fiends, the Gray's, I bailed hay, got my butt kicked playing Ping Pong, and eventually reached Route 66. This iconic road took me all the way to New Mexico, by the way. This one is not like the others...

LINK AND WATCH

https://youtu.be/2QCcyHlXRWY

08/03/2024

Broke The Law And Got Caught - Dealt With Stormy Weather - Bicycle Touring Across America - S4 E16
Yep, I once again and for the third time got pulled over cycling American freeways. This time on the Cherokee Turnpike in Oklahoma. The trooper makes me push my bike up a steep overpass. This led me to return to a terrible alternate (frontage) road with insane traffic and absolutely no shoulder. It all worked out at the end and I had another awesome day. The second day of this episode is stormy weather management trying to get to my friend's ranch. It got wet.
LINK BELOW

https://youtu.be/b_rFFBD9BvQ

07/27/2024

Stellar Cycling Infrastructure in NW Arkansas - Across America by Bicycle - S4 E15.
After crossing both the Ouachita and Ozark National Forests I take off from Fayetteville on my way to Bentonville on Arkansas' Razorback Regional Greenway. This 40 mile trail offers one of the most impressive cycling and multi-use trail systems I have ever experienced. It connect seven downtown areas, the University of Arkansas, 3 major hospitals, 23 schools, historical sites, neighborhoods, shopping areas, playgrounds, parks and lakes.
LINK ↓

After crossing both the Ouachita and Ozark National Forests I take off from Fayetteville on my way to Bentonville on Arkansas' Razorback Regional Greenway. ...

07/23/2024

Oldest & Largest National Forest in The South - Crossing America On My Lynskey GR300 - S4 E13
With 1.8 million acres, the Ouachita National Forest holds the Southern United States's crown for the largest National Forest. It is also the oldest being established in Dec 1907. On this episode I continue riding my bike on a quest to see all I can of Arkansas as I make my way across the United States. So far, Arkansas is blowing my expectations to shreds with its many beautiful campgrounds, well maintained roads, and endless natural beauty.

With 1.8 million acres, the Ouachita National Forest holds the Southern United States's crown for the largest National Forest. It is also the oldest being e...