Back in March, Kevin Williams was training for two 100-mile mountain bike races that he knew could get canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The 30-year-old Small Business Administration lender lives in Evergreen, Colo., and logging miles used to be as simple as hopping in his car to access trail networks. Over the past five months, he’s had to get creative with his workouts to stay flexible and safe due to both the virus and recent wildfires.
When the governor issued stay-at-home orders in late March, Mr. Williams committed to only riding straight from his door. Often this involves riding on less-trafficked dirt roads around his neighborhood, and even trails he finds less appealing.
Mr. Williams was registered in the open pro division of both races and was hoping to place in the top 20. He would normally see other riders on the trails and would use them to push his pace. He now had to find motivation from Strava, an app that uses GPS to track performance and shows how your times stack up with other cyclists.
Mr. Williams logs a trail ride on Strava.
Photo: for The Wall Street Journal“When you’re limited to only roads and trails out the front door, you find yourself competing with your neighbors,” he says. Mr. Williams owns a handful of KOMs, or King of the Mountain titles, in his area. In Strava-speak, that means he’s posted the top time on a segment of a ride.
He’s never ridden in person with his neighbor, Campbell Levy, but the two have become virtual competitors. “The first time I met him, he was wearing his Leadville 100 belt buckle,” Mr. Williams says, referring to the award given to those who complete the grueling 100-mile, high-altitude mountain-bike race in Leadville, Colo. “He has a swagger about him. We follow each other on Strava. If he logs a faster climb, I’m going out the next day to beat him.”
Mr. Williams says he got faster on the bike during early quarantine months, but when his races were canceled in May, he needed a new goal. “It’s always nice to have something to work toward,” he says. In late May, he and his wife, Erika Williams, started training to ride the Colorado Trail, a 485-mile path from Denver to Durango, much of which sits above 10,000 feet.
Mr. Williams has committed to riding trails he can access from his back door to minimize interactions with other cyclists and hikers.
Photo: for The Wall Street Journal“By summer, trails were getting more crowded for cycling and hiking and camping,” he says. “Bikepacking was a way for us to bike and camp and get further away from people.” Bikepacking is a type of bike touring that combines mountain biking with backpacking. Cyclists ride self-supported, filling bags on their bike with food, clothes and camping equipment.
Mr. Williams had to adjust his training to focus on endurance and efficiency versus speed. The couple departed on July 31, averaging 30 to 70 miles a day over 10 days. “We saw two to three people a day,” he says. “I feel lucky we’ve been able to get out in nature still.”
The Workout
Mr. Williams rides five to six days a week and has adjusted when, where and how he rides fairly dramatically in response to the coronavirus. “I have shifted my ride locations and schedule to make sure I entirely avoid or limit my contact with others,” he says.
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“I have found it isn’t an option to ride my mountain bike on the weekends due to trail congestion, so I’ve typically been slipping out in the evenings midweek to a trail network close to my house.” Mr. Williams has been working remotely from home, his days often starting at 6 a.m. “I get a little stir crazy,” he says. “Evening rides have been a good way to unwind and process the day.”
On weekends, he uses his road bike to explore gravel roads. He aims for 10 to 12 hours of saddle time a week. Large wildfires that broke out across western Colorado in July and August have affected the air quality. As a result, he says, he’s riding 20% to 30% slower and doing shorter rides. Instead of focusing on Strava times, he says he’s been enjoying mountain biking with his wife.
With races canceled, Mr. Williams trained to cycle the 485-mile Colorado Trail.
Photo: Benjamin Rasmussen for The Wall Street JournalThe Diet
Caffeine fix: “I drink coffee all morning but cut myself off at noon,” he says.
Quarantine indulgence: “My brother-in-law stayed with us for a few months and he is a professional chef in New York City,” he says. “He’d make me Vietnamese lettuce wraps with bacon, tomato, Sriracha sauce and mayo for lunch.”
Go-to weeknight dish: Homemade barbecue pizza.
Trail fuel: “When you’re biking up to 12 hours a day and carrying your own food, you need lightweight, calorie-dense nutrition,” he says. Trail butter, a mix of nut butter and trail mix, comes in squeezable pouches that deliver nearly 800 calories.
Essential Gear
Santa Cruz Stigmata Rival Build cyclocross bike: $3,600
Pivot Mach 4 SL Pro XO1 Build mountain bike: $7,000
Bikepacking 101
Bikepacking is a relatively new sport that involves going point to point on your bike and being fairly self-sufficient, says Ally Mabry, the resident bikepacking expert at the Adventure Cycling Association in Missoula, Mont.
“It’s like camping via bike,” she says. “And like camping, preparation is key.” Ms. Mabry says you don’t need a fancy bike or bags. She prefers gravel bikes, which are designed to ride on and off road. Because you’re carrying your supplies, it’s important to get used to riding a loaded bike.
“It helps to keep the heaviest stuff low to the ground and directly under you,” she says. “If you put the heavy stuff in a bag on the handlebars, steering feels uncomfortable, and if it’s in your seat pack you will feel the drag going uphill.”
She tries to keep the weight of her gear between 30 and 60 pounds. She always packs a repair kit and triangle reflectors in case she ends up on the trail or road after dark.
Newbies shouldn’t bite off more than they can chew, she says. “Saddle time is crucial,” Ms. Mabry says. “You want to feel confident you can go the distance and don’t underestimate elevation and altitude.” She urges bikepackers to ride with a buddy and to share their route with a friend.
What’s your workout? Tell us at workout@wsj.com
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