Q&A with Bikepacker and Adventurer
Andy Stout of Adventure Lab in San Diego, CA
I literally crossed paths with Andy Stout out in the Anza-Borrego Desert. A couple of email exchanges later and one look at his website showed that he is a little on the humble side. The guy has done things on bike (and foot) few people do. Guide, bikepacker, and world traveler/adventurer, Stout is embarking on a new journey: assisting others in planning their adventurers. Based in his hometown of San Diego, CA, he can set you up with adventures in many corners of the globe, from the mountains here in the USA to those in Europe and South America.
Here’s a short unedited (his words as he wants them) Question & Answer with Andy that we did via email:
1. You guided for Trek Travel and Backroads, both well-known and highly respected for their bike tours. How'd that come about?
A family friend had recommended guiding because he had worked for Backroads and had really enjoyed it. So, I decided to give it a shot and loved it! I worked for Backroads for 4 years, and then decided to move over to Trek Travel for a year because it was more focused on routes and locations that were more challenging. It was a great 5 years, but I wanted to move onto something else in life. I met a lot of amazing people, and got paid to travel the world while helping others enjoy and learn about the outdoors. No complaints!
2. From that guiding experience, what are a few "tips" you can offer to someone thinking about their first overnight biking trip?
I would say to know your boundaries and plan accordingly for what type of environment you’ll be camping and riding in. Try not to overthink things, but also be confident in your equipment and gear. Also, always have a back-up plan and an emergency plan in case things don’t go as you expected.
3. Bikepacking. What was your favorite section of the Tour Divide and why?
The Great Divide Mountain Bike Ride was an awesome experience! But, the one single day that stands out to me was the Great Basin. It is a 130 mile stretch that goes from Atlantic City, Wyoming to Rawlins, Wyoming. There is very little water on the stretch, and there are no services. This day was on my radar from the very beginning of the ride so as I got closer I was able to anticipate it and plan accordingly. I decided to ride the entire stretch in one go. It was a long day, but very rewarding! I planned accordingly and everything went well (except for a flat 6 miles from Rawlins). I love a good challenge and this was definitely a big challenging day. All of the planning, research and build-up to this day was exciting.
4. Any moment out there when you thought, "why am I doing this?"
There were a few of these moments, but I think the one that stands out to me was the section going from Silverthorne, Colorado down to Salida, Colorado. I got hit with some wild monsoon‘s coming over Boreas Pass. The road turned to complete mud. The rain and sleet was coming in sideways. There was a moment where I let myself get frustrated and angry but then I was able to catch myself and remind myself of how lucky I was to be out there. You have to experience the rough to enjoy the smooth, right? The beer in Salida, CO the following day never tasted so good! If you go to Salida make sure to stop by Tres Litros for one of the best Hazy IPA’s ever made -- Clarity of Mind.
5. Of your numerous bike tours/trips, either guiding or your own adventures, where's a spot to put on people's radar that might not get much attention?
This is a great question and a hard one. I would have to say one of my favorite under-the-radar spots that I was totally caught off guard by was the Ozark Mountains. I was biking across the United States in 2018 to raise awareness for Glioblastoma (brain cancer) and covered so many different regions. I knew the White Mountains and the Rockies were going to be amazing, but no one had told me about how wonderful the Ozarks were. I didn’t know what to expect and I was completely blown away. The roads were great and the crystal clear rivers flowing through the endless lush forests are some views I will never forget.
6. What is THE one thing in your camp kit that if not in your kit would make the experience miserable?! (Bivvy sac/tent, warm bag, etc don't count!)
Ohhhhhhhh this is a hard one, but I would have to say: chamois cream, aka butt butter (I personally use DZ-Nutz Pro). I have heard from other riders that had to take Zero Days because of how bad their saddle sores were, but I never had to because of this magical cream. Sometimes your body just isn’t happy with you, and this definitely helps the undercarriage!
All photo credits are to Andy Stout.
Andy is offering to all MTBeer subscribers a discount code for his services. The code is ALAB2021 and it expires 3/31/21 at 11:59PM. To learn more about his offerings and adventures, check out his website here: https://exploreadventurelab.com/ You can see galleries of his adventures and you can click Trip Planning to get started on your next adventure.
Here’s his YouTube of How to Pack for the Great Divide Mountain Bike Ride:
Also, Andy will be doing a couple Intro to Bikepacking webinars for San Diego Mountain Biking Association on March 18 and April 1. You can learn about those here: https://www.facebook.com/SDMBA/