Winter--we are so OVER IT, aren't we? Have you been holed up with too many screens and longing for the Great Outdoors? Let's make a plan to pedal into the green, green countryside, to unplug from work and beeps and tweets and chimes, to connect with people like ourselves who love nothing more than riding into the wild blue yonder under their own steam.
The robins at our feeders say that spring is coming! Here's a menu of warm-weather adventures on two wheels.
Pick a Trail Ride, Friends!
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May Trail Ride!
Birds & Bees Bike Ride
on the Wabash Trace,
beginning and ending in Council Bluffs, Iowa,
on I-80, I-29, and near the Omaha airport!
May 18 to 22, 2023
$225 ride entry fee
The Complete Invitation Letter Right Here:
Birds&BeesInvitation!
Register Right Here!
https://pkbelly.com/Birdsandbees2023
5/18, Check-in, 10-mile Nebraska option,
and/or 20-mile Taco Ride
5/19, 22 miles to Malvern
5/20, 22 miles to Shenandoah
5/21, 22 miles to Malvern, plus 44-mile Missouri option
5/22, 22 miles back to Council Bluffs
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Ease into your cycling season with 22 trail miles per day on the gorgeous Wabash Trace, a crooked 64-mile rail-trail, right in our back yard. Come spring, it will resemble a lush green tunnel, alive with wild flowers and birdsong to refresh your spirits!
A couple years ago, we finally realized a longtime dream, to introduce our happy cycling friends to our favorite trail, to the friendly citizens of its little towns, to the pubs and restaurants along the way. We'll throw in some foot-stomping local music on Pork Stage. Our Pork Crew is at your service. Join us, won't you?
Later, to those of you who sign up for the ride, we will publish details about food vendors in camp and arranged optional breakfasts in our campsites.
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ABOVE/BELOW: Classic Cafe in Malvern--delicious!
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Birds & Bees
Amenities Include:
- All trail user fees
- Camping fees in our reserved campsites
- 5 days cycling, baggage transport daily
- fresh-brewed morning coffee
- daily refreshment stop on the trail,
- charging station for phones and devices (e-bikes welcome, charging available),
- daily hot private shower and towel,
- cold beverages in camp (some free, some $1),
- live music on stage in or near camp,
- daily town maps,
- souvenir Birds & Bees t-shirt
- optional tent rental
- optional PHAT Room rental
- optional breakfasts in camp
- optional massage therapy
- our cheerful Pork Crew to serve you.
RIGHT: Shower stalls cleaned
after every use!
BELOW RIGHT: Ashley will be along on Birds & Bees to offer
massage therapy!
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ABOVE LEFT: Wildlife abounds on the Wabash Trace!
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Early June Trail Ride!
Big BAM on the Katy
West to east on the Katy Trail,
beginning in Clinton and ending in St. Charles, MO
June 5-10, 2023
(also offered in October, see below)
$450 rider entry fee, AND
see group discounts and 3-day options, too!
BEST BET? Enter Coupon Code "Porkbelly"
for $35 off your ride entry!
More Info and
Register Right Here!
https://www.bigbamride.com/
6/4, Check-in, Clinton, Missouri
6/5, 38 miles to Sedalia
6/6, 35 miles to Boonville
6/7, 49 miles to Jefferson City
6/8, 43 miles to Hermann
6/9, 34 miles to Augusta
6/10, 27 miles to St. Charles
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Every year, we at Pork Belly Ventures find more ways to work with Todd White, the producer of Big BAM on the Katy. He's a big part of our season. Todd cares deeply about your BBK experience, and he knows the Katy Trail like the back of his hand. When you click the link above, you'll see options: ride fewer days, rent a bike, sleep in a rental tent, a PHAT Room, or a hotel! Todd has you covered!
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Big BAM on the Katy is a fully supported ride that takes you through pastoral farmland, meadows full of wildflowers, and majestic forests--and it allows you to explore charming small towns. There's a reason why people rave about the beauty of the Katy--the old railroad tunnels, outcroppings of rocks, and even mountain goats and other wildlife along the trail. Here's more on what you can expect...
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- Any kind of tire will work on the hard-packed chat, from road tires to hybrids, to mountain bike or fat tires.
- Cross the Majestic Missouri on dedicated bike paths twice, once at Boonville and once at Hermann.
- Ride along bluffs and watch for eagles.
- Stop for a glass of wine or a cold one at wineries and breweries along the way.
- Visit some of the original train depot stations along the way.
- See a unique lift bridge, which raised to let river traffic pass under.
- An experienced bike mechanic will trail you on the ride.
- When you roll into the overnight town’s headquarters, enjoy a cold, free beer or other beverage.
- Enjoy music and a BAM party every evening.
- We shuttle you from your choice of where to park, at the beginning of the ride or at the end.
- The BAM crew will hand out free water, sports drinks, and snacks at an extra stop each day, in between trailheads or at the trailheads, depending on how far the next trailhead is.
- This is a ride, not a race. The Missouri Life staff have fun surprises and games planned at certain trailheads every day. (But you can still race forward if that’s the way you roll!)
- Explore small towns and dine all along the way. Towns on the trail cater to our BAM and other cyclists. We always alert all of the towns and every restaurant that we are bringing a big group.
- Questions? See FAQs at the Big BAM site, and if you have additional questions, call 573-514-5453.
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Late June Trail Ride!
Black Hills Hundred
on the incredible Mickelson Trail,
beginning in Deadwood and ending in
Edgemont, South Dakota!
June 25 to 29, 2023
$535 ride entry fee
The Complete Invitation Letter Right Here:
BHH Invitation Letter!
Register Right Here!
https://pkbelly.com/Blackhills2023JUNE
6/25, Shuttle from parking in Edgemont,
check in at our Deadwood campsite
6/26, 20 miles to Carsten Cottages
6/27, 33 miles to Hill City
6/28, 15 miles to Custer
6/29, 44 miles, mostly downhill, to Edgemont
(site of free long-term parking)
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Join us for our South Dakota trail ride with afternoon excursions by train and by coach into the hills, to Custer State Park, to Mt. Rushmore, and to Crazy Horse. The Mickelson Trail is among the most scenic in the country! For unparalleled scenic vistas from your saddle, for pretty campgrounds and nearby dining and entertainment, and for inclusions, this tour is tops!
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BELOW: Notice the upper left hand corner of this photo--a famous profile, part of the afternoon excursion from our Custer campsite!
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Later, to those of you who sign up for the ride, we will publish details about food vendors in camp and arranged optional breakfasts in our campsites.
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Inclusions:
- Trail user fees;
- reserved campsites right on the trail in lovely privately-owned campgrounds;
- daily baggage transport from campsite to campsite;
- refreshment stops on the trail on three cycling days;
- daily hot, private shower and towel;
- phone-charging and morning coffee in camp;
- catered lunch and dinner on June 26;
- catered breakfast on June 27;
- round-trip train fare and site-seeing tour with box lunch on June 27;
- half-day site-seeing with coach transport to Custer State Park, Mt. Rushmore, and Crazy Horse, with return coach transport to our Custer campsite (monument and park admissions included) on June 28;
- and the assistance of the able and cheerful Pork Belly Crew throughout the Black Hills Hundred.
We fully expect to have a bike mechanic and a massage therapist along with our crew.
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October Trail Ride!
Big BAM on the Katy
West to east on the Katy Trail,
beginning in Clinton and ending in St. Charles, MO
October 9-14, 2023
$450 rider entry fee, AND
see group discounts and 3-day options, too!
BEST BET? Enter Coupon Code "Porkbelly"
for $35 off your ride entry!
More Info and
Register Right Here!
https://www.bigbamride.com/
6/4, Check-in, Clinton, Missouri
6/5, 38 miles to Sedalia
6/6, 35 miles to Boonville
6/7, 49 miles to Jefferson City
6/8, 43 miles to Hermann
6/9, 34 miles to Augusta
6/10, 27 miles to St. Charles
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Every year, we at Pork Belly Ventures find more ways to work with Todd White, the producer of Big BAM on the Katy. He's a big part of our season! Todd cares deeply about your BBK experience, and he knows the Katy Trail like the back of his hand! When you click the link above, you'll see options! Ride fewer days, rent a bike, sleep in a rental tent, a PHAT Room, or a hotel! Todd has you covered!
Big BAM (Bike Across Missouri) on the Katy is a fully supported ride that takes you through pastoral farmland, meadows full of wildflowers, and majestic forests--and it allows you to explore charming small towns. There's a reason why people rave about the beauty of the Katy--the old railroad tunnels, outcroppings of rocks, and even mountain goats and other wildlife along the trail.
INCLUSIONS above--See June Big BAM on the Katy!
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Add A Little Luxury
with Pork Belly Ventures!
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Rental
Tents
Available
When you use our rental tent, our crew handles your set-up, take-down, and moving your bags throughout the tour. We're happy to place friends next to each other. Just be sure you have a common group name on your applications.
Check the cost of rental tents for your chosen trail ride. Two people can share and split the cost.
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PHAT
Rooms
Available
You unpack only once when you choose our PHAT Rooms for your accommodation on a
trail ride.
Rooms feature knotty pine interiors and laminate flooring. We provide mattresses, linens, and blankets. Charge your devices on outlets next to your bed. There are switched lights at the head of each bed, along with fans to circulate the air and provide white noise.
Rooms are air-conditioned: you can control the temperature in your room.
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Check the cost of a PHAT Room on your chosen trail ride. We recommend 2-4 occupants, but rooms can be shared by up to 5 sleepers.
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Rental
Bikes
Available
Rental bikes and e-bikes are available on PBV trail rides. They can be viewed on the payment page for the event!
For bike rental or e-bike rental on Big BAM on the Katy in June or October, please reach out to Todd at 573-514-5453 or katybikerental@yahoo.com.
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SOME FAVORITE
TRAIL RIDE PHOTOS!
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Optional breakfasts in camp, refreshment stops on the route, and more on your 2023 PBV trail ride!
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Got an RV?
Bring it along on either Birds & Bees or the Black Hills Hundred. See the invitation letters for more on hook-ups and reservations!
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Whatever suits your calendar and your fancy, we would love to have you join us on a spring, summer, or fall trail ride, where the rubber meets the limestone and where a new adventure is waiting. Which one is your favorite?
All our best wishes,
Tammy and Pete
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Pork Belly Ventures LLC
Tammy: 712.328.0161 h, 808-375-8921 c, tammy@pkbelly.com
Pete: 402-681-2613 c, pete@pkbelly.com
www.pkbelly.com
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