Dedicated to helping cyclists go further, do more and be prepared for anything, Blackburn Design releases The Great Basin Ridefilm. This is a new adventure story that highlights Ranger duo, Katie and Laura, and their experience bicycling through the expansive and lonely plains of Wyoming’s Red Desert.
This documentary-type film showcases the basin’s rolling hills, spartan features, and lonely terrain all wrapped into one inspiring bike adventure through the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Viewers are taken along the journey of two rangers as they quest through a section that has long been considered a formidable obstacle due to scarce water and fierce winds.
Good friends and former neighbors, Katie Hawkins and Laura Brigham promised one another they’d take on this biking adventure with high energy and fearless commitment. Although neither consider themselves pro bike packers, Katie and Laura set out on this journey with one goal: to morph all of their random outdoor skills into a successful ride of the Great Divide.
“I hope to share the enthusiasm that I have for biking and the outdoors with those on the Great Divide as well as those following from home. I hope at the end of this crazy “Canadian gone Mexican” adventure, Katie and I will leave with unforgettable memories, strong legs, sweet tan lines, and a bunch of awesome new friends,” said Laura Brigham.
They begin their journey from Banff, Alberto in August and one pedal stroke at a time made their way to Antelope Wells, New Mexico over two months later. Although challenging at times, their liveliness and unswerving mindset not only carries them to their destination, but also enriches their journey.
“I see this as a soul-searching adventure for 2 months. I want to be able to get away from my normal 6am-3pm job and be on an adventure that separates me from life’s distractions. I want to share my experiences with various biking communities along the route and hope to learn from them as well,” said Katie Hawkins.
Each year Blackburn recruits new brand ambassadors, nicknamed “Rangers” who embark on iconic cycling routes. The Ranger Program highlights these popular landmarks as well as the stories, adventures and obstacles the cyclists face along the way on their website.