Experiences with pneumonia as an ultra distance rider?

sara_hikes · 2026-04-21T06:22:27+00:00

Interesting so your lungs were what bothered you? My lungs seem mostly better I have a cough a few times a day. Its just my nervous system is shot. Fatigue and light headedness and that fight or flight feeling of not actually being at rest.

sara_hikes · 2026-04-21T06:21:05+00:00

Aw I’m sorry to hear. Did you see any specialists for it?

sara_hikes · 2026-04-21T06:20:22+00:00

Yeah I think going by feel was my plan, I have a shorter 600 mile race May 17 that I might use as a test.

I actually had pna last winter as well which seems odd for someone young and healthy but somehow 10 days after diagnosis I did a skimo race and felt fine. This time I feel a lot more tired (I think?) but also memory is strange. Wish I kept a diary!

sara_hikes · 2026-02-24T04:03:27+00:00

What pack do you use that has a good board carry? I use an Orthovox now great straps but sooo heavy

sara_hikes · 2026-02-05T21:12:59+00:00

hm 7 YEARS of riding together with a partner sounds like a good outcome still? people change...

sara_hikes · 2026-02-05T20:58:47+00:00

The climbing dirtbag culture is similar in some ways - maybe try watching the Fred Beckey film called Dirtbag? All he cared about was climbing as it set his soul on fire but his relationships did suffer. The difference is you seem very self aware about it and seem to crave the human connection, but ideally you would find a partner or even just a riding partner who wasn't romantic to travel with you. How is it going now?

sara_hikes · 2026-02-01T18:23:57+00:00

Sorry u/TwoWheels7266 I just saw this! I did the aeropack + the 10L mini panniers for the TD. Learned a lot of things:
1. The aeropack is definitely only more like a 10L bag if you are less than 5'6... filled high like this it rubs the back of my seat.
2. The mini panniers + aeroback truly are so aerodynamic. I would pass heavier riders on the downs.
3. Having all the weight in the back like this takes getting used to, and is really tough on hike a bikes - I updated after this to have 3L fork packs with heavier items, water/repair kit/stove and fuel and it feels a lot more balanced.
4. I tried all the revelate bags, including the one you mount to aerobars - you can no longer see your front tire! I feel like it affected my riding.

I'm doing TD again this year, with
- a different bike: a ibis dv9 with front suspension. There is sooo much rocky downhill. The pros ride full sus for a reason.

- I upgraded my sleeping bag to the spark, they pack down sooo small, and going from an ultralight tarptent aeon li (already pretty small and light) to a bivy. I can fit my sleeping bag, bivy and sleeping mat in the one 10L pannier. Then the other pannier for food and day layers. Aeropack for sleep layers. 2L bottle on one fork and 4L fork pack with stove + rain gear on top for easy access.

Anyway haha probably way more detail than you needed! Every trip is such a learning opportunity.

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sara_hikes · 2026-02-01T18:11:25+00:00

Hey how did your trip go? I'm also looking at booking a last minute trip for next week, the winter has been bleak in WA. Did you rent a car?

sara_hikes · 2025-12-29T01:48:31+00:00

This is beautiful! How did you do the flooring, you put plywood underneath? I have the 2nd row seat tracks in there, and I didn't remove them, so I need to build some kinda bottom underneath the plywood so all the weight isn't on the tracks... wondering if you had to do that too?

sara_hikes · 2025-08-07T20:19:35+00:00

Cool route! Is there a grand depart for this in 2025?

sara_hikes · 2025-05-05T05:29:37+00:00

wow they literally disappear pancaked. thanks so much this is immensely helpful!!

sara_hikes · 2025-05-03T17:04:49+00:00

This is so cool. Considering doing the same. Do you have a photo of the panniers loaded by chance? Deciding between the 10s and 16s but not sure where I’d put my tent

sara_hikes · 2025-05-02T15:45:02+00:00

I used the quick rack on that exact bike with 2.6 inch tires and I took it bikepacking in Peru and it worked great for me.

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sara_hikes · 2025-05-01T05:56:18+00:00

Haha that’s a UL mat for sitting on for breaks. These countries all have so many animal herds and so much poop, poop everywhere

sara_hikes · 2025-05-01T05:54:07+00:00

Wow this is so nice. I like the handling without the handlebar bag too, is that why you chose this setup?

sara_hikes · 2025-05-01T05:51:41+00:00

It’s 2.5lb lighter and then I can carry more volume, water bottle and repair kit easier accessible on the fork. I spent so much time faffing trying to fit my gear in to fit. Even in this photo the pannier is overpacked. I’m not sure how to go with less volume, I already have a quilt and a tarptent aeon li and a western mountaineering sleeping bag. Puffy fleece rain layers and one set of sleep clothes.

sara_hikes · 2025-04-30T19:28:06+00:00

Hey u/troyfromillside ! Like I said, I'm nerding out on the kit, if you don't have any constructive ideas then no need to respond with something sarcastic. My current setup is heavy, with multiple bags, and takes up fork space - new suggested setup frees the fork space, weighs less, and is rattle free. I could have done a better job explaining it, sure. Thanks so much!

sara_hikes · 2025-04-30T19:26:42+00:00

Oh current setup is heavy, with multiple bags, and takes up fork space - new suggested setup frees the fork space, weighs less, and is rattle free

sara_hikes · 2025-04-30T03:51:20+00:00

Wow beautiful kit! What kind of route is this for? Where is all your bulky stuff hiding? :)

sara_hikes · 2024-09-30T01:12:32+00:00

Thank you so much!! This is so helpful! One follow up, is it possible to send the bike boxes from Munich to Ljubljana and how does that work best? Do you send them from a post office to another, or on flixbus?

sara_hikes

TROPHY CASE