St. Lawrence
Bikepacking Triple Crown
St. Lawrence Bikepacking Triple Crown and Challenge
If one route is good, three is better! The three routes of this triple crown are all located in the drainage basin (watershed) of the St. Lawrence River.
The St Lawrence River starts at the outflow of Lake Ontario and traverses the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec, as well as the U.S. state of New York. These just happen to be the two provinces and the one state where the three routes are located.
This Triple Crown celebrates bikepackers who have completed three of the major bikepacking routes in northeastern United States and Central Canada.
Bikepackers looking for that extra bit of challenge and motivation will want to consider the St. Lawrence Bikepacking Triple Crown (SL- Bikepacking Triple Crown). With a total distance of over 2500 km, or 1550 miles, the SL- Bikepacking Triple Crown showcases some of the best riding in the Northeastern US and Central Canada. The SL- Bikepacking Triple Crown is centred around riding all three routes as either a lifetime achievement or as a challenge to complete them all in one season. While bikepacking is often practiced as a solo, pairs or small group activity, this page will allow riders to share their accomplishment with the broader community, which can be both motivating and fun.
Each of these routes showcase different regions in Central Canada and the North Eastern United States. As well, there is a natural progression in the level of difficulty of the three routes in terms of resupply, surface and elevation, so if you are starting the St. Lawrence Watershed Bikepacking Triple Crownfrom scratch you may want to consider doing them in the order presented. Of course if you are doing the SL - Triple Crown Challenge you will have to do them in that order. While you gain fitness over the season, you will need to gauge your effort to ensure you have adequate recovery between rides, which is part of the challenge.
St Lawrence Bikepacking Triple Crown- Lifetime Achievement
The BT700, the LDW, and TATR each have annual grand departs. Riders can complete the routes at the grand departs, or at time of their own choosing. Riders can take as many years as they wish to complete the SL- Bikepacking Triple Crown. There is no limit to the number of attempts to complete this feat. There is no timing required and there is no time limit for any individual route unless specified by the route developer.
To be included in the "Finishers List" riders must:
- Register completion (based on the honour system). Use contact form below.
- Complete each route as one continuous ride.
- Ride in self-supported manner, as defined by each route’s own website.
- Use the most current version of the route when riding.
Lifetime Finishers
Published in order of finishing. Place on the list may change over time.
- Norman Cowan, August 2020
- Mike Lepcevic, August 2022
- Jeff Mullen, August 2023
- Michael Feldman, August 2023
- Michael Roe, August 2023 (Record for "Oldest Rider" at 71 years)
- Jen Adams, September 2024 First Female Rider to Complete the SLBTC
St Lawrence Bikepacking Triple Crown Challenge-
Completed in one riding season
To be considered for the SL- Bikepacking Triple Crown Challenge all of the above conditions apply.
In addition riders must:
- Leave with the Grand Départ of each route. Note: In 2024 there will be no Grand Depart on the BT700. Riders should start their ride on the Sunday closest to the summer solstice, the traditional date for the Grand Départ.
- Provide evidence of completion from Trackleaders, RwGPS, or similar for each route.
- Complete all three routes in the same year (riding season).
- Stay in the same category for all the routes.
- An (*) beside a rider's name indicates that they have completed all the routes in one season, but did one or more routes as an ITT and/or changed categories. Regardless this is still a major accomplishment.
While completing all three routes in a season is a major feat and is the main objective, a Fastest Known Time (FKT) will be recorded for each category. Riding the routes at the grand departs allows for a better basis of comparison as the weather and route conditions are the same for all riders. For this reason, riders who complete one or more of the rides as an Individual Time Trials (ITT) will have “ITT” beside their total time. Rides counted towards an FKT must be in the same category.
Categories will include female, male, undisclosed; geared, singlespeed, tandem, etc. ; either solo or in pairs.
Challenge Finishers
- Michael Feldman, 2023 FKT, First rider ever to complete the SLBTC Challenge! Sept. 2023 Total time: 16d 16h 16min (TATR 6d 11h 16m, LDW 4d 16h 50m, BT700 5d 12h 10m). Male, solo, geared.
- Michael Roe, Sept. 2023. Total time: 31d 8h 32min (BT700 8d 3h 47m, LDW 8d 10h 59m,
TATR 14d 17h 46m) (Oldest Rider on record: 71 years). Male, solo, geared. - Jame Rath, Sept 2024. Total Time: 10d 11h 52 m (BT700: 2d19h57m LDW: 3d10h14m TATR: 4d05h41m) Male, solo, geared.
Some history from the Bikepacking.Net website:
“Background on the triple crown challenge: THE FIRST TRIPLE BIKEPACKING CROWN.
The triple crown challenge was dreamed up by bikepacker David Goldberg in 2012. It is to complete the three classic dirt bikepacking events in one calendar year: The Arizona Trail 750, Tour Divide and The Colorado Trail Race. This is a huge undertaking, both in terms of total time spent pedaling and especially managing the short recovery time between the events. Kurt Sandiforth was the first to complete the challenge in 2012 and set the benchmark for the fastest time.
It is understood that all efforts should be undertaken as a part of the Grand Depart of each event. ITTs of all three are respectable (and still happily documented here), but not considered a full triple crown challenge completion."
Disclaimer:
- This is not an official event, nor is it sanctioned in any way, there is no insurance. there is no entrance fee, and there is no prize for finishing.
- All riders are solely responsible for their own safety and security along the routes including, but not limited to, ensuring they carry sufficient nutrition and liquids and get adequate rest.
- Riders must recognize that there are inherent risks in this undertaking including injury and death.
- These routes incorporate multi-use trails, off-road trails and on-road riding. All cyclists are responsible for their own safety, must use both trails and streets with caution and do so at their own risk.
- Each route should be evaluated by each individual cyclist based on their level of experience and comfort level in cycling on trails and roads.
- Riders need to consider weather conditions, time of day, and any road obstacles when making their decisions to ride.
- Always wear the proper safety gear when cycling, ride sensibly and abide by all laws.
- This website and the associated Facebook page/Instagram account are only used as a meeting place and area for collaboration and information sharing. The Log Driver’s Waltz website and any and all others involved in the development of these routes do not assume any liability whatsoever for cyclists using this information and travelling upon these routes.
Have you completed the SL- Bikepacking Triple Crown or the SL- Bikepacking Triple Crown Challenge?
Send in your information and once verified it your name will be added to the list of finishers.
Thanks!