I plan on entering an EP and returning thru a different EP. Suggestions on securing my bike while in the BWCA. Plan on about a 7 day trip. Thanks in advance for any help or tips on this topic.

lay it down and chain in to a tree

quote mr.barley: "lay it down and chain in to a tree"

+1 And try to stash it out of sight. Maybe off in the woods or something. Secure it well, including the easily removable parts like seat and front tire.

I would use a part of the total area of the parking lot defined by me as anything within a 100 meter or so surrounding actual cleared space. I would take it out that distance down the coast and hide it under brush and tie it to a tree too. Very little chance anyone will see it as very few get into the brush/trees over 50 yards for any reason at the entry point. For absolute privacy, you may have to wait for others to clear out as they go or come in to the landing.

If the area around the parking lot is really open, you may have to expand your definition of the 100 meter zone.

If you prefer not to do that, I would change my plans to taking the bike to an outfitter who is willing to secure it for you while you are gone. A small fee would probably be involved for storage and or transportation to the entry point, but the peace of mind could be worth the time and money.

I'm just a little confused here. If you are riding a bike to an entry how will you get your gear and canoe there, if you are driving in why not remove the front tire and seat and and put the bike in the car. If you are worried about it being stolen out of your car, stop at an outfitter, give them a case of beer or a bottle of scotch and ask to leave the bike there.

quote mutz: "I'm just a little confused here. If you are riding a bike to an entry how will you get your gear and canoe there, if you are driving in why not remove the front tire and seat and and put the bike in the car. If you are worried about it being stolen out of your car, stop at an outfitter, give them a case of beer or a bottle of scotch and ask to leave the bike there."

I would assume that he is stashing his bike at the place where he is exiting on his trip. Then he will ride his bike back to where he left his car when he entered the park. Then drive the car back to the exit point and pick up gear.

There are some cool "loops" that can be had with this method. Snowbank to Lake One comes to mind. Bike portion would be minimal. One thing I thought of if it's a solo trip is leaving your gear unattended for the hour or so it would take to return. At the very least I would bring my paddles with on the bike portion if they're high end. You can always stash your packs in the woods. The odds of Canoe Country people jacking your stuff is slim but there's always that one person. One other thought. I would buy some crap bike at a garage sale, make sure it works, paint the entire thing matt green. Make it look so nobody would want it. This could be your designated BW bike

Our group has actually done this some years ago. Either with a runner or biker.
First we got a very cheap but functional bike for the Goodwill.

Next, take the canoes, people and gear to the "start", unload all but the bike, send one person with the vehicle and bike to the "end". Others wait and load canoes.

Leave the vehicle at the "end"and then bike, walk or run back to the beginning, Chain up the bike out of sight and if it gets taken, no loss. Cheaper than the shuttle.

This works best if the "start" and "end" are not too far a part by road.
As Blatz said, a modified "loop" route works well for this trick. Lake One to Snowbank, Moose River North to Little Indian Sioux North or even Moose Lake to Fall Lake.

Thanks for the responses, I do have a "junker" bike that I could use. Plan on doing a solo, going into Homer EP 40 and exiting Brule EP 41. Looks to be only about 1 1/2 miles from EP to EP - could probably walk it if I had to.

quote RLJ: "Thanks for the responses, I do have a "junker" bike that I could use. Plan on doing a solo, going into Homer EP 40 and exiting Brule EP 41. Looks to be only about 1 1/2 miles from EP to EP - could probably walk it if I had to."

If it's a mile and a half from one EP to the other, thats just a 30 minute walk. Won't it take at least that long for you to stash the bike in the first place?

I've stashed a kayak at an entry point when a miss communication with a buddy had him bring one.

I would not worry too much about stashing a bike. Just go off in a direction where there is no trail. Lock it up with it laying down in the brush.

Just remember the direction you went. :-)

I think I would be more worried about my canoe and gear left even for a short period before or after than about my bike stashed in the woods.

quote SevenofNine: "I've stashed a kayak at an entry point when a miss communication with a buddy had him bring one.

I would not worry too much about stashing a bike. Just go off in a direction where there is no trail. Lock it up with it laying down in the brush.
Just remember the direction you went. :-)"

If you have a gps maybe mark where you hid your bike!

I've considered doing this before. Last year I ended up using an outfitter on my starting day to go from my car at wood lake, to my kayak/gear at fall lake. The shuttle was arranged the day before and cost $20 through voyagers north outfitters.

I've left gear at an EP unattended for an hour or more and never thought about it. Are there any or many anecdotes of gear being taken unauthorized from an EP?

I've looked at that route before and we would much rather leave unattended gear at the Homer EP than Brule because of the amount or traffic. Homer is just safer in that regard, plus at Brule you get people bringing in kegs and camping more rough and rowdy than you would at a smaller EP like Homer. So you might want to unload and get ready your gear then drop off the vehicle and walk back. That would do 2 things, first you would not have to stash a bike in the first place saving time and reducing risk. Secondly you don't have to go get either the vehicle or the bike when you get back making easy to load up and head out.

Walking there is probably going to be the best choice. If you had several people and the bike was easy to toss in a trailer, or if it was further away, then I could understand doing it that way, but by yourself and a short distance like that would just be easier to walk. You also don't want to risk a wipeout on the dirt road. That road isn't exactly the smoothest, or all that flat. You also have to worry about cars on the road when everyone tends to drive down the middle.

quote pswith5: "

quote SevenofNine: "I've stashed a kayak at an entry point when a miss communication with a buddy had him bring one.

I would not worry too much about stashing a bike. Just go off in a direction where there is no trail. Lock it up with it laying down in the brush.

Just remember the direction you went. :-)"

If you have a gps maybe mark where you hid your bike!"

+1.

I'd just hoof it if it were me.

I do this all the time on the Echo Trail. This summer, I'll be putting in at EP 19 and coming out EP 16 (about 6.5 miles away). I've run it before, but biking is a bit quicker. Just lock the bike up in the woods with a cable combination lock (so you don't have to worry about a key) and you're good to go. Just be cautious on he gravel, it's easy to get loose along the edges of the road. Using a bike is a small price to pay for the added scenery of doing a loop versus out and back.

I did this on my solo entering at LIS South and exiting at Moose R. South. I stashed my gear at the EP and drove to the exit point and rode the bike back. I just chained my bike up to the sign in the parking lot. It was a beater bike, so I was more concerned with having to walk 8 miles than having the bike disappear while I was gone. It was still there when I got back.

I've done the bike shuttle from Stewart R to Angleworm (~5mi). Locked up out of sight in the woods. It worked well. Getting up on a bike after a long portage carrying a pack and a canoe- it feels like you're flying. It was my good bike, but pretty thick woods and hidden well at a seldom-used EP. Next time I'll probably cover it with a small tarp to keep it out of the elements, too.

quote Goldenbadger: "

quote mr.barley: "lay it down and chain in to a tree"

+1 And try to stash it out of sight. Maybe off in the woods or something. Secure it well, including the easily removable parts like seat and front tire. "

Ditto. Also, if you have a choice, I'd leave it at the lesser used entry. Moose River/Stuart River - I'd leave the bike at Stuart River entry. Fewer people to tempt. I've done this sort of thing before, and not had a problem. Plus with that particular trip the long portage is at the end. :) But depends on the trip you have in mind.

I have serious doubts that you would have any problems with fellow paddlers messing with your bike. I have found something of a mutual respect there. Older Bike...Simple Lock, Key, Stash. I would highly recommend stashing your key in the vicinity of the stashed bike.

I have serious doubts that you would have any problems with fellow paddlers messing with your bike. I have found something of a mutual respect there. Older Bike...Simple Lock, Key, Stash. I would highly recommend stashing your key in the vicinity of the stashed bike.