VIDEO: DEUX NORTH HUNT II
When Dylan and James invite you on a hunt, you know nothing before accepting the invitation. You keep your fingers crossed that your tires can handle the cobbles in the inevitable future, and prepare yourself for a hell of a good time. The agenda, route, and terrain are a mystery until the day before the trip. Maybe it’s a good thing. Hell, if they had told me how tough the climbs of HUNT 1 were going to be - I might have wussed out and declined the invitation. On both occasions, I’m glad I didn’t.

We spent our first day in the Adirondacks at the state fair: washing our locally famous baconburgers down with soft-serve maple ice cream while experiencing dueling demolition derby cars go at it like metal gladiators. But the real fun began the following day as we hopped on our machines to tackle the ascent that is Whiteface Mountain - an 8-mile hors categorie climb that has been compared by some to the infamous Alp d’Huez.

As I prepare my winter training agenda for next year’s road racing season, I thank Deux North for continuing to allow me to be a part of a project that reminds cyclists (including myself) to always remember to have fun on the bike, and never allow yourself to forget why you push your pedals to begin with. Here’s to camaraderie, friendship, and tailwinds.

Deux North Hunt 2 Trailer
“Hunt 2 was the first time we were cold in a long time. The temperature dropped nearly 20 degrees on our 8 mile journey up to the summit of Whiteface Mountain in the Adirondacks. The air at the top of that mountain left us shivering the sweat off of ourselves, and scattered around a picnic table with peanut butter & Nutella sandwiches in hand, the Deux North Hunters took a moment to reflect on the last 24 hours of hunt 2: a hallway sized van, a demolition derby, bacon burgers, maple shakes, passion, pouring rain, a remote campsite, a smokey fire, and a round of stories. The day combined 50 miles and 7,000 feet of climbing over the sometimes nearly impassable dirt and gravel roads of the Adirondack Mountains. From atop the summit we could see some 40 miles out, but we didn’t stay long. Stuffing our jerseys with local maps, and tourism pamphlets, we bombed down the washboard memorial highway, smelling burning carbon the whole way down.”

Glad to have been part of another Hunt with the boys from Deux North. Stay tuned for more photos, stories, as well as the full length video for Hunt 2!