Epilogue: thank you for indulging my silliness in this thread. It was really cool to cycle across the “Mojave Wasteland” & see #FalloutNewVegas locations in real life. The Mojave around Vegas is stunningly beautiful! Since, I’ve crossed AZ into NM. I’m still behind on posts, but I’ll catch up.😎👍🏼

And thus having kept the mysterious chip for himself, the courier left the Mojave Wasteland to seek his own fortunes to the east. How he avoided Caesar’s Legion & all out war is a story for another time. Because war never changes. 25/25 #Fallout #FalloutNewVegas #FONV #BikeSky #BicycleTravel

At last, Hoover Dam. Still in NCR control, apparently. Things were calm, with no sign of Caesar’s Legions posing any threat. I’d thought about riding down onto the dam itself, but really didn’t want to have to make the climb back out. 😅 24/25 #Fallout #FalloutNewVegas #FONV #BikeSky #BicycleTravel

Beyond Boulder City, I approached Lake Mead. I was nearing the end of my journey through the #Mojave Wasteland. 23/25 #Fallout #FalloutNewVegas #FONV #BikeSky #BicycleTravel

After that long rest, I decided to forget Mr. House and keep the chip for myself. Having no other business in Vegas, I headed east to Boulder City, where I was able to stock up on supplies. 22/25 #Fallout #FalloutNewVegas #FONV #BikeSky #BicycleTravel

Apart from the #Fallout silliness, I really liked this Joshua’s Beehive Cactus we encountered on the hike. 21/25 #FalloutNewVegas #FONV #BikeSky #BicycleTravel

There was a pretty good view of Black Mountain as well. I’d thought about checking it out due to some weird radio transmissions, but rumors of super mutants kept me away. 20/25 #Fallout #FalloutNewVegas #FONV #BikeSky #BicycleTravel

While in Henderson, I went on a hike with my host, hiking up a nearby mountain to get a good view of the #NewVegas Strip & surroundings. 19/25 #Fallout #FalloutNewVegas #FONV #BikeSky #BicycleTravel

Needing a break from the road, I headed west into Henderson to meet & stay with a #Warmshowers host & see about upping some SPECIAL stats. (I actually ended up staying 1 1/2 weeks as they asked me to housesit for them). 18/25 #Fallout #FalloutNewVegas #FONV #BikeSky #BicycleTravel

Where Helios 1 is located in the game is a regular solar farm in real life. As I looked east towards Boulder City, there were rain showers. Alas, no sign of Veronica it the interchange. 17/25 #Fallout #FalloutNewVegas #FONV #BikeSky #BicycleTravel

The following day, I made my way north on US95, along with a decent amount of caravan traffic. Unfortunately, where I expected to find a motel & giant T-Rex statue, there was nothing. 😥 Still, nice views along the way. 16/25 #Fallout #FalloutNewVegas #FONV #BikeSky #BicycleTravel

The next morning as I waited for the rain to come, I was treated to a spectacular sunrise & a rather magical bit of rainbow caused by the sunrise on distant rains. The weather mods in this update are spectacular! 15/25 #Fallout #FalloutNewVegas #FONV #BikeSky #BicycleTravel

Looking back on Nipton, I couldn’t shake the feeling I’d avoided some terrible danger, so I pushed on. I avoided the rads and ghouls in Searchlight & turned north to find a place to camp & wait out some bad weather. 14/25 #Fallout #FalloutNewVegas #FONV #BikeSky #BicycleTravel

Nipton itself was dead quiet. I didn’t see a single soul or any signs of life apart from the cawing of ravens somewhere. Neat collection of old cars, tho. 13/25 #Fallout #FalloutNewVegas #FONV #BikeSky #BicycleTravel

The following day, I approached Nipton. Soon after I passed this sign & approached the railroad, a crazy person ran up yelling about how they’d won the lottery & then ran off into the desert. 🤷🏻‍♂️ 12/25 #Fallout #BikeSky #FONV #FalloutNewVegas #BicycleTravel

The southern end of Ivanpah Dry Lake was free of giant ants (& also BLM land😉) so I set up camp there for the night. Didn’t run into any weirdos ranting about star bottle caps. Maybe a bug in this release?🤔 11/25 #Fallout #BikeSky #FONV #FalloutNewVegas

I made it to the interchange with Nipton road where I could turn east, miraculously avoiding any radscorpions. There was a lot of caravan traffic on the long 15, & safety in numbers meant no problems with an hangs along the way. I appreciated the view of Helios 1 & moved on. 10/25 #BikeSky #Fallout

I briefly considered trying to take a short cut across Ivanpah Dry Lake, but then decided I wasn’t ready to tangle with giant fire ants. However, there was a convenient caravan stop, so I got some refreshments before continuing south on the long 15. 9/25 #Fallout #BikeSky #Mojave

To break character for a moment, this sort of blew my mind. Helios 1 is REAL?!🤯 Well, sort of. It’s in a different location than in the game, there are 3 collectors, & I’m pretty sure it’s not connected to a space laser. But still, how cool is the Stateline Solar Farm! 😎 8/25 #BikeSky #Fallout

When I reached the long 15, I turned south & made my way to Primm. I suppose I could have gone north for a shorter route, but I’d heard rumors of deathclaws that way (also, bicycles aren’t allowed on I-15 north of Jean😉). Didn’t want to get involved in the goings on in Primm so I pushed on. 7/25

I made my way out of Goodsprings, heading east & sticking to the road to avoid any geckos, bark scorpions, or coyotes. 6/26 #Fallout #FalloutNewVegas #FONV #BikeSky #BicycleTravel

There I ran into a rather mixed, well-armed, & well-armored group of folks. Nice to see such disparate folks put aside their differences! One of them, an NCR Ranger, gave me this chip an asked me to deliver it to a “Mr. House” on the New Vegas Strip. Not sure what that’s all about. 🤔 5/25 #Fallout

After I crossed through town checking for any skill magazines or other helpful items, I made my way to the Pioneer Saloon & Goodsprings General Store. I’d hoped to stock up on provisions but they weren’t open for business. 4/25 #BikeSky #Fallout #FalloutNewVegas #FONV #BicycleTravel

As I entered Goodsprings from the southwest, one of the first places I came across was the elementary school, all closed up & silent. Didn’t try to go in, because it’s probably just full of giant mantis nymphs. 🤷🏻‍♂️ 3/25 #Fallout #FalloutNewVegas #BikeSky #BicycleTravel

I’d approached Goodsprings from off the game map to the west, so I guess it’s not too surprising to find a texture glitch. Players really aren’t supposed to be there. Luckily, I managed to avoid the cazadors & caught my first glimpse of Goodsprings & the #Mojave Wasteland. 2/25 #Fallout #BikeSky

At long last, the #Fallout #NewVegas real life #Bicycle Tour thread 🧵. Buckle in! Fair warning: if you have not played #FONV, then a lot of what I say may seem like nonsense, so feel free to just enjoy the pretty pictures of the #Mojave near Las Vegas. Otherwise, enjoy!👇🏼1/25 #BikeSky #BicycleTravel

At long last, the #Fallout #NewVegas real life #Bicycle Tour thread 🧵. Buckle in! Fair warning: if you have not played #FONV, then a lot of what I say may seem like nonsense, so feel free to just enjoy the pretty pictures of the #Mojave near Las Vegas. Otherwise, enjoy!👇🏼1/25 #BikeSky #BicycleTravel

Alas, the web has not been rebuilt for several days now. There was a cold spell as I left Petrified Forest NP & headed southward to Show Low then west on US60 to New Mexico, & I think the freezing temps must have done it. RIP bicycle spider friend. 😢 #BikeSky #BicycleTravel

It’s a testament to my lack of route planning that I had no idea I was passing the #VLA today! 😅 So cool seeing all the telescopes move in sync as they tracked different targets. Love to see #science being done. Merry Christmas from the set of “Contact”!😉 #VeryLargeArray #BicycleTravel #BikeSky

Fun climb!

Alex enjoying the Petrified Forest

@intoaheadwind.bsky.social It was great to meet you Alex at the Petrified Forest National Park and hear about your Bike Adventure. Enjoy the photos and videos.

As a random procrastinating from getting my posts up to date (SORRY! Fallout New Vegas tour coming soon, I promise!) aside… New web is still getting put out every night, so I guess the #spider living in my fork is still alive! I’m glad. 😊 #BikeSky #BicycleTravel

Follow-up: crisis averted (for now). Had to rig it with a 1/4” bolt, nut, and washers, because for some reason the 5/16” bolt wouldn’t thread properly (I suspect the original part is the nearest equivalent metric & so just slightly off). Feels solid. Hopefully it will hold. #BikeSky #Cycling

This is a big long shot, but any cyclists or anyone at all really in the #Flagstaff AZ area able to help a long haul #cyclist out? Brooks saddle mounting bolt broke & now I can’t attach my saddle to the post. Desperately need a 5/16” bolt in Winona. DM me please🙏🏼 #BikeSky #Bicycle #Cycling

My next main goal was to make it near Las Vegas, though I had no intention of going into the city. Instead, my plan was to follow route that most players take in the game #FalloutNewVegas, starting from Goodsprings, around to Primm, Nipton, & Boulder City. 1/6 #BikeSky #BicycleTravel

After Death Valley, I headed east to Beatty #Nevada, there to turn north to make my way towards Tonopah. 1/3 #BikeSky #BicycleTravel

#DeathValley Thread 🧵 Climbing out of Panamint Valley up to Towne Pass was a brutal ~1100m of elevation gain. Or it would have been brutal, but a nice young woman from France saw me pushing my bicycle up the constant 6-7% grade & offered me a ride! 😅🥹 1/8 #BikeSky #BicycleTravel #Desert

#DeathValley Thread 🧵 Climbing out of Panamint Valley up to Towne Pass was a brutal ~1100m of elevation gain. Or it would have been brutal, but a nice young woman from France saw me pushing my bicycle up the constant 6-7% grade & offered me a ride! 😅🥹 1/8 #BikeSky #BicycleTravel #Desert

Climbing out of Searles Valley up to the Slate Range Crossing gave me a pretty spectacular view of Panamint Valley on the other side. 1/6 #BikeSky #BicycleTravel #Mojave #Desert #California

Passed through Trona (where I stopped for lunch & cold beverage that didn’t cut into my water supply) & made my way north about 2/3 of the way up Searles Valley where I stopped to camp. Some very pretty clouds over the Slate Range. 1/2 #BikeSky #BicycleTravel #Mojave #California #Desert

Continuing through the #Mojave towards Ridgecrest, #California, where I needed to really stock up at the last good grocery store for most of what I’d need to get to Death Valley. After that, I’d take CA178 over into Searles Valley. #BikeSky #BicycleTravel

Every single flat tire I’ve had on this trip due to an actual puncture (& not self-owns like pinch punctures or issues w/ Schwab’s tubes, etc) has been caused by little bits of wire from shredded truck tires on freeway shoulders worming their way through my tires. Every. Single. One. 🤬 #BikeSky

Still it seems to keep rebuilding that thick web coming out of the fork after daily damage from riding so it seems to be surviving well enough. But I’ll be a little sad when the day comes that the web stops getting rebuilt. 😢

So, I seem to have a #spider of some sort living in the front fork of my #bicycle. I’m worried about it. Not because of any fear on my part, but because I think I may have picked this hitchhiker up as far back as Yosemite & I’m now in the Mojave near Vegas. It may die of dehydration. 😢

I know I still have some catching up to do, including Searles Valley, Panamint Valley, Death Valley, & the ride to & from Tonopah, but I am rather excited that my #Fallout #NewVegas tour will start tomorrow with a route looking something like this.☢️🚵🏼‍♂️💪🏼 #BikeSky #BicycleTravel #FONV

I know I still have some catching up to do, including Searles Valley, Panamint Valley, Death Valley, & the ride to & from Tonopah, but I am rather excited that my #Fallout #NewVegas tour will start tomorrow with a route looking something like this.☢️🚵🏼‍♂️💪🏼 #BikeSky #BicycleTravel #FONV

Fantastic thread on how to dress for cycling in cold weather, particularly useful for me as a bicycling nomad still looking for a place to stop for the winter & planning to chase the sun north to Alaska when Spring comes. 😎🚵🏼‍♂️👍🏼 #BikeSky #BicycleTravel #Cycling