u/Simple-Sea-1984

I was going to have my first overnight be a 40 mile ride out, but I had to rescale due to a last-minute (literally day of) acquisition. I finally got my first gravel bike. The elusive Ozark Trail G.1 Large Frame Drop Bar.

I literally picked it up after test riding it. Took it home switched all of the add-ons and parts from my M.2 Ridge. And immediately went out for a proper test run. In case it broke down, I kept it closer to my network. But I still did a 20 mile ride out to a winery, played some music during their open mic night then rode to my campsite courtesy of Hipcamp.

I finally got my hands on the elusive large drop bar G.1 thanks to six months of patiently watching Facebook marketplace.

I had to re-scale the 80 mile overnight ride that I had planned to take that day. But it was totally worth it.
Rode out 20 miles spend some time at an open mic night at a winery and camped overnight before going to a diner in the morning and heading on home

Now that the Midwest isn’t being roasted by the full concentrated power of the sun and isn’t being smoked out by Canada, I’ve acquired more gear and I’m ready to get out there! My 5 year old son helped me figure out the best way to get my travel guitar strapped in.

I’m still new to this, but it seems like the majority of helmets I see on people in this community. Don’t have that front plastic guard. Is there a functional reason for this? I always thought it was there for aerodynamics and to help keep the sun out of your eyes.

I’m new (1 month into training) and obsessed/committed to doing this for the rest of my life. The farthest I’ve gone so far is 24 miles but I’m getting stronger every day.

I don’t have much of a kit yet. I’m riding in cargo pants and steel toe boots. But I’ll get bibs eventually. For right now it’s not to unbearable.

What kind of additional storage moves should I make for my bike?