Gravel Camp 2024
BASECAMP GRAVEL CAMP DETAILS
We are so excited to have you join us here in our hometown! We've been planning this camp for months, and we can't wait to share our favorite gravel roads with you. Some of you may be new to gravel cycling, and that's okay; we'll have a variety of riders here, from beginners to experienced cyclists. We have designed this camp to have something for everyone, and you'll have plenty of opportunities to learn from each other, as well as from our team of coaches. We are really looking forward to getting to know all of you and spending some time in the great outdoors. We're going to have such a great time!
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
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This is a learning and social camp! We'll have a variety of ride distances and paces, and our focus will be on learning, building skills, and spending time in community.
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Pennsylvania is not flat! Come prepared to climb, even on our shorter routes. When in doubt, go with lower gearing (1:1 or less) and wider tires.
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We'll also be focusing on social fun. It's always amazing to meet BaseCampers in person, and we hope everyone makes the most of this opportunity.
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We'll be camping together at the YMCA Camp Thompson. The camp houses scouts all summer longer, and the setup is a little rustic, but we think it's perfect for our gravel camp. Please note: There is limited cell/WiFi coverage in the area.
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We’ll be sharing meals together in the dining hall with food prepared by a wonderful team of caterers. There will be a variety of options with plenty of carbs and protein; however, if you have specific needs, we encourage you to reach out to us to ensure we have what you need or to make an alternate plan.
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Mechanical support will be a little limited, so make sure your bike is in good working order before camp. We can fix things, but the nearest bike shop is….far.
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We'll be riding on public roads, so please obey traffic laws.
We look forward to seeing all of you!
CAMP COACHES
Click on the coach photos to view bios!
Tim Cusick
Coach
Nathan Goates
Coach
Namrita Brooke
Coach
Jim Pomeroy
Coach
Tina Hart
Coach
Kae Takishita
Ride Leader
Scott Moninger
Coach
Camp Itinerary
Below is our tentative camp itinerary; keep in mind that times and exact scheduling will likely adjust as we get closer. Please note that we may also make additional changes during camp to account for weather or other factors. The coaching team will ensure everyone is up to date each evening. All activities will take place at Camp Thompson, and all dining and meeting locations are a short walk from the cabins.
Thursday, Oct 3
3:30-5:00 p.m.
Camp checkin and cabin assignment in the dining hall
5:00-7:00 p.m.
Welcome BBQ dinner
7:00 p.m.
Campfire and social fun
Friday, Oct 4
7:00 a.m.
Coffee and tea available in the dining hall
7:30-8:15 a.m.
Breakfast
8:30-11:00 a.m.
Skills and drills
Group photo
We plan to take a group picture at the end of today's drills session, so wear your BaseCamp kit!
11:00-11:45 a.m.
Lunch
11:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Rider meeting
12:00-4:00 p.m.
Group rides
4:30-5:30 p.m.
Education and Lauf demos
6:00-7:00 p.m.
Dinner
7:00-7:30 p.m.
Coach panel
7:30 p.m.
Social activities and fun
Saturday, Oct 5
7:00 a.m.
Coffee and tea available in the dining hall
7:30-8:15 a.m.
Breakfast
8:30-11:00 a.m.
Skills and drills
11:00-11:45 a.m.
Lunch
11:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Rider meeting
12:00-4:00 p.m.
Group rides
4:30-5:30 p.m.
Education and Lauf demos
6:00-7:00 p.m.
Dinner
7:00 p.m.
Social activities and fun
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Sunday, Oct 6
7:00 a.m.
Coffee and tea available in the dining hall
7:30-8:15 a.m.
Breakfast
8:30-9:00 a.m.
Rider meeting
9:00-11:30 a.m.
Group rides
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Snacks and cleanup
1:00 p.m.
Departure
LODGING
GROUP CABINS
Each cabin has four bunkbeds, two single beds, a small heater, a few electrical outlets, and one overhead light. These cabins are clean but very simple and rustic, and there are no bathrooms in the cabin. All cabins hold ten people, but we are limiting them to a maximum of six so that everyone gets a ground-level bed. We'll assign campers to cabins based on gender. Linens are not provided, so be sure to bring a sleeping bag or twin-size bed linens, blankets, a pillow, and a towel.
BATHROOM FACILITIES
There is one large bathroom building with women's bathrooms on one side and the men's bathrooms on the other. The bathrooms contain flush toilets, sinks, and individual shower stalls with curtains, similar to what you would find at a park campground. Make sure to bring a towel and (if desired) shower shoes and a hair dryer.
LOCAL CAMPING
Camp Thompson does not allow RVs or tents, but there is supported camping at Pine Grove Furnace State Park, less than a mile away from Camp Thompson (it will look longer on a road map, but there is a rail trail connector).
LOCAL HOTELS
For anyone who prefers to stay in a hotel, there are two good options within 14 miles of Camp Thompson:
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Downtown Carlisle: Comfort Inn
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Outside Carlisle: Mainstay Suites
RIDES AND ROUTES
This camp is a chance to learn and ride together. Our approach to teaching is a tell, show, do process, and this will guide our daily ride schedule. Mornings will focus on skill-building classes and demonstrations that will offer every participant the opportunity to learn from our expert team and then practice those new skills before we head out for a ride.
Our ride format is social and fun. This is not a hardcore training camp or a race; this is a weekend of building community while learning and practicing skills.
About Riding in Michaux
Camp Thompson is located in the Michaux Valley and offers access to numerous gravel roads. Our routes feature less than 15% paved surfaces, and the gravel is pretty smooth, mainly Classes 1 and 2. There are a few areas where things can get a little chunky, but these are rare and short. The terrain is challenging, and you should expect to see longer climbs (longer than 20 minutes), generally smooth descents, and rolling fast ridge roads. We typically average 1,000 feet of climbing in 10 miles, but we don't have much steep grade; expect grades to be between 4-6%.
Ride Support
We will have a mechanic's station set up at Camp Michaux with basic tools and floor, and our coaching team will be available to help you build your bike and get set up when you arrive, as well as before and after each day's ride. We'll also have CO2 cartridges available for donations or returns, and there is a hose and cleaning station nearby in case it rains and bikes need to be cleaned. While out riding, there will be one or two support/aid stations (depending on course length) on each course and a support car. Some roads are not open to cars, so make sure you carry what you need to repair flats and bike. Hydration and recovery mix will be provided by Fluid!
Coaching
There will be one to three coaches leading each route, depending on the number of campers riding. We encourage you to gather your friends, pick your course, and ride together. The rides will not necessarily be one big pack, so you can go at your own pace and have fun!
The Routes
Friday: Skills Day
Morning Skills Session
Today starts with campers breaking up into four groups and rotating through different skill-building sessions. Each session is an on-the-bike experience led by our experts.
Afternoon Rides
We’ll offer four different routes today. There will be three longer rides, ranging from 36 to 55 miles and from 3,000-5,100 feet of climbing. We'll also offer a shorter practice route for those new to gravel who want to stop on the ride and focus on skills (this route is TBD).
Saturday: Challenge Day
Morning Skills Session
We'll start with any specific questions from Friday's ride, then dive into more on-the-bike practice led by our coaching team. The focus will be on both strengthening and building upon the skills we learned yesterday.
Afternoon Rides
This afternoon we put all our skills into practice through a BaseCamp challenge! We've got three route options ranging from 25 to 52 miles so everyone can find the right level to push themselves. Whether you ride to complete or compete, we're all going to have some fun today. And yes, there will definitely be PRIZES!
Sunday: Funday
Morning Rides
Today might be our last day, but we're getting in one more great ride together! There are two route options, a 19 miler and a 27 miler, that should get us back to camp in time to shower and grab a snack before we head off.
BUILDING COMMUNITY
Thursday night is our welcome BBQ, complete with burgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, and all the fixings! Meet your fellow BaseCampers, sip a beverage (please keep adult versions hidden from view if a park ranger comes by), and enjoy the camaraderie!
Celebration
Each night we'll gather during and after dinner as a community. The coaching team has some fun activities planned, and we encourage everyone to hang out together and enjoy each other's company. Snacks and drinks will be provided; please feel free to bring additional beverages of your choosing (alcoholic or not) to celebrate! There is a fridge available to keep anything cold that needs it.
Bonfire
Camp Thompson offers a great bonfire ring with plenty of seating. As long as the weather is good, we'll be out at the bonfire at least one evening. Bring some layers to stay warm (a jacket and hat are recommended), and we'll provide the s'more fixings!
Music
Even though cycling brings us together, most of us have other hobbies beyond cycling. If you are a musician or singer, we would love for you to share your instrument or voice. We already have one returning BaseCamper who will be bringing his guitar and leading us in some music making, and additional instruments are welcome, regardless of your skill or talent level!
DINING and FOOD
We have hired a local caterer, Sarahjane Lopez, and her husband to be on site cooking and serving our meals. The menu is designed to be healthy and hearty, with lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, carbohydrates, and proteins. There will be meat and vegetarian options available for all meals, and we will also do our best to provide gluten-free and dairy-free options for those who mentioned those needs in our intake survey. However, we are operating out of a camp kitchen and do have some restrictions. If you have concerns, please email us ahead of time at info@joinbasecamp.com.
Camp meals include three dinners, three breakfasts, and two lunches. All meals will be served in the camp dining hall, with the exception of the first night barbeque. Sunday lunch is not included in the camp, but there will be snacks and leftovers available for those not leaving early. Between meals we are hoping to have leftover cookies, fruit, etc., available for snacking.
Water
The tap water at Camp Thompson is well water and has been chlorinated. We will also have bottled water jugs on site at the dining hall; we know how important fresh mineral water is to our campers!
Alcohol
Michaux State Forest prohibits alcohol on its properties, but it is allowed on the Camp Thompson property. We'll have beer and wine, and if you have a great local brewery and want to bring something local to try, please feel free. We'll have coolers for evening events, and there is refrigeration available in the dining hall.
YOUR BIKE
Since this camp is about learning, we don't need to set up our bikes for race speed. Here are our recommendations:
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Choose 40-45mm tires with some flat protection
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To be prepared to climb, ensure a range of easier-to-pedal gears; we recommend at least a 1:1 gear ratio to ensure you're comfortable with the back-to-back climbing days.
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Be sure to carry a repair setup; we will have support on the road, but it's better to carry repair supplies since we will be spread out. We recommend two Co2 cartridges, plugs, a tube (even if you ride tubeless), tire levers, a bike tool, and a basic patch kit.
Packing list
Packing
Each person is responsible to bring the items needed for enjoying camp, but here is a list of suggested items. Please note that there are no laundry facilities on site, so bring enough kits for the weekend.
October weather in Pennsylvania
Expect daily highs around 70° F, with temps rarely falling below 50° or rising above 80°. Expect nightly lows around 50° F, with temps rarely falling below 35° or rising above 65°.
BIKE PACKING LIST
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Clean and tuned bike
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Basic repair kit (see "Your Bike" section above)
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2-3 water bottles
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Hydration pack, top tube bag, and/or handlebar bag (all optional; there are aid stations, but you may want extra space for snacks or layers)
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Garmin head unit or similar
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Garmin InReach or similar satellite communication device (optional)
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All necessary electronics and batteries, including eTap or Di2 chargers, heart rate monitor and charger, and bike computer charger
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Extra batteries for devices
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Helmet
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Shorts and jerseys
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Arm and knee warmers
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Light wind vest
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Lightweight rain jacket and rain pants
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Lightweight base layers
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Socks
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Cycling gloves (short finger and long finger)
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Cycling shoes and (optional) shoe covers
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Eyewear/sunglasses
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Sunscreen
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Chamois Butt'r
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Ride food and drink mix
CAMPING CHECKLIST
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Sleeping bag or twin sheets with blanket
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Camp pillow
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Bath towel
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Camp chair
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Flashlight and/or headlamp
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Charging station (the cabins have limited electrical outlets)
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Multi tool or pocket knife
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Toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, razor, hair dryer, personal medications, ear plugs, eye mask, chapstick, lotion, etc.
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Flip flops
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Insect repellent
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Camp clothing (evenings might be chilly, so we recommend a sweatshirt, long pants, a rain jacket, and a beanie)
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Snacks and/or beverages
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Musical instruments
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Space heater (one is provided for each cabin, but feel free to bring a second if desired, as cabins can get chilly)
FACEBOOK GROUP
To better support everyone's preparation for camp, we have opened a private Facebook group for all coaches, staff, and attendees; click here to join the group and post questions there so everyone can stay informed.