https://www.sidetrack.cc/contact daily 0.75 2025-03-10 https://www.sidetrack.cc/faq daily 0.75 2024-10-10 https://www.sidetrack.cc/about-the-foundation daily 0.75 2020-12-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee262e2d8ca264c11db46d7/1599488236720-V9KI6E8BJOC10MMDJIPK/Logo_99%25ride_vierkantRGB_2.jpg About The Foundation - 99%RIDE Our goal is to maximize awareness of the plight of millions of children in third world countries and to fight this in a positive way. We raise funds for small-scale projects concerning children & education. We try to reach our goal by undertaking cycling expeditions in different parts of the world. In between our start and finish location we raise funds, create awareness, contact press and use social media channels to create a network of people with the same vision. We believe that even with the smallest contributions, immediate results can be seen. The 99%RIDE Foundation is officially established on May 30th, 2013 by Dirk Jan Spits, Samantha Sharon Soekhoe and Wouter Petrus van Eenbergen in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee262e2d8ca264c11db46d7/1599488726545-09SKGS7545AO4SWC8EVZ/c1ed6d12675a3f5358b10d27fee82da7aac1e6e1.png About The Foundation - Partner 99%RIDE has teamed up with 1%Club; the global crowdfunding and crowdsourcing platform that mobilises modern day society to realise smart ideas from people in developing countries. If we all share a little, we can change the world. By working together, thousands of people can be reached who can make a small or large contribution by sharing only 1% of their knowledge, time or money. https://www.sidetrack.cc/what-is-99percentride daily 0.75 2023-08-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee262e2d8ca264c11db46d7/1599644409020-P4WK53LJ0GZI1WG14ZYZ/Dirk+Spits+99percentride What is 99%RIDE? - Making a difference Engaging people to come together, help, educate and make an actual difference in children’s lives. Breaking the circle of poverty through education. Seeing it all come together is fascinating, heart-warming and life-changing. https://www.sidetrack.cc/the-gear daily 0.75 2020-12-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee262e2d8ca264c11db46d7/1599486356521-GM380INTUWTKM1Y0HY5B/1902895_10151943390427212_482652287_n.jpg The Gear - The bike What kind of bike did Dirk cycle on every day? What does he have with him and why? You don’t need the latest and greatest in gear out there to do a long trip. Just be sure you know everything works and that if it doesn’t, you know how to fix it and you have some spare parts with you. 99%RIDE has chosen for a chromoly double butted steel frame from the brand VSF Fahrrad Manufaktur, model TX400. Why steel? Because it’s comfortable, strong and durable. Also, in case something snaps there’s always someone in the world that can weld steel. That won't be the case with carbon and aluminium bike frames. The total weight of the bike depends on how much gear you’re hauling, food you’re storing and water you’re carrying with you. The base weight of the bicycle including the panniers and tent is around 40 kilograms. Add the water and food for multiple days and you will be looking at 50+ kilograms to push forward. Using SPD pedals and shoes make for very effective pedaling, as well as being able to walk on the same shoes you ride with, keeping the total weight a bit lighter, every gram counts! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee262e2d8ca264c11db46d7/1606837011617-AINDIV1YKK1OB4B4VNLU/DSCF9367-3112805242-O.jpg The Gear - Saddle The Brooks B-17 saddle is the ultimate in touring saddles. After breaking it in about 1000 miles (painful but worth it) your butt will happier by the day. It’s really comfortable and gets even more comfortable over time. Don’t forget to wax it now and again (also the under side!) to give it a longer lifespan and keep it waterproof. The red bear bell you see hanging at the bottom of the saddle is used when passing through bear territory, on this expedition is was, together with bear spray, mandatory as the first two months were spent in Alaska and Canada. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee262e2d8ca264c11db46d7/1599485069514-VTC914VKF4DQL6N8T1U0/DSCF9364-3112808986-O.jpg The Gear - Front hub The SON 28 front dynamo hub keeps the B&M front and back light lit, while also charging the battery pack. This is used to charge the batteries for cell phone and GoPro Camera, mounted on different places on the bike and helmet. It's really a joy to be able to use the dynamo, as it doesn't create a lot of extra drag or resistance (around 1%). It's also maintenance free, which makes it ideal for touring long distances. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee262e2d8ca264c11db46d7/1599486288798-DU6JGX9LTPM07EJUPUGK/DSCF9380-3112800972-O.jpg The Gear - Battery pack Essential if you are using your lights (even at low riding speed), charging your GPS, phone or camera batteries. Let your legs do the work, the battery pack is directly connected to the front hub and stores power. you can connect your USB cable to charge when necessary. Using a battery pack was particularly useful in remote regions in South America, where sometimes you wouldn’t reach a town or village for a few days. As a back-up, a solar powered powerbank was used, the WakaWaka. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee262e2d8ca264c11db46d7/1599486418201-0GF28392PQ19HXXJAQXI/DSCF9368-3112806832-O.jpg The Gear - Rohloff gear hub The Rohloff gear system is simply amazing; modern, durable, easy to use and very low maintenance. With 14 gears are housed in a beautiful hub, which only needs an oil change every 5000km (3000 miles). Self-contained gears mean less moving parts exposed to the elements, providing more reliability. The back sprocket needs to be switched around when necessary, the front chainring will generally last you about 14,000 kilometers. Rohloff will give you enough capacity for any type of terrain, wherever you are in the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee262e2d8ca264c11db46d7/1599486735740-XKWBU8GQKSZLQ042HLGX/DSCF9371-3112803763-O.jpg The Gear - Chain & crank The chain (preferably used) is a single speed from KMC. Tightening the chain is easily done with the eccentric bottom bracket. Be sure to switch between chains to reduce the wear on the sprockets. During the expedition 9 chains were used, broken and/or worn out. Mainly cycling in dry weather, dry lube was preferred to keep things running smooth. Yet many times a thick oil was used to keep going, especially in Central America where there were plenty of tropical rainstorms. The tyres used are the Schwalbe Marathon Mondial, EVO version. The ultimate in long distance touring. Dirk only experienced 14 flat tyres since he left Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. Looking at the total distance of 30.000 kilometers, the weight of the bike and the off-road mileage this is a fairly good number. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee262e2d8ca264c11db46d7/1599487309269-FC9LAWF1WSGQPJL0SXHY/DSCF9374-3112804109-O.jpg The Gear - Brakes Braking on the TX400 is strong and reliable, thanks to the Magura H-11 hydraulic rim brakes. Whatever the conditions are, these breaks will slow you down and safely stop you when necessary Be sure to have enough brake pads with you when going long distances, in wet weather the pads wear down a lot quicker! The wheels spinning are 26-inch. Why not 28-inch? In South-America there are (almost) no 28-inch wheels and parts. On 26-inch wheels you can carry more weight and ride on rougher terrain. Extra spokes and a spoke key are always good to have with you, better safe than sorry. Halfway the expedition all spokes were replaced in San José, Costa Rica. https://www.sidetrack.cc/sponsors daily 0.75 2020-11-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee262e2d8ca264c11db46d7/1599490944907-KNG7KBSB7EC2X1AWI4AH/Carl+Denig+NEW.jpg Sponsors - Carl Denig We our proud to have Carl Denig as one of our sponsors. They are supplying us with professional outdoor equipment necessary for this expedition. Carl Denig has been the outdoor specialist in The Netherlands for the last 100 years. They stand for experience and passion. They carry major brands, but also have a high quality brand of their own. They are consistent in quality and service. We are very happy to be working with Carl Denig, they are reliable, helpful and a good partner in this expedition to help people in Central & South America. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee262e2d8ca264c11db46d7/1599738433734-J26BYQYNWM2GAST7XC81/brunabruna_logo%2Bpayoff_1.jpg Sponsors - Bruna & Bruna From the very start of 99%RIDE Bruna & Bruna have supported us in multiple ways; creatively by making several logo’s and color schemes, financially and materialistically But most of all they support us by believing in our project, having faith in us and having patience. Helping with ideas, being there when we need them and listening to what we have to say. And for that we thank them!! Bruna & Bruna is a creative agency specializing in online storytelling. They invent and develop online media that support your story and actively disseminate. A trustworthy partner and sponsor for 99%RIDE. We are very proud to have them with us! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee262e2d8ca264c11db46d7/1599548450135-LUIGG9KS9L4VC1O9G2CR/kilroy.jpg Sponsors - Kilroy Travels KILROY is a company specialized in offering products and services tailor made for youth and students. They aim at assisting youth and students in exploring life through travel and education. Whether it comes to travel the world or education abroad their goal is to fulfill your dreams. Kilroy encourages young people to travel and see more of the world. The KILROY Group is one of the largest providers of travel and educational services in Northern Europe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee262e2d8ca264c11db46d7/1599548627931-P45FOIMPZ4Q74987C222/waka+waka+share+the+sun.png Sponsors - WAKA WAKA The WakaWaka Power is a solar-powered LED lamp and charger for smartphones and other handheld devices. Thanks to support from Kickstarter backers, the Dutch company Off-Grid Solutions (www.offgridsolutions.eu) was able to create the WakaWaka Power. Off-Grid Solutions supports the WakaWaka Foundation (www.wakawakafoundation.org); a NGO dedicated to bringing light and power to people in developing countries. 99%RIDE stands behind the mission & statements of the WakaWaka Foundation and is proud to be able to use a WakaWaka Power during the expedition from Alaska to Argentina. Dirk will be passing through some of the most remote regions of the world and will definitely benefit from the WakaWaka Power. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee262e2d8ca264c11db46d7/1599548862744-ECVRGBT0WREG3D9ZCZ2H/HI.png Sponsors - Hostelling International ”Hostelling International USA (HI-USA) is excited to host Dirk’s journey at our hostels throughout the western United States and to sponsor donation dinners for hostel guests with proceeds directly going towards the 99% RIDE fund.” HI-USA is a nonprofit organisation with the charitable mission to improve cultural understanding. Our hostels connect travellers from different countries and backgrounds and foster cultural understanding in our network of more than 50 quality, affordable, unique hostels nationwide. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee262e2d8ca264c11db46d7/1599639391480-492MK0WJX4K6ZER9PXDO/TGO-Uden.jpg Sponsors - TGO Uden TGO design-advertisement-printed matter based in Uden, The Netherlands helped us out with all our printed matter. Stickers, banners, magnet stickers for our car, t-shirts, you name it, they made it possible. We’re very happy to have you guys on board. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee262e2d8ca264c11db46d7/1599639617317-5O56R9XYYXB5LEK1INYB/Nature%27s_Path_logo.png Sponsors - Nature’s Path Nature’s Path is a family-run, passionately independent, sustainably-driven, deliciously-healthy organic food company that believes in “leaving the earth better than we found it”. Yes, that’s quite a mouthful, but they have a lot to say. So yes, sometimes it’s OK to talk with your mouthful. During the 99%RIDE expedition our rider eats between 10-14 granola bars per day. Being on the bike for 6-8 hours asks a lot, physically speaking. To give him the right energy we’ve received an awesome amount of delicious, organic granola bars (Certified Organic!) from Nature’s Path. Thanks again for the wonderful granola bars! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee262e2d8ca264c11db46d7/1599639746845-NMUISHR9PYGQP39RUHUG/CSC-Logo.jpg Sponsors - Columbia Sportswear Columbia Sportswear, one of the biggest and best outdoor brands there is if you ask us, keeps us warm and dry in extreme weather conditions. Columbia’s headquarters is situated in Portland, Oregon. We want to thank you guys for making our adventure much more comfortable on the rainy and snowy days this winter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee262e2d8ca264c11db46d7/1599639958495-0PP4X2698WX5ENM2A10Y/unnamed+%281%29.jpg Sponsors - Jan van Schooten Jan van Schooten has helped us out a great deal with some of the imagery we have. Next to that he has been a very generous donator for the 99%RIDE Foundation and has been a great supporter from the start of the project. Thanks again for all you support, Jan! Keep shooting great pictures! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee262e2d8ca264c11db46d7/1599641077355-NQRODVHTRQ0I5OKV9YQN/rip%2Bvan.jpg Sponsors - Rip van Wafels Rip wants to revolutionise the forgettable American coffee run. Rip van Wafels makes these delicious Dutch ‘stroopwafels’. We like Rips stroopwafels, they work as excellent cycling fuel for our rider Dirk. Rip likes that we are thinking adventurous and that we want to change something in this world. We are proud that Rip believes in what we are doing and that his company is an official 99%RIDE product sponsor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ee262e2d8ca264c11db46d7/1599738463508-F7B3OVTT8WTU9IL041WS/hbh_logo_1.jpg Sponsors - Team HBH Amsterdam From the first day the 99%RIDE project was announced, everybody concerned with cycling Team HBH from Amsterdam has been a wonderful support. Our rider, Dirk Spits, has been cycling with this great team for the past 15 years. Competing in national and international amateur races, Team HBH has proven itself multiple times on several occasions. From the famous ‘La Marmotte’ in France to the classic Belgium races like ‘The Tour of Flanders’ and ‘Liège–Bastogne–Liège. 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