2026 Swift Campout with Let’s Ride Cyclery to Sawmill Campground (Lake Hughes, CA)

This year, I joined the Let's Ride Cyclery (Burbank) Swift Campout to Sawmill Campground in Lake Hughes. We took the Metrolink train to Palmdale and rode to camp. Total ride out was 37.5 miles with 4400 feet elevation gain. Most of that elevation gain was in the last 10 miles climbing up to camp in the Angeles National Forest. We got to ride along the aqueduct and had a solid head/crosswind for that entire stretch. That part was relentless.

I was NOT in shape for this ride and it was a huge struggle to get up to camp. I got a small sidewall cut during the climb with about 8 miles to go. The puncture would seal when I got off the bike and stopped riding but would leak once I started riding again. I forgot my plugs (I know you shouldn't plug a sidewall). I had tubes but really wanted to try to make it work. I found some tiny twigs and flower stems to plug the hole. I deflated the tire, inserted the twigs and reinflated. Then I spun the wheel puncture side down to get the sealant to seal. It actually worked, and even held up for the descent down the mountain the next day.

The forecast was 15mph steady winds with 25mph gusts. The temperature only reached 58°F, we were at roughly 5,200 feet elevation. This was my first year using a rear rack. I picked up an Old Man Mountain Elkhorn and loaded it up with S2S dry bags. My bike felt way more balanced than last year when I had nearly everything up front except for a 6L saddle bag. I also got to test my new Durston X-Dome 1+, and I’d say I liked it better than my X-Mid 2, mostly because of the smaller footprint.