Not Normal Studios, the high-end cycling apparel brand that goes beyond convention to create an experience where adventure meets aesthetics. In this article, we explore "Dreaming of Yellowstone", a 1,325-kilometer cycling adventure through the world-famous Yellowstone National Park.
A photographic story by Adrian Schmith and Christian Beck. The original version is available ICI
Yellowstone as a source of inspiration
Travelling by bike is different from everything else. There's a satisfaction in pushing your body and soul miles for hours on end, from point A to point B. You're deprived of the convenience of automated travel. You continually feel the fresh air. You take in all the natural elements on offer. You discover much more than the region's famous tourist spots.
When you live in a flat country the size of New York State, I think you're naturally drawn to mountains and intrigued by wide open spaces and long distances. Fascinated by the grandeur of the American Rockies and the sense of no man's land in the West, our desire to go to Yellowstone was long overdue. We dreamed of Yellowstone, but ended up discovering so much more.
Our route would take us through Utah, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, taking in paved and dirt roads, small trails and sand, all the while surrounded by breathtaking scenery. At the end of September, we left Copenhagen, Denmark, for Salt Lake City in northern Utah, dreaming of Yellowstone. We spent eight days traveling a loop that exited Utah to the east, crossed Wyoming, highlighted Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, cut through a corner of Montana and descended through the plains of Idaho to Salt Lake. We covered 1,325 kilometers (830 miles) for over 50 hours. We sought out 2,500-meter peaks, found solitude on backcountry roads, greeted bears, bison and elk, and experienced the hospitality of the people of the American West. Transcending dreams, this was our Yellowstone adventure.
It goes without saying that traveling by bike in the U.S. is a great way to start conversations and generate interest. We've been lucky enough to meet many people from different backgrounds, all interested in our travels, our state of mind, our journey and our expectations.
1 week and 1,325 kilometers later, we concluded the trip of a lifetime. Dancing silly and laughing, we joked about the stupidity of riding 170 kilometers a day for 8 days straight as if it were some kind of vacation. Nevertheless, we knew we loved this trip to the bone. Travelling by bike is something so different, so good.
The Danish brand's iconic products are now available at Private Sport Shop.