Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
Cass Gilbert
While Out Riding
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A Week in Mexico City Part 1: Makers
22 May 20 Cass Gilbert / field-tripsBased in Oaxaca for the better part of two years, Cass finally ventures to the metropolis of Mexico City to meet makers, ride with newfound friends, and get a taste of what this unexpectedly bicycle-friendly city has to offer bikepackers. Check out part one of this photo journal here…
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Chris and Amanda’s Ti Timberjacks: Work Hard, Play Hard
12 May 13 Cass Gilbert / bikesOver the winter, Cass was fortunate enough to receive two of his favourite and most prolific bikepackers as houseguests: Chris Campbell and Amanda Andros. As part of this informal “Let’s go for a ride” series, he joins them on the first day of the Trans-Mexico Sur to talk to them about their Ti Timberjacks, living within their means, and going where the wind takes them…
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Hammerhead Karoo 2 Review
52 Apr 29 Cass Gilbert / accessoriesThe Hammerhead Karoo 2 promises a gorgeously detailed display and a host of training features. But is this premium device also suitable for bikepackers riding on and off the grid? For this long-term review, Cass tries it out on extended bikepacking trips and day rides to see if it’s enough to tempt him away from his trusty Wahoo…
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Tailfin Cage Pack Review
19 Apr 28 Cass Gilbert / accessoriesFrom the minds at Tailfin in Bristol, UK, comes yet another option in the brand’s growing, modular and waterproof bikepacking range. The Tailfin Cage Pack is available in three sizes, from 1.7L to 5L, and features nifty Speed Hooks that take much of the fiddliness out of similar bag and cage style setups. Cass got the chance to check them out before their launch for this review…
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62 mi. / 100 km2 daysCuatro Venados Eco Overnighter, Oaxaca
3 Apr 21 Cass Gilbert Latin AmericaLooping out from Oaxaca's city centre to the mountainside settlement of San Pablo Quatro Venados, this dirt road overnighter uses a community-run eco-centre as its midway point, where camping, adobe-brick cabañas, and local fare are available. Bookended by the Zapotec archeological sites of Monte Alban and Atzompa and fluctuating between 1500m on the valley floor and 2800m in the Sierra Madre Sur, it's a dirt road route rich in history and biodiversity... -
Clandestine Green Lane Rouleur
13 Apr 4 Cass Gilbert / bikesBuilt for a potter in Bristol, UK, the Clandestine Green Lane Rouleur is a bike that aims to connect the byways, bridleways, and green lanes of the Bristolian countryside, in both style and comfort. Pi Manson shares the thought process that went into the bike, details of its countryside-friendly mudguards, and insights into the Cleland Cycles school of bicycle geometry that influenced its design…
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Giant Agaves and Permagrins on Oaxaca’s Micro Vuelta
24 Mar 28 Cass Gilbert / planAs Oaxaca’s eco centres open their gates to outsiders, Cass heads back into the mountains to re-ride a familiar route with new friends—and a dog in a trailer behind him. Doing so reveals that even in the height of the dusty dry season, the Sierra Norte remains awash with life, as long as you take the time to look around you…
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Cargodoggo: JC, Zaina, and Basquiat’s Omnium Cargo Bike
18 Mar 11 Cass Gilbert / bikesWe talk cargo bikes, Border Collies, and tree planting with JC, Zaïna, and Basquiat – aka Cargodoggo. Find out how Basquiat and JC found each other, how Zaïna’s identity as a BIPOC rider has shaped her newfound love of bike touring, and how the Cargodoggo team got into dogpacking. Plus, check out a gallery of their photos from the San José del Pacífico Grand Dirt Tour and glean sage dogpacking advice, should you be inspired to do the same…
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118 mi. / 190 km2-3 daysMeandros En Mitla, Mexico
10 Mar 4 Cass Gilbert Latin AmericaComplementing a growing body of shorter routes in the area, Meandros en Mitla is a three-day ramble through Oaxaca's Valles Centralles, connecting a series of dirt roads and trails between Oaxaca de Juárez and Hierve el Agua, a natural, waterfall-like rock pool formation with far-reaching views of the Sierra Norte. The route links some of the state's renowned culinary delights with Zapotec archeological sites, traditional markets, pottery workshops, and naturally dyed textiles, along with the world's stoutest tree... -
Cratepacking and Dogpacking with Huesos
32 Feb 16 Cass Gilbert / tipsNewbie dogpackers Cass and Huesos share their experiences – and experiments – in cratepacking. Read on to find out all the details of their current setup and those they aspire to, along with a selection of photos from recent dirt road rambles in Oaxaca, Mexico…
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45 mi. / 72 km2 daysExcursiones en Etla, Mexico
22 Jan 28 Cass Gilbert Latin AmericaExcursiones en Etla is a historical and cultural ramble complete with low-traffic rural terracerías, cross country mountain bike trails, delicious Oaxacan fare, a fabulous art centre, a brewery, traditional pottery workshops, and a Zapotec archeological site. If you're travelling from overseas and basing yourself in Oaxaca de Juárez, pair it with one of the longer routes on the site. Or, if you live in Mexico and are new to bikepacking, enjoy it as a standalone weekend ride with varied terrain, as well time on and off the saddle... -
Singletrack Dogpacking with Huesos: Packlist + K9 Sportsack Review
36 Jan 19 Cass Gilbert / gear-listsWhile fostering an abandoned pup rescued on a trail ride, Cass heads out with human and canine friends into Oaxaca’s Sierra Norte. Read on to discover Huesos’ tragic origin story, along with dogpacking tips, a packlist, and a mini-review of the K9 Sacks backpack used on the trip…
