Cass Gilbert

Picture a pancake-flat world where $250 cargo trikes and BMX bikes with child seats rule the land. A place where a watery maze of underground rivers course below an extensive network of bike paths. Cass and Sage head out on a jungle adventure across Mexico’s version of the Netherlands, complete with Mayan ruins and magical sinkholes…

Cass slips his dusty traveler’s feet into a pair of Five Ten’s spacetrooper-style Trailcross Mid Pros. After a few months riding trails, bikepacking, hiking, and kicking around town, find out how this aesthetically divisive footwear fared…

Despite his ever-deepening crow’s feet, Cass ponders the subtle yet persuasive appeal of New Mexico’s magical light and sacred earth. Hypnotised by its empty dirt roads, he shares photos of the as-yet-unfinished Santa Fe Green Chile Gravel Growler route…

Outer Shell’s Hip Slinger is a distinctive take on the perennially popular hip pack. Think roll-top meets cinch cords, in an assortment of colours and materials. Cass (and Mildred, his pet rhinoceros beetle) try one out for day rides, campouts, and street photography alike. Find the review here…

Winter is upon us, and for many, it’s “lockdown-season” too. Why not use this enforced downtime to hone your culinary skills for the coming spring? Tasty, nutty, fruity granola never fails to make an energy-packed start to the day. The very best is homemade, so try baking a batch of Emma’s Gracious Granola for your next local overnighter. Find the full, easy-to-follow recipe here, along with variations on a theme for bikepacking foodies…

The name Moots has always conjured up a certain reverential aura amongst the cycling fraternity. Founded by MTB Hall of Famer Kent Eriksen in 1981, the company has long been fabled for its premium titanium bicycles, their clean, elegant lines, and their butter-smooth welds…

After nearly a year apart, Cass and his son Sage are reunited just in time for a Good Night 2020 campout. Read on for a trip report from a Mexican biosphere that comes complete with a travelling manatee, trashy beachcombing, and moon dances… as well as thoughts on ‘big rig tag-alongs’ and a wonderful stop motion film from Sage!

While this year hasn’t involved as much gear testing as normal, for obvious reasons, Cass still has a dozen favorite items and experiences to share from 2020. Read on to find his full list of gear picks here…

Announced today, the Tailfin Cargo Cage is a nifty, modular utility cage that’s available in two sizes and is designed for forks, frames, and Tailfin’s own rack system. Read on for Cass’ full review after several months of use on a variety of day rides, dirt tours, and singletrack bikepacking trips.

It doesn’t take much to have an everyday family adventure. And yet, it’s easy to sideline the importance of making one happen in the general hustle and bustle of day to day life. Cass remembers the handful of miles he cycled into the desert with Sage, on a short but memorable border city campout; his first overnighter as just father and son. Read about the value of creating such petite but enriching memories, and find tips on what to bring on a similar, pint-sized family campout.

If you’re looking to imbue your bikepacking trips with some practical creativity, how about carving a wooden spoon on your next overnight campout? Newbie whittler Cass made his first eating implement last year and shares his tips and thoughts on the process, as well as inspiration and advice from expert spoon-making bikepackers…