Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
Cass Gilbert
Contributing Editor
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73 mi. / 117 km 2 daysBlack Mountain Crossing, South Wales
39 Oct 31 Cass Gilbert EuropeEasily accessed with public transport from Bath, Bristol, and Cardiff, the Black Mountain lies to the west of the Brecons Beacons National Park, in South Wales. This 73 mile, largely un-trafficked and hilly route can be completed in two days, crossing the range twice to form a loop in and out of Aberdare, in the Cynon Valley. Wending through an area pocked with burial mounds, druid stones, caves, and old forts, expect singletrack, drovers' roads, forest roads, and the usual helping of Welsh bogs... -
145 mi. / 233 km 3-4 daysBear Bones Bash, Mid Wales
51 Oct 24 Cass Gilbert EuropeThe Bear Bones Bash is a 230km loop through remote and sparsely populated Mid Wales. It promises a true gamut of riding conditions - from steep and winding back lanes, old drovers' tracks, and graded forest tracks, to tufty singletrack, hike-a-bikes and extended bog trots - across the crumpled folds of the beautiful Cambrian Mountains. The route also includes the potential of a night in a candle-lit bothy and a resupply in quirky Machynlleth, home to the world-renowned Centre of Alternative Technology. -
Reader’s Rig: Chris’s Salsa Fargo
14 Oct 18 Cass Gilbert / DispatchThis week on Reader’s Rig, we check out Chris Campbell’s Salsa Fargo, a bike that’s quickly becoming a classic in our weekly series. Find details on his Fargo build and some thoughts about taking the plunge into an extended bikepacking trip here…
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Wizard Works’ Re-Use Re-Purpose Voila! Snack Bag and Tool Roll
8 Oct 17 Cass Gilbert / Bikepacking BagsA stem bag is a stem bag is a stem bag, right? Not if it’s made from an upcycled Thomson stem bag! We check out London-based Wizard Work’s Re-Use Re-Purpose Voila Snack Bag and matching tool roll, and find out about the business’ upcycling future…
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122 mi. / 196 km 3-4 daysDark + White Peak Peek, UK
48 Oct 9 Cass Gilbert EuropeDespite its proximity to Manchester and Sheffield, the Peak District National Park offers a surprisingly wild and remote bikepacker's playground, peppered as it is with rocky bridleways, slabby descents, and boggy moorland crossings. In short, it's a wonderful way of escaping either city for a long weekend of honest-to-goodness, old fashioned, multi-day mountain biking... -
Quoc Gran Tourer Review: Rocks, Gravel, Dust, and Puddles
23 Oct 7 Cass Gilbert / ApparelAdding to a range of distinctly high end road shoes, Quoc’s Grand Tourer aims to satisfy the needs of those who enjoy both mixed terrain riding and off-bike exploring… in style. A badly dressed Cass Gilbert beats up a pair in Europe and reports back.
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Outdoor Provisions: All Natural Energy in Compostable Packaging
3 Sep 27 Cass Gilbert / Bikepacking FoodLove chomping on energy bars when you bikepack but hate the single-use packaging they come in? Hailing from the UK and inspired by its rugged National Parks, Outdoor Provisions have just launched two delicious bars wrapped in compostable packaging, with more to follow…
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Belgium’s Ardennes Arbalete with Friends
59 Sep 24 Cass Gilbert / PlanShirking short-haul planes for the summer, Cass Gilbert spends the time exploring his own backyard. Or at least, places that lie just a train or ferry ride away. Here are his thoughts on one of our favourite new routes from last year, Belgium’s Ardennes Arbalete, enjoyed with a group of global bikepacking friends…
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Wizard Works X Get Wild Matty Collab
1 Sep 6 Cass Gilbert / DispatchAnnouncing a limited edition hat and stem bag collaboration from London-based Wizard Works and roving Yorkshireman Get Wild Matty…
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Alpkit Kraku Stove + MytiPot 900 : Convenient Minimalism on a Budget
28 Sep 4 Cass Gilbert / Bikepacking GearWe try the Alpkit Kraku – an ultra-compact gas canister stove – and the 900ml MytiPot on tour in Europe. Who said minimalism can’t be affordable? Find our review here…
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Cycling UK announces the Great North Trail, an 800 mile mountain biking route
7 Sep 3 Cass Gilbert / DispatchRunning between the Peak District National Park and mainland Scotland’s most northerly points, the brand new Great North Trail is an off-road extravaganza that promises more than 800 miles of rolling hills, windswept moorland, drovers’ roads, forest trails, singletrack, and historical intrigue…
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Announcing the Surly Dunoon Dirt Dash gravel event
4 Aug 29 Cass Gilbert / DispatchWhy not head to Scotland this autumn? Held on Scotland’s Adventure Coast, the Surly Dunoon Dirt Dash promises fine gravel riding, camaraderie, and camping the shadow of a castle!
