Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
Cass Gilbert
While Out Riding
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A Velodyssey to Pilat
23 Jul 2 Cass Gilbert / plogCass Gilbert sets out to repeat a bicycle trip he tackled early in his touring career… a journey to the highest sand dune in Europe. More than 20 years on, he hopes his son Sage will enjoy riding to France’s towering Dune de Pilat as much as he did. Also, find Sage’s full packlist from the trip and a reflection on the Argos technical tartan rug from back in the day…
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Route Report: La Magia de Ixtepeji
17 Jun 24 Cass Gilbert / plogIt had been a long time coming: After relocating to Oaxaca, Mexico, Cass Gilbert shares a favorite local route with visiting friends, savoring the time-honored tradition of revealing treasured trails to visitors… and sharing the best tlayudas and tortas in town. Find his route report and a vibrant selection of photos here…
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156 mi. / 251 km3-4 daysOaxaca Escondida (Oaxaca a Puerto Escondido)
57 Jun 10 Cass Gilbert Latin AmericaIf you long to dip your toes in the Pacific Ocean—or maybe you enjoy surfing as much as you love riding your bike—then this classic Mexican mountains-to-sea route is sure to appeal. Recently updated to incorporate bonus dirt and avoid an ongoing highway project, it's a ride that takes you from the heart of Oaxaca city to the state's craggy coastline, in one fabulous long weekend of fine riding, camping, and dining. For those with more time to spend in the area, we've included a number of day rides into Oaxaca's Valles Centrales too... -
Bikepacking and Bikepaths: The Beach is Our Destiny
31 Jun 4 Cass Gilbert / plogCass Gilbert spends a near perfect holiday touring with his son Sage around France’s delightful Île de Ré, pondering the merits of traffic-free riding for family adventures, whatever the surfaces may be. If kite flying, beachcombing, oyster sampling, and ice cream eating sound like your idea of an appealing summer escape, you’ll likely enjoy yourself there as much as he and his son did, too…
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The Burrally and Spain’s Remarkable Rights of Way
35 May 26 Cass Gilbert / plogSpain is nothing less than a dirt-touring utopia, especially in Valencia, where the Burrally showcases the country’s abundant beauty, the richness of its culture, and its extensive network of gravel roads. Cass Gilbert reports in from his time along the route and celebrates Europe’s remarkable rights of way…
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Low Waste Bikepacking: Full Power Vegan Cookie Dough
14 May 14 Cass Gilbert / foodOriginally developed as an efficient way of getting chocolate into her mouth during the hot summer months, Emma’s Full Power Cookie Dough offers the enjoyment of snacking in a convenient and reusable jar. Simply take a scoop at the foot of a climb and watch your legs go! It’s wrapper-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free too. Find the recipe here…
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177 mi. / 285 km5-6 daysTravesia Por Atitlan, Guatemala
23 May 6 Cass Gilbert Latin AmericaConnecting picture-perfect Antigua with artsy Quetzaltenango, Travesía Por Atitlán showcases the bountiful diversity of Guatemala's southwestern highlands. Expect agricultural singletrack, forest doubletrack, copious cups of freshly ground coffee, a Kaqchikel archeological site, and a glittering jewel: the volcano-ringed Lago de Atitlán. Be sure to tune up those extra low gears because you're in for a wild rollercoaster of a ride! -
New Mexico’s Valles Caldera Preserve Needs Your Input!
12 Apr 29 Cass Gilbert / newsNew Mexico’s beautiful Valles Caldera Preserve, as featured in our Supervolcano Explorer route, is currently seeking public comment to inform and shape future management decisions. Find details on how to have your say here…
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99 mi. / 159 km2-3 daysValles Caldera Supervolcano Explorer (V2), New Mexico
126 Apr 29 Cass Gilbert USALying within the subtle yet beautiful folds of the Jemez Mountains, New Mexico's very own supervolcano was opened to year-round bicycle access in 2016. Created shortly after, and rebooted in 2021, the Valles Caldera Supervolcano Explorer serves as a meandering introduction to the area, by way of primitive dirt roads, a hot spring, trout fishing, and trails... -
TranzX Kitsuma Dropper Post Review: Wallet-Friendly Fun
22 Apr 23 Cass Gilbert / accessoriesCass takes the wallet-friendly TranzX Kitsuma dropper post out bikepacking and trail riding on his local singletrack and dirt roads. Find out why it pairs so well with older hardtails and why it could be the perfect dropper for those who’ve yet to try one. And, learn about the easy-to-fit Jump Seat too…
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Tarptent Double Rainbow Li Review: 765g + Space to Stretch
31 Apr 16 Cass Gilbert / gearTarptent’s Double Rainbow has been a longstanding, affordable favourite amongst the hiking and bikepacking communities. We tested out the new, ultralight Dyneema version – the Double Rainbow Lithium – in a bid to find out if a tent that’s over twice the price is worth all those extra dollars…
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Alone in the Empty Mountains: An Ode to Route Building
30 Apr 9 Cass Gilbert / plogWhilst looking back on a solo trip through Spain’s Serranía Celtibérica, Cass considers the transformative power of route creation, from its ability to inspire others in the bikepacking community, to the way it can help us use bicycles as tools for connection, education, and change…
