Cass Gilbert
While Out Riding
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70 mi. / 113 km2.5 daysThe Brecons Bash, South Wales
13 Jul 25 Cass Gilbert EuropeEasily reached by train from Bristol and Cardiff, the Brecons Bash is a route that connects two of the Brecon Beacons National Park’s classic ‘Killer Loops’, with some honest-to-goodness, Roughstuff-style bike pushing in between. Expect 17th Century drovers’ roads, ribbons of grassy, ridgetop singletrack, and during the summer, bountiful harvests of wild winberries... -
63 mi. / 101 km2 daysNew Forest Gravel Taster, UK
40 Jul 18 Cass Gilbert EuropeThe UK's (not so) New Forest makes a great locale for those dipping their toes in gravel riding, or anyone wishing to escape the Big Smoke for the night, and enjoy some forest bathing... bikepacking style. Of course, slow food is a big part of slow travel, so we've woven in local favourite eateries to this beautiful, mellow route too. -
Solo Stove Lite Review: twig powered cooking
57 Jul 12 Cass Gilbert / gearCass tries his hand at cooking with the Solo Stove Lite, an ultralight cooking system that uses twigs, leaves, and other forms of biomass to generate heat. Read on to find out how it fares in both perfectly dry Spanish conditions, and less than ideal UK drizzle…
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A Mini Vuelta de Vasco; Sierra de Urbasa with a child
50 Jul 9 Cass Gilbert / gear-listsInspired by the Vuelta de Vasco bikepacking route, Cass and his family head off to the Basque Country to bite off a chunk of the ride, crossing Spain’s Sierra de Urbasa in western Navarre by way of high plateaux, lush forest, Vías Verdes, and druid stones. Here’s some insights into the nuts and bolts of the trip, along with six-year-old Sage’s full packlist, details of his rig, and their core family camping gear…
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Announcing the Jones Plus LWB Complete
6 Jun 27 Cass Gilbert / newsIntroducing the new Jones Plus LWB Complete, a ready to roll version of the 29+ fully rigid all rounder, now ringing in at $2050…
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Jones Plus SWB Complete Review: Less $, Jones Magic
59 Jun 27 Cass Gilbert / bikesOnce the domain of the fully fledged bike nerd, Jones’ Plus SWB Complete has opened up a very distinctive bike to a far broader audience. After spending half a year riding one, Cass Gilbert reports on his findings…
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Alpkit PipeDream 200 + Cloud Base: A Wallet-Friendly Ultralight Sleep System
16 Jun 19 Cass Gilbert / gearReducing the weight and bulk of core gear and adopting a minimal bikepacking setup can require significant investment. So, it’s always good to try ultralight gear that’s aimed towards the more affordable end of the market. Here are our thoughts on a summer pairing from Alpkit: the PipeDream 200 down sleeping bag and the Cloud Base air mattress…
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187 mi. / 301 km4.5 daysThe Tahoe Twirl: Nevada to California and Round Again
89 Jun 7 Cass Gilbert USASet within the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada, the Tahoe Twirl circumnavigates the vast and mesmerising Lake Tahoe. Beginning in Reno, it blends burly desert jeep roads with classic Tahoe singletrack. Add mellow bike paths, remote forest roads, fantastic camping real estate, and an abundance of swimming spots... and you have yourself a wonderful introduction to this beautiful area. -
Tarptent Double Rainbow Review: Big tent, small packsize
23 Jun 5 Cass Gilbert / gearThe US-made Double Rainbow is Tarptent’s most popular model. Weighing in at just 1.2kg, it offers a surprising amount of living space for two riders, combined with a very minimal packsize, making it ideal for bikepackers… especially tall ones. We take a look at the newly updated 2019 model, testing it out camping in the US, the UK, and France.
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Five More Bikes from Bespoked UK 2019
3 May 28 Cass Gilbert / bikesWe’d wager that every bicycle at a handmade bike show deserves attention and praise, be it a practical and transformative commuter, a long distance audax machine, or a lithe road racer. But we’re all about bikes created with travelling and multi-day adventures in mind, so here are five more wildly different options that caught our bikepacking-obsessed eyes at the recent Bespoked UK…
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Bespoked UK 2019: Stayer Cycles’ Dirt Drop MTB
10 May 24 Cass Gilbert / bikesBasking in some well-deserved limelight at the 2019 Bespoked UK show, this sumptuous dirt drop mountain bike from London-based Stayer was quite the looker. Complete with custom porteur rack and a laser cut yoke for three-inch tires, its US-inspired aesthetic is complemented by a smattering of North American boutique parts. We find out more about the bike and the business behind it…
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Bespoked UK 2019: Sven Pathfinder and Pathfinder Plus
7 May 13 Cass Gilbert / bikesAs part of our Bespoked UK coverage, here’s a look the latest incarnation of Sven Cycles’ Pathfinder. Built to a semi-custom spec from stainless steel, it’s designed with a spritely ride in mind and features generous 650B tyre clearances, making it a great option for both on- and off-road bikepacking in the UK and beyond. And for those in search of chunkier terrain, there’s its big-tyred sibling, the Pathfinder Plus…
