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Route Report: Georgia’s Caucasus Crossing
11 Feb 8 Guest / plogLee Vilinsky and Cherry Fitzsimmons traveled to the Republic of Georgia to ride our Caucasus Crossing route last summer, and they put together this thorough post-ride route report. Read on for their thoughts on the highlights, challenges, logistics, and amazing Georgian food…
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River Meets Road: Across Alaska by Bike and Boat
21 Jan 30 Guest / plogAs the recipient of the 2018 Kyle Dempster Solo Adventure Award, Jessica Kelley mapped out and attempted a 1,300-mile bikepacking and packrafting route across Alaska. In this trip recap, she talks about confronting real fear, grapples with the thought of disappointing others, and reflects on what it means to undertake such a massive journey alone…
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Rocky Mountain Maneuvers
18 Jan 25 Guest / plogWhen Trevor Browne decided to race in the Alberta Rockies 700, he opted to take the long way to the start line, riding an extra 230 km through a maze of logging roads to get there. Read on for his story of missing turns, meeting mushroom hunters, and learning to appreciate the magic of the road…
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Reflections on the Arizona Trail: Profound Joy and Big Questions
35 Jan 16 Guest / plogNicolaus Hawbaker rode the length of the Arizona Trail for his first bikepacking trip, and found himself asking big questions about wilderness stewardship as he pedaled through its picturesque landscapes. In this short essay, he reflects on the lasting impression his time on the trail left on him, and offers some thoughts on the importance of preserving natural beauty…
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The Real Moose Heaven: Bikepacking the GDMBR
9 Jan 8 Guest / plogSpencer Dillon and his riding partner Sam spent nearly two months pedaling from Canada to Mexico along the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, slowly taking in the vast and diverse landscapes as miles ticked by. Read on for some thoughts about looking beyond the typical highlights and finding meaning in the empty spaces along the route…
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Osh and the Edge
12 Dec 27 Guest / plogWhile pushing and carrying his bike over a steep pass in the mountains above Osh, Kyrgyzstan, Matthew Crompton ponders what it is that draws people to hazardous places in search of first, fastest, or longest achievements. Read on for his story of searching for, and ultimately finding his own limits…
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Pedaling Through a Changing Climate
9 Dec 17 Guest / plogAs recipients of the 2018 Lael Rides Alaska Women’s Scholarship, Brooke Larsen and Kailey Kornhauser crafted a 1,000-mile ride from Seward to Deadhorse, Alaska. They didn’t just ride their bikes, though. They also listened to stories about climate change and fossil fuel extraction along the way. Read on for their story of finding gratitude and hope while pedaling through the far north…
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Maxxis Rekon+ 27.5 x 2.8 Skinwall Tire Review
42 Dec 16 Guest / gearThe Rekon+ is a 27.5 x 2.8” tire from Maxxis available with an eye-catching skinwall design. Spencer J Harding tested a pair of them to see how they stand up to the rigors of shred-sledding and loaded touring…
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Bumbling Through Bikepacking: A Beginner’s Perspective
17 Dec 7 Guest / plogSeeking a change in her daily routine, and inspired by the many other women who are out on extended bikepacking trips, Clare Nattress quit her job and left on an open-ended trip around the world. Now, after three months on the road in beautiful and challenging places like Norway and Nepal, she shares some thoughts on what she’s learned along the way, and offers some advice for other new bikepackers…
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Rider’s Lens: London to Hong Kong with Jack Boffy
23 Nov 29 Guest / plogIn this edition of Rider’s Lens, we tag along with British photographer Jack Boffy on his ride from London to Hong Kong. He shares stories of camera failure, underbiking, and the highs and lows of a massive solo tour…
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Rider’s Lens: Mike Hayes on Street Photography
27 Nov 16 Guest / plogIn this edition of Rider’s Lens, we chat with Mike Hayes and hear his unique perspective on travel photography. We learn about the meditative quality of street photography, why bike touring lends itself well to this style of reportage, and glean a few of Mike’s tips for trying it out ourselves…
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Crossing The Pamirs
12 Nov 2 Guest / plogFor Luke Douglas and Flora Hodson, what started as a tour around New Zealand turned into a ride all the way back home to the UK. In this story, Luke recounts the time they spent riding through Kyrgyzstan and Tajikstan on the Pamir Highway. Read on for their story of late-season riding in the Pamirs, Central Asian hospitality, and looming wolf encounters…