Guest

The 2023 Bicycle Adventure Meeting saw a record-breaking 1,200 attendees gather in Mantua, Italy, for a weekend of group rides, workshops, and community building. Find a recap from Emily MacKenzie’s ride to the event with new friends here…

The Grand Loop is a stunning 365-mile route that hits the Tabeguache Trail, Kokopelli Trail, and the Paradox Trail in Southwest Colorado and Utah. After more than a 10-year hiatus, 14 riders set off earlier this month to try their luck at riding the full route. Find a recap and a selection of photos from the event here…

Following a successful three-year ride from Mexico to Argentina with his partner Andrea Molina, Jake Dacks put together this seven-part guide to navigating a relationship while pedaling through ever-changing environments and experiences. Find his collection of useful tips for bikepacking with a partner and a gallery of images from Central and South America here…

Henley Phillips was in California for the 2023 Los Angeles Invitational, an all-day event that includes a trio of gravel rides through the mountains outside the city, a bike and car show, local food and drinks, a bicycle swap meet, and more. Henley compiled a report covering his trip to the Invitational from his home in Tucson and his time at the sixth annual event. See it all here…

Accompanying the new Cattle Calls and Canyon Walls bikepacking route we shared this morning, this 16-minute video from Kyle Aldridge and Jake Bleggi offers a behind-the-scenes look at their scouting ride across Utah and Wyoming. Watch the video and find some background on the route here…

Around 40 riders took on the Cairngorms Loop ITT through the spectacular Scottish Highlands this year. Instead of a grand depart, new organizer Huw Oliver put together a group finish that saw rides of varying paces converge at the end of their journeys for a celebration. Find some thoughts on this year’s event and handful of photos from the group gathering here…

Handmade in Colorado and designed to balance stability, comfort, and simplicity, the new roll-top San Util Design Whirlpool Hip Pack is now available in four versions intended to suit everything from day riding to expedition bikepacking. Our friend Josh Hicks has been wearing the top-end Bikepacker version for a few weeks, and you can find his review here…

Organized by Matt Mason, the founder of the Monumental Loop, the WeedSac 140 is a non-competitive 140-mile bikepacking ride in the Sacramento Mountains that starts and ends in the village of Cloudcroft, New Mexico. Find a personal reflection and photos by Johnny Sullivan from the inaugural group ride last month here…

Markéta (Peggy) Marvanová just took first place in the women’s category and fourth place overall at the 2023 Trans Balkan Race, finishing with a time of 5 days, 11 hours, and 37 minutes. Learn more about her impressive ride here…

Jeanne Lepoix’s latest video, “Kids Bike Camp,” captures a joyful weekend spent bikepacking in France with a group of 11 families. Using all manner of kid-hauling contraptions, the group slowly pedals a beautiful loop along quiet roads and trails, soaking in a weekend of building connections and appreciating natural wonders. Watch the three-minute video and find a gallery of images here…

In today’s edition of Rider’s Lens, we share a kaleidoscopic mix of illustrations by Patrick Astilla from the Philippines. Flip through his sketchbooks, browse a selection of his mixed-media creations, and read his thoughts on how riding and sketching can remind us to slow down and soak in the present moment here…

Earlier this month, heavy rain and long stretches of bike-destroying mud made for harsh conditions at the 2023 Pinyons and Pines event in Arizona. With help from our friend Wyatt Spalding and some of the other riders, we put together a pair of post-ride stories from the 300 and 500-mile routes and a reflection from organizer Dana Ernst. Find a look at the event here…