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Earlier this month, more than 130 riders lined up in the small town of Sežana, Slovenia, for the second edition of the Trans Balkan Race, a rugged 1,300-kilometer bikepacking race across the Balkans. Rufus Wenlock of New Zealand was the second-place finisher at this year’s event, and he put together a lively reflection that captures his newfound appreciation for the region. Find his story and a stunning set of photos here…

Last year, our friends from Bombtrack Bikes returned to Italy to ride the 2022 edition of the Veneto Trail together. With the 2023 edition underway, they just launched this look back at last year’s experience. Find the 30-minute video, some words of introduction, and a set of photos from the spectacular Dolomites here…

Tom Hardie traveled from the UK to east-central Africa to participate in the 2023 Race Around Rwanda this year, where he had a chance to sit down with local racers Dufitumukiza Mussa and Neza Violette. In this piece, Tom shares some impressions from his experience, and the pair of Rwandan riders offer some insights into their unique journeys to the starting line and the changing cycling culture in their country. Find thoughts from all three with additional photos by Matt Grayson here…

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…