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Written as a reflection on a failed first attempt to piece together the Chauga River Ramble bikepacking route through South Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, this refreshing piece from Tanner Arrington offers a glimpse into the unglamorous world of route creation. Read it here, paired with a moody gallery of black-and-white images from photographer Jess Peri…

After their van’s engine blew out and left them with no way of continuing their nomadic life along Australia’s East Coast, Ruby Woodruff and her partner built a makeshift trailer and rack and continued their surfing adventure by bike. Find Ruby’s story of their haphazard journey and a fun 30-minute video documenting their experiences here…

Last month, 24 riders set off on an 800-kilometer self-supported ride across the Canary Islands. Among the finishers was Katrien Sanders, who settled into a more leisurely pace compared to the fastest riders but still completed the ride in under five days. Find her story and a beautiful selection of photos by Matteo Minelli here…

Not wanting to let the grey and wet of winter keep them from enjoying time spent outside, Marcus Nicolson and friends headed off on a trip in search of White Laggan Bothy in southwest Scotland last month. Find their story weekend adventure that featured a swampy obstacle course and an unexpected encounter with other bikepackers here…

In the fall, three friends headed out for an overnight bikerafting trip along the beautiful Penobscot River in Maine, relying only on public transportation and human power to make the trip possible. Watch a wonderfully shot and edited short video from their trip by Ian MacLellan here…

In our latest edition of Rider’s Lens, we explore the work of Berlin-based illustrator and cargo courier Ralph Berwanger, who shares a selection of his analog and digital creations, the story of how bicycles first found their way into his life, and some thoughts on how pedaling helps make space for creativity. See it all here…

Launched in the spring, the Supernova M99 DY PRO is a unique dynamo-powered headlight with a turbo-charged “high beam” mode and high-end build quality. Kyle Ponce has been testing one on roads and trails around Germany throughout the fall to find out how its innovative design holds up to the rigors of bikepacking. Find his review here…

In the UK-based Steezy Collective’s second Lakeland 200 Project film, seven women set out to change the narrative of the Lakeland 200 bikepacking route by getting more women on the list of finishers. Watch the group attempt to complete the challenging course in under 40 hours here, accompanied by day-by-day journal entries from several of the riders…

We were impressed by Tumbleweed Bicycle Co.’s gorgeous Stargazer ad in the eighth issue of The Bikepacking Journal, especially when we learned it was made in a studio. To learn more about the creative process that went into building the incredible scene, we reached out to photographer and designer Matthew Wordell of Visionkit Studios for details. See more here…

While touring across Albania, Greece, Italy, and Spain, Henley Phillips found some space amid a busy year to consider a handful of life’s big (and small) questions. Find his story of riding toward resolution while remembering to slow down and enjoy the present moment here, plus a vivid gallery of photos from around the Mediterranean…

In this Make Your Own Bikepacking Gear (MYOBG) tutorial, Greg Maino shares a simple 10-step guide to creating lightweight pogies that are designed to be perfect for chilly mornings and wet rides alike. Find it here, complete with a materials list, detailed photos, and step-by-step instructions…

On the heels of the second edition of the Atlas Mountain Race in Morocco last month, organizer Nelson Trees put together a candid and gripping behind-the-scenes look at some of the most dramatic moments and highlights of the race. Find his unique perspective here, paired with a brilliant set of images from photographer Ariel Wojciechowski…