Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
Joe Cruz
Pedaling in Place
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A Visit to Analog Cycles: Celebrating Dirt and Woods Pedaling
30 Apr 14 Joe Cruz / field-tripsAnalog Cycles is a small shop in Poultney, Vermont, specializing in a thoughtful, intentional approach to all-terrain adventure riding. In a short time, it has become fiercely beloved to many customers in the northeast of the USA. We visited Analog at their just-opened new location, and we think their reputation is rightfully earned. Find photos and our interview with co-owners James Johnson and Candice Passehl here…
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QUOC Gran Tourer II Review: A Refined Shoe for Fast Dirt Rides
18 Apr 13 Joe Cruz / apparelIn a dozen years, QUOC shoes have made a name for themselves by attending to fit and function with a clean, distinctive styling. The Gran Tourer II is the evolution of an earlier model that was exemplary in everything from spirited gravel rides to drop-bar bikepacking. Does the update exceed the high standard set by the original? Read on to find out why Joe thinks it’s only a qualified success…
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Tanglefoot Moonshiner Review: Triumphal Pedaling Toward Retro-Futurism
73 Dec 9 Joe Cruz / bikesThe Tanglefoot Moonshiner is a woods exploration bike conceived in and for the kind of riding you’ll find in Vermont and throughout New England. But its prowess doesn’t end there. It’s a bike for getting outside in the playful adventurous spirit that all-terrain bikes were supposed to be for. Dig in to this lengthy discussion to find out why—after riding one in a variety of conditions for a couple of months—Joe is excited and enthusiastic for what Tanglefoot has achieved.
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Nutmeg Nor’Easter 2021 (The Alt Cycling World Championship)
31 Nov 1 Joe Cruz / cultureThe 2021 Nutmeg Nor’Easter (aka Thee Non-Competitive Alt Cycling World Championship) happened a couple of weeks ago, leaving all attendees with hope for the cycling community at large. Find a reflection from the event by Joe Cruz here, alongside a stunning gallery of photos by Conan Thai…
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255 mi. / 410 km5 daysGreen Mountain Gravel Growler, Vermont
459 Sep 24 Joe Cruz USAThe Green Mountain Gravel Growler is an extraordinary loop that weaves a selection of storybook-farm dirt roads, flowy New England singletrack, and rugged historic woodland paths to create a circuit of some of the world’s best and most coveted craft beers... -
Kona Rove LTD Review: Long-Term Roving
66 Jun 15 Joe Cruz / bikesJoe spent six months last year on the Kona Rove LTD. Even with limited opportunities for far afield adventure, he took it on multiple bikepacking trips in New England and on countless day rides. Following Kona’s recent announcement of its 2022 Roves with essentially only a color change for the LTD, we share this review…
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110 mi. / 177 km3 daysNo Business Loop (Cumberland Plateau)
51 Apr 13 Joe Cruz USAThe No Business Loop is a weekend bikepacking route on the Cumberland Plateau that samples the Big South Fork National Recreation Area and its environs via a stitchwork of technical singletrack, rowdy jeep roads, pristine white gravel, and fast and flowy trails. Riders will be treated to a backcountry experience that takes in a wealth of incredible scenery, massive rock formations, and challenging, grin-inducing riding. -
117 mi. / 188 km2-3 daysDelaware County Catskills Dirt Circuit
47 Feb 17 Joe Cruz USACyclists are drawn to the Catskill Mountains in New York State by the glorious steeply pitched and winding roads that thread through its sloped agricultural valleys. Delaware County in the western Catskills is especially idyllic and scenic, mixing a history of dairy farming and arts, and a love of nature into a single tableau. This overnight route visits a joyous landscape in a loop from tiny Bovina Center with a night spent in Steam Mill State Forest... -
302 mi. / 486 km4-6 daysVTXL
141 Dec 4 Joe Cruz USAThe VTXL is one virtually continuous dirt path through Vermont from the Canada border to the Massachusetts border, linking the state’s northeast and southwest corners and capturing its geography, landscape, and town life. Experience New England charm and the distinctive affection that locals have for place and a slow pace. -
137 mi. / 220 km2-3 daysRoundabout Brattleboro, Vermont
135 Oct 6 Joe Cruz USARoundabout Brattleboro is a 2-3 day loop starting and ending in Brattleboro, Vermont. The route takes in some of VT's finest countryside via a mix of doubletrack, gravel, backroads, and a little bit of singletrack to capture all that Vermont's known for in a compact outing... -
Ted King’s DIYGravel (Film)
34 Jun 11 Joe Cruz / videoLast night Ted King premiered a film on his inspiring gravel ride across the state of Vermont via the forthcoming VTXL bikepacking route. He pedaled 310 miles (499 kilometers) with 35,000ft (10,700m) of climbing—90% of which was on dirt—in under 23 hours. Watch the video here along with a Q&A with Ted and the filmmakers.
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Open WI.DE. Review: The Last Bicycle?
88 Jun 11 Joe Cruz / bikesWith clearance for 27.5 x 2.4″ tires, a quick and nimble geometry, and double dropped chainstays, the Open WI.DE. (Winding Detours) is a coveted and capable machine. Joe Cruz put this bike through a full test with big 27.5″ mountain bike knobbies in Colombia and 700C gravel tires back in Vermont. Read his detailed review here.
