Joe Cruz
Pedaling in Place
-
Kona Rove LTD Review: Long-Term Roving
54 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…
-
110 mi. / 177 km3 daysNo Business Loop (Cumberland Plateau)
46 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
38 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
79 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
103 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.
-
Open WI.DE. Review: The Last Bicycle?
87 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.
-
Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo Review
56 May 14 Joe Cruz / gearThe Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo has won numerous awards since its introduction, and the feature spec makes it plenty appealing for bikepacking. Joe has been testing it on three continents for nearly a year, and has spent upwards of 75 nights in it. Read on to see how it has fared.
-
Three GORE Ultralight Jackets Against the Elements
28 Feb 5 Joe Cruz / apparelGORE’s fabrics have undoubtedly transformed the outdoor industry and anyone who spends any time outside has probably used their products. In addition to licensing its technologies to other companies, GORE has for many years produced its own line of technical garments that have by now reached elite status for thoughtfully designed outerwear. Joe Cruz spent the last six months rotating through three of their jackets and reports back on their limits and successes…
-
Editor’s Dozen: Joe’s 2019 Picks
43 Dec 30 Joe Cruz / accessoriesIn 2019 Joe pedaled in Bosnia, on dirt roads from Munich to Marseille, and on a folding bike in Portugal. Closer to home he rode along the Mexico/Arizona border and was part of the Arkansas scouting mission for the No Place Like Oz loop. Not to mention a 50th birthday party of three days of massive gravel rides in Vermont with a few dozen close friends. Along the way he put plenty of new things to the test. Find his favorites here…
-
Sierra Designs High Side 1 Tent Review
9 Jul 22 Joe Cruz / gearJoe Cruz sets out on El Camino del Diablo and beyond to test the Sierra Designs High Side 1, a relatively affordable one-person tent that claims to be lightweight, highly packable, and fully functional for backpacking and bikepacking alike. Here’s the full review…
-
Trek Checkpoint Review (SL6): Dirt Road Rocketry
21 Nov 21 Joe Cruz / bikesJoe spent a few weeks with Trek’s Checkpoint SL6 to run it through challenges ranging from the weekly fast roadie coffee shop ride to a ten-hour dirt randonee to local gravel and singletrack explorations. Is this go-fast bike the bridge between a svelte carbon road machine and a lumbering gravel tourer?
