Josh Meissner

From a midtail cargo off-roader to a flawless interpretation of a classic touring bike and a beautiful monstrosity of a 32er, there’s a little something for bike lovers of all tastes in our third roundup of custom builds from Bespoked Dresden 2025. Find fresh work from Avalanche, Drust Cycles, Ballern, La Fraise, Fern, and more here…

Continuing our in-depth coverage of Bespoked Dresden 2025, we’re showcasing another sundry mix of incredible handbuilt bikes and other unique finds from the expansive airport terminal space. Explore another gallery of bikes and find details about the folks who made them here…

The European framebuilding community has converged at the Dresden Airport in Germany for a third year running, and we’re on the scene to seek out and present the most interesting bikes, bags, and more from Bespoked Dresden 2025. Read on for an intimate look at our first batch of highlights from the bustling terminal here…

Following the sale of the popular route-planning platform Komoot to private equity, Josh Meissner examines the troubling mechanics of the community-powered service beyond its friendly brand image. Using Komoot as an example, he explores the broken relationship between corporate capital and our communities. Amid the tension, discover a way forward that’s available to all of us…

In his latest profile of cycling manufacturers in Germany, Josh Meissner takes us on a tour of Tout Terrain, which has been designing and assembling expedition-ready bicycles for world travelers since 2005. Despite no sparks flying on their lean shop floor, the extensive engineering that goes into these singularly rugged touring bikes turns out to be well worth a closer look…

What’s a sleeping bag beyond goose down in a nylon shell? A whole lot more, as Josh Meissner found out on a ride to Gdynia, Poland, where he connected with the passionate folks behind established ultralight manufacturer Cumulus Outdoor. Settle in for an exclusive tour of their factory and go-to overnighter spot, thoughts on the nuanced ethics of down, and a relational take on local production and repairability, all set against a lovely backdrop of summer on the Baltic Sea…

After a quiet year of going deeper around his home in Germany, Josh Meissner reflects on our vexed relationship with gear and rounds up his favorite products and practices that have helped shift his perspective in subtle and big ways in 2024. Find Josh’s time-tested and fresh highlights in his Editor’s Dozen here…

After a long weekend spent uncovering the most brilliant bikes and other goods from Bespoked Dresden 2024, we’re happy to present our second roundup of mind-expanding work from Europe’s largest handmade bicycle show. Find another loaded gallery and join us in meeting the gifted makers of our favorite bikes from the show here…

Are we getting lost often enough? Exploring more mindful navigation, Josh Meissner joins a mysterious gathering on the outskirts of Berlin called SteppenLOST. Join him as he gets turned around in the forest, and find a delightful set of photos from the event here…

Longing to bolt water bottles, cargo cages, or mini panniers to your rear rack? In this Gear Tip, Josh explains how to make the Ortlieb Quick-Rack and other racks even more bikepacking-friendly using nothing but included parts and a few extra bolts. Find a detailed walkthrough here…

After a month of bikepacking in Spain, Josh follows up with details on the Rohloff-equipped ATB he designed and built with Big Forest Frameworks in Germany. Read on to find out how big tires changed his trajectory, musings on affordances, and a striking set of photos from off-seasonal Spain here…

It may be the first of April, but sun protection is serious business. After extensive testing in Spain, Josh Meissner shares his experience with Da Brim, a polarizing helmet-mounted visor that casts shade and ignites opinions in equal measure. Read on to learn more about the sexiest cycling accessory under the sun…