Josh Meissner

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…

Ever wondered what goes into crafting a bike frame by hand? At the beginner-friendly framebuilding course at Big Forest Frameworks in Berlin, Josh Meissner built a custom 29+ ATB from scratch and documented the process from start to finish. Find his detailed report and photos from the workshop here…

Mads Hulsrøj Jæger, the Danish framebuilder behind Hulsroy Cycles, recently released a sleek side-loading stainless steel bottle cage, which he makes by hand. Find an overview of the well-crafted accessory and a soothing video on how it’s made here…

In our final Editor’s Dozen from 2023, Josh Meissner reflects on 12 highlights that shaped his eventful last year of touring all over Europe. Ranging from practical gear to immaterial inspiration, find his collection of favorites that blur the lines of bikepacking here…

Dynamo-curious? In this easy-to-follow guide, we shine some light on what makes always-on dynamo lighting and charging a perfect fit for bikepacking and more. Read on to find essential concepts about dynamo hubs, guiding questions, and advice for assembling a transformative dynamo setup that’s right for you…

In the second installment of our Bespoked 2023 coverage from Germany, Josh Meissner walks us through his top 10 highlights from the handmade bike show that extend beyond bikes and gear. Read on for his thoughts and photos spurred by the immense talent and collaboration on display at this year’s gathering…

The Bespoked 2023 handmade bike show was held for the first time on the European mainland in Dresden, Germany, and nobody knew quite what to expect. Over the packed weekend, writer Josh Meissner and photographer Stefan Haehnel weaved through the crowds to scope out their favorite bikes of the bunch. Read on for the backstories and superb photos of a dozen stunning rigs for bikepacking and beyond here…

The builders behind Drust Cycles and Vetra Bikes in Berlin have joined forces under the name Akinn Cycles to manufacture batches of customized bicycles, starting with the Subsun all-roader. Find a look at their handbuilt frameset, a fun set of studio and process photos, and details on pre-ordering a discounted Subsun here…

Based in Berlin and rooted in the world, Vetra Bikes manufactures eye-catching custom bicycles inspired by nature. In this field trip, Josh Meissner and multi-talented founder André Roberedo explore the many tensions that energize the collaborative project. Settle in for a photo-heavy deep dive on inspiration, process, and the many challenges of framebuilding…