Miles Arbour

With a small ratcheting wrench, a good selection of interchangeable bits, and several preset torque attachments, Topeak’s Ratchet Rocket LITE NTX offers a lot of functions in a very small and unique package. Find Miles’ thoughts after nearly two years of use, including a motel room bike build and two weeks on the Oregon Timber Trail…

Support trails in NY and get a chance to win a custom build from Solace Cycles. The Barkeater Trails Alliance of upstate New York put together a great fundraiser to support local trail building efforts, and the prizes are pretty sweet. Learn more here…

Just announced, the Teravail Kessel is an aggressive all-mountain tire designed around maximum traction in steep, loose conditions. Available in both 27.5″ and 29″ up to 2.6″ wide, the Kessel looks like a promising option for those seeking out rowdy backcountry singletrack. Learn more here…

In this Make Your Own Bikepacking Gear (MYOBG) tutorial, Miles walks through a simple guide to make your own bikepacking-friendly fire starters. Best of all, most of the necessary materials are sitting in your laundry room garbage right now…

After 22 days, 7 hours, and 30 minutes, Jill Martindale, Petr Ineman, and Casey Fagerquist rolled into Nome after pedalling and pushing 1,000 miles through one of the most challenging events out there. They are the first and only finishers of the 2020 Iditarod Trail Invitational 1000. Congratulations!

Ritchey just released the new WCS VentureMax XL Handlebar, a flared and ergonomic bar that’s one of the widest on the market. Measuring 52cm at the hoods, their bar joins the growing number of flared drop bars that are aimed at bikepacking and rowdy gravel riding. Check out all the details here…

This year’s Stagecoach 400 event challenged those brave enough to face the snow, rain, and uncomfortably low temperatures. Winner Jeff Kerkove persevered through it all, finishing on Sunday morning in 2 days, 2 hours. Here’s a detailed breakdown of Jeff’s bike and gear, plus photos from Dave Malwitz…

Just announced, Whisky Part’s new No.9 MCX Monster Cross fork can clear 29 x 2.0″ and 27.5 x 2.4″ tires, pairs well with drop-bar gravel bikes*, and has three-pack mounts on each blade. Find all the details here…

Last month, Bikes or Death Podcast host Patrick Farnsworth teamed up with Aggieland Cycling in College Station, Texas, to offer a group campout into the Sam Houston National Forest. Here’s his recap of the ride, including photos and details on the next ride for those living in the area…

In this double header review, we take a look at the ultralight and super packable Primus Micron Trail canister stove, plus the slightly larger, but more versatile OmniLite Ti Stove. Whether you’re happy with just oatmeal and coffee, or more sophisticated camp meals in mind, one of these stoves will surely fit the bill. Check out Miles’ impressions here…

Farr’s new Supa-Wide GRVL handlebar provides another great option for those on the hunt for a generously wide drop bar—collaborating with Nitto Handlebar Works in Japan to make it happen. Learn more here…

PNW Components just released an updated version of their popular Rainier Dropper Post, adding more options and a nifty Tool-Less Travel Adjust System to dial in the fit. Watch the official launch video and find more details here…