Miles Arbour

Bags by Bird (BXB) in Tucson, Arizona, just released an updated version of their flap-opening handlebar bag, the Tail Grab, and it’s now available for pre-order. Check it out here…

The RockStar Challenge is a 250-ish mile race from Rocktown (Harrisonburg) to the Star City (Roanoke) with three route options to choose from. This year, both Caitrin Maloney and Britt Mason set new course records on the trail and gravel routes, and they put together a pair of short ride reflections. Read their stories here…

Dyed in the Wool just added two new options to their range of handmade bike bags, both with a small flap opening with a magnetic closure instead of a zipper. Check out the Dyed in the Wool Snap Mini Wedge and Snap Bar Roll here…

Taster Trip by Adventurefuel is a three-day introduction to bikepacking where participants learn all the mechanical skills, camping tricks, and packing hacks for a successful and fun bikepacking adventure. Organizer Lewis Brindley put together a recap from last month’s spring Taster Trip, including stunning photos from their overnighter in Wanaka, New Zealand. See it here…

Bikes or Death hosted its second annual Bikepacking Basics campout a few weeks ago, welcoming 30 riders for a chance to try out bikepacking in a supported environment. Find a written recap and photos from event organizer Patrick Farnsworth here…

Tour De Los Padres is a challenging 185- or 300-mile bikepacking route that traverses some of the most scenic areas of the Southern Los Padres National Forest, California. Around 30 riders showed up for this year’s grand depart, and Drew Raney, the organizer of this year’s Tour Route, put together a recap of how things played out. Find Drew’s story and photos from the event here…

The CINQ Plug6 Plus builds on Tout Terrain’s growing lineup of integrated top cap dynamo chargers with a USB-C port and a new charging optimizer for consistent power at all speeds. Check it out here…

Later this month, Lael Wilcox will begin riding around the world and going after the Guinness World Record for the fastest circumnavigation by bicycle. In preparation for the big day, she just released a new podcast that will take a deep dive into her preparation and experience along the way. Listen to the first episode here…

In our latest YouTube video, Neil sits down with the Outdoor Alliance to learn more about the EXPLORE Act and what it means for bikepackers, the strategies they use to engage with policymakers, and more. Watch it here…

The new Surly Sunset Bar is a BMX-inspired riser bar with a generous 820mm width and 110mm rise, and it looks perfect for anyone looking for a more upright riding position. Find all the essential details here…

Osprey has officially entered the bikepacking category with its new Escapist line, a complete set of bags designed to fit a wide range of bikes and riding styles, featuring RF-welded seams and other promising details. Dig into the Osprey Escapist bikepacking bags here…

The new Priority Gemini is a low-maintenance gravel bike equipped with a Pinion Smart.Shift internal gearbox, responsive geometry, and your choice of an aluminum or titanium frame. Find all the details here…