Neil Beltchenko

The new Tailfin SpeedPack is a lighter, more minimalist take on the brand’s rock-solid, rack-mounted rear bag. It features a 10-liter main capacity (plus a 3-liter expandable pocket), a carbon-frame body, and the new FitLink seatpost connector for dialed clearance (even with droppers). We put it through the paces on gravel and singletrack to see where it shines for this full review…

Earlier this year, REEB announced the return of the Sam’s Pants, their long-standing drop-bar bike. Neil’s been testing it over the past month on everything from short day rides to a bikepacking trip, putting in over 300 miles for a full test. Watch and read the REEB Sam’s Pants review here…

Wolf Tooth just dropped a trio of SPD-compatible pedals (CTRL, ALT, DEL) with a slick party trick: tool-simple, adjustable Q-factor for a dialed stance on any bike. Neil tested the CTRL and ALT trail and XC pedals and came away impressed. Find our full Wolf Tooth pedals review for ride impressions, specs, and pros/cons here, plus a back-to-back comparison with Shimano SPDs.

After a decade, Surly’s cult-classic drop-bar do-everything bike finally got a thoughtful refresh. We put the 2025 Straggler through daily rides, some dirt touring, and chunky gravel to see if the updates—new axle setup, revised sizing, and fork options—modernize it without losing that Surly weird-in-a-good-way charm. Find our full Surly Straggler review here, including what works, what doesn’t, and all the nitty gritty details…

Built from the ground up by Goodday + Curiosity, Neil’s “Gila Monster” blends a playful twin top tube, smart geometry, and dialed bag integration into a bike that’s purpose-made for bikepacking on singletrack. Dive into the build, the fit, and the details, and find out whether a custom bike can change how (and what) you ride here…

Over the last five months, Neil has put the new Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3 through its paces on everything from quick day rides to multi-day bikepacking trips. Along the way, he’s logged enough miles to deliver clear takeaways on the updated hardware, features, and what’s changed from the previous version. The big question: Is it fit for bikepacking? Watch now to find out…

Neil has been putting the Hover Air X1 ProMax through its paces over the past several months, bringing it along on bikepacking trips and day rides. It’s become a go-to tool for capturing B-roll for reviews and other videos. In his latest review, he digs into all the details and showcases a wide range of shots he’s captured along the way…

After a busy first half of the year packed with riding and camping, Neil compiled his latest list of favorite gear for this mid-year Editor’s Dozen. From comfort items and tasty camp dinners to bags and surprising gadgets, this collection spotlights standout items from his spring and summer adventures…

In our latest tent review, Neil takes a detailed look at Durston’s new X-Dome 1+. Despite some initial skepticism, he came away thinking that this freestanding shelter might be the best one-person tent available. In our Durston X-Dome 1+ review, he covers everything from setup and materials to packed weights and the standout features that distinguish it from the competition. Find it here…

Canyon just dropped the new Grizl Escape ECLIPS, and it’s a full-on love letter to bikepacking. Packed with thoughtful details—right down to a gummy bear graphic on the seat tube—it’s clear they didn’t just design this bike for adventure; they designed it for us. Find our full review here…

Adding to their flood of mountain bike drivetrain launches this month, Shimano has another big announcement today: their first-ever fully wireless gravel groupset. It leans heavily on their latest wireless derailleur tech but is a compelling addition to the lineup. Neil has been riding the new Shimano GRX Di2 group for the past month and breaks down everything you need to know in this review, including specs, weights, install tips, highlights, and more…

After we published our Rigs of the 2025 Tour Divide, Neil dug into the submissions, uncovering the essential details and trends to reveal a clearer picture of the bikes and gear used in this year’s event. In this piece, we break down the data and highlight some interesting findings, including where folks are from, what bikes, tires, drivetrains, gearing, and cargo setups they’re running, and much more. Dive in here…