Neil Beltchenko

A few weeks ago, we surveyed folks with a few questions about aluminum bike frames. The results weren’t too surprising, but the comments we received afterward stoked the fire on the topic. Are aluminum bikes really as harsh as some people claim? Is aluminum as strong as other materials? Does it fatigue more than steel? Is marketing hype pushing riders toward pricier options? There’s a lot to unpack. Dive in to our aluminum bike survey recap here…

Ever wondered how DT Swiss makes their spokes, adds graphics, or builds their wheels? Well, you’re in luck. Neil took a field trip to their North American facility last month, where he got the inside scoop on all that and more. Find the video tour and photo gallery here…

When Surly specced the Pinion-equipped Moonlander with a chain and left the derailleur hanger in place, it felt like they were daring someone to slap on a derailleur and cassette to see how it’d work with a Pinion and derailleur drivetrain together. So, we did just that. In this video, Neil shares what he found after experimenting with a few different configurations…

Over the years, the team here at BIKEPACKING.com has learned a thing or two about creature comforts. After all, bikepacking is meant to be fun, and if you have a little extra room, it’s never a bad idea to bring something that makes your time at camp a bit more comfortable or enjoyable. In this piece, Neil shares 14 bikepacking luxuries…

In our latest rig breakdown, we look at Chris Mayfield’s Delicate Arch, a custom hardtail by Goodday Curiosity. Chris recently completed the Colorado Trail Race aboard this beauty in just over nine days. In this piece, he shares the inspiring story behind the bike’s name, paint job, components, and custom bags. We also caught up with Chris after the race to discuss how everything performed. Find all that plus Chris’s packing list here…

The Surly Moonlander 2.0 has arrived, and it pushes the limits of production fat bikes like never before with massive 6.2-inch tires, a Pinion gearbox, and 197mm front and rear spacing! Naturally, we had to take Surly’s new rock-crawling beast out on the roughest terrain around before today’s launch. Find our full Surly Moonlander review here, complete with a video, pros and cons, all the specs, and a full photo gallery…

Ultralight bikepacking and backpacking cook setups have come a long way, but do you need to break the bank to get a reliable one? Neil explores one of the cheapest lightweight stove kits available in our latest video, offering a mini-review of each item and sharing weights and prices. Find his $50 budget camping cook kit here…

We compiled data from more than 40 submissions for the Rigs of the 2024 Colorado Trail Race into a spreadsheet to gain insights into the bikes and gear featured in this year’s event. In this article, we explore the data and reveal some intriguing statistics, such as the most popular tires, drivetrains, types of bags, pedals, lights, and more. Dive into our Rigs of the 2024 Colorado Trail Race stats analysis here…

The new Esker Lorax Ti is the brand’s interpretation of the quintessential drop-bar mountain bike. Neil has been riding one for the past month, covering over 300 miles from the North Shore of Minnesota to the high elevations of the Rocky Mountains. In this review, he compares the Lorax Ti to similar bikes and shares its unique characteristics, value, and more…

Dirt-specific drop-bar bikes are undoubtedly one of the most—if not the most—prolific styles of bicycle we feature on the site. In this piece, we review the history of this genre, consider where it is today, and list what we feel are the 13 best drop-bar MTBs, ranked based on votes from our team of editors here at BIKEPACKING.com. Find it all here…

Andrew, Mitch, and Neil just got back from a four-day ride on the Straddle and Paddle, a beautiful 180-mile bikepacking route in northern Minnesota that starts on the shores of Lake Superior, loops up to the Boundary Waters, and eventually meanders back down to the big lake via forest service roads, dirt doubletracks, and bike paths. In this piece, Andrew, Mitch, and Neil share the rigs and gear they used on the route…

Over the course of a 2700-mile bike race, things are bound to happen—like a nagging injury, running into a rainstorm, and yes, mechanical issues. While some of these things can be controlled, others sometimes happen by the luck of the draw. In this piece, Neil asks a few folks who participated in the 2023 Tour Divide to share their experiences with mechanical issues and how they handled them.