Neil Beltchenko

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.

Over the past week, we plugged 100 submissions from the Rigs of the 2024 Tour Divide into a spreadsheet to get a clear picture of the bikes and gear used in this year’s event. In this piece, we dive into the data and uncover some interesting stats, including where people are from, and the types of bikes, tires, drivetrains, gearing choices, and cargo setups they’re using, and much more. Dig into the Rigs of the 2024 Tour Divide Stats Analysis here…

It’s Tour Divide time again, and for our 2024 Tour Divide Preview, we dive into all the details you need to know to get ready for some exciting dot-watching, including weather conditions, route changes, and much more. Plus, Neil chats with veteran Tour Divide riders Alexandera Houchin, Hannah Simon, and Josh Ibbett about key riders to watch. See it all here…

Launched just in time for the Tour Divide, the Revelate Designs Pitchfork is an aero bar harness system made for ultra-endurance racing. The Pitchfork mounts directly to your aero bars, providing carrying capacity for a six-liter dry bag, two useful pockets, and a bungee system for easy access to snacks and other essentials. Find our full Revelate Designs Pitchfork review here…

Just announced, the new Hammerhead Karoo is the brand’s third-generation head unit and the first since being acquired by SRAM. As you might expect, there are several new features to better integrate with SRAM components, along with a few other noteworthy upgrades and a fresh companion app. In our first-look review, Neil unpacks all the details and compares it to several other devices. See it here…

Whether or not bikepacking bags are truly “waterproof” is a contentious topic, especially with bag makers claiming their bags are waterproof when they’re clearly not. The Ortlieb Toptube Frame-Pack is a half-frame bag with welded seams and a unique waterproof zipper that may well be the only truly waterproof bag with a zipper. Find Neil’s Ortlieb Toptube Frame-Pack review here…

A well-designed tent can mean the difference between a comfortable night out under the stars and a frustrating experience. After using the SlingFin Portal 1 on a handful of trips over the last few months, Neil found it to be a cozy home away from home with a few unique features that set it apart from other one-person tents. Find his SlingFin Portal 1 Tent Review here…

Today, Kona Launched their latest bike, the Ouroboros. We were lucky enough to have one for a month or so beforehand, and Neil put it through its paces, pedaling it more than 300 miles around Colorado and Utah, riding it on gravel, singletrack, and an overnighter. In his video, he dives into Kona’s new drop-bar offering in detail. Find our Kona Ouroboros review here…