Bikepacking doesn’t just start at the trailhead. Options also abound for lightweight bike trips planned around forest roads, shale roads, crushed rock, piste, and the pavement that connects them.
Earlier this year, British Columbia-based Landyachtz Bikes released the AB1 (Adventure Bike 1), positioned as a versatile and capable drop bar rig with a mid-point price tag. Miles spent time exploring the gravel roads on the west coast to find out what it does best. Find his review here, plus a deep dive into the geometry of several other comparable alloy gravel bikes…
Jess Daddio became “competition curious” last year and decided to hang up her steel rig and try out the fast-and-light Sage Storm King, a versatile titanium drop-bar machine that can clear 2.4″ tires. After putting well over 1,000 miles on it this summer, bikepacking, gravel grinding, and even trail riding, Jess reports back with a full review…
As mentioned in part one, 650B Gravel(plus) Bikes, bikepacking bikes come in all shapes and sizes. Drop-bar mountain bikes are one of the more popular manifestations, favored among Tour Dividers, weekend escapists, and those hellbent on a one-bike stable—especially the drop-bar 29er. In short, riders find these bikes both comfortable and efficient. Here’s part two […]
New for 2021, Bombtrack rolled out a titanium version of their popular Hook EXT all-road frameset. We got our hands on one and spent a couple of weeks riding it around Berlin for this exclusive first look. Find complete details, tons of photos, and initial impressions here…
We take Jones’ premium, all titanium SWB—clad in a wardrobe of boutique parts—for an extended test ride. And we ask the question: if money is no object, can one frameset really provide a viable heart (and soul) for a bikepacking rig, a fast gravel machine, and a trail-worthy mountain bike? Read on to find out…
For our latest video, Neil got ahold of the the all-new Surly Disc Trucker for a first ride review. Find his thoughts on the bike as well as footage of the “captured thru-axles” and other unique features new to the bike…
Despite being a small brand, Melbourne-based Curve Cycling has built quite a reputation for their range of unique adventure-focused bikes. Lucas spent six weeks riding their Kevin of Steel around sunny southern Spain over the winter for this full review. Find his thoughts and lots of photos here…
With drop-bars and a 40mm suspension fork, skeptics feared that the Knolly Cache was a gravel bike with an identity crises. To uncover the truth, Hank Hansen tested the titanium model and came back with some interesting conclusions in this in depth review…
With clearance for 27.5 x 2.4″ tires, a quick and nimble geometry, and double dropped chainstays, the Open WI.DE. (Winding Detours) is a coveted and capable machine. Joe Cruz put this bike through a full test with big 27.5″ mountain bike knobbies in Colombia and 700C gravel tires back in Vermont. Read his detailed review here.
Originally published Jan 2nd, 2019 / Major update: May 21, 2020 Bikepacking bikes come in all shapes and sizes—everything from plus-tire hardtails to svelte gravel race rigs, and from full-squish to fully rigid steeds. One of the most prevalent configurations combines drop-bars with big tires. The term monstercross came about to define such bikes that […]
Years after its initial release, we finally got our mitts on the newly updated MOOTS Baxter for an eight-month test ride on trails, gravel, and everything in between. Logan put nearly 1,000 miles on it for this in-depth review, complete with a highlight reel video, comparison to other Tour DIvide-specific bikes, and loads of photos.
Released this morning, the updated 2020 Ritchey Outback has more mounts, revised geometry, and clearance for 650b x 2.0” tires. We were lucky enough to get one a few weeks ago and have put together a full review to coincide with today’s launch. Miles spent that time cruising Vancouver Island’s dreamy gravel and dirt for this exclusive first look. Find Miles’ thoughts and lots of photos here…
