Rider & Rig

In our first video Rider and Rig, Neil catches up with Chris Besnia of Goodday Bike Works in Colorado to get the lowdown on the Rufous, a beautiful handbuilt rando-inspired gravel bike with a truss fork. Chris walks us through why he built it, gives an overview of the components, and shares his packing list for a recent overnighter…

With its integrated tent and table, Fischer Olpin’s self-made Adventure Tall Bike is one of the most fascinating rigs we’ve stumbled upon in a while. See photos of his one-of-a-kind bike in action and get to know the 24-year-old product designer and bikepacking bag maker here…

In our latest Rider and Rig, we catch up with Samer Abouhamad on his way down to Patagonia aboard his streamlined Bombtrack EXT. We talk Beirut, Redshift Kitchen Sinks, Crocs, cakes, and we even rescue a little puppy too. Plus, find Samer’s full gear list for his journey across the Americas…

As luck would have it, Karl Kroll was recently seen cycling through the neighbourhood, giving us the chance to chat to the long-distance bikepacker as he puts the final pieces down for his mammoth Americas Bike Trip jigsaw. Over a local campout and an ice cream float, we talk about everything from Ecuadorian Dangle Llamas to packing bearings with bananas, bikey family heirlooms to triple-padded bar-ends, along with unfortunate finds in the Copper Canyon and running a YouTube channel. Plus, check out his complete gearlist honed after 31 months on the road…

Over the winter, Cass was fortunate enough to receive two of his favourite and most prolific bikepackers as houseguests: Chris Campbell and Amanda Andros. As part of this informal “Let’s go for a ride” series, he joins them on the first day of the Trans-Mexico Sur to talk to them about their Ti Timberjacks, living within their means, and going where the wind takes them…

There’s a group of more than 50 women out pedaling along the quiet roads and doubletracks of the 700-kilometer Montañas Vacías route across Spanish Lapland right now. Photographer Rugile Kaladyte was at the start to shoot portraits of all 55 riders and their rigs before they set off. Find the full gallery here…

This weekend, Andrew Strempke set off to see how quickly he could ride the entire Monumental Loop in Southern New Mexico. Turns out he can move pretty swiftly, and he set a new fastest known time on the 245-mile route. We caught up with him a few days later for a short interview and to snap some photos of his bike setup…

We talk cargo bikes, Border Collies, and tree planting with JC, Zaïna, and Basquiat – aka Cargodoggo. Find out how Basquiat and JC found each other, how Zaïna’s identity as a BIPOC rider has shaped her newfound love of bike touring, and how the Cargodoggo team got into dogpacking. Plus, check out a gallery of their photos from the San José del Pacífico Grand Dirt Tour and glean sage dogpacking advice, should you be inspired to do the same…

Long after taking her Hayduke on the inaugural Baja Divide Grand Depart, Emma Bucke shares a more recent reinvention of the bike. Discover how a few component changes and some evolving gear choices have turned a flawed favorite into a bike that’s far more tuned to her needs, transforming her confidence and enjoyment on trails and making this classic steel hardtail finally feel like it’s her own…

It’s always a pleasure to meet up with old friends. Cass enjoys the chance to entertain a bikepacking and foodie amigo in Oaxaca, the perfect locale to ride bikes and eat fine fare. And Cale brings a wonderful custom Waltworks along for the trip. Read on to find more about Cale and his partner Melissa’s bikes, complete with S&S couplings, portage handles, and back-friendly geometries…

There’s a group of 21 women riding the 700-kilometer Torino-Nice Rally through Italy and France right now, and Tristan Bogaard was at the start to capture a portrait of each rider and rig. Find those here, plus an introduction from Lael Wilcox…

The 2021 Hungarian Divide took off from Smaragdvölgy, Hungary, last month and challenged riders with a 600km or 1,200km route across the country. The organizers sent details on more than 70 rigs that were at the starting line, plus a short race recap. See the full gallery here…