A growing compilation of reviews, from bikepacking bags to bike components, apparel and camping gear. Sort through reviews by category, or find the latest below.
Revelate Designs makes a couple of excellent solutions for toting gear on the handlebars. As I was weighing out which one would be functionally perfect for Gin on our upcoming trip, I jotted down a few notes…
Pedals and shoes have taken up a bit of research time recently. For all my past mountain biking exploits and previous travels I’ve passionately ridden SPDs, with clipless pedals as they are oddly dubbed. Not this time. Here is some minutiae regarding my foray into platforms and bike travel shoes.
Space (and weight) versus comfort is a tricky (and expensive) battle that we cyclocampers fight regularly. Tents, sleeping bags and pads make up the majority of heft and bulk that has to be packed and stowed. In an effort to go as ultralight as possible for an upcoming trip, with minimal luggage, I put together a kit using The Mother of Comfort.
I’ve always admired the lust-inducing photos of vintage, quill-driven, lugged randonneuring gems, beautifully documented within the pages of sites such as Lovely Bicycle. So I decided to attempt and give one of these old steeds a shiny second life.
Never having operated a sewing machine, I have always been fascinated and intimidated by the fabric arts. I decided that a trial-by-fire is the best way to learn and made a canvas frame bag one afternoon…
Steve has been a trustworthy and tough steed that has now been on two international tours. He has a few scratches and dings, but still looks sharp.
I’m a die-hard side sleeper, and no spring chicken, so a wafer thin Thermarest mat isn’t an option. After a long ride, fully loaded, having a fairly thick and plush pad is a must, no matter the weight penalty. And now you don’t have to have carry a 2 pound gigantic bundle in order to be comfortable…
Finding the ideal tire is something that two-wheeled nomads seem to spend a lot of time thinking about prior to, and during a trip. I have talked with folks who have blown out a couple of sidewalls, been plagued with flats or just went through several inferior sets of rubber. They all come full circle to the Mondial after a while. Or at the very least, they want a pair.
I had read somewhere that Selle Anatomica’s Titanico is the cadillac of long-distance saddles…The king of comfort. So before going on our Central American bumpy road odyssey I thought I’d give it a shot, for my ass’s sake. Here is my 6,000 kilometer review.
Five ultra-lightweight and very functional DIY stoves for bikepacking and bike touring. Made from handsome cans that housed some hoppy brew. Built and tested.
Here is my grocery getter and around town bike. I built this over the summer from a crusty $50 relic I found on Craigslist.
Surly never ceases to amaze by putting out new bikes that I immediately need. They just released two really cool rigs that fill various niche gaps in their steel frame lineup. In this post, we’ll have a quick peek at the ECR and Straggler as well as explore their nonpareil, adventure-specific lineup.
