Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
Our Reader’s Rig of the week comes from Alex Kowalski, who shares the 10-year-old titanium hardtail from Black Sheep Bikes that he recently rode to a singlespeed victory at the 2025 Atlas Mountain Race in Morocco. Meet Alex and read the heartfelt tale of his journey to bikepacking here…
Words by Alex Kowalski, photos by Nils Laengner
Hi, my name is Alex Kowalski. I was born in Caracas, Venezuela, but my family emigrated to the States when I was seven years old. Although I’ve spent most of my life in the U.S., I still find it hard to consider myself fully American. My European and Latin American roots, along with early exposure to different cultures, gave me the foresight and hope that life isn’t just about the American rat race that so many people get caught up in.
I say this as if I managed to avoid it entirely, but for years, I was right in the thick of it. After studying hospitality management and real estate at university, I landed a desk job in hotel real estate brokerage, something I thought I loved until I realized I actually despised it. It took a broken heart from a past relationship and the passing of my sister-in-law’s mother for me to have a true epiphany: life is too short to spend time with or work for people who don’t appreciate you. That moment shifted my priorities. I started focusing more on relationships with friends and family, seeking meaningful life experiences, and allowing my obsession with outdoor sports—especially ultra-cycling—to flourish.
My introduction to cycling came through my brother, Ian, who biked across the U.S. from Washington State to Washington, D.C. My family and I met him at the finish, and I remember feeling incredibly proud of him for taking on such an enormous challenge. That experience planted a seed. Not long after, I stumbled upon bikepacking and naturally found my way to BIKEPACKING.com.
Soon after, I bought my first adventure rig: the All-City Gorilla Monsoon, an absolute blast of a monstercross bike that carried me on countless trips through Colorado’s stunning gravel roads, mountain passes, and backcountry areas. Bikepacking led me to the world of bikepack racing, where riders like Kurt Refsnider and Alexandera Houchin became idols. For years, I was just a dot-watcher, obsessively following ultra cyclists until I finally reached a breaking point: I needed to stop idolizing and start doing.
In 2022, with zero racing experience, I found a race in Colorado called the New Colo and thought, “Fuck it. I gotta sign up for one of these wacky races.” I reached out to Casey Rhea about registration for the New Colo, and that was that! Gregg Dunham, Casey Rhea, and I became the first to finish the route. It was undeniable when I crossed the finish line: I had found something that lit a fire inside me.
Fast forward to today, and I have to stop myself from signing up for too many races yearly. Ultra racing is my main focus, but I also cherish simple day rides and multi-day tours. I love the entire process of planning routes, organizing trips, and discovering new places to ride and camp in the wild. This isn’t just a hobby. It’s a passion, a lifestyle, and the thing that makes me feel most alive.
There’s something special about a bike that finds you at the right time. My Black Sheep, a 10-year-old titanium hardtail from Fort Collins, Colorado, came into my life as a used frame on Pinkbike. Over the years, I’ve shaped it into the ultimate tool for long-distance bikepacking races. It’s been my companion through countless miles, including my rookie run at the 2024 Tour Divide, where I took first place in the singlespeed category and managed to finish in the top 15 overall. Much more than just a race machine, this bike has carried me through the deepest valleys of loss and back into the light.
Black Sheep Bikes has a reputation for crafting some of the most unique and beloved titanium rigs in the bike world. Last year, I made the pilgrimage to Fort Collins to meet James Bleakley, the mastermind behind Black Sheep, and have him fine-tune my frame.
- Frame: Second-hand custom Black Sheep
- Fork: Fox Step-Cast 120mm
- Rims: Whisky No.9 36w/Nox Teocali
- Hubs: Shutter Precision Dynamo (front) / Industry Nine (rear)
- Tires: Continental Cross King/Race King 2.2”
- Handlebars: SQlab 30x
- Grips: Wolf Tooth Fat Paw grips with Cane Creek bar ends
- Headset: Chris King
- Crankset: eeWings w/ Wolf Tooth 34T chainring
- Pedals: Shimano XT
- Cog: Chris King 20t
- Brakes: Paul Klampers
- Seatpost: Black Sheep Ti
- Stem: Thomson
- Front bags: South City Stitchworks Prototype aero bar harness
- Frame bags: Dispersed frame and full-length top tube bag
- Rear bags: South City Stitchworks prototype rear rack harness
- Other accessories: Profile Designs Aero Bar, SQlab Inner Bar Ends
The entrance to Black Sheep Bikes is unassuming, but stepping inside, you quickly realize you’re in a titanium laboratory. Tubes, welds, and wild ideas fill the space, with experimental builds scattered around, such as a titanium 36er and a tandem fabricated by James’ son and Cjell of Monē Bikes. During my visit, James stripped away some unnecessary cable guides and added a few key custom mounts for my Mica Cycles Rat Tail rear rack.
Skyler of Mica Cycles has created one of the lightest yet strongest and durable racks I’ve ever used. Once James installed the custom mounts on the seat stays and seatpost, the rack became a seamless extension of the bike. It’s completely rattle-free and rock solid, even on the roughest backcountry terrain. This kind of attention to detail makes James and Black Sheep Bikes special: every tweak, weld, and modification is done with a deep understanding of what these bikes endure in the wild.
My bike is built for reliability, efficiency, and comfort over thousands of miles of rugged terrain. The drivetrain is singlespeed, because simplicity wins in ultra-endurance racing. No distractions and fewer mechanical failures—just you and the terrain. The cockpit has wide 780mm bars paired with bar-ends for leverage, foam grips, aero bars, and inner bar ends for a multitude of hand positions. The wheels and tires are a dialed 29er setup that balances speed, durability, and comfort (typically paired with a dynamo hub). My suspension is currently set up with a 120mm fork, but I’ve been tempted to run a custom rigid fork!
What really makes this rig special is the custom bag setup, handcrafted by some of the best bag makers in the game. Working with Zach Smith of South City Stitchworks in St. Louis, Missouri, and Andrew Strempke of Dispersed Bikepacking in La Sal, Utah, allowed me to dial in a system that fits exactly how I need it to.
South City Stitchworks delivered bombproof designs for two harnesses that keep everything snug, stable, and rattle-free, even on the roughest terrain. Zach’s attention to detail is unreal, and the ability to tweak dimensions and features to suit my riding style was a game-changer. Designed by Dispersed, the frame bag maximizes space while keeping a low center of gravity, which is key for loaded riding. The fit is so precise that it feels like part of the frame itself. The full-length top-tube bag is ideal for stuffing thousands of calories and other easy-to-reach items for long adventures.
The difference in working one-on-one with makers like Zach and Andrew is huge. Instead of generic, one-size-fits-all solutions, I have bags specifically designed for the demands of rugged backcountry racing. It is gear made with passion by people who genuinely understand the needs of riders pushing the limits.
Bikepacking has given me more than just adventure; it has been my therapy. A few years ago, I lost my best friend, and the weight of that grief has been something I still carry. Racing and long solo rides have become the most profound way to process that loss. There’s something about the simplicity of pedaling for days on end, the rhythm of breathing, the vastness of the landscapes, and the silence of remote trails that helps untangle the knots of grief in a way nothing else does.
When I ride, I feel closer to Jack. The suffering of climbing through the night, the exhaustion, the highs and lows—it all strips life down to its rawest form, making space for clarity and healing. Beyond the races, beyond the podiums, this bike and this sport have been my way forward.
This Black Sheep is so-so-so much more than a bike. It’s a testament to the miles, the struggles, the friendships, and the healing I’ve found through bikepacking. Whether itaking on a race like the Tour Divide or just disappearing into the woods with friends, this bike is built for the long haul.
You can follow along with Alex’s races and rides on Instagram.
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