Reader’s Rig: Colton’s Bombtrack Beyond 1

I’m Colton Berk, and I’m from Bend, Oregon, where I work as a barista and pour beers for outdoor festivals. I’ve been commuting by bike for a while, but a couple years back I spent a summer in North Dakota, and during my time there I hosted some cyclists who were touring across the US. It was the first time I learned you could do that, just tour around with nothing but your bike, and I’d been wanting to do it ever since.

Last year, I’d been talking about ordering a bike from my local shop for a few months, and while I was researching bikes I thought, “might as well make it off road capable, too.” That’s how I landed on the Bombtrack. While I was in the middle of saving for one, my old Fuji commuter bike’s rear hub exploded one day as I was riding home, so I figured it was time I finally get my order in, if a bit earlier than planned. In the past, I’ve only ever owned used bikes, so getting a new one was quite a trip. I named him Belafonte and the bike has garnered a lot of attention, being the only Bombtrack in town.

Living in Bend allows you to finish work and just hop straight onto some trails and camp. Last year, I went out on an overnighter pretty much anytime I could. And along with the help of some friends, we started a Coffee Outside chapter in town.

My first big tour was last September, when I completed the Oregon Outback during the first week of the month. A few of us started together, but due to some unfortunate circumstance I had to finish it solo. This coming summer, I hope to get into more gravel grinders and group rides, and I’d like to do something like the Cross-Washington Mountain Bike Route (XWA) in the future.

• Frame/Fork Bombtrack Beyond 1 (Large)
• Rims WTB STP i19
• Hubs BT Bikes “Title-Disc”
• Tires Terravail Sparwood 29 x 2.25″ tubeless
• Handlebar BT Bikes “Beyond”
• Crankset SRAM X5
• Cassette SRAM 10-speed 11-36T
• Derailleur(s) SRAM X5 Front, SRAM GX Rear
• Brakes TRP Spyre C
• Shifter(s) SRAM Apex
• Saddle Brooks B17
• Front Rack CETMA
• Front Bag(s) Swift Portuer Bag
• Rear Bag(s) Dirtbags Bikepacking “Minimalist Seatbag” + Oveja Negra Lunchbox
• Accessory Bag(s) Rogue Panda rolltop frame bag, Oveja Negra XL Snack Pack, Chuckbucket x2

You can find Colton on Instagram @coltron_and_company.

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