Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
Video Guide to the Trans Ecuador MTB Route
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In our first-ever video route guide, filmmaker Jay Ritchey and Cass Gilbert offer a stunning and informative look at the Trans Ecuador Mountain Bike Route. If you aren’t familiar with the TEMBR, this is a must-watch feature. And if you’re considering riding the route, this film will surely have you packing your bags…
A lot has been said on this site about the Trans Ecuador Mountain Bike Route (TEMBR), the 850-mile (1,370km) bikepacking route that runs the length of the country’s volcanic corridor. So, we’ll keep it brief and get straight to the video. This is the first of what we hope will be many video guides created to accompany our bikepacking routes, providing a taste of what to expect. Watch below, and find links to related information further down.
The Video Guide to TEMBR was written and narrated by our own Cass Gilbert and filmed and produced by Jay Ritchey. Support for the film was provided by Porcelain Rocket, makers of excellent bikepacking gear such as the 52hz frame pack seen in the film; WTB, whose Ranger+ tires were ridden while on the route; Roadrunner Bags and their excellent Jumbo Jammer bag; Hyperlite Mountain Gear, whose UltaMid kept the equipment dry; and Voilé, whose infinitely versatile straps held it all together.
As a little peek behind the scenes, Jay carried some 8-10 lbs of filmmaking gear, including a DJI Mavic Pro drone, a Lumix GH5, 8 batteries (4 camera and 4 drone), cables, microphones (a lav mic and Rode shotgun), lenses (Lumix 12-35 2.8, Lumix 35-100 2.8, and a Speedmaster 25mm .95, as well as chargers, filters, cables, solid state storage, lens wipes, and all the rest. You can find out a whole lot more about Jay’s setup on his Rider and Rig feature.
The Trans Ecuador Mountain Bike Route – the Dirt Road Version – runs the length of the country’s volcanic corridor, following jeep tracks and tertiary, low-traffic sealed roads. Meandering a remote course through the Ecuadorian Andes, it connects vibrant, colourful market towns with small mountain settlements. Amongst many highlights, its itinerary includes the volcanic trio of Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, and Chimborazo, as well as the beautiful colonial city of Cuenca. Find out more here. Also, make sure to check out Cass’ recent ride gallery from the same trip.
More info on Jay Ritchey
In case you haven’t seen it, Jay’s observational documentary, Bikepacking the Mongolian Steppe, is highly regarded. For more on Jay’s filmic adventures, follow him on Instagram or at his website.
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