Your Stories

Following a two-week solo bikepacking tour along the Australian Outback’s Anne Beadell Highway, Dylan Kentch put together this reflection that weaves together the past and present. Read about his experiences of pedaling at a snail’s pace through a 1,300-kilometer stretch of remote, arid, and unforgiving terrain here…

We’ve shared many riders’ perspectives from the Silk Road Mountain Race (SRMR) since the event was launched in 2018, but in this unique piece, we hear from Julia Nicksch, a volunteer who was working at one of the checkpoints during the weeklong race. Find a behind-the-scenes look at the 2022 SRMR here, paired with a fantastic gallery of images from rider and photographer Stefan Haehnel…

With a dear friend visiting from Italy, Marcus Nicolson was eager to show off as many beautiful Scottish gravel tracks and remote bothies as he could cram into a long weekend on the bikes. Find his story of maximizing their time away by keeping the faff to a minimum here…

Following the 2022 Silk Road Mountain Race in Kyrgyzstan last month, Belén Castelló and Tristan Bogaard sat down with a diverse group of participants for a deep dive into their varied experiences during this year’s race. From the overall winner to several riders who were forced to scratch, find their post-ride interviews here…

Taking advantage of a sunny weekend in Bellingham, Washington, last winter, Ben Groenhout and his partner Kelsey pedaled out to nearby Larabee State Park for a night under the stars with their three- and six-year-old children. Find Ben’s story of introducing his young ones to bikepacking and a charming set of photos here…

Last month, more than 200 riders gathered in Cornwall, UK, for the 2022 Pan Celtic Race, a 1,600-mile, self-supported cycling adventure through the Celtic Nations of Wales and Ireland. After seeing the race leaders roll through town last year, Lawrence Walters decided to tackle this year’s event on a £140 track bike. Find his story and a stunning gallery of photos by Dan King here…

While pushing his bike down Fleecer Ridge on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, Spencer Dillon found himself wondering, “Why does this road suck?” In this unique essay, Spencer investigates the question and examines some of the many kinds of roads available to bikepackers in the United States and how they came to be. Read it here…

Continuing his foray into bikepacking, Abhirup Bose returned to the Indian Himalayas for a ride through Zanskar with a couple of friends. Find his story of experiencing pure joy and being overwhelmed by his home country’s beauty during their 14-day trip here, paired with another colorful set of photos…

Following beloved bikepacker Iohan Gueorguiev’s death last year, Federico Cabrera organized a tribute ride to carry some of Iohan’s gear down the final stretch of his unfinished journey to Ushuaia, Argentina. Find Federico’s story of his trip to honor Iohan and a stunning photo gallery from Patagonia here…

Looking back on the two months she spent touring the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route last summer, our friend Jessica Shadduck from Ponderosa Cyclery in Nebraska wrote this refreshing piece on what the experience meant to her. Read her candid story of how the 2,700-mile route broke her down and built her back up here…

Following his experience at the 2022 Thunderbolts Adventure in New South Wales, Australia, rider Scott Mattern put together a unique report that weaves the area’s history with a story from the 250-kilometer route. Find it here, paired with a set of images from Ready Aim Media…

The year before his death, Mike Hall, founder of the Transcontinental Race, spoke to George Tyson about what it’s like to run the world’s toughest bike race. The eighth edition of the Transcontinental begins this weekend, and, although Mike’s no longer at the helm, his legacy lives on…