Your Stories

Can there be a more poetic swansong for your favourite old mountain bike – the one you could never bring yourself to part with – than transforming it into something completely wondrous and magical? Cass remembers touring on his On One Inbred of yesteryear, and after painfully witnessing its dismemberment, rejoices in its imaginative reanimation…

Following the 2021 Oregon Timber Trail Grand Depart earlier this summer, photographer Conan Thai reflects on finding community and making the most of his time on the rugged backcountry route despite record temperatures and wildfire risks. Find his story and a collection of images here…

Lael Wilcox rolled out of Banff just a couple weeks ago for her 2021 Tour Divide individual time trial. The first couple of days seemed to be going well, despite a run-in with a mountain lion. However, the wildfire smoke that blanketed Montana forced Lael to make a decision for her own safety. Find Lael’s reflection on the ride here alongside a photo gallery from the trip…

Following a four-day group bikepacking trip across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Garrett Denney and Josh Rizzo share their story of getting 10 friends together to ride and reconnect. Find a written recap, short video, and map of their route here…

Three years after being hit by a car and breaking his neck in the Dolomites, Evan Christenson recently returned to Italy to rewrite his story on the same stretch of road that nearly claimed his life. Find the first installment from Evan’s ride from Italy to Armenia and a spectacular set of photos here…

Photographer Martin Lortz and a group of intergenerational friends recently took on the 2021 BT700 bikepacking event in Southwestern Ontario, pedaling through some 760 kilometers of rolling landscapes. Find his story of experiencing highs, lows, and Canadian hospitality here…

Cass Gilbert sets out to repeat a bicycle trip he tackled early in his touring career… a journey to the highest sand dune in Europe. More than 20 years on, he hopes his son Sage will enjoy riding to France’s towering Dune de Pilat as much as he did. Also, find Sage’s full packlist from the trip and a reflection on the Argos technical tartan rug from back in the day…

It had been a long time coming: After relocating to Oaxaca, Mexico, Cass Gilbert shares a favorite local route with visiting friends, savoring the time-honored tradition of revealing treasured trails to visitors… and sharing the best tlayudas and tortas in town. Find his route report and a vibrant selection of photos here…

Seeking an adventure and wanting to deepen his understanding of his own country, first-time bikepacker Tulio Tercero strapped a few bags to his bike and pedaled off for a multi-week trip across Honduras. Find his story of letting go of his reservations and experiencing his backyard from the saddle here…

Cass Gilbert spends a near perfect holiday touring with his son Sage around France’s delightful Île de Ré, pondering the merits of traffic-free riding for family adventures, whatever the surfaces may be. If kite flying, beachcombing, oyster sampling, and ice cream eating sound like your idea of an appealing summer escape, you’ll likely enjoy yourself there as much as he and his son did, too…

Spain is nothing less than a dirt-touring utopia, especially in Valencia, where the Burrally showcases the country’s abundant beauty, the richness of its culture, and its extensive network of gravel roads. Cass Gilbert reports in from his time along the route and celebrates Europe’s remarkable rights of way…

With his winter travel schedule mostly cleared by the pandemic, photographer Chris McClean headed out for a unique trip right from his front door, using a bike and packraft to rediscover an area in the North East of England that was a playground for him growing up. Read his story of finding joy and gratitude in his backyard here…