Bikepacking Culture

The 2018 Tour Divide Grand Depart will launch shortly, and weeks of following racers will commence for those of us who aren’t taking part. Again this year, Mike Hall’s dot will trace along the digital route map, encouraging riders to try to beat his course record of 13 days, 22 hours, and 51 minutes, set in 2016. In memory of Mike, longtime fan Thomas Hassler put together this tribute…

After spending a week bikepacking among the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona, we stopped in at Rogue Panda Designs, tucked away in the backstreets of nearby Flagstaff. Find out what makes this bikepacking bag business tick, learn about its distinctive flag-themed framebags, discover the story behind its quirky name… and enjoy an ultralight recipe from owner Nick Smolinske.

Made in Taiwan. Made in China. These words have been stigmatized by Western consumers for decades. Cjell Monē​ recounts his time working with master frame builders there and asks, “Why? Why do we assume ‘Made in China’ or ‘Made in Taiwan’ means shitty?”

Hollywood touring insider, Ultra Romance, investigates behind the scenes of the nation’s #1 hand built bike show. Join Ultra Romeo as he reports beyond the glossy paint jobs and meticulously filed lugs of the bespoke cycling industry. What titillating new revelations did this year hold for the world of adventure cycling? Who wore it best? All these salacious details and more right here in this tell all cyberweb dossier…

Your comments and discussion play a major role in what makes this site special. From helping keep routes updated, to offering valuable opinion on the topic at hand, we are grateful for every last one. As a nod to our appreciation, here is a list of the top 12 most commented posts of 2017.

Part three of our 2017 Bikepacking Awards honors the people who have been instrumental in the bikepacking community with inspiring trips and acts of good will as it relates to bikepacking. In addition, we’ve awarded the incredible routes and rides that people have created and shared for others to enjoy…

In part two of our 2017 Bikepacking Awards triptych, we recognize gear that’s made a lasting impression in categories, including ‘Best New Component’, ‘Best Tools’, and ‘Top 5 Bikepacking Bikes’, plus thoughts on the bikes that capture our interest most for 2018..

In celebration of another great year for the bikepacking community, we’re happy to announce our 2017 bikepacking awards. Part One of three honors the creative arts, showcasing talented bikepackers with 24 awards in 6 categories, including ‘Best Short Film’, ‘Best Trip Photography’, and best art…

There are countless sound arguments against this article’s title: Consumerism begets waste. Materialism amplifies economic inequality. Supporting corporations is unsustainable. Better to use what you have. Etc. But given the outdoor gear industry’s position and reach, as evidenced in the aftermath of last Monday, consider this…

After riding the Colorado Trail over the summer, we stopped by and said hi to Andrew Wracher and Joey Ernst at Bedrock Bags, Durango. Read on to learn about their obsession with geology, discover where they like to bikepack most, and glean just what makes the business tick…

“Isn’t bikepacking getting too commercialized? Why do you publicize routes? Don’t we want fewer people on trails? And what exactly is bikepacking? Isn’t that just a new word for touring?” Those are just a few of the questions we’re asked regularly. To answer such queries into our motives, here’s our mission statement, and why we think the growth of bikepacking is one of the best things to happen to both riders and the bike industry…

Just a few weeks ago, Justin Simoni (AKA “The Long Ranger”) finished bikepacking and climbing 105 of Colorado’s highest peaks. The self-supported, non-stop trip required 380,000+ feet of elevation gain and was completed in just over 60 days. We interviewed Justin to try and wrap our heads around this insane accomplishment…