Inspiration & Blog

The fourth and final episode of Belén Castelló’s “Cycling Northern Vietnam” series finds her pedaling her last few hundred kilometers and reflecting on the many lessons and beautiful moments from her first big solo bikepacking trip. Watch it here…

Doom & Despair is a new film documenting Zach Gass’ attempt at the 2024 Doom and Despair bikepacking event in Arkansas. Over 100 riders participated in the 400 or 200-mile event, challenged by unpredictable weather, limited services, and challenging terrain… many of them did not finish. Watch the 20-minute film here…

In “Fellow Rovers,” Jeremy Nolan tells the story of a bikepacking getaway with his dad and reflects on what the short but unforgettable journey meant to both of them. Read his heartfelt tale of midnight animal encounters, punchy climbs, and bonding over a new shared experience here…

Clotaire Mandel is currently seven years and over 70,000 kilometers into a massive bikepacking trip around the world. His latest video documents his time riding from Moab to Nevada, where he learned to love the sound of silence and the beauty of remoteness. Watch the video and find a short written reflection here…

After reading “The Rough-Stuff Fellowship Archive” from Isola Press, Nic had a long, hard think about what the kinds of adventures depicted mean to him. Featuring images from the earliest days of off-road riding, the book provided fertile ground for Nic to analyze how modern cycling is presented, its impact on the development and progression of the industry, and more. He asks one simple question: Has marketing ruined bikes? Dive in below to find out…

Short on time and seeking a logistically easy bikepacking getaway, this spring, Izzy Wedderburn and a friend hopped on a quick ferry ride from England to France for a few days of pedaling along the Petite Tour de Manche route. In this piece, Izzy offers a reminder that even a small trip has the potential to be a big adventure. Read it here…

With many big wins and an unwaveringly positive spirit, Lithuanian ultra-distance racer Justinas Leveika is a beloved figure in the bikepacking world. While pedaling alongside him at a handful of events, Ryan Le Garrec stitched together an eclectic interview from the saddle that helps unearth some of Justinas’ history, motivations, and ambitions. Read it with photos here…

Our latest installment of Rider’s Lens introduces Chilean photographer Pablo Selman, who presents a selection of film and digital images documenting his new home in Colorado and his South American roots. Read Pablo’s story of learning to shoot from the saddle, flip through his printed photobooks, and learn about his way of seeing the world here…

In her third video from Northern Vietnam, Belén Castelló shares a glimpse of her time solo bikepacking through the dramatic mountains of one of the region’s most-visited provinces. Along the way, she reflects on the contrasting experiences of visiting highly curated areas and those that have maintained more of their local character…

In “The Stand,” Tanner Arrington explores the concept of origin stories and delves deep into the saga of how receiving a basic repair stand as a teenager ignited a lifelong love of bicycles and altered his way of engaging with the world. Read his fascinating tale of appreciation, passion, and connection here…

Following the sale of the popular route-planning platform Komoot to private equity, Josh Meissner examines the troubling mechanics of the community-powered service beyond its friendly brand image. Using Komoot as an example, he explores the broken relationship between corporate capital and our communities. Amid the tension, discover a way forward that’s available to all of us…

Ultra-distance racer Sofiane Sehili is currently three weeks into his world record attempt for the fastest bicycle crossing of Eurasia. Contributor Ryan Le Garrec caught up with Sofiane before his departure to gain a better understanding of his motivations and outlook. Learn about Sofiane’s cycling origin story and follow his ride here…