Inspiration & Blog

In our latest installment of Rider’s Lens, we introduce Japanese artist Tetsuro Ohno and his “Uncle Rinne” character, through which he hopes to share the many facets of cycling culture with an audience around the world. Find Tetsuro’s story of discovering a passion for riding and a gallery of his distinctive illustrations here…

Reader Ali Becker in British Columbia recently sent in this short poem that was inspired by the overnighter and nicely captures the restorative nature of spending a night out under the stars. Read it here…

Just premiered, “Explore Your Boundaries” is a new documentary from Markus Stitz and Mark Beaumont about finding adventure close to home. It follows the duo on a handful of the 24 Scottish gravel routes they developed for the project to encourage local people to discover their backyard. Find the video, a photo gallery, and all of the routes here…

Following her successful completion of the challenging 1,300-kilometer Tour Te Waipounamu across New Zealand’s awe-inspiring South Island, Eileen Schwab put together this recap of her time spent navigating the route and its many surprises. Find her story and a vibrant gallery of photos from several participants here…

Somehow, off-road cycling enthusiasts got stuck with two terms to describe a broad range of bicycles that cover a variety of disciplines. We think it’s about time the cycling community reclaimed the term ATB—All Terrain Bicycle—to describe some of them. In this opinion piece, we ask why and examine the history and future of the term. Read it here, along with a list of bikes that fit this mold and what we’d like to see…

A dog, a bunch of friends, and an unexpectedly perfect dozen eggs head to Orcas Island, Washington, for a last-minute bikepacking trip with no real plan. Watch Kona’s latest video, “Going The Eggstra Mile,” here…

In November, Marcus Nicolson and friends set off for a multi-day bikepacking trip through Argyll and Scotland’s Western Highlands, charting a new route that saw them clambering down rock faces, trotting through bogs, and savoring the refuge of the occasional bothy. Read on for the story of their off-season adventure, featuring a dramatic photo gallery from Doug Somerville…

Following their recent tour of New Zealand’s legendary Old Ghost Road, Sam Rice and Becky Norman put together this ride report with some thoughts on riding the challenging track on fully loaded bikepacking rigs and a sweeping gallery of photos from the beautiful South Island. Find it all here…

Set amid the stunning landscapes of Tasmania’s West Coast, “The Edge of the West” is a video that follows Mick Turnbull and Danielle O’Hara as they spend a week pedaling and packrafting their way along sandy beaches and down rivers. Watch it here…

Created as a companion piece to the two-part video report we recently published from her ride across Sardinia, “(not) Cycling the TranSardinia” is a short video from Belén Castelló that fills in the gaps by focusing on the many moments spent off the bike during her 10-day journey with friends. Watch it here…

Inspired by our Good Night 2020 campout challenge last year, the Knoth family committed to pedaling out for a family overnighter every month for a year. Read on for their story of growing as a family through their shared love of bikepacking, no matter the weather…

Back in December, Annie Le became the first person to complete Scotland’s Highland Trail 550 route in winter. Find a detailed retelling of her seven-day adventure through the Highlands, battling miles of snow, waist-deep river crossings, and dark days here, plus an extensive gallery of photos from Huw Oliver…