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Riley: A Buckshot Story (Video)
As the world of self-supported bikepack racing evolves and times and average speeds get more competitive, is there a place for new riders? Riley Merrell, a first-time racer and dedicated father and husband, decided to find out at the 2025 Buckshot event this spring, with a goal to finish the 385-kilometer route in under 24 hours. Watch Mike Coulter’s video of Riley’s story and the event here…
Words, photos, and video by Mike Coulter
Unsupported bikepack racing events in British Columbia have seemingly exploded in popularity. What drew barely a handful of riders only a few short years ago now sees over 100 eager racers lined up at the start. Blistering finishing times and blazing average speeds that previously seemed impossible have become the norm, and the limits are only being pushed further each year.
How do new riders fit into this newly evolved bikepacking landscape? Is there still a place for a first-time rider who also balances the responsibilities of a full-time job and a young family at home?
Meet Riley Merrell, an experienced cyclist from Ladner, British Columbia, and a dedicated husband and father. This will be Riley’s first bikepacking ultra and is a challenge he’s been preparing for all year long. Equipped with his wealth of optimism, kindness, and contagious sense of humour, Riley set off to finish the Buckshot in under 24 hours.
This goal would require riding into the night for the first time, navigating a completely new series of roads, and testing all of his gear in some truly arduous conditions. Along with dozens of other first-time Buckshot riders, Riley would find out first-hand if there is still a place for new riders in the bikepack racing community. Is it all about competition, or is there something more to be found out on course?
The Buckshot is an annual Bikepacking Endurance event based out of Kamloops, British Columbia. Every year, the route changes, but it always starts and finished at the same location. The event is self-supported, unofficial, and unsanctioned. The route this year was roughly 385 kilometers with about 5,600 meters of climbing, and as is customary with the Buckshot, the forecast was threatening a wet and cold reception at high elevations.
Because of a Trackleaders error, Svein Tuft’s ride was not properly recorded. He undoubtedly raced the fasted time on the course but voluntarily and graciously conceded his win to Brendan Taylor.
The 2025 Buckshot Route
Further Reading
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