Dispatch

Wondering what it would take to convert the new Surly Ghost Grappler to flat bars? Or curious how a flat-bar Ghost Grappler would handle? We were, so we gave it a shot. Find photos, a parts list, and a video on it here.

This weekend, Andrew Strempke set off to see how quickly he could ride the entire Monumental Loop in Southern New Mexico. Turns out he can move pretty swiftly, and he set a new fastest known time on the 245-mile route. We caught up with him a few days later for a short interview and to snap some photos of his bike setup…

Last fall, a group of friends set off on a bikepacking trip in southern Utah only to be stopped in their tracks from high-altitude snow. So, they merged fly fishing and bikepacking together to keep busy instead. Watch “Shifting Gears” by the Fly Fish Journal here…

In Racing Arizona, a new film from Revel Bikes, Elizabeth Sampey revisits the Arizona Trail two years after setting the fastest known time and reflects on what the race meant to her. Watch it here alongside a photoset from the project…

Filmed back in 2014 and finally published last month, Norwegian bikepacker Mikkel Soya Bølstad’s latest video documents his multiple attempts to find solid crust for backcountry fatbiking at the tail end of spring. Watch it here…

Our friends over at the Woods Cyclery in Lyndhurst, UK, put together a fun little video using an old Super 8 film camera after riding the Purbeck Bimble overnighter route. Watch “It’s Always Sunny in Purbeck!” and find details about the route here…

There are several ways to attach a patch. Some people like to sew them on, others prefer an iron, but if you don’t want to spend your precious time doing either, there’s an easy alternative. In this video, Neil introduces Badge Magic and shares step-by-step instructions on how to install a patch quickly and effectively. Plus, find a few reader recommendations on how they attach their patches…

The Apple Airtag is a tiny device designed to help you keep track of your belongings in case they go missing. In this video review, Neil shows how it works, tests it in the most trying conditions, and finds some strategic locations to place it so it works properly on your bike, and we list several Airtag bike mount options…

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…

Utah-based Nuclear Sunrise Stitchworks recently updated some of their accessory bags, and they sent them over so we could take a closer look. Find photos, specs, and our first impressions 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…

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…