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Rummaging in the Forest For Breakfast
30 Nov 16 Cass Gilbert / foodLike a delightful mashup between rummaging and finding in nature’s larder, foraging for wild food can be a powerful way of connecting us all with the land around us. Cass heads out into hills in search of steep climbs… and breakfast. Read on to find out what he ate, and learn about a range of resources that can transform our appreciation of the places we bikepack, and satisfy our bellies too.
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70 mi. / 113 km2-3 days
Micro Vuelta de la Sierra Norte, Mexico
25 Oct 29 Cass Gilbert Latin AmericaComplementing the San José del Pacífico Grand Dirt Tour, this vueltita into the Sierra Norte offers a chance to explore the rugged mountains that provide a lush backdrop to the beautiful city of Oaxaca, famed for its fine cuisine and vibrant arts scene. Choose from a lean dirt road option, lace in cross-country singletrack as you go, or set up a base camp and spend a day hiking or riding the techy delights around La Cumbre. Whatever your preference, prep yourself for the climb ahead with a cup of Oaxacan coffee, devour a tlayuda en route, and enjoy a night or two camping out in the high country, where old-growth forest and a network of trails await... -
Fernweh Food Co: Wholesome, Low-Waste Goodness
30 Oct 23 Cass Gilbert / foodHave you ever felt that the packaging used by outdoor provision companies feels at odds with being in the great outdoors? Then check out Oregon-based Fernweh Food Co. and its compostable bag and bulk purchase options. We tickle our taste buds with a vegan Southwest stew and mushroom pot pie, and find out about Fernweh’s owner Ashley Lance, her bike, and more…
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Neon Ron’s Fall Fundo and the Festival of Bromeliads
11 Oct 15 Cass Gilbert / plogIn the company of Vermonter Ron Manganiello and his virtual Fall Fundo fundraising event, Cass uses a 71st birthday ride as a reason to hang with bromeliads and study Oaxaca’s remarkable botanical cosmos during an eye-opening overnighter…
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Teravail Kennebec/Cumberland 29 x 2.6″ Combo Review
57 Oct 6 Cass Gilbert / gearAs a longterm advocate of 3″ tyres on rigid bikes, dabbling with the wide trail wheel size has convinced Cass that there’s a lot to be said for ‘skinnier’ wide trail tyres, especially when travelling where replacement options are limited. Find his thoughts on the 29 x 2.6″ Teravail Kennebec and Cumberland tyres here…
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Fantastically Plastic Free
55 Sep 17 Cass Gilbert / plogCass shares his experiences of a bike tour in which the path to less convenience made for a much more enjoyable, enriching ride. Read on to discover the ins and out of attempting a zero-waste bikepacking trip in the UK…
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Friends Reunited
41 Sep 11 Cass Gilbert / plogIt’s been a long six months. As we emerge from our respective cocoons, Cass reflects on the way in which bikepacking can nurture friendships. Sometimes it’s less about the riding itself and more the space that bikepacking creates to spend time with our friends…
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Jones SWB Titanium Review: A Dream Bike and Dream Build
127 Sep 3 Cass Gilbert / bikesWe take Jones’ premium, all titanium SWB—clad in a wardrobe of boutique parts—for an extended test ride. And we ask the question: if money is no object, can one frameset really provide a viable heart and soul for a bikepacking rig, a fast gravel machine, and a trail-worthy mountain bike? Read on to find out…
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King Alfred’s Way: A New 350km Bikepacking Route in the UK
20 Aug 28 Cass Gilbert / newsCycling UK just launched a new off-road adventure route that takes cyclists through 10,000 years’ worth of history in the south of England, creating a loop of gravel tracks and off-road trails through the heart of Surrey, Hampshire, Wiltshire and Berkshire countryside. Find details here…
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Jonathan and his Tomo x On-One x Kona Tall Bike
22 Aug 27 Cass Gilbert / plogIn this Rider and Rig, we chat with UK framebuilder Jonathan Thompson about his Tomo x On-One x Kona Tall Bike. We find out about the tall bike scene, bikepacking on a tall bike, and dive into an alternative world where bicycle design collides with unhindered imagination…
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997 mi. / 1,605 km32 days
Peru Great Divide
234 Aug 21 Cass Gilbert Latin AmericaAs one of South America’s premium dirt road touring routes, the Peru Great Divide is nothing short of a visual extravaganza that showcases the very best in Andean riding - think snow-capped peaks, glaciated lakes, and time lost settlements. Rollercoasting its way for several weeks through the country’s rugged Central Cordillera, it hurdes a succession of 4800m passes via remote, low-traffic dirt roads. -
A Bikepacker’s Take on Preventative Health and Immunity Maintenance
16 Aug 6 Cass Gilbert / tipsCOVID-19 has reminded us of the importance of keeping our bodies healthy and our immune systems as robust as possible. Cass Gilbert looks at a variety of foods we can eat and simple lifestyle choices we can make to help stay healthy both at home and on the road…