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No Country for Old Sealant: Ringing in a New Decade
47 Jan 15 Cass Gilbert / plogTo practise what he preaches, Cass heads out for solo overnighter to ring in the decade. Out in the Chihuahuan Desert, he ponders the way in which bikepacking reveals the underbelly of a land, how it serves to remind us that we inhabit a planet in crisis, and how it might just be the perfect catalyst for change…
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Slow Fare: An Edible Journey
16 Dec 31 Cass Gilbert / storiesIn this feature story, originally published in the first issue of our printed publication, The Bikepacking Journal, Cass Gilbert reflects on how slowing down and thinking about the foods he eats has given him a deeper connection to the people and places he encounters while traveling…
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The Power of the Overnighter
32 Dec 30 Cass Gilbert / tipsIn “The Power of the Overnighter,” Cass explores how a Little Trip can be just as rewarding as The Big Trip. After all, there’s no better way to recharge our own batteries than reconnecting with the outdoors for a night. Plus, find ideas and tips on how to plan your own overnight escape…
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Introducing the new titanium Jones Plus SWB Spaceframe, Diamond frame and Truss forks!
0 Dec 19 Cass Gilbert / newsJust announced: a titanium version of the Jones Plus SWB, available in a diamond frame, space frame, and truss fork configurations!
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Editor’s Dozen: Cass’ Favorite Gear of 2019
30 Dec 17 Cass Gilbert / accessoriesIt’s always hard to squeeze everything we like most into our Awards series. So this year, we’re adding in an Editor’s Dozen – gear, routes, and more – that didn’t make it into our main roundup posts. To kick off, here’s Cass’ pick of 2019, covering family bikepacking, a cargo plus bike, favourite routes, fancy carbon wheels, a Dyneema hip pack, a magic bungee cord, and more…
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Schwalbe G-One Allround: A Game-Changing Plus Tire
98 Dec 10 Cass Gilbert / gearCass’ world is rocked – relatively speaking – by Schwalbe’s G-One Allround, a tire that will transform sometimes slovenly ‘plus’ bikes into fast, gravel-munching machines…
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127 mi. / 204 km4-5 days
Lakeland 200, UK
55 Dec 6 Cass Gilbert EuropeThe Lake District National Park promises some of the most dramatic mountainscapes in England… and perhaps the very best in old school mountain biking too. The Lakeland 200 is a multi-day loop that offers a broad overview of the whole area, taking in such classics as High Street, Walna Scar Road, and Black Sail Pass. Just be sure you don’t have an aversion to hike-a-bikes… -
Bombtrack Hook EXT Review: More Than Just Good Looks
44 Dec 3 Cass Gilbert / bikesAfter attending Bombtracks’ yearly Groundwork event, Cass purloins a Bombtrack Hook EXT and takes it bikepacking in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, England, and Wales. With a number of trips under his belt, as well as fast gravel days rides and even a few road outings in the bag, here are his thoughts on this steel and carbon adventure bike…
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Los Perros Locos de Pecos: A Farewell Ride
22 Nov 22 Cass Gilbert / plogWhat’s your excuse for getting a group of friends together and enjoying a couple of nights out bikepacking? A birthday? The longest day of the year? Or a friend leaving town? Back in the Land of Enchantment, Cass heads out with his New Mexican compadres for a farewell ride amongst the piñons, junipers, red dirt… and sunset dust.
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Tailfin AeroPack Review: A premium, rigid seatpack
43 Nov 15 Cass Gilbert / bikepacking-bagsCass gives the premium-priced AeroPack – Tailfin’s cross between a racktop bag and a modern seatpack – a thorough thrashing. After a few months bouncing across the roughest trails and dirt roads he can find in the UK, here are his deep dive findings…
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Reader’s Rig: Bas’s Surly Ogre
17 Nov 1 Cass Gilbert / newsThis week on Reader’s Rig, we peek at Bas Overbeek’s Surly Ogre, which features a full suite of custom Detour Studio bags, sewn by Bas himself. Find build details, photos, and his bike’s backstory here…
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73 mi. / 117 km2 days
Black Mountain Crossing, South Wales
32 Oct 31 Cass Gilbert EuropeEasily accessed with public transport from Bath, Bristol, and Cardiff, the Black Mountain lies to the west of the Brecons Beacons National Park, in South Wales. This 73 mile, largely un-trafficked and hilly route can be completed in two days, crossing the range twice to form a loop in and out of Aberdare, in the Cynon Valley. Wending through an area pocked with burial mounds, druid stones, caves, and old forts, expect singletrack, drovers' roads, forest roads, and the usual helping of Welsh bogs...