Dexter’s Unbound XL Recap
I felt the mist as goosebumps gathering on my arms before I could make it out visually in the moonless darkness. I glanced at my Garmin to recognize mile 155.5; start of the infamous Little Egypt Rd. The spot where, earlier that week, a chance encounter with filmmaker John Mathews had saved me from attempting to ford a turbulent sea of mud slowly baking in … Continue reading Dexter’s Unbound XL Recap
JJJJustin’s Tour Divide Recap
Words and Photos by Justin McKinley The 2025 Tour Divide was memorable for all sorts of reasons. It was my third attempt in as many years. My first two ended before reaching Antelope Wells so when I showed up in Banff this year I knew there was 2700 miles of rugged terrain ahead of me. Every year on the Divide is different with its own … Continue reading JJJJustin’s Tour Divide Recap
Sarah Swallow’s Ride Across the West on the Golden Gravel Trail
UPDATE: Sarah has started the ride. Track her progress here. On August 27, 2025, Otso Cycles Ambassador, Sarah Swallow, will set out from Port Orford, Oregon, to ride Adventure Cycling Association’s new cross-country dirt route, The Golden Gravel Trail. The route spans 3,700 miles, with 234,500 feet of elevation gain, from the Oregon coast to the Mississippi River. The route is inspired by the TransAmerica … Continue reading Sarah Swallow’s Ride Across the West on the Golden Gravel Trail
Bears Ears: In Defense of Public Lands
Words and Photos by Sam Lewandowski “The acreage of our federal public lands is equivalent to the entire country of Germany seven times over. These lands provide space for hunting, fishing, and leisure activities; wildlife habitats; clean-water protection; sustainable industry; and much more. All for the public. It’s about as profoundly American an idea as you can find: the democratization of land and resources and … Continue reading Bears Ears: In Defense of Public Lands
Tour Divide Bike Checks
We have a handful of super rad Otso Ambassadors taking on the Tour Divide this year and we had to take the opportunity to share a bit of each of their stories here. Below you will find bike photo galleries and answers to the questions we all want to ask these types of folks. We hope you enjoy the photos and the reading as much … Continue reading Tour Divide Bike Checks
Empty on the outside, full on the inside.
Arkansas Gravel Doom 2025 With Dexter Kopas Words- Dexter KopasPhotos – Dexter Kopas + Kai Caddy The sun had refused to shine for days. Water gushed down every low point in the terrain. A misty rain settled on every surface. Cold air wafted through the wide rip in the back of my rain pants. My eyes struggled to stay open after their frequently interrupted sleep. … Continue reading Empty on the outside, full on the inside.
Stephanie’s BIG DUMB RIDE (BDR)
Words by Stephanie Hall, Photos by Derek Ludwig Let’s first start with some definitions. Definitions: Big Dumb Ride [BDR]:Type 2 fun, a bad idea, usually long, dumb in all the right ways. Vermont Filthy: Friday ride crew, sendy, gnarly rides, kind people. Fat Filthy, 189 miles 27,000ft climbing. Voytek 2: Exactly the right tool for the job. A fast fat bike with ample geometry options … Continue reading Stephanie’s BIG DUMB RIDE (BDR)
Meet Otso Ambassador Dexter Kopas
Words by Dexter KopasPhotos by Aaron Hardin Howdy, y’all! Stoked to be welcomed into the Otso club. I am 28 years old, live in Tucson, AZ, and I am drawn to Otso for three reasons, which together encapsulate what I love about bikes. The structured component of my biking life is around competition. Over the last three years, I have gone from never racing to … Continue reading Meet Otso Ambassador Dexter Kopas
A Note on Tariffs
Otso bikes are designed here in Minnesota, USA. For the manufacturing process, we proudly work with some of the most skilled frame builders in Southeast Asia. Our frames are then shipped back to Otso HQ where they are assembled based on your custom build specs before they are shipped to you for a life of riding. Increased tariffs on many countries around the world have … Continue reading A Note on Tariffs
Bike Check – John’s Custom Step-Thru Arctodus
John is 86 years young, an avid cyclist and nordic skier, and reached out to Brian at Rare Earth Cycle to modify his favorite fat bike, the Otso Arctodus, to make it easier for him to ride. A step-thru fat bike frame would allow him to continue riding this winter and beyond. With Arctodus’ confidence inspiring geometry, stable ride feel, BIG tire clearance, narrow Q … Continue reading Bike Check – John’s Custom Step-Thru Arctodus