Quitting: A Cyclist’s Guide to Graceful Exits
Words and Photos by Sarah Swallow Bikepacking trips and events can require months of training and preparation, financial investment, and time off work and away from loved ones. So, what leads us to quit things we have put so much emotional, physical, and financial energy into completing? How do we avoid quitting? How do we know when to stop, when to pivot, or when to … Continue reading Quitting: A Cyclist’s Guide to Graceful Exits
Otso Hoot Ti – MADE Dream Build
The Otso Hoot Ti is a premium titanium hardtail mountain bike designed with fun in mind. It has short 425mm chainstays, a slack 65º head tube angle, a steep 76º seat tube angle that altogether make for a rowdy yet stable riding experience. It climbs great, it shines when you point it downhill, and it definitely brings the party to any line on the trail. … Continue reading Otso Hoot Ti – MADE Dream Build
Annapurna Circuit
Words and Photos by Otso Ambassador Cory Wallace The 220 km Annapurna Circuit in Nepal was at one time one of the legendary hikes in the World. It still can be, but with a motorable road for approximately 90% of the way it’s more of a biker’s dream nowadays. For a long time it was one of the most rugged roads I had ever been … Continue reading Annapurna Circuit
Support Through the Unsupported – Unbound XL
Words by Becca Book, Images by @marathonfoto On the last Friday of May, an odd coalition of 192 cyclists packed Emporia’s main street for the 355 mile Unbound XL with a range of equipment ranging from ultra-light to ultra-prepared. The camera crew hovering in a helicopter above us was in stark contrast to other bikepacking races I have done, which by and large start on … Continue reading Support Through the Unsupported – Unbound XL
A cure for those shoulder season blues…
Words by Lauren Cantwell. Images by Lauren Cantwell and Matt Reid. The shoulder season — that awkward time of the year that the snow starts to fall just enough to knock out the mountain biking, cover the roads with thin layers of ice, but still not enough to ski. Maybe it’s days of wet, cold rain — but for many of us who live in … Continue reading A cure for those shoulder season blues…
Adventures in Baja
Words and images by Sarah Swallow “Embrace the journey, not the destination” – Ralph Waldo Emerson. My partner, Adam, and I crossed paths on the 2017 inaugural Baja Divide grand departure. Since then, our shared love for adventure and the sea has led us back to the Baja Peninsula and the Gulf of California every year. Nestled in central Baja is a spot we’ve grown … Continue reading Adventures in Baja
How to go faster without pedaling (much) harder…
If you’re a bikepacker who’s used to touring speeds or social rides, and are considering racing, or even just some rides with longer days, this blog post is written for you. Continue reading How to go faster without pedaling (much) harder…
Bridging Identities During the Silk Road Mountain Race
Words and images by Stephen Shelesky Equal parts joy, escapism, and self-therapy, I’ve found a lot of reasons to gravitate towards ultra-cycling. Since entering the sport less than two years ago, riding ultra has led me through one of my largest life transitions to date and increased my self confidence tenfold. Ultra takes many forms, bikepacking races being one of them. One of the pinnacle … Continue reading Bridging Identities During the Silk Road Mountain Race
Ultra : Ascending & Descending – 21 Days beneath an Arctic Lunar Phase
Words by Mateo Paez. Images by Mateo Paez and Stephen Shelesky I am just home from 21 days in the Nordic territories, Iceland and Norway to be exact. Eight flights, four trains, seven buses and a few miles by bike in between, that is 1,343 miles/2,261 kilometers pedaled total. I am fortunate enough to compete in these events but also write about them, for the … Continue reading Ultra : Ascending & Descending – 21 Days beneath an Arctic Lunar Phase
Bikepacking for Couples Part II: Strategies for Experiencing Joy and Managing Conflict
Words and photos by Sarah Swallow Having fun together is vital to relationship satisfaction, according to the Gottman Institute. The research shows that the stress that couples experience must be balanced with a certain amount of connection and fun to build a positive relationship perspective. In other words, we need to have an archive of fun experiences so that when times are tough, those positive … Continue reading Bikepacking for Couples Part II: Strategies for Experiencing Joy and Managing Conflict