Golden sunlight filtered through the morning fog as 166 racers gathered at the foot of the Andes in the small Chilean town of Coyhaique. This is Across Andes – a 1,000 km (595 mile) self-supported gravel race that weaves through Chile’s diverse landscapes. The 2024 route spotlighted the fjords, rainforests and dry high altitude grasslands of Northern Patagonia. A small group of locals and supporters … Continue reading Across Andes – Becca’s Race Recap
Words and Photos by Sarah Swallow Bicycle travel is an incredible way to explore new places and immerse yourself in cultures around the world. Unlike traditional travel, cycling allows you to bypass crowded tourist hotspots and engage more deeply with a place’s natural landscapes, cultural heritage, and daily rhythms—all at a human-powered pace. Traveling by bicycle is not just about reaching the final destination; it’s … Continue reading A Guide to Bicycle Travel
Global Fat Bike Day is an annual celebration of fat bikes. It falls on the first Saturday of December each year and brings with it group rides, get togethers, adventure coffees, baked treats, and great times. Like true Minnesotans, we have to start by talking about the weather. We had temps in the upper 40’s this year and well… it was weird. Questions arose like … Continue reading Global Fat Bike Day – Recap
You might’ve seen Alyssa’s Tangerine Warakin around the internet. Whether that was on Instagram or homepage of OtsoCycles.com, Alyssa’s Warakin made waves and sure is fun to look at. We thought it would be a good idea to do a deep dive on this bike and take a closer look! Alyssa was kind enough to answer a few questions for us to give us a … Continue reading Dream Build: Alyssa’s Warakin
This staff bike feature blurs every line imaginable and guess what: WE LOVE IT. Otso bikes are made to be as versatile as their riders and Jon took his Arctodus and ran with it. Enjoy the gallery and remember: If you’re not having any fun, you might be doing it wrong. THE BUILD Jon took the versatility of Arctodus and ran with it. Seriously ran … Continue reading Bike Check: Jon’s Arctodus
Words and images by Mark Watson Figuring Out the ‘Packing’ in Bikepacking Bikepacking can encompass rides from overnighters right through to multi-month tours, and consequently a lot of variation in the gear and supplies you carry. I like to adapt my setup to suit the type of trip as well as the length of my packing list. Following are a few tips for streamlining your … Continue reading Pack for the Ride
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
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
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
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
