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
Otso Ambassador Justin McKinley has been sharing some rad updates on his YouTube channel about his upcoming adventure: The Tour Divide. This will be Justin’s third attempt at the route. This year, he’s chosen to race The Divide on his new Otso Fenrir Ti. Justin recently shared that he got his Fenrir Ti all built up and we couldn’t be more excited about the result. … Continue reading Tour Divide: Ride It with Style
We are very excited to share a project by Cory Wallace about his Kathmandu 360 ride in Nepal. The route Cory rode was 100 miles of gravel and chunky dirt with 18,000 ft of elevation gain. With Himalayan views, jungle sections, and mud slides to work around, we’d say Cory’s route looks absolutely dreamy. The Waheela C was perfect for the terrain and chunky gravel … Continue reading Kathmandu 360 with Cory Wallace
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 Winning 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
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 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
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…
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
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
